After our recent post about the Terregon in Forrest, Illinois, we thought we would highlight yet another gathering spot for young people in Livingston County in the 1960's.
The Reservation was a teen dance club located in Pontiac, Illinois. Unlike the Terregon which was fairly short-lived, the Reservation lasted for more than three years and held multiple dances nearly every week. In fact, between July 21, 1967 and October 31, 1970, we've identified around 300 dances, all with live music! Most of these events featured local bands as well as some Chicago area groups and, on occasion, national touring acts.
The Reservation was owned and operated by Ray and Katie Smith. The 5,600 square foot steel building was located at 1221 N. Aurora Street in Pontiac and had once housed a printing company. In 1967 it was remodeled by the couple to include a dance floor, stage and snack bar where soda and sandwiches were served.
Ray Smith had been sponsoring teen dances at local schools and other locations in Pontiac for months prior to opening the Reservation. Once the city council passed the necessary ordinances and regulations, Smith was issued the very first license to operate a teen dance hall in Pontiac. Many of the town's residents were in support of the teen center, recognizing the need for such a place. Pontiac at the time had roughly 1,600 youths between the ages of 13 and 19. At the same time, there were several vocal citizens opposed to the Reservation. At least one attempt was made to get its license revoked before it even opened its doors. Concerns and complaints about noise, parking, loitering and other issues would be an ongoing battle for the Smiths.
The Reservation had its grand opening on July 21, 1967. The music was supplied by a local group, The Crimsmen (they would soon change their name to the Backstreet Majority). The club announced it would hold dances every Wednesday and Friday in the summer. Once the school year started, it would schedule dances on Fridays and Saturdays. As the list below shows, there were many deviations from this schedule.
Many of the bands during the first several months were local groups from Pontiac and the surrounding areas including nearby Bloomington-Normal. There were however several Chicago groups that made the trip down to Pontiac including The Ides of March, The Trolls, The Flock, Saturday's Children and The Mauds. The club also featured a number of all-girl groups from Chicago such as The Same, The Chips, The Daughters of Eve and the Weaker Sex (which were billed as The Weaker Six).
Groups from outside of Illinois included December's Children (later known as The Corner Store) from South Haven, Michigan and the Detroit Wheels. From California, The Union Gap and The California Spectrum both stopped in Pontiac on their tours of the Midwest. In addition to the music, "the Mad Painter and his shirts" was advertised as a featured attraction with several of the early shows.
- July 21, 1967 The Crimsmen
- July 22, 1967 The Crimsmen
- July 26, 1967
The Crimsmen(CANCELLED - STORM) - July 27, 1967 The Crimsmen
- July 28, 1967 The Chancellors
- August 4, 1967 The Cobblestones
- August 5, 1967 The Regents
- August 9, 1967 The Same
- August 11, 1967 The Backstreet Majority
- August 16, 1967 The Backstreet Majority
- August 18, 1967 The Things To Come
- August 19, 1967 The Backstreet Majority
- August 23, 1967 The Undivided
- August 25, 1967 The Backstreet Majority
- August 26, 1967 The Naught Fadeway
- August 28, 1967 The Backstreet Majority
- August 30, 1967 The Cobblestones
- September 2, 1967 The Fugitives
- September 8, 1967 The Undivided
- September 9, 1967 The Ides of March
- September 16, 1967 Saturday's Children
- September 23, 1967 The Trolls
- September 29, 1967 The Undivided
- September 30, 1967 The Same
- October 7, 1967 The Flock
- October 11, 1967 The Cobblestones
- October 14, 1967 The California Spectrum
- October 28, 1967 December's Children
- October 30, 1967 The Chips
- November 3, 1967 The Present Tense
- November 4, 1967 The Detroit Wheels
- November 11, 1967 The Mauds
- November 17, 1967 The Undivided
- November 18, 1967 The Daughters of Eve
- November 22, 1967 The Shattertones
- November 24, 1967 The One-Eyed Jacks
- November 25, 1967 The Back Pages
- December 2, 1967 The Trolls
- December 8, 1967 The Department
- December 9, 1967 The Corner Store (December's Children)
- December 15, 1967 The Same
- December 16, 1967 The Flock
- December 22, 1967 The Union Gap
- December 23, 1967 The Destinations
- December 25, 1967 The Weaker Sex
- December 30, 1967 The One-Eyed Jacks
In 1968, the Reservation continued to feature primarily local bands including more and more groups from the Champaign-Urbana scene, many of which were being represented by the Blytham Ltd. talent agency, e.g. The One-Eyed Jacks, The Finchley Boys, The Regiment, The Esquires, The Seeds of Love, and The Light Brigade. Another Blytham band, the Guild from the St. Louis area, appeared several times. The group featured a young Michael McDonald.
