Shady Dell Music & Memories: Helen Ettline

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Helen Ettline - Mother of All Dell Rats

Shady Dell owner Helen Ettline

didn't have any children of her own.

In a way we were all her kids

and she was our mom.

Clearly Helen and John loved kids.

Why else would they have put up with

the aggravation all those years?

The Ettlines believed in kids.

They enjoyed counseling

and helping kids.

In observance of Mother's Day

I picked out a song that

describes Helen and one

I think she would enjoy.

Helen, this is for you.

Happy Mother's Day, Helen!

We love you and miss you!

27 comments:

Kathryn AndersonMay 14, 2017 at 2:51 AM
This is a very nice Mother’s Day tribute to Helen again this year— and it has been a long time since I heard the Lloyd Price song Personality— at least 20 years I think. You were lucky to have had a wonderful woman like Helen as a second mother at your home away from home.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!
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Alex J. CavanaughMay 14, 2017 at 4:44 AM
Good on you to remember your Dell rat mother. (Can you just see that sentiment on a Hallmark card?) You don't have to have your own kids to be a parent - just takes love.
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Jessica MarieMay 14, 2017 at 6:11 AM
Personality is my favorite song! Shady, this is such a beautiful Mother's Day tribute to Helen.

The Ettlines sounded like wonderful people, especially with children and youth. I wish I had the chance to meet them. The Dell sounded like it would have been my place too. :)

Enjoy your Sunday, Shady. Wish Mrs. Shady a Happy Mother's Day from me. :) Take care.
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BirgitMay 14, 2017 at 6:57 AM
What a beautiful tribute and I know she is looking down from heaven very pleased. Love the old photos and she was a real looker! I think this is special
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Suzanne PrickettMay 14, 2017 at 9:25 AM
Hi Shady! I think John and Helen fulfilled their lives by offering a fun haven for teens. It was their way of teaching, caring for, and keeping kids off the streets. They understood, more than some parents do, how teens often need to feel independent, and make decisions based on social expectations and peer pressure. That's where Helen and John served as "Dell parents". They were truly blessed!

What a great song choice...the video is so cool. It is amazing how they can restore the older performances, thus reviving the day.

I always enjoy your photos of John and Helen, Shady! I wish I could have known them, too. They didn't have to be parents to love kids and offer their friendship and counseling where needed. This is a very nice tribute!

Happy Mother's Day to Mrs. Shady! Have a great Sunday, and week ahead! ♫
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KellyMay 14, 2017 at 4:41 PM
What a lovely tribute! I enjoyed the clip!
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yayaMay 14, 2017 at 6:56 PM
Wonderful tribute to Helen..I'm sure she'd be so pleased to know how much she was loved. She and her hubby proved that you don't have to birth children to be a good example, show love and shape young minds. They made a huge impact on your life. That is a Mom in my books. Happy Mother's Day in heaven Helen! Hope your week is a good one Shady!
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Michele TruhlikMay 14, 2017 at 10:42 PM
Aw, what a sweet Mother's Day tribute to Helen. I know she was like a mother to you and so many others. You were blessed to have her in your life

And love Lloyd Price's Personality! Such a fun song!

Hope you and Kathryn had a wonderful Mothers Day celebration...

Michele at Angels Bark
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Lux G.May 15, 2017 at 1:11 AM
A salute to all lovely mothers.
Happy Mother's Day to all lovely moms here especially your mom and all Dell Rats mothers.
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Cathy KennedyMay 15, 2017 at 4:41 AM
Tom,

Excellent song choice for the Mother of all the Dell rat pack! Margaret certainly has personality and a delightful one at that. If you're reading this Margaret (or Kathleen) I hope you had a marvelous Mother's Day filled with lots of love and warm memories to kindle your heart. ;) Very lovely tribute to a dear lady, my friend. :) Have a good week and thanks for dropping by this morning!
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cleemckenzieMay 15, 2017 at 9:33 AM
What a beautiful tribute to Margaret. It's the people like her who are very special, and when we're lucky enough to know them and be a part of their generous giving nature, it's good to tell their story. You've done a super job with music and words.
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Sherry EllisMay 16, 2017 at 9:56 AM
Probably if she had had kids, she wouldn't have been so tolerant of the Dell Rat Pack!
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diedre KnightMay 16, 2017 at 10:05 AM
Hi Shady!

