STOOD UP BY THE YOUNG RASCALS

Mt. Vernon's Armory has served as a plethora. It has housed the National Guard, of course. It has also provided classroom space for the high school, served as a testing center, home of the Kiwanis annual Pancake and Sausage Day, hosted a YMCA Mens Basketball League that I played in (big wide court/lots of heavy breathing), home for disasters of any kind, and probably many others I've forgotten or overlooked.

In the 60's it also served as a place to host teen dances since Mt. Vernon has always lacked a true teen center. The Sub took care of some teen activity, but it was way too small to house many.

Parking lots in the Summer, most notably the Bank of Illinois allowed teens a venue under the stars to "do the hanky panky" with Tommy James and the Shondells. You could dance in a big circle, slow dance, dance individually to fast songs and hope they'd finally play a slow song, or just talk and hang out.

Local bands such as The Stingrays and The Ivy Five would play at these gigs, also held at the old Post Office building and above the Police Station.

But there was no night like the night the Young Rascals were scheduled to appear at the armory. Rumors had floated around months before their scheduled show. And then it happened: they made it big with "Good Lovin'." Some of my friends and me knew them before they hit it big, because Johnny Rabbit at KXOK in St. Louis and Dick Biondi at WLS in chicago had hyped them.

Anticipation grew. But so did realism. "I'm telling you, they ain't coming to Mousetown," was the belief of a few cynics. Not me. I had my ticket and I knew they'd be here. After about two and a half hours into the show, with the dj making up excuses for their lateness, many left disgruntled. Some had come from as far away as Carbondale.

I stuck it out until the end. About 11:00 we were told it was a no-show. I got in line with about thirty others to get our refunds. I think it was four or five dollars. No more, I'm sure. Disappointed, maybe a little disillusioned, I was still a fan. I still am. But I never got to see them at the armory. I hate it when the cynics are right.