What's a "Skull Orchard" ?

Jeremy Steele · Post by **Jeremy Steele** » 13 Jun 2002 7:32 am

And where did the term come from? Thanks.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 13 Jun 2002 7:35 am

Skull Orchard/Marble Orchard,where I come from It's a Cemetary.
marble>>headstones are marble.
skull>> when someone was beheaded they put their head on a pole as a marker maybe?

Bill Ford

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[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 13 June 2002 at 08:40 AM.]

Gregg Galbraith · Post by **Gregg Galbraith** » 13 Jun 2002 9:04 am

This term is also used to describe drinking/picking establishments of less than stellar repute

Richard Bass · Post by **Richard Bass** » 13 Jun 2002 10:29 am

Rowdy Bar. Usually alot of fun, but watch you back!!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Jun 2002 11:59 am

I assume this is in reference to the Black Brothers album. I have been to the club (Dukes) that was recorded at many times. I believe it was once a house that was converted into a bar. When you first walked in the front, there was the living room with a pool table. Walking to the back was probably the kithen/dining room where the bandstand (very small) was With some tables around the equally small dance floor. It was a jumpin' place though. Sat in with them on a few occasions.

It would definately fall into the definitions given by Gregg and Richard.

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

John Hanusch · Post by **John Hanusch** » 13 Jun 2002 1:32 pm

I think it was Hank Williams or one of his contemporaries who described these places as ones "where in the mornings, they would have to sweep up the broken glass & eyeballs from the floor", and might I add "also pieces of broken hearts". Hey, some of you songwriters ought to think about that!! Too bad - it's about 40 or 50 years too late for that theme.

MALCOLM KIRBY · Post by **MALCOLM KIRBY** » 13 Jun 2002 2:41 pm

Locally it's Monk's Place (The Downtowner) in Hopkinsville, KY. I used to pick in there some with the late Chickenhawk Murphy when I was a teenager. That was 30 years ago.
The place is still open. A friend of mine is the DJ there and he doubles as bouncer. He loves his work.

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 13 Jun 2002 3:48 pm

Don't know the origin but,a "skull orchard", back east,where I come from,is a "dive",the lowest of low beer joints where you,probably, have to dodge flyin' beer bottles while your playin'. You had to protect your skull from them. Lotssa joints in Tx. had chicken wire strung up in front of the bandstands,to protect 'em from this. Hope this answers your question.

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Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 13 Jun 2002 4:56 pm

Smiley, you left out the part where the bouncer asks you if you have a gun, and when you say no....he gives you one.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 13 Jun 2002 4:59 pm

For me. it was always "the other venue". There were always two kinds of places to play...

The "dance hall" where people came to rub bellies, polish belt buckles, and the like.

The "skull orchard", where people just sat (or stood) and listened. These were the parks, county fairs, and auditorium gigs. When you were on stage...and looked out over the crowd...it sure looked like "pickin' time in an orange grove". All you saw were hundreds of round shiny heads glistening in the heat.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 13 Jun 2002 5:09 pm

Herb Steiner's bio states he,
"played every dance hall and skull orchard around Hollywood and Las Vegas".

I suspect he can explain.
What's a Dance Hall?

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 13 Jun 2002 6:23 pm

..a special backstage room filled with very friendly girls...

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 13 Jun 2002 7:35 pm

My mother used to call them "Hell Holes", she was right!!!
Unfortunately, those were the places most of us learned to play steel, while dodging beer bottles, bullets, and fists. I am blessed in the fact my Mom prayed me out of them 24 years ago.

John Buffington VP OSGA