Thursday, March 3, 2022

Polka Music At Little Bavaria in Del Mar Terrace

 

1950 Terrace Inn

I first heard rumors of a German restaurant in the Torrey Pines area a few years ago. Apparently it was quite a hit, and there was a house polka band that played while large amounts of beer were served.  I searched the entire internet in vain, and finally found this postcard on eBay. 


Doing a bit more searching, I tried my luck with the names Franz Schermann and Ludwig Liebwein that were on the postcard. Bingo!  That's where some great history started to reveal itself. 

Polka Festival, 1957 Rendezvous Record RLP 1304

Franz Schermann and the Alpiners

The Alpiners were organized in the spring of 1950 when Franz Schermann and his father-in-law, Louis Liebwein, leased a defunct outlying dance hall known as Terrace Inn. This unlikely location in Del Mar Terrace (20 miles from downtown San Diego) had been the undoing of four former dance bands who were unable to attract a crowd. At first a few stragglers dropped by and the general opinion of those in the tavern business in San Diego was that the Dutchman had "flipped his lid." It was foreseen that the Alpiners would be the strongest drawing musical act ever to play in San Diego county. 

The few dancers who dropped by at the start were thrilled with the music of the little German band and they told their friends. Soon the crowds came in ever-increasing numbers. It was word-of-mouth praise that brought them. There was no money for advertising or promotion in those days. An admission charge was put on but this did not slaken the surge of pleasure-seekers who came each week end. By 1952 they were turning them away. In 1954 a record manufacturer who lived in Del Mar signed them to a contract and production was started on a series of recordings which have been proclaimed by fold dance teachers of wide reputation to be the absolute tops in authentic music for European dance routines. 

Special dances done to the Alpiners music have been designed by nationally known teachers including Ronnie and Stu Lipner of Sunnyside, N.Y.; Milly von Koonsky of Berkeley; and Elizabeth Ullrich of San Diego. 

During 1955 the name of the Terrace Inn was changed to Little Bavaria and the capacity of the place was doubled. The wise ones predicted that the intimacy of the place would be lost and the crowds would dwindle. Again they had under-estimated the power of the little German band, for the people came in larger numbers and soon they were having overflow crowds. 

In 1956 several state universities included the dance records by the Alpiners in the curriculum of the audio-visual department and the playing of their zestful Bavarian melodies became text material. 

Franz is dedicated to the idea that an ever-increasing audience can by reached by never changing his style. He works out his arrangements from the traditional European music taught to him by his grandmother. The Alpiners have become perfectionists with the Waltz, Landler, Schottische, Oberek, Gallop, March, Hambo, Maruska, and Polka. 

Before joining together as the Alpiners in 1950 Franz, who plays the accordion, George Gale, clarinet and sax, and L. E. Lantz, tuba; had all established considerable renown for their artistry. Franz played with The Village Tavern Band in Buffalo, N.Y. and had his own radio program over Station WHAM at Rochester, New York.

George Gale played with the theater orchestras for musical shows along Broadway for many years of his youth and went on tour with circuses during the summer off-season for shows along the big tent. Sitting in the circus bands sometimes playing over 200 tunes during a performance had a part in developing his terrific versatility. Soon after moving to San Diego, George became leader of the Moose Dutch Band and clarinetist with the San Diego Symphonic Band, a civic musical organization. Also playing with these two bands was a long-legged fellow who tooted a real hot tuba, L. E. Lantz. 

So Franz Schermann, George Gale, and Lantz, still playing as one after seven years, are drawing customers to Little Bavaria from every state in the United States and are making records which are the most played on beer tavern juke boxes

Notes from the back cover by Oliver H. Williamson, 1957

Listen to the Music of Franz Schermann and the Alpiners

If you are interested in time travel, close your eyes and imagine you are sitting at a table in Little Bavaria with a beer stein in your hand as you click on these links:

These songs have been digitized from their original 78 rpm vinyl discs, and feature all the authentic pops and hisses that we've completely forgotten about in this new digital age. 

Other songs the Alpiners recorded that I couldn't find by them, so any links are to other groups doing the same song:
The Edelweiss Dancers in 1964

The Tuesday edition of the Escondido Daily Time-Advocate on February 4, 1964 featured a great profile on the Edelweiss Dancers that entertained the folks at Little Bavaria every Saturday night. 