Bands also came from Wisconsin (Michael & The Messengers, The Beau Gentry, The Robbs, The Iron Gate) and Indiana (Boston Creme Pie, The Olivers, Him Her and Them, The Boys Next Door, The Sons of Sound). Touring groups such as Archie Bell & The Drells, The Music Explosion and The Royal Guardsmen also made appearances in Pontiac that year.
At a Pontiac City Council meeting in April of 1968, several residents living near the Reservation voiced complaints, mostly about the noise. A woman that lived across the street from the club claimed the music was so loud that it vibrated the pictures on her walls.
- January 5, 1968 The Cobblestones
- January 6, 1968 The Weaker Sex
- January 12, 1968 The Lykes Of Us
- January 13, 1968 The Regiment
- January 19, 1968 The Chancellors
- January 20, 1968 The Shags
- January 26, 1968 The Undivided
- January 27, 1968 The Corner Store
- February 2, 1968 The Chancellors
- February 3, 1968 The Family
- February 9, 1968 The Regiment
- February 10, 1968 The Same
- February 16, 1968 Michael and the Messengers
- February 23, 1968 The Back Pages
- February 24, 1968 The One-Eyed Jacks
- March 1, 1968 The Chancellors
- March 2, 1968 The Cherry Slush
- March 9, 1968 The Esquires
- March 16, 1968 The Trolls
- March 22, 1968 The Weaker Sex
- March 23, 1968 The Five Emprees
- March 29, 1968 The Cobblestones
- March 30, 1968 The Shags
- April 5, 1968 The Seeds of Love
- April 6, 1968 The Robbs
- April 10, 1968 The Chancellors
- April 11, 1968 The Same
- April 13, 1968 The Corner Store
- April 15, 1968 The One-Eyed Jacks
- April 19, 1968 The Crimsmen
- April 20, 1968 The Esquires
- April 26, 1968 The Chancellors
- April 27, 1968 The Family
- May 3, 1968 London Mills S.R.O.
- May 4, 1968 The Byzantine Empire
- May 10, 1968 The Sons Of Sound
- May 11, 1968 The Beau Gentry
- May 17, 1968 The Undivided
- May 18, 1968 The Music Expolsion, The Coming Generation
- May 24, 1968 The Rain
- May 25, 1968 The Reel Blues
- May 31, 1968 The Geneva Convention
- June 1, 1968 The Trolls
- June 7, 1968 The Cobblestones
- June 8, 1968 The Light Brigade
- June 12, 1968 Boston Creme Pie
- June 14, 1968 The Third Booth
- June 15, 1968 Eddie and The Sensations
- June 19, 1968 The One-Eyed Jacks
- June 22, 1968 The Corner Store
- June 26, 1968 London Mills S.R.O.
- June 27, 1968 Archie Bell and The Drells
- June 29, 1968 The Chancellors
- July 6, 1968 Friend and Lover, The Chancellors
- July 13, 1968 The Byzantine Empire
- July 17, 1968 The Royal Guardsmen
- July 20, 1968 The Regiment
- July 22, 1968 The One-Eyed Jacks
- July 24, 1968 The Cobblestones
- July 27, 1968 The Shags
- August 3, 1968 The Trolls
- August 7, 1968 The Corner Store
- August 10, 1968 Eddie and The Sensations
- August 17, 1968 The Byzantine Empire
- August 23, 1968 The Corner Store
- August 24, 1968 Jimmy Stokley and The Exiles
- August 31, 1968 The Iron Gate
- September 6, 1968 The One-Eyed Jacks
- September 7, 1968 The Chancellors
- September 14, 1968 The Guild
- September 21, 1968 The Reel Blues
- September 27, 1968 The Backstreet Majority
- September 28, 1968 The Regiment
- October 4, 1968 The Backstreet Majority
- October 5, 1968 The Outsiders
- October 11, 1968 The Backstreet Majority
- October 12, 1968 Midwest Hydraulic Co.
