Original JC Dobbs Publicist To Pontiac: Say What Now?
Yesterday we reported that The Pontiac Grille, that mighty shell of a rock ‘n’ roll ghost on South Street, was to cease featuring live music. Seems like we scooped ‘em a little, because by the end of the day, a press release was rushed out saying essentially same. (We added it to yesterday’s post for anyone who’d like to take a gander.) Well, you know how this goes: You can’t even shut down a stage nobody even wanted to play on in this town without someone getting a little bit snippy. Enter Colonel Tom Sheehy, longtime JC Dobbs publicist and something of a Philly music historian, who was a little bit taken aback by some of the, erm, “errors” in the Pontiac press release. Read on for his take.
Dear Heyday,
As a historian, I must correct the errors in your press release.
First of all, The Pontiac Grille was never “originally known” as J.C. Dobbs. Only J.C. Dobbs was know as J.C. Dobbs. Before J.C. Dobbs opened in 1975, the bar that preceded it was know as Wexlers. J.C. Dobbs was never “originally know “as Wexlers, or any of the many other businesses that occupied 304 South Street since that building was constructed during The Civil War.
Second, The Pontiac Grille did not open until August of 1996. Telling your readers that it has been open since 1930 is a … (fill in the blank)
Thirdly, Oasis, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana never performed at The Pontiac Grille. That venue opened for business in 1996. Kurt Cobain died in 1994. How did he play there?
Fourthly, Heyday is a well respected part of the Philadelphia Music Community. You owe it†to yourselves, the media you have sent these misstatements to, and to Philadelphia History to send out a correction. There could possibly be younger members of the media who will believe this information, and consequently disseminate it to their readers and the inaccuracies will play on.
†I am sure you will do the right thing,
†
Best,
†
Tom Sheehy
Gotta love the Colonel. Well played, hoss.