What a lovely tribute! I truly enjoyed hearing that song again. Nice to begin the day smiling. I bet Dell Rats everywhere are smiling too ;-)
Happy day, dear good-hearted Shady!
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"You had to be there!"

The Shady Dell: Part of York County's Colorful History

What began as a home based restaurant and bakery in 1945 evolved over the next two decades into the hottest teen nightspot in York county complete with indoor and outdoor dance floors. It went beyond that. Shady Dell owner John Ettline and his wife Helen put out the welcome mat offering hospitality, comfort, support, and encouragement to generations of young people. During its impressive 45-year life span the Dell became a home away from home for countless area youth from a variety of backgrounds.

At the height of its popularity in the early and mid 60s the Dell, located on the southern outskirts of the White Rose city, was as widely known as North York’s White Oak Park ("the Oaks"), Harrisburg's Raven club or any other youth-oriented venue in central Pennsylvania. The Dell attracted crowds from all over the region. It brought together under one roof kids from middle class families and kids from working class families - city kids, suburban kids, small town kids and farm kids.

The diverse cast of characters that constituted the Shady Dell family was a potentially volatile mix. Each of us had to find a way to fit in and get along (or risk being voted off the island). In the end, in spite of our differences, most of us learned to dance together without stepping on each other’s toes.

Shady Dell regulars were nicknamed Dell rats and we had at least two things in common: a love of the music that played on the Dell’s jukebox and a genuine respect for John and Helen Ettline who graciously made their home our home.

SHOCKING TRUE CONFESSION: I WAS A TEENAGE DELL RAT! by Shady Del Knight

I became a Dell rat in 1965 at the age of fifteen. Disparaging rumors about the place had been circulating for years. If you were to believe the gossip the Dell was a snake pit where bad boys and bad girls went to do bad things. Some people, including my mother, referred to the Dell as a “den of iniquity.” Intrigued by the horror stories, I was determined to get there and see for myself what all the fuss was about.

In preparation for my grand entrance, I subjected myself to weeks of rigorous training at a Shady Dell boot camp of my own devise. I grew my hair longer and took up the smoking habit. I practiced in front of a mirror until I was convinced that my stance, walk, and dancing style were all cool.

To complete my extreme makeover, I went shopping for my 'uniform' which consisted of a tapered shirt from the Hub, slacks by H.I.S. and two wardrobe essentials: a pair of blue Jack Purcell sneakers and the all-important Baracuta jacket "Made in England." Wearing my 'Cuta' made me feel so terribly, terribly British, you know. Spot on for us bird watchin' blokes, right gov'na?

Moment of Truth: Boy Meets Dell

Too young to drive, I made my first Dell visit happen by bumming a ride one night with my college-age cousin and two of his buddies. Clearly, none of the above was thrilled to be babysitting.

As we drove past York Hospital on South George and headed toward Violet Hill, what began as giddy anticipation was turning to apprehension. Fear of the unknown started creeping into my brain. What if the rumors turned out to be true? Would I soon be sharing a needle with a gang of rowdy bikers?

At Violet Hill, we made a dogleg turn to the right and began to climb the narrow, winding, bumpy Starcross Road. By this time my breathing had become labored and I felt queasy. It was as if, on a foolish dare, I had agreed to spend the night with Vincent Price in his House on Haunted Hill. Was it too late to leap from the car and bolt?

"I See the Lights... I See the Party Lights..."

We rounded a bend and I caught my first glimpse of her a short distance up the road. Perched on the hillside was a three-story brick house. Down to the left stood a barn. The festive glow of colored lights rose skyward from an area behind the house. As I would soon learn, the atmospheric illumination originated from strings of lanterns hanging above a patio rigged with remote speakers for outdoor dancing.

As we banked to make our final approach I detected the percussive beat of uptempo music emanating from the barn. We turned left into a gravel parking lot overflowing with vehicles. Here, in all of her rustic splendor, stood the infamous Shady Dell, my destination for the evening and my obsession for years to come!