- October 13, 1968 The One-Eyed Jacks, Backstreet Majority
- October 19, 1968 The Olivers
- October 26, 1968 Him, Her and Them
- October 30, 1968 The Backstreet Majority
- November 2, 1968 The Raindear Army
- November 8, 1968 The Coming Generation
- November 9, 1968 Forest City Sound
- November 10, 1968 The Five By Five, The Backstreet Majority
- November 15, 1968 The Boys Next Door
- November 16, 1968 The California Prune Advisory Band
- November 27, 1968 The Backstreet Majority
- November 29, 1968 The Corner Store
- November 30, 1968 The One-Eyed jacks
- December 6, 1968 The Sons of Sound
- December 7, 1968 The Trolls
- December 13, 1968 The Backstreet Majority
- December 14, 1968 Fat Water
- December 20, 1968 The Guild
- December 21, 1968 The Finchley Boys
- December 23, 1968 The One-Eyed Jacks, The Chancellors
- December 30, 1968 The Mauds, The Backstreet Majority
1969 brought new sounds and bands to Pontiac. An early lineup of REO Speedwagon (originally advertised as R.E.O. Speedway) made several appearances. Chicago area groups such as The Shadows of Knight, The Mead, The Dontays and Aorta made appearances for the first time. Touring groups such as Three Dog Night, The Electric Prunes, The Human Beinz, Derek, Crow, Steam and The Hardy Boys all headlined shows in 1969.
- January 2, 1969 For Days and A Night
- January 4, 1969 R.E.O. Speedwagon
- January 10, 1969 The Undivided
- January 11, 1969 The Nickel Bag
- January 17, 1969 The Mead
- January 18, 1969 The California Prune Advisory Band
- January 24, 1969 The Four Americans
- January 25, 1969 The Shades of Blue
- January 31, 1969 The Sect
- February 1, 1969 The Guild
- February 7, 1969 The Present Tense
- February 8, 1969 The First Chapter
- February 11, 1969 The One-Eyed Jacks
- February 15, 1969 The Corner Store
- February 22, 1969 Three Dog Night
- March 1, 1969 The Guild
- March 2, 1969 The Backstreet Majority
- March 7, 1969 The Chancellors
- March 8, 1969 The Mead
- March 22, 1969 The One-Eyed Jacks
- March 28, 1969 The Midwest Hydraulics
- March 29, 1969 The Rain
- April 2, 1969 The Shadows of Knight, The Backstreet Majority
- April 3, 1969 The Lykes Of Us
- April 5, 1969 Derek
- April 6, 1969 The Backstreet Majority
- April 12, 1969 The Rat Pack
- April 18, 1969 The One-Eyed Jacks
- April 19, 1969 The Esquires
- April 26, 1969 The Guild
- May 2, 1969 Maximus
- May 3, 1969 Aorta
- May 10, 1969 Cryan Shames
- May 17, 1969 The Mead
- May 24, 1969 The Light Brigade
- May 29, 1969 The Nickel Bag
- May 31, 1969 The Trolls
- June 3, 1969 The One-Eyed Jacks
- June 4, 1969 The American Breed
- June 7, 1969 Crow
- June 9, 1969 The Chancellors
- June 11, 1969 The Mauds, The Chancellors
- June 14, 1969 R.E.O. Speedwagon
- July 3, 1969 The One-Eyed Jacks
- July 5, 1969 The Young Turks
- July 9, 1969 Fat Water
- July 12, 1969 The Human Beinz
- July 16, 1969 The Backstreet Majority
- July 19, 1969 The Rain
- July 21, 1969 The Cryan Shames, The Backstreet Majority
- July 23, 1969 The Soul Messengers
- July 26, 1969 Dontays
- July 31, 1969 The Electric Prunes
- August 2, 1969 The Mead
- August 6, 1969 The New Colony Six
- August 9, 1969 R.E.O. Speedwagon
- August 13, 1969 Mickey, Larry and The Exciters
- August 16, 1969 The Guild
- August 20, 1969 Underground Sunshine
- August 23, 1969 The Light Brigade
- August 25, 1969 The One-Eyed Jacks
- August 30, 1969 The Crystal Tower
- September 6, 1969 The Rain
- September 12, 1969 The Chancellors
- September 13, 1969 The Dontays
- September 19, 1969 The Chancellors
