Article Database

Teen Gazette
September 30, 1967

Author: Ken Walker

The Town Sound

IT'S TRUE! The V.I.P. is closing down.

Nick Petra, president of the Phoenix Jaycees, announced that the Jaycee Building, which has been the site of teen dances since 1961, will discontinue opeĀ­ation in 2 or 3 weeks.

Why? Jack Curtis, manager of the club reasoned, "There simply is not enough parking area and the hall itself is not large enough to accommodate the ever increasing numbers of Valley teens attending the dances."

CURTIS ALSO stated that he was trying to open another club for teens if a suitable location could be found.

Since 1961, approximately two dozen teen clubs have opened and closed either for lack of patronage or by request of the city council for laxity in rules or complaints by neighboring citizens.

The V.I.P., originally called Stage 7, never had these problems. Valley teens have always been able to see and to dance to their favorite groups in a clean and wholesome atmosphere. The few incidents of fighting and under-age drinking were quickly eliminated due to strict security.

(Kindly submitted from the collection of Christian Strandell)

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Teen Gazette (Phoenix, Arizona) - September 30th, 1967 - Page 1