Northwest Dance & Music Venues

The V.F.W. Hall
Salem, Oregon

Some of the bands that rocked The Salem Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall during those great years of NW rmusic were:

 

The Archies
The Bards
Bluefield Doughboys
Capitol Street Balloon
The Che-Vels
Grants Blueboys
Heavy Company
King Biscuit Entertainers
The Kingsmen
Live Five
Mr Lucky & The Gamblers
Moguls
Morning Reign
The Phi-Dels
Reunion
Spectrum
Tyme
The Untouchables
Wheel of Fortune
The Wailers
 

Others?

Yes the VFW was used for a lot of dances.  This is where Ed Dougherty (EJD Enterprises) got his start.  I think the first 60's band to play was probably either the Phi-Dels or my brothers group, The Che-Vels, both of Salem.  I remember even some Seattle bands coming down to play there too.  Bluefield Doughboys stands out in my mind for some reason.  I saw the Kingsmen plus lots of other local groups here.  It was the hot spot until EJD moved things over to the Salem Armory at the state fairgrounds.

Lars Van Valkenburg, February 2007

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Last Update:  13 February 2014
Credits:  Dave Higginbotham, Lars Van Valkenburg, Tom Drechsler, David Zeit, Mark Nerby, Bob Stoutenburg, Mike Parker, Bud Garrison, Randy Bryson