Perl's in 2010 - Photo by and Courtesy of Gerry Thom
Perl's in Bremerton
Bremerton, Washington

Proprietor: Perl Maurer (R.I.P)

Some of the bands that performed at Perl's were:

Photo:  S. Carlson, July 1999
This is how Perl's appeared in July 1999.
Do you have a picture of how it appeared in the 60's?

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It is sad to see this edifice now.  In its heyday, this was one of the "in" places to go and attracted the top bands on the Pacific Northwest music circuit.

We are in the process of compiling a list of the bands that performed at Perl's in the 60's.  If you had a band that played here, have a flyer or advertisement for gigs at Perl's, or remember seeing a particular band perform at this establishment, please let us know and we will add their name to the list of bands that performed here.  Send any information to our Webmaster.

"When we, the Sonics, would play there (Perl's), which we usually did about once a month, it would be packed to the rafters with dancers, and we would be playing as loud as we could. We could always count on Perl's wife to walk by the bandstand at least a dozen times a night holding a sign that she always kept in the back room that said, YOU ARE TOO DAMN LOUD!"

Andy Parypa, The Sonics, May 2001

Perl's was one of the "Pat O'Day circuit" hosting many, many NW bands and some national stars as well.  The last time I drove by it, the
building was still there, but the property is a storage site for Kitsap County road maintenance machinery - sad!

Dick Bowne, December 2008

The Chymes of Freedom played Perl's Ballroom 1967. Perl Maurer approached us on a break and said "you boys have to turn it down or you'll never play here again" we cranked it up, enjoying our moment in time.  The question was, did we really want to play there again?  The crowd loved it.  The bubble blowers inundated the crowd with massive bubble showers and my amp was so covered in soap I could no longer turn the knobs on the Vox Buckingham. I remember having flowers stuffed in around the framework of my amplifier.  Peace and Love

George Goins-Rhythm Guitar

Perl's, located in West Bremerton at Arsenal Way and Loxie Eagans Boulevard, originally opened in 1934 and was founded by local musician Perl Maurer.  He ran the place until he sold it in 1971.   By then, it was the second incarnation of Perl's as the first one had burned down in 1959 and was rebuilt and replaced in the same location two years later.

Perl himself, who passed away in 2000 at age 93, claimed that Duke Ellington and country legend Jim Reeves were among the greats who played there.

Gerry Thom, November 2009

Perle's didn't have a liquor license.  BYOB was the law of land.

I, like many kids, picked up pop bottles there on Saturday & Sunday morning to sell for money.  This was in the early 50's.  We were too young to go to Perles, but we worked over the empty lot the next day looking for old pop bottles to make money on.  You could turn in old soda bottles at any store for money, enough to buy a Superman comic or a candy bar.

Perl's was by itself then.  Both sides of the valley were empty.   Just woods across the street from Perl's.  The houses started when you went up the hill.  We lived in one of them.

When I was old enough, I did go to a few dances there.

Jason Vance, September 2010

I located and purchased the original jukebox out of Perl's.  At first it didn't make sense as why wasn't it lost in the fire of 1959.  Upon closer inspection I found the last business license in it which was dated for 1958.  Since it plays 78's, I speculate that a newer jukebox that played 45's must of come in before the fire and this one moved out.  It had been in a basement in Manette all these years. Google a Rockola 1426 if you get a minute to see what it looks like.

Pretty cool piece of Bremerton history

Jim Smalley, May 2011 & November 2011

I went to see Sugarloaf when they played at Perl's... it was in 1975-ish

Donna, August 2011

Perl's in 2010 - Photo by and Courtesy of Gerry Thom

If you have corrections, a neat photo or more information, please send it to:

Credits: Andy Parypa, Sam Carlson, Jim Sola, Denny Randall, Denny Gore, Rudy Volkmann, Thomas Howell, Mark Black, Tom Walters, Jim Adams, Al Sprenger, Ken Huff, Ed Nodorozny, Walt Melewski, Bob Brannon, Tim Menees, Jeff Fleming, Joel Johnson, Dick Bowne, George Goins, Gerry Thom, Al Anderson, Jason Vance, Jim Smalley, Stan Tate, Liza Schultz, Chris Ronning, Jon Moss

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Photos by:  S. Carlson and G. Thom
Last Update:  9 Decemberr 2011