Rick Minerd - Life Is A Jukebox

In 1974  WNCI  Program Director E. Karl  told me that a doctor in Westerville  was opening a nightclub in Gahanna and had requested me to  help establish the the clubs entertainment venue.  I agreed to meet Doctor Joe Amico at his club on Granville Street and began not only a working relationship, but a friendship that would last for several years.

Joe had previously operated a movie house on the spot and had just completed extensive renovations to change it from a  "Jerry Lewis Cinema Theatre" to  a place where young people could come and dance amid spectacular lighting, ear splitting rock 'n roll and drink.  Cokes.

What he had envisioned was a nightclub for adults, but because of strong opposition from the Gahanna power structure he would have to endure months of quibbling for a liquor license. So the "Yellow Lion"  opened as a place where high schoolers could congregate until curfew and get an early jump on the experience of "Clubbing."

It was believed but never proven that some of these kids brought their own liquor to pour into their soft-drinks when no one was looking. It was known that many of them found ways to "play around" in the darkness of the club.

On numerous occassions I drove someone home who was either too high or too intoxicated to find their own way. Either out of fear of calling their parents to pick them up, or because I had to take their keys. I was the house DJ,  And at age 22 just a few years older than these kids.

A lighted marquee in front of the place announced that  WNCI was in the house nightly so it attracted several more  "clubbers" in their 20's.  Sometimes older.

And each time the City of Gahanna tried to block Joe's quest for a liquor license I thought, "Are these people crazy?"  They preferred a nightclub that was open to their teenage sons and daughters over an adults only venue?  Good looking out for your kids! It was probably my first experience at watching  "Big Brother"  go too far.

In their zeal to keep Joe from opening another bar in their community they were in fact contributing to the delinquency of their own kids.

As time went on a liquor license was approved for the "Yellow Lion" and  it became the classiest tavern in Gahanna. That was Joe's ambition.

I stayed with the Amico family for several months dividing my time between the bar and WNCI. And as the place evolved into  "Hollywood East" we started booking nationally known recording artists to replace the records played from the DJ  booth.

Last year my friend Doctor Joe Amico passed away and I'm told by my Gahanna connections that the spot is now a parking lot.

As I think back to those many months of watching kids grow up too fast I am reminded that sometimes a communities best intentions to regulate other peoples behavior makes me more determined to keep my own mind clear of wanting to dictate my morals to others.  Because like the leaders of Gahanna back in 1974,  I could be wrong.    Rick

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