I Found My Thrill on Violet Hill

My heart was thumping as we climbed the steps that led to the entrance and approached the admission booth. Following my cousin’s lead, I slid a quarter through the window and looked up to see a balding, bespectacled old man grinning back at me. Old? John Ettline would have been 59 at the time. I'm older than that now. Yikes!

“Good evening, gentlemen!” John delivered his cheerful salutation in a booming baritone. Immediately, my anxiety vanished. John’s warm welcome made me feel right at home. It made me feel like I belonged. I didn’t get it at the time but later came to realize that John’s presupposition that we were "gentlemen" was a clever and tactful way of admonishing us to behave accordingly.

Toto, I've a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore!

From the moment I entered the compound I was hooked. The Shady Dell was a private playground for teenagers - a candy land - a fun factory - a safe haven where kids could congregate and blow off steam without having to worry about parents and teachers giving them the evil eye. Instantly I became intoxicated - not by alcohol - but by a sense of total freedom. The place gave off a vibe that was completely new to me – an exhilarating blend of romance, adventure and danger!

Instead of placing a ton of restrictions on their young patrons, John and Helen granted them the independence they craved. The Ettlines were willing to take a step back and trust our judgment. It was okay for us to party as long as things didn’t get out of hand. Most of us eagerly embraced that arrangement. If and when we screwed up, the Ettlines gave us another chance. John and Helen cut you plenty of slack, but if you disrespected them or trashed their establishment both were capable of unleashing a fiery temper.

Of Rats and Men

Contrary to popular belief, the Dell did not harbor gangs of juvenile delinquents eager to conceal their wicked deeds from law enforcement. Sorry, Mom - there weren’t any guns, switchblades or brass knuckles - no gangs, career criminals or prostitutes - just a bunch of ordinary teenagers who loved to meet, mix and mingle, dance and have fun.

Fights were few and far between. There was tacit agreement that it was our duty to preserve and protect the unique setting that the Ettlines had created for us. It required us to police ourselves to prevent incidents that would generate negative publicity or hassles with the law. Scuffles were settled quickly, often through John’s bold intervention. The first lesson a guy learned at the Dell was as follows. Don’t let the gray hair fool you. Nobody messes with John. He’s the boss!

A Special Welcome to All Incoming Freshmen!

I was punched in the face three times during my first year of matriculation on the campus of the Shady Dell School of Hard Knocks. Apparently a few of the guys were determined to teach me a lesson. Yet, getting socked in the kisser did not dampen my enthusiasm or scare me away from the place. In fact they had the opposite effect. They whet my appetite for more! As a Dell newbie desperate to break free of mom’s apron strings and earn respect and acceptance, I wasn’t about to let a bloody nose deter me. For the first time in my life I felt like a man instead of a boy and I loved it. Like Secret Agent Man I was living a life of danger. I was addicted to the rush!

Determined to create an image that would allow me to blend in, appeal to the ladies and avoid becoming a frequent target of the tribe's dominant males, I did a lot of posing, posturing and pretending. I decided that it would be advantageous for me to look tough even though I wasn't. Whenever I strolled into the dance hall, I made sure that my hair was messed up, my shirt tail was hanging out, a lit cigarette was dangling from my lips and my game face was on.

One afternoon before anybody else arrived, my best friend and I rolled around on the dance floor of the barn so that we could properly break-in our new Baracuta jackets by getting them coated with Dell dust. This drove my mother crazy. She kept asking me how I got my jacket so badly soiled. She was even more perplexed when I forbade her to get it cleaned. How could I explain to her that I didn’t want to risk weakening my status with the other guys by wearing a clean jacket?

In my mom’s day the ideal guy wore a white sport coat and a pink carnation. His hair was neatly cropped, oiled down and slicked back off his forehead. That look would have spelled social suicide at the Dell in the mid 60s. My goal was to look like I had just been in a fight at reform school, and if I got my uniform dirty or bloodied in combat, it was a GOOD thing.

