Northwest Dance Halls

Medicine Show Tavern
AKA:  Wintonia Tavern
Seattle, Washington

Some of the bands that performed at this place during the early years of NW rock and roll were:
 

Bad Manners
Butterfat
The Doily Brothers Band
Family Band
The Floating Bridge
Jr. Cadillac
Lance Romance
Northwest Rock & Roll Ban
Sweet Talkin' Jones
Three Minute Boogie
 

Others ??

My Brother-in-Law, Glen Tamura, was Co-owner of the Medicine Show Tavern, also known as the Wintonia Tavern. Located on Pine Street in Seattle, WA on Capitol Hill, it was famous for free peanuts with every pitcher.  The peanut shells covered the floor, which only occasionally were swept up.  This added to the ambiance which attracted only people that could appreciate its character.  Peter Lamb was the other owner.  Both principles met while almost attending Seattle University.

Famous for an extensive collection of Blues records which played constantly, There was a small stage where the patrons could see The Floating Bridge, Lance Romance and the Three Minute Boogie.  The operation tolerated drug use and was famous for pool tournaments with acid spiked beer.  Don Donavan, Ron Whitney, Joe Cairo, Jeff Rosen and two Brothers Pat & Gary were bartenders. The Wintonia hotel was upstairs and King County housed many indigent mental cases in the shabby rooms.  These hotel guests would make it into the tavern and were accepted by the regulars.

Located just down the street from the Comet and Fresh Air made Pine street a destination for Hippies from Fremont and Pike Street Market.  The Medicine Show sponsored several shows at the Encore Ballroom (also on Pine St.).  The shows were: Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Mojo Hand, Taj Mahal, and John Hammond.  All shows included an appearance Seattle Police Dept. as well as the Seattle Fire Dept. Tickets were $3 and easily counterfeited.   Before and after any concert (at Boyd Grafmeyers Eagles) the Medicine Show was a great spot to get your head right.....   40 years ago.  The summer of Love................

Steve Wilk, August 2007

The Medicine Show too. What a great place!  I remember playing a solo while a dog fight was going on in front of the band. Cool!

Brian Glenn, August 2007

Other groups playing regularly at the Medicine Show were, notably, The Northwest Rock and Roll Band, Butterfat, Junior Cadillac, though not often for they held forth at the Grapevine, as well as the occasional blues cat.  Don Wilhelm of Moby Grape tended bar for a time as did Bill White who is now a fine painter living in Mexico. Finally, the Medicine Show, which was truly a great spot, was on Pike Street as was the somewhat later Fresh Air and the still going strong Comet.

John C. Strawn, August 2007