Teenbeat Club

The Teenbeat Club, Las Vegas, Nevada, located at 4416 Paradise Road, was the first nightclub in the United States which catered exclusively to teenagers.

It was begun in Fall, 1963 by two partners, Steve Miller and Keith Austin, both 19 year old Las Vegas High School graduates where they were members of the 1962 LVHS Broadcasting Club. The Teenbeat Club ceased operation in 1967.

The Teenbeat Club grew out of successful 1962 dance concerts Miller and Austin promoted, featuring live dance concerts and KLAS radio broadcasts from the Knights of Columbus Hall and the National Guard Armory in Downtown Las Vegas.

The broadcasts featured The Teenbeats, a local Las Vegas Surf music influenced band, formerly known as the Checkmates. When the Teenbeat Club opened in 1963, The Teenbeats were the house band featuring Lyle Smith, Larry Chernoff, Don Frassa, Gary Karr and Jim Logue. The Lords, a Las Vegas rock band featuring Fred Cole and Johnny The German, played frequently in 1964 as did The Coachmen featuring Mike Wesley </ref> Mike Wesley </ref> .

Miller and Austin co-produced LP Albums and 45 RPM singles from 1962 to 1965. The first two were 45 rpm's by The Teenbeats entitled 'Live Like a King' on Las Vegas Strip Records and 'Surfbound', recorded on Teenbeat Records. Miller and Austin also co-produced two live LP Albums on La Brea Records, The Goldtones, 'Live at the Teenbeat Club' featuring Randy Seol, Wayne Purvis, Ken Naylor, Al Doss, Mike Peters, Steve Green and Cindy Mac; and the Starfires, 'Teenbeat a Go Go', featuring Chuck Butler, Dave Anderson, Kack Emerick, Freddy Fields and Sonny Lathrop. Other bands to play the Teenbeat Club during it's first two years of operation were The Markettes, The Routers, the Lively Ones and the Sentinels.</ref> Steve Miller </ref>

In 1965, Miller and Austin co-produced two 45 RPM singles, on Teenbeat Records, 'It's Your Time', and 'Little Girl' on the flipside, by The Weeds, a local Las Vegas band. This was followed in 1966 with a 45 RPM record on Teenbeat Records, a cover of the Rolling Stones, 'Get Off My Cloud', featuring Charlie White Eagle, who was a frequent solo performer at the Teenbeat Club, with musical accompaniment by The Weeds.</ref> Fred Cole, Unknown Passage, 2006 </ref>

The Weeds were frequent performers at the Teenbeat Club from 1965 through 1966, featuring Fred Cole, vocalist, who later gained success in the groups Zipper, Rats, and Dead Moon. Other members of The Weeds were Ed Bowen, Dennis Wynne, Ron Buzzel, Bob Atkins, Ed Grebner, and Tim Rockson. </ref> "It's Your Time", 45 rpm, Behemoth Records 1988 re-release, Las Vegas, NV, includes insert of a photograph of The Weeds and Scatter Blues together, c. 1966. </ref> 1966 and 1967 saw a renaissance of local Las Vegas electric rock and blues bands in the Las Vegas Valley. The Scatter Blues played the Teenbeat Club regularly which featured Bill Rosevear, Piers Munro, Scott Devitt and Rich Lowry. Other frequently appearing local Las Vegas bands appearing at the Teenbeat Club in the mid-60's were The Present Tense featuring Chris Hallman, Michael Selinsky, Bob Lilley, John McDonnel, Dennis Prell, and John Baker; The Sioux Uprising, featuring Gregory Waller and Steve Armstead; Nobody's Children, and Misty Souls were other Las Vegas regulars to play the Teenbeat Club during this time period. Hollywood, CA, bands who played the 'TC' included Love with Arthur Lee, 'Little Black Book'; The Outsiders, 'Time Won't Let Me'; Hamilton Street Car, The Standells, 'Dirty Water', 'Mr. Moto', from San Luis Obispo, CA were also frequent performers. </ref> Steve Miller; and Norton Records liner notes, 1991. </ref>

From 1962 to 1966 Miller and Austin were the hosts of the Teenbeat Club Television Show, on KLAS-TV, Channel 8, featuring live weekly interviews and dancing, patterned after Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The live broadcasts featured such guest artists as Wayne Newton, Vic Dana, Timi Yuro, Dick and Dee Dee, Keely Smith, Martin Deny, Trini Lopez, Bobby Vinton, Bobby Vee, Paul Revere and the Raiders and The Beach Boys. </ref> Steve Miller biography </ref>

From 1963 to 1968 Miller and Austin also promoted dance concerts held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring The Beach Boys, Dick and Dee Dee, Bobby Vinton, Jackie DeShannon, Bobby Rydell, Surfaris, Three Dog Night, Tom Jones, Lou Rawls, Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, and Neil Sedaka.</ref> Ibid. </ref>

The original Teenbeat Club building still stands, now an adult night club, located across the street, due east of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. </ref> As of 2007 </ref>

Steve Miller later served as a Las Vegas City Council Member from 1987-1991. He was elected to the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1998.</ref> Steve Miller, op. cit. </ref>

Keith Austin moved to Southern California where he continued his career in the recording industry. </ref> RIAA </ref>

References

67.180.52.99 02:20, 1 October 2007 (UTC)mSelinsky