Helen and John: Not Your Typical Mom and Pop

Even by mid 60s standards, John Ettline seemed part of a vanishing breed of men. John never called me by my first name. He always chose to address me as “Mr. Knight." John maintained that friendly formality through all the years I knew him. I’m very glad he did. John always made me feel important when he added the title “Mr.” to my name. Making insecure teenagers feel good about themselves was John’s greatest gift. He always treated young people with dignity and respect and that made them want to return it.

Along with his outstanding people skills, John possessed a photographic memory. He could always match a face with a name. He seemed to know a lot about anything or anybody that you happened to be discussing. John Ettline had a million stories to tell - all of them interesting.

Although old enough to be our grandparents, there was no generation gap between the Ettlines and their teenage guests. They seemed to remember better than other grown-ups what it was like to be young. John and Helen stayed in touch and in tune with the youth culture. Never was that more in evidence than one day at the York Fair in September, 1968. I was sitting in the grandstand awaiting the start of the James Brown concert. I turned around to search the crowd for familiar faces and there, a few rows behind me, sat Helen and John. In a year when racial tension was running high in York and elsewhere, it was remarkable to see a white couple in their 60s at a James Brown concert, chanting along with the rest of us, “Say It Loud: I’m Black and I’m Proud!”

John and Helen were cool. Young people felt at ease talking with them. Unlike many adults, John and Helen listened to us. They cared without preaching or judging. The Ettlines treated their teen visitors like extended family. They believed in the potential of every young person, including troubled youth from broken homes. They spoke to us about the value of an education and honest hard work. They sponsored athletic programs and honored America’s armed forces. They shaped young lives by instilling a sense of pride and self esteem. John and Helen went out of their way to make all of their kids feel like somebody - even those whose families were telling them they were nobody.

The Dell Jukebox: ALL KILLER AND NO FILLER!

Upon arriving on the Dell scene I soon realized that the jukebox in the dance hall was loaded with the greatest, most danceable records to be found anywhere. There were quite a few songs that I had never heard before and would never hear anywhere else. The music mix that played nightly at the Dell was consistently better than what I was hearing on the radio. In the mid 60s the Dell's musical menu was an exciting blend of Motown, Chi-town, New York and Philly soul, Memphis, southern R&B, blue-eyed soul, Brit beat, sunshine pop, garage, psych and folk-rock plus a few do-wop favorites held over from the 50s.

Shady Dell regulars, the gang I now refer to as the Rodentia Intelligentsia, prided themselves on having radar for cool. Year in and year out they discovered and popularized songs that radio stations across the country overlooked. Records that lingered near the bottom of the national chart often became cherished classics at the Dell. Forgotten flips were elevated to mega-hit status by Dell rats unfettered by the limitations of radio play lists.

Certain songs resonated with the Dell crowd to such an extent that they stayed on the jukebox for years. The best example of this phenomenon is the record ranked #1 on my survey of the 200 Greatest Hits Of The Shady Dell. It remained one of the most popular jukebox selections a dozen years after its initial release in the 50s. That very special song, the greatest and longest lasting Shady Dell hit of all time, was "Close Your Eyes" by the Five Keys.

Del-Chords & Magnificent Men

Another mighty evergreen at the Shady Dell was "Everybody’s Gotta Lose Someday," an intense, power-packed r&b/soul ballad by the Del-Chords, a racially mixed group from York. Released in 1964, the record was still being played heavily two years later, jamming the floor with slow dancers several times a night. Dave Bupp and Buddy King, lead vocalists from the Del-Chords, eventually merged with band members of Harrisburg’s Endells to form a blue-eyed soul group called the Magnificent Men. The “Mag Men,” as we called them, were white guys who had a passion for black music and the vocal talent and musicianship to authentically perform it. Their inspiring ballad "Peace of Mind" was the first in an impressive string of Dell hits for our hometown heroes.

End of an Era

Once addicted to the Dell, I pretty much lived there until the fall of 1967 when I left York to attend an institution of higher learning. Over the next four years I visited my Dell family whenever possible during holidays, spring breaks, and summer vacations. My stint as a Dell rat officially ended in 1971 when I found a job in another city and moved away from York for good.

