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| Abstract | Rita Ann (Held) Chandler, the youngest child of Valerius "Shorty" Held and Alnora "Ma Shorty" Held, recalls family life growing up in a bar near La Crosse, Wisconsin. Shorty's Bier Stube, also known as Shorty's Tavern on Irish Hill, served customers from 1952-1971. Shorty's tavern played a key roll in the history of area rock and roll bands by providing live music booked by Lindy Shannon, legendary La Crosse disc jockey, record store manager, music promoter and agent. On Sundays, there was no cover charge and bands came up to Shorty's to participate in the locally famous jam sessions, all overseen by Shannon. During nights when there was a band, the cover charge was $1. A devastating fire in March 1960 destroyed most of the family's possessions as well as the bar, but with help from family and friends, the bar was rebuilt. It was later added on to and remodeled. |
| Abstract | Besides growing up in the basement of a rural bar, Rita covers other topics as well such as childhood and family life; school; work life at La Crosse Garment Company, La Crosse Rubber Mills and the Trane Company; union, lobbying and political campaign efforts; travel; and recreational sports and activities. |
| Editor of moving image work | Livi Hackbarth |
| Interviewee | Rita Held Chandler 1947-2023 |
| Interviewer | Anita Taylor Doering |
| Owner | La Crosse Public Library |
| Type of resource | moving image |
| Genre | videorecording |
| Genre authority | marcgt |
| Publisher name | La Crosse Public Library |
| Place of publication | La Crosse, Wis. |
| Date published | 2023 |
| Date captured | 2022-10 |
| Language | eng |
| Subject topic | Chandler, Rita Held--Interviews Authority: LCSH |
| Subject topic | Interviews--Wisconsin--La Crosse Authority: LCSH |
| Subject topic | La Crosse (Wis.)--History--20th century Authority: LCSH |
| Subject topic | La Crosse (Wis.)--Social life and customs--20th century Authority: LCSH |
| Subject topic | Oral history--Wisconsin--La Crosse Authority: LCSH |
| Subject topic | Shannon, Lindy, 1928-1995 Authority: Local |
| Subject topic | Rock music--Wisconsin--La Crosse--1951-60 Authority: LCSH |
| Subject topic | Rock music--Wisconsin--La Crosse--1961-70 Authority: LCSH |
| Subject topic | Shorty's Tavern (La Crosse, Wis.) Authority: Local |
| Subject topic | Bars (Drinking establishments)--Wisconsin--La Crosse--History Authority: LCSH |
| Subject topic | Family life--Wisconsin--La Crosse Authority: LCSH |
| Subject temporal | 1950s |
| Subject temporal | 1960s |
| Subject temporal | 1970s |
| Subject geographic | Country: United States State: Wisconsin County: La Crosse |
| Subject topic | Held family Authority: Local |
| Note | Forms part of the La Crosse History of Rock and Roll Project (LHRRP) |
| Note | Duration: 01:18:57 |
| Note | The interview was recorded in two parts on Oct. 5, 2022, and Oct. 19, 2022; both times Rita Chandler was accompanied by her niece, Linda Gunderson |
| Note | Interview conducted by Anita Taylor Doering of the La Crosse Public Library and video editing mixing the two interviews was performed by Livi Hackbarth of the La Crosse Public Library |
| Use and reproduction restrictions | This item has been made available with permission of the copyright holder and has been provided here for educational purposes only. Commercial use is prohibited without permission. |
| Collection | Oral Histories |
| ID | 0f244de8-65a3-46f8-8bd2-da7a3beb615a/wlac0000/20230720/00000043 |