Dancing Polka For Fun Opens Door To Entertainment World
By Marilyn Ebeling, Times-Advocate Society Editor

It's just another polka, like any other polka, but oh, what a change in the pace — the pace of the watusi, twist and surfers' stomp.

Unlike many teenagers of the modern age, several Escondido youths have found fun and delight in the polka, the schottische and other dances of Germany. 

Curt Flynn, Florence and John Blodgett, all students at Palomar College, and Susie Hartshorn, senior at Escondido High School, together with Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ingham of Cardiff, have organized the Edelweiss Dancers. Now in their eighth month of dancing together, this group rehearses Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings. 

Edelweiss is the German word for a small perennial herb of the aster family which grows high in the Alps. Edel means noble and weiss means white. 

Flynn is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis W. Flynn. Mr. and Mrs. John Blodgett are parents of John and Florence Blodgett and Susie Hartshorn is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hartshorn. All Escondido residents. These four youths are the official dancers but others fill in the group.

Interest Began In HS

Other dancers, all Escondidans, are Judy Grabler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Grabler; Beth Haley, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Edgar Haley; Dan Winkler, so of Dr. and Mrs. David Winkler; Sharon Heidrich, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heidrich; Larry Hagen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry R. Hagen; Pancho Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Miller, and Alan Dawson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Dawson. 

Jim Ingham and his wife, Ann, are the instructors and join in with the Escondido youths, who became interested in the German dances while at Escondido High School. It was about three years ago, when the youths discovered they had a mutual interest in dances of Germany. They all were members of the German Club which was formed in 1961 at EHS.

The Escondido youths who began dancing the polka for fun, found that the Little Bavaria Restaurant in Del Mar lent the appropriate atmosphere for "kicking their heels." 

Now Entertain

Franz Scherman, owner of the establishment, noticed the frolicking youths and after several visits by them, asked them if they would like to entertain at the restaurant. They now perform every other Saturday in Del Mar, and are called upon to entertain at private parties and have danced for a number of benefit programs. Scherman and his Alpiners provide music for the Edelweiss Dancers when they perform at Del Mar. 

The dancers are planning to entertain at the Friday American Field Service benefit dinner which will be held at the Little Bavaria. The event is open to the public and dinner tickets are being sold at Escondido High School and by AFS students.

Sponsored Annually

The Event is sponsored annually be the adult chapter of the Escondido AFS to enable students from foreign countries to come to the Escondido area to live and study with a local family for one school year. 

It is fitting that a German theme will be carried out at the dinner and that Escondido High School affiliates will entertain for the benefit. 

What began with an interest in learning more about Germany, in addition to the language studied at high school, has developed into a fun and perhaps profitable business for the youths. They will appear on a San Diego television show at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. And, it is "in the mind" that the dance group may be Las Vegas bound.

Kicking Their Heels

Well, if you were wondering why they keep saying "kicking their heels" here's Bobby Burgess and Cissy King dancing the polka on the Lawrence Welk Show in 1968 to The Clarinet Polka — a favorite at Little Bavaria. 


Yes, indeed there is a lot of heels kicking! 

The Death of Franz in 1966

Franz J. Schermann died in 1966 at the age of only 44.  His widow Josephine remarried and continued the business for many years. 

Friday Night Big Band Dancing in 1976

Scanning through old newspapers, I found this 1976 advertisement for Little Bavaria announcing that The Big Band Is Back!  The Willard-James Orchestra. 



1982 The Last Days of Little Bavaria

I'm still looking into what the last days of Little Bavaria were, but everything points to 1982. Franz's wife Josephine A. Coke (who married Paul Coke in 1967 after Franz's untimely death) was still one of the owners of the restaurant upon her own death on 20 January 1982 in Alpine, California. Her parents were co-owners, with her mother Josephine Niens Liebwein passing away on 9 November 1982. That left a heart-broken Ludwig Liebwein as the sole proprietor.  1982 was a tough year for him, and I suspect that's when Little Bavaria shut down.  Ludwig lived 16 more years and died at the age of 96 in Vista on 11 September 1998. 

