Located on Main Street in Lewiston, Idaho, it was a hot spot in the 60's for kids locally, and for students at Pullman and Moscow, both short distances away.  Many big NW acts played here, including the Raiders and the Kingsmen.  You entered through the little door at left, and went up a narrow flight of stairs to the ballroom, which covered the whole second floor.  Bands, too, had to load their gear up and down the stairs with a hand truck.
Doug Rice, July 2002

I worked at Casey's of Lewiston (Dance Hall) from 1966 to 1968 and then off and on in 1969.  Casey's was owned by Pat Patoray and it was named after his son, Casey, who was my age and worked with me for his Dad.  Pat also owned another dance hall in New Meadows, Idaho also called Caseys.

Casey's was very well known in the era as one of the top light shows in the nation. It was compared to the Fillmores east and west, Avalon and the Cheeta which were major venues of the time with big light shows.  Because Casey's had such a significant light show a lot of major bands played there and it was a great show case for bands in the Pacific Northwest. Pat's dream was always to get Jefferson Airplane there but it never happened.

One event I was excited about was suppose to take place on July 4, 1969 when Blue Cheer was suppose to play. Blue Cheer was the true father of metal rock and were way ahead of their time.  Known as LOUD with more equipment than any band at the time (36 Marshall stacks for a 3 piece band).   Pat had actually remodeled the stage to be able to fit them in but they canceled at the last minute.

The Yardbirds played Casey's and Jimmy Page was the bass player. I spent some time with him and he carved his name in the ceiling of the dressing room. I always intended on getting into Casey's and taking that item.

A couple summers ago I saw the door to Casey's open so I went inside.  I Found a college film crew making a documentary about Caseys but the whole place was stripped out, nothing there but frames and junk. Jimmy Page's carved name was long gone, hopefully not thrown out but kept by someone who recognized it.  It was sad to see Casey's in this condition but what struck me was how small it looked. In my memory it was gigantic.

Casey Patoray, as far as I know, still lives in Grangeville, Idaho and works for the lumber mill there.  His dad, Pat Patoray, ended up in Gresham, Oregon. The Lewiston Morning Tribune did an article on Casey's and I called him about it.  We talked at length and I thanked him for the era.  He told me that a couple of important parts of Casey's are stored in Lewiston at the Mason's or Elks hall, or something like that. He had the Wall of Fame which was a black light wall with the names of all the bands who have played there painted on it. He also had a giant black light painting of the Beatles in their Sgt. Pepper's uniforms. I would like to find these items.  Pat died a few years ago.

David Rogers, 17 January 2003