- September 20, 1969 The Backstreet Majority
- September 27, 1969 The Rugbys
- October 4, 1969 Blue Ice
- October 11, 1969 The Blue
- October 12, 1969 The American Breed
- October 17, 1969 The Chancellors
- October 18, 1969 The Rain
- October 25, 1969 The Electric Prunes
- October 31, 1969 The Chancellors
- November 1, 1969 Crow
- November 8, 1969 The Mead
- November 10, 1969 The Guild
- November 15, 1969 The Hardy Boys, Sweet Fannie Adams
- November 22, 1969 The Corner Store
- November 22, 1969 Frog
- November 26, 1969 The Backstreet Majority, Sweet Fannie Adams
- November 28, 1969 Steam, Sweet Fannie Adams
- November 29, 1969 The Chosen Few
- December 6, 1969 Frederic
- December 13, 1969 The Zebra
- December 20, 1969 Uncle Meat
- December 23, 1969 The New Colony Six
- December 27, 1969 The One-Eyed Jacks
- January 2, 1970 Mitch Ryder and Detroit Wheels
- January 3, 1970 The Backstreet (Majority)
- January 17, 1970 The Ritual
- January 24, 1970 The Mead
- January 31, 1970 The Guild
- February 7, 1970 The Rain
- February 11, 1970 The American Breed
- February 14, 1970 Zebra
- February 21, 1970 The Light Brigade
- February 28, 1970 Feathertrain
- March 1, 1970 Fuse
- March 7, 1970 The Ritual
- March 14, 1970 Bloomsbury People
- March 21, 1970 The Backstreet (Majority)
- March 26, 1970 Young Blood Hawk, Sweet Fannie Adams
- March 28, 1970 Frijid Pink
- April 4, 1970 The Light Brigade
- April 11, 1970 The American Breed, Young Blood Hawk
- April 18, 1970 R.E.O. Speedwagon
- April 25, 1970 The Guild
- May 2, 1970 The Virgin Dawn
- May 9, 1970 Third Power
- May 16, 1970 Backstreet
- May 23, 1970 Liquid Smoke
- May 30, 1970 The Mead
- June 6, 1970 The Amboy Dukes, Young Blood Hawk
- June 16, 1970 The Ides of March
- July 4, 1970 The Ring
- July 15, 1970 The Zombies, Morningside
- July 18, 1970 Backstreet
- July 22, 1970 Vanity Fare
- July 25, 1970 Moses
- July 29, 1970 Genesis, R.E.O. Speedwagon
- August 1, 1970 Frijid Pink, Springwell
- August 8, 1970 Mitch Ryder and Detroit Wheels
- August 15, 1970 The Cryan Shames
- August 22, 1970 The Neighborhood
- August 29, 1970 Morningside
- September 5, 1970 Moses
- September 8, 1970 Moses
- September 12, 1970 Genesis
- September 19, 1970 The Mead
- September 26, 1970 Feathertrain
- October 3, 1970 The Esquires
- October 8, 1970 Morningside
- October 10, 1970 R.E.O. Speedwagon
- October 17, 1970 Genesis
- October 24, 1970 Ormandy
- October 31, 1970 Feathertrain
The Halloween dance featuring Feathertrain from Champaign was, as advertised, the "Last Dance" for the Reservation. The club wasn't closed for long however. In December of that year, Ray Smith took on a business partner, Ron LaPiccalo, and remodeled the building at 1221 N. Aurora Street once again.
Together they soon opened Club Smilo, a new private teen club with membership restricted to high school students only. In addition to dances on Fridays and Saturdays, the club also served dinners on Sundays and Tuesdays, which were open to the public.
Club Smilo lasted for several years. In 1975, it relocated briefly to 318 ½ N. Mill Street in Pontiac before closing for good. That same year, the building at 1221 N. Aurora Street became the Knights of Columbus Hall and remained so for 20 years. Currently, the old teen dance hall is a church.
If anyone has any memories of the Reservation please share in the comments below. If you have any photos please reach out to us directly and we'll try and add them to this post: downstatesounds@gmail.com
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