Memories of Del Mar Terrace

On February 27, 1997 Bonnie ZoBell wrote an excellent article about The Terrace Rats: A Feral Childhood in Del Mar in the San Diego Reader. I include a short excerpt of her memories of Little Bavaria here. 

The Little Bavaria was probably the best-known Terrace establishment ever. Known not only in San Diego but up and down the West Coast, people drove great distances from the ’50s through the 70s to dine and dance there. Patrons ordered German beer before it became popular in the United States, and for dinner they were treated to knockwurst, sauerbraten, and Wienerschnitzel, all cooked up by the Sherman family, who lived on the premises. Grandma Sherman was the head chef. There were also Grandpa Sherman, Franz Sr., his wife Josephine, and Frankie Sherman. Big Sam worked the parking lot parking cars for some years. He never brought the Chihuahuas with him, but he’d set up his metal chair right at the entrance of the lot and sometimes Goodman and the other kids talked to him there too. Sometimes he’d have his radio going.

The Bavaria boasted the largest dance floor in all of North County; people who didn’t even dance somehow found themselves out there doing the polka. Poor Frankie Sherman had to wear lederhosen when he was working, a fact the Rats of course needled him about, the same way all of them were needled about their quirks and peculiarities. Later, when Frankie was in his early teens, he joined his uncles and his father in becoming a part of the Alpiners, an oompah-pah band that played at the Little Bavaria nightly.

One of the Rats’ favorite dares was sneaking across the dance floor and out the other side of the Little Bavaria at lunch time, before Mr. Sherman could catch them. It was also a great treat to go in for lunch and get to order a hamburger and a Coke for themselves. If only life in the Terrace could have stayed that simple.

In 1980, after first Grandma and then Franz Sr. died, the Bavaria was sold and stopped being the Little Bavaria. First it was a rock-and-roll club. Then it was a country and western bar. Now the building has been broken up and is used as office space.

1983 C.W.'s

By 1983, Little Bavaria was no more and various country and rockabilly bands were passing through C.W.'s at the former site. 

1984 Del Mar Cattle Company

In 1984, the dance hall was remodeled for country music, which didn't last very long.  A few notable appearances include:
  • 19 April 1984 - Private showing of the Showtime country music video concert "Star Spangled Country Party" at the newly remodeled Del Mar Cattle Company by Luckenbach Productions and Primavera Video
  • 3 May 1984 - "Saturday, Country crooner Michael Murphy returns to North County, this time to the Del Mar Cattle Company (former Little Bavaria, C.W.'s, etc.). Murphy has a magnificent voice, and he is an entertainer in every sense of the word." 
  • 10 May 1984 - "On Sunday, Country singer Joe Stampley will be joined by local band Stampede for a concert at the Del Mar Cattle Company on Carmel Valley Road"
  • 31 May 1984 - "The Del Mar Cattle Co. hosts live country with Stampede tonight through Monday"
  • 7 June 1984 - "Stampede does the country at the Del Mar Cattle Co... Friday through Sunday, then on Monday, White Lightning opens a two-night set at the Del Mar Cattle Co. with country tonight." 
  • 26 July 1984 - "Cowpoke Jimmy Cribbs and the Cotton Band will be at the Del Mar Cattle Company to play every song David Allan Coe ever wrote..."
  • 2 Aug 1984 - Jimmy Cribb and the New Cotton Band  
  • 13 Sept 1984 - featured the band Alaska for a weekend
  • 11 Oct 1984 - Alaska
  • 8 Nov 1984 - Alaska
  • 13 Dec 1984 - Alaska

1986 Conversion to Offices

Sometime around 1985 or 1986 the original dance hall building was converted into at least three small offices to be rented out.  The "new" extension from 1955 continued to be a restaurant, and is in fact still a restaurant to this day, albeit not the same one through the years as you'll see in the next sections. 

1987 Villa D'Este

From 1987 to 1993, 2282 Carmel Valley Road was the home to Villa D'Este Italian restaurant.  

The Good at Villa d'Este Is Enough to Overshadow the Pretense. Besides the name, about all that the Italian Villa d'Este and the Del Mar restaurant have in common is a view of the water. — LA Times, Dec 17, 1987


Villa d'Este closed sometime after December 17, 1993, as they were still running newspaper ads at that time. 

