Jul 13, 2022
“Hootenanny A Go-Go,” aka “Once Upon A Coffee House” is a 1965 film based on an original story by and includes songs and music from our dad, Carl Yale (that’s him with the sunglasses if you’re on Libsyn). The film was shot in Miami at a breakneck pace in 1964 and was produced by Fred Berney.
The idea came about as a result of Berney’s visits to one of our father’s (and uncle's) coffee houses in Miami – The Hootenanny – as the folk scene was coming to a crescendo at the advent of the British Invasion – and was intended as a vehicle for various folk artists at the time. Of note is the fact that the film was also the first-ever screen appearance by Joan Rivers.
Here’s our conversation with Fred – a look into the film itself, his life and career in media, and his take on Miami itself.
SHOW NOTES:
0:00 - "Once Upon a Coffee House" by Carl Yale, performed by The Goldebriars
2:00 - Greetings and about the song - from the film "Hootenanny A Go-Go" aka "Once Upon a Coffee House"
3:25 - Welcome Fred Berney / Growing up in Miami / Shenandoah Elementary / Shenandoah Junior High / Miami Senior High
4:50 - Early interest in recording / Pentron 9T-3C
8:57 - Hanging out at WQAM / Kirby Brooks / DuPont Building / "Johnny's Magic Adventure" multi-groove records / Bob Gordon / Rick Shaw / Jon Arthur / Brace Beemer / Miami Stadium
14:20 - Turning a love of radio into a profession / Recording studio / Satellite Media backstory
17:13 - Meeting Carl and Roger Yale, the original Yale Brothers / Hootenanny Coffee House (8th Street)
18:50 - Origins of radio show / Joseph Cotton / "Night at the Hootenanny Coffee House" record / Phil Koss / Helene Slack / Vince Martin / Recording process and performers / Mike Piel / Columbus Day Hootenanny live recording
25:43 - The Coffee House (Douglas Road) - used for exteriors in the movie / Interiors shot on sets.
26:53 - Background info on movie / Vehicle for Folk music / Fred's film education at the University of Miami and real-world experience / Commercial production
29:58 - Interest in shooting a film / "Sextet" (1964 - Not the Mae West movie) / Russ Meyer "nudie-cuties"
31:00 - More background on movie / Initial funding through Berney's father / Reela Films / Wometco and WTVJ / Meeting at Epic Records NYC / The Freewheelers / The Goldebriars / Casting / The Bitter End NYC / Jim, Jake and Joan
34:18 - Premiere in Miami / The sets / Storage of negative / Prints / 35mm versus 16mm / Arriflex camera versus Mitchell camera
38:40 - Director of Photography Will Jones / Issues with original director / Commentary track on DVD - distributed by Alpha Video / Talent considered: Director Chris Nyby II, Jerry Van Dyke, Paul Lynde / Lead roles: Curtis Taylor and Karen Thorsell
45:15 - Radio show 1963 / Whirlwind courtship with future wife Ellen Berney
46:36 - Music by Carl Yale with additional lyrics by (Uncle) Roger Yale - with the exception of Oscar Brand / Original script / Director Shepard Traube
52:25 - "Nude Girl with Guitar" painting
53:42 - Dad's cameos / Dream sequence / Crew as extras / Chris and Roger appeared in their stroller
57:12 - Parting comments
59:10 - "Honey Bunny" by Carl Yale