The Milwaukee Post

By DAN MUCKELBAUER Post Editor MILWAUKEE — From an autographed gui- tar by Tom Petty to a video of memories, including couples talking about how they met their future spouses at Summerfest. Those are just some of the items on display at the Milwaukee County Historical Society as it commemorates the world's largest musical festival's 50th anniversary. From banners to T-shirts to pins, the exhibit is bedecked with that familiar logo of the smi- ley face. Some came from the historical soci- ety's collection, some from Summerfest and some from the public. "It's been the symbol since 1970," historical society curator Ben Barbera said of the logo. "When you think of the various institutions that have rebranded aover the years and some- thing so simple has lasted so long is pretty impressive." News clippings dating back to 1962 tell of Milwaukee's signature event's genesis by the city's leaders that eventually wound up on the lakefront, growing into something that brings millions of dollars annually to the city, even- tually leading to different ethnic festivals at the venue. "We know Summerfest today as a major music festival," Barbera said. "This is some- thing they were trying to create out of nothing — what this was going to be and what it was going to called and the music that would be there," he said One of the inspirations was Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, but the event wound up uniquely Milwaukee, he added. "It brings together this enjoyment of sum- mer and outdoor activity and entertainment, and the food and the drink," Barbera said. "Somehow they got the mix right." "It's so Milwaukee," said Mame McCully, the historical society's executive director. The excitement remains, but the grounds, food, beer, music and more change, McCully said. Among the changes this year is the new Miller stage, she noted. It's also personal for so many residents and visitors. McCulley started going to Summerfest when she was in day camp and later worked a popcorn wagon as a teen. "Your relationship can change with the fes- tival over time," she said. "You can see things differently." May 19, 2017 • Milwaukee County Post • 17 Please Call if you M O V E D ! at 414-744-6370 Leave a Message Name • Phone # Old Address & New Address & Apt. # or Lot # We Love Our Readers Thank You Milwaukee Co. Post WILLS, TRUSTS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, PROBATE Pre and post death planning by a professional with over 40 years of experience. Law Offices of Attorney James J. Winiarski 3625 W. Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee (414) 383-3902 255317093 Schlitz Country was one of the early stages at Summerfest. Submitted photo Summerfest turns 50 Exhibit spotlights memorabilia, memories ENTERTAINMENT BY TOM JOZWIK Special to the Post It was a volatile era, that period in and around 1967. The Vietnam War was at its apex, race riots raged in cities including Milwaukee, demonstrations of dissatis- faction were being mounted the world over. A Milwaukee manifesta- tion of hope was — and is — a simply named alcohol- free "listening room" near the Marquette University campus. According to a news release regarding its 50th anniversary, which will be celebrated Saturday, "The Coffee House was born of the troubled, yet hopeful times of the '60s." The Coffee House, 1905 W. Wisconsin Ave., began in conjunction with the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Marquette and has always been situated at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Lutheran minister "Alan Davis was really the spark plug," Coffee House spokesman David HB Drake recalled. A mission statement indicates its founders envisioned The Coffee House as "a place where persons may meet in unhurried conversation and where the questions, the issues, the interests, the hopes that lie within and around us may unfold in an atmosphere of openness and candor." A well-known folk per- formance artist from Milwaukee — his sobriquet is "Milwaukee's trouba- dour" — who formerly resided in Waukesha, Drake began his affiliation with The Coffee House 49 years ago. "Practically every acoustic musician (from the area) who ever made it to the middle range (of celebri- ty) started there," Drake said in a recent interview. "The first thing I ever did in public is opening for some- one else at The Coffee House." According to the release, The Coffee House is among the nation's oldest continu- ous folk sites. The Coffee House bills itself as "an acoustic music and spoken word venue," that last phrase in deference to the poetry, skits and such. "Lutheran churches have Bible study; well, this was societal study," Drake explained. And just how would Drake define "acoustic music"? "Music without commercial additives," the singer-song- writer and player of several instruments offered. "Songs that have a story to them ... teaching you something or making a comment, without special effects. If you pulled the plug, the (acoustic) per- former could keep on going. Rock bands would be dead in the water." The noted entertainer sug- gested that Larry Penn would be The Coffee House's most accomplished alum- nus. Penn died three years ago at 87. "I would consider him the Milwaukee singer- songwriter who went the farthest," said Drake. "Pete Seeger recorded his songs." Several performers whose reputations reach well beyond the Milwaukee- Waukesha area will visit The Coffee House Saturday, when "Wisconsin's longest- running acoustic music venue" marks its milestone anniversary. Madison-based musical humorists Lou and Peter Berryman; band- leader-guitarist Bill Camplin, who identifies his hometown as "Fort Atkinson by way of Pewaukee," owns a night- club in the former city and has collaborated on projects with Peter Buffett; and fami- ly-focused music men Dave Fox and Will Branch, who have encouraged audience participation in gigs from Winnipeg to southern Louisiana, will be concert headliners. The anniversary celebra- tion, slated to run from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., will also fea- ture such pillars of the local folk scene as Sandy Weisto, John Stano, Peter Lee, Jym Mooney, Mud River Lee, Tom and Barb Webber, and Drake himself. Sessions on poetry and humor, songwrit- ing and social justice are to be offered, as well as a PowerPoint presentation on the venue's half-century. For more information, visit www.the-coffee-house.com. A $5 freewill offering is being requested of atten- dees, who are invited to dine, and bring a dish to share, at a 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. potluck meal. For 50 years, The Coffee House at Milwaukee's Redeemer Lutheran Church has been an acoustic music and folk venue. Submitted photo 'Born of troubled times,' Coffee House marks golden anniversary

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