1994 Alpine Haus

Going back to its German roots, in February 1994 a new restaurant opened in the former Little Bavaria location. The old familiar smells of spaetzle, fennel gratin, sauerkraut, and bratwurste filled the air. Just like old times. Well, it lasted all of eight months until September when it went bankrupt and notices were placed in the local papers as their assets were sold off. However, on April 27 1994 the North County Times reviewed it, so we know that it was indeed there! 
Apr 1994 review in North County Times

1994 The Potato Shack

It's interesting what you find when you search just for an address like "2282 Carmel Valley". I found this October 28, 1994 review of The Potato Shack in the North County Times. I've certainly never heard of a Del Mar location for The Potato Shack before, probably because it certainly wasn't there very long. Just a couple months later it closed.


It turns out that the original Encinitas location is still in business, and has been since 1983... so if you are curious, you can visit them and find out what all the fuss was about.  I mean the place is always busy, and has been for almost 40 years! 
Oct 1994 review in North County Times

1995 The Falcon Pub

Another new one on me.  Here's the grand opening advert for The Falcon Pub, March 17, 1995. Boom boom boom, three new restaurants in the span of about a year. All in the same location, and all long gone. 

1996 Nugent's Seafood Grille

From 1996 to 2005 or so, the location was Nugent's, a steak and seafood restaurant owned by Ron Nugent. I'm trying to pinpoint the exact opening date. The first sign I've seen of it in old newspapers is 1999, so perhaps that's the date instead of 1996. I found one reference that Nugent's was incorporated in 1992, but that would have had to have been at a different location. 
2002 Nugent's Seafood Grille advertisement

I seem to remember that after Nugent's closed, there was a fairly lengthy vacancy until Eda-Mami opened, so it's possible that Nugent's closed in 2004 or before. 

2006 Eda-Mami Japanese Cuisine

It seems like Eda-Mami was open for a short time, but it was actually open from 2006 to 2014. Wow, times flies!

Eda-Mami serves Japanese style sushi with innovative and delicious twists made by our creative and talented Sushi Chefs. Our Kitchen Chefs work diligently to provide fulfilling meals from yellowtail collar to nabeyaki udon. A variety of wine, champagne, sake and beer pair nicely with our fresh fish and delicious entrees. You are in for a treat. Join and us for the Eda Mami Experience. We're sure you'll love it.

2015 Seasalt Del Mar Seafood Bistro

Salvatore Ercolano opened the Italian-inspired Seasalt seafood restaurant in mid-February 2015. He included sushi on the menu to keep the previous Eda-Mami customers happy.  

While seafood takes center stage at Seasalt Del Mar, there are plenty of other alternatives, from chicken and steak entrees to salads, soups and sliders. Some of the notables are the Roman Style Artichokes sautéed with olive oil and garlic, and sprinkled with basil and parsley; and The Seasalt Salad with baby spinach, chopped Belgian endive, sliced beets, sliced apples and crumbled cranberry goat cheese, with a white wine balsamic vinaigrette.


Then and Now

The Terrace Inn, later Little Bavaria Restaurant was at the corner of Sorrento Road and Fir Street. Good luck finding those roads today, because they have been renamed since 1950.  The building is still there and in good shape at the corner of Carmel Valley Road and Via Cortina. The first dance hall building was originally built and owned by building contractor Carl Hugo Andersen of Escondido (1902 - 1977). 

1953

1964

2022

So, originally the dance hall was one single long building that looked like this from the main road.

Terrace Inn in 1950

And here's what the expanded building looks like today. You can still make out the long barn on the far side, with the 1955 expansion right next to it in the foreground. 

Sea Salt in 2022

Here's another view taken from Via Cortina which shows what the original building looks like today.  It has been updated a bit, but the basic long bar shape is clearly the same building. 
Side of Seasalt in 2022

Linda's Polka Party Band

We'll leave you here with Linda Herman leading her band on the accordion at the Farmer & Seahorse Restaurant in Torrey Pines in 2017. I'm not sure if there is any connection with Little Bavaria, but the second song they play is a great rendition of the Clarinet Polka —one of the songs recorded by Franz Schermann and the Alpiners







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