User:Obsidianspider/Godfrey Daniels

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Godfrey Daniels (Godfrey's) is a community-based, not-for-profit folk music venue on the SouthSide of Bethlehem, PA. The club was established in the spring of 1976 by musician Dave Fry and a dedicated group of friends, musicians and supporters of live folk music.

History

Growing out of the active music bar scene at the Lehigh Tavern next door, Dave Fry and bar owner Bruce Watson discussed the need for a 'listening' atmosphere in the Lehigh Valley and together rented the vacant donut shop from South Bethlehem landlord and attorney Justin D. Jirolanio for $300 per month in February, 1976. Through Watson's street credit from local merchants, tables, chairs, carpet, coffee and hot dog machines, plastic cups, etc., were obtained, and Godfrey's opened on a March morning, selling coffee, donuts and hotdogs to no one.

The opening night on Friday, March 18th, 1976, featured Mary Faith Rhoades, the Shimersville Sheiks (Dave Fry, Chris Simmons, Jerry Bastoni, LA Williams and Roy Smith), Lafayette professor Ted Kornwiebel, magician Terry LaSorda and acoustic trio Ruff & Reddy (Reid Trevaskis, Rudy Seferin and Jim Brekus). Dave Fry opened with the Beatles' Here Comes the Sun.

Weekend acts included local folk musicians as well as several NYC acts that had played at the Lehigh Tavern previously. Performing on Friday and Saturday nights at Godfrey's and then a Sunday show at The Cherry Tree Co-op in Philly provided performers like Steven Wade, Pat Chamberlain, Erik Frandsen, Elizabeth Corrigan a nice tour, staying at Bruce and Judy Watson's farmhouse near Coopersburg, PA. These folks considered it a trip to the country.

Paul Siebel, the first 'big name' act was booked in April 1976, and got tour support from Philo Records with major studio players like Winnie Winsted, Tony Markellis, Jay Ungar and opener Tom Mitchell. Word got out on the folk circuit from these NYC and New England connections and soon labeled artists toured clubs like Passim's in Boston, Cafe Lena in Saratoga Springs, the Speak Easy in NYC, the Birchmere in the DC area, as well as Sunday gigs in Philly at the Cherry Tree Co-op. Calls came in from Roy Book Binder, Jay and Lyn Ungar, Paul Geremia, Tom Mitchell, Rosalie Sorrels, Jack McGann Swing Band, Sparky Rucker and others. Local revues like Mario Accera's Showbiz Revue filled the house with local patrons.

The initial group of volunteers included Cindy Dinsmore (with her father George Dinsmore as a guiding light) and her sister Jodi, Peter Skelly, Jan Sprague (Dave's wife at that time), many of the local folk musicians, caricature artist Gene Mater and other supporters. The volunteers have come and gone over the years, but the club could not have made it this far without their support. Godfrey's continues to value its volunteers who work the counter, usher, run sound, emcee, tend to the membership, web site maintenance and other important behind-the-scene tasks.

Cindy Dinsmore became much more involved with the club, upon moving in with Dave after his separation and divorce and became an vital part of the operation as house manager, responsible for preparing desserts (Big Apple Pie) as well as a featured vegetarian dish for the public, as well as providing performer hospitality for the guest artists. While maintaining her cooking job at So Eat Already, a commercial vegetarian restaurant a block away, she made sure that the performers had a healthy meal during their gig at the club. It is said that her food was as important a factor in developing strong and friendly relations with the touring artists as the good sound and listening audience that the club provided.

Early on, the performers would stay at Bruce and Judy Watson's old farm house outside of Coopersburg, but would also stay in the bunk beds and couch in the apartment above the club. Eventually community housing developed, especially at Space Mountain, Mike and Judy Space's unique home outside of Hellertown. Performers often stayed in the basement in relative comfort, leading John Gorka to often remark in concert, " At least I had a floor above my head."

Early community events included an open mike, silent films with piano accompaniment, local theater productions and original film nights, buck dances (square dances for $1) and other presentations.

Operations

Godfrey Daniels became a Pennsylvania State not-for profit organization in 1982, making it eligible for state arts grants. Godfrey's eventually gained IRS tax-exempt 501c-3 status in 1983 following a major threat from the landlord to sell the building. Acting on its community support and mailing list, donations came in that secured the building in Dave and Cindy's hands. A membership program was created and a Board of Directors was established; both continue to this day. Past board presidents include Dave Fry, Jim Ray from Fritch Fuel, Terry Mutchler, Ray Sommerville, Christopher Barone, Jeff Huff, Scott Petersen, and current president Dina Hall. Artistic Directors include Dave Fry (1976 - 2001), the late Mike Space (2001 - 2011) and Ramona LaBarre (2011 - present).

Board of Directors

• Dina Hall - President
• Brian McCloskey - Vice President
• Bernie Toseland - Secretary
• Tom Hyclak - Treasurer
• Jeff Huff
• William George
• Lloyd Steffen
• Alex Radus
• Jodi Duckett
• Holly Edwards
• Dave Fry - Emeritus
• Terry Mutchler - Emeritus
• Cindy Dinsmore - Ex Officio
• Ramona LaBarre - Managing Director

Name Origin

The name Godfrey Daniels came to Dave Fry as he was driving around town before the club opened. A fan of the early film anarchists like the Marx Brothers and W. C. Fields, Fry stumbled upon Fields' stage epithet, "Godfrey Daniels!" It had a sort of 'pubbish' sound to it, and also an emotional edge of shock and outrage to it. It seemed a natural response to this undertaking. W. C. Fields' image was often used in the early days, and seemed to be a clever in joke for those in the know.

Godfrey's, through the years, has collaborated with many Lehigh Valley festivals and events, among them the first years of Musikfest in 1984 and 85, Mayfair celebrations in Allentown, Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, Easton's Canal Festival. Many of these partnerships continue today.

In the face of increasing competition with larger live music arenas in the Lehigh Valley in the last few years (Musikfest, Arts Quest, Levitt Pavilion, Sands Casino, Sellersville Theater and others), Godfrey Daniels took upon itself to define and emphasize its unique community position by creating monthly weeknight gatherings and jams. Free and open to the public, Godfrey's sponsors old time, Irish, bluegrass, blues (now called a ramble), comedy improv and swing jams, along with a story circle and a vibrant open mike. Godfrey's also held the longest running monthly poetry series for eighteen years, run by Carol Ann Robertson. The LV Storytellers Guild has a winter children's storytelling series on Sundays. The Charter School for the Arts on the SouthSide of Bethlehem also collaborates with Godfrey's, using this space for performances of poetry, play-readings, songwriters, jazz ensembles, gospel and touring choirs, and vocalist cafes. Similar partnerships exist with the PA Jazz Collective and Lehigh University's Music Box. The club also is part of the South Side Film Festival and presents children's films during the festival's run.

External Links

• Godfrey Daniels Website
• Godfrey Daniels on Facebook