My final visit to the Dell came in March of 1984 when my career took me out of state. My last piece of business before leaving was to drop in at the Dell and say a final goodbye. I entered the house to find John sitting on a stool at the lunch counter reading the newspaper. “Well, hello stranger!” John bellowed, rising to his feet and extending his hand. “Long time no see, Mr. Knight!" After shaking hands with John and exchanging a few pleasantries, I inquired about Helen. I was stunned to learn that she had passed away a few weeks earlier. I never got the news! John and I stood alone in Helen’s snack bar, reminiscing about the good old days and lamenting how much things had changed since the Dell’s golden era.

After a brief chat with John I excused myself and walked down the sidewalk to check out the barn. The old dance hall was dimly lit and nearly vacant. The only customers were two boys with shoulder length hair standing by the jukebox with a couple of girls. No music was playing. The place was dead or, more accurately, in the final lonely stages of life. If it had been twenty years earlier, the joint would have been jumpin’. The four young people eyed me suspiciously. Is this guy a narc? I put myself in their combat boots and realized that the sight of a stranger in his mid thirties was probably making this new generation of Dell rats uncomfortable. I promptly exited the barn and returned to the house to bid farewell to John.

That night marked the last time I ever saw John or entered the Shady Dell. I made one final pilgrimage in 1988 when I returned to Pennsylvania to visit my parents. I drove up to the Dell one afternoon with every intention of going inside. I’m sure I would have encountered a smiling John Ettline and that he would have immediately remembered my name. Yet, I never got out of the car. I chose not to enter because I didn’t want to further contaminate my memories by seeing how much older John looked and how much more dilapidated the Dell had become. All I could do was sit there in the parking lot gazing at the barn, the house, the bench and the steps to the admission booth where the whole journey started. My mind flooded with a thousand memories of the people, the place, and the time of my life.

John Ettline closed the Dell in the fall of 1991. He died at the beginning of 1993. John’s family auctioned off the restaurant equipment, signage and other Dell paraphernalia in the spring of that year.

(Mike Argento's 1993 article in the York Daily Record was used as a reference source for portions of this cover story.)

A-ha! I knew it! There's fine print!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER--"COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1976, ALLOWANCE IS MADE FOR "FAIR USE" FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING, SCHOLARSHIP, AND RESEARCH. FAIR USE IS A USE PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT STATUTE THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE INFRINGING. NON-PROFIT, EDUCATIONAL OR PERSONAL USE TIPS THE BALANCE IN FAVOR OF FAIR USE." ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO THE PRODUCTION COMPANIES AND MUSIC LABELS THAT DISTRIBUTED AND PRODUCED THE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE RESPECTIVELY. MATERIAL CONTAINED ON THIS WEBSITE IS INTENDED FOR HISTORICAL, ENTERTAINMENT AND CREATIVE PURPOSES. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT NOT INTENDED.

Unless otherwise noted, the author does not own or claim to own any of the images, videos or recordings posted on this site. They belong to their respective owners and are used here for the purpose of review, critical analysis, education, humor and satire - not for financial gain.

Shady Dell Music & Memories

SHADY DEL KNIGHT, ADMINISTRATOR

"More than a place, the Shady Dell was and will forever remain a state of mind." - Shady Del Knight

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Helen Ettline - Mother of All Dell Rats

27 comments:

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"You had to be there!"

THE SHADY DELL

The Shady Dell: Part of York County's Colorful History

GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

SHOCKING TRUE CONFESSION: I WAS A TEENAGE DELL RAT! by Shady Del Knight

'JACKS'

THE CLASSIC NATURAL COLOUR BARACUTA

Moment of Truth: Boy Meets Dell

"I See the Lights... I See the Party Lights..."

I Found My Thrill on Violet Hill

Toto, I've a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore!

Of Rats and Men

A Special Welcome to All Incoming Freshmen!

Helen & John Ettline

Helen and John: Not Your Typical Mom and Pop

The Dell Jukebox: ALL KILLER AND NO FILLER!

THE FIVE KEYS

Del-Chords & Magnificent Men

Magnificent Men

The Emperors of Harrisburg

THE EMPERORS

End of an Era

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