Generally, clubs were seperated into teen clubs (usually 13-20 years old, no alcohol) and nightclub/lounge clubs (18+, serving alcohol).
Cleveland area
Admiral Bimbos (26695 Center Ridge, Westlake) - Early 70s club that was the only action in this archetypical suburb. Hosted rock bands, lounge bands....had a lot of problems with the squares. Originally known as Corenos, then the Bar IV, then Pickle Bill's West. Became Admiral Bimbos in early 1970. The building was demolished c. 2000
Agora (1730 E. 24th, Cleveland) - Started as a college bar right off the Case Institute (pre-Case Western Reserver merger). Relocated to near downtown (E. 24th) in '67 and slowly became the most famous rock-n-roll club in Cleveland. More details can be found at their web site - www.clevelandagora.com. Be warned that the information about Agency Recording is not accurate.
Chagrin Armory (Rt 422, Chagrin) - Big and happening teen club that often featured regional bands like Terry Knight and the Pack, run by Walt Masky.
Chesterland Hullabaloo (Chesterland) - ran from 1967 to 1973, one of the ring of Hullabaloo clubs in NE Ohio - hosted Cyrus Erie, Decembers Children, and the other Hullabaloo circuit bands. Owned by David Ludwick.
Corral (21910 Cook Rd, Olmsted Township, off Columbia Road in North Olmsted) The Corral dated from the 1940s but in 1961 it became a over 18 rock-n-roll club that lasted into 1982, when it burned. Hosted the a lot of the same acts that played the college bar places like the Agora. Had a under-18 'teen night' for a while in the 1970s. The band One Yere (Too Sune) played there a lot - the owner was the father of one of the band members!
Faragher's (1940 S. Taylor) Faragher's was the primary club for Cleveland's singer-songwriter/folk scene in the early 70s. They also featured bands in the folk-rock style
Grog Shop (Westgate Mall, Rocky River) Opened in early 1970 and hosted bands until the late 1970s, maybe later. This club was connected to Stouffer's restaurant. An over 18/21 club. Bands included rock and more loungey acts. The building, as was the whole mall (including the former home of Disc Records) was torn down in 2006.
It's Boss Teen Club (16320 Brookpark Road) - Large teen club located actually in what might have been called a 'red light district'.
Longhorn (17240 Broadway, Maple Heights) - Popular club in the early-late 70 that featured local bands.
Lorain Hullabaloo (also known as the Kamms Corners Hullabaloo) (16110 Lorain Road) - One of the more short lived of the Hullabaloo teen clubs.
Mad Hatter (2150 E. 18th, Cleveland) - Early 70s club located near the Cleveland State campus, featuring local bands
Medina Hullabaloo (Medina) - The last to open and first to close of the NE Ohio Hullabaloos, ran from '68-'69 or so. Hosted the Hullabaloo circuit bands, including Paper Sun, Lost Souls, Hill. One of few clubs that published a newsletter (of which many issues have survived! and will be posted).
Mentor Hullabaloo (Mentor) - Another one of the Greater Cleveland Hullabaloos that hosted the bands in that loop. Changed name to the Rock Shop in 1969.
Music Box (Elyria) - located in downtown Elyria, one of the top clubs in Lorain County - bands like the Shademen played there often.
North Ridgeville Hullabaloo/Cyrus Erie West/Spankys (38751 Center Ridge, North Ridgeville)- Started in 1967 as part of the NE Ohio Hullabaloo chain. Renamed after the clubs most popular act when the CE manager had some interest in the club. Later became Spankys in the mid 70s. Hosted the popular dance bands.
Oar House (3844 Euclid Ave) - Early 70s club with folk and folk-rock
Orbit Lounge (Willoughby) - Major club in Cleveland's eastern suburbs that featured greaser and mod bands. Later known as the Utopia.
Otto's (1700 Columbus Road, the Flats) - Early 70s club - See Otto's Backroom.
Otto's Backroom (1187 Old River Road, the Flats) - Early 70s club - both of the Otto's in the Flats featured popular bands like Reign.
Otto's Grotto (Statler-Hilton Hotel, Downtown Cleveland) - A lounge type club that opened in April, 1966 and was considered a top level club. Its location ensured a lot of 'scenesters' passing through.
Painesville Armory (Rt 20, Painesville) - Big and happening teen club that often featured regional bands like Terry Knight and the Pack, run by Walt Masky, sister club to the Chagrin Armory.
Plato (1748 E. 22nd, Cleveland) - One of the first bars for the college crowd, started in 1967 and located near the Cleveland State campus (Fenn College at the time). Hosted bands like the North River Street Rock Collection. Closed in the early 70s when CSU started gobbling up local properties.
Rolling Stone Teen Club (Brookpark)- Setup inside the large UAW hall, this was a major place for bands like the Choir and Kicks, Inc. Its location in the heart of Greaser land meant tough times for Mod styled bands where detractors would pelt the bands with pennies!
Smiling Dog Saloon (3447 W.25th)- The Smiling Dog was the place for folk and acoustic rock bands, including many national touring acts. They also featured jazz. Open in the early-mid 70s
Spectrum (1615 W. 117th)- Early 70s club that featured local bands. Formerly known as the Bazzar.
Stable (1541 Mentor Ave, Painesville)- Early-70s club with local rock bands
Strongsville Jail (Strongsville)- Early-late 70s club that had local rock bands - Left End played there often. Leaned toward the harder rock sounds.
Torchlight (Mentor)- Major club in the early-mid 60s, hosted bands from Tom King and Starfires to the Choir.
Tutties (36212 Euclid Ave)- Early 70s club that hosted the popular local bands.
Utopia (Willoughby)- Major club starting the late 60s all througout the 70s. Featured the top tier of the Cleveland club bands.
Viking Saloon (2005 Chester, Cleveland) - Near the Cleveland State campus - Early-mid 70s club noted for progressive and non-mainstream bands. Dragonwyck played there often, and it hosted the infamous 1975 "Extermination night" with Rocket From the Tombs, etc.
Youngstown area
Apartment (876 E. Midlothian, Youngstown) - late 60s/early 70s club
Attic (Salem) - 1960s teen club
Castaway Lounge ('downtown' Newton Falls) - Popular in the early 70s, they were booked by Starshine Productions
Haunted House (Canfield/Salem) - A teen club run all year round, no connection to Halloween
Mickey's Bar (Youngstown) - A bar owned by Mickey Williamson Sr. (Junior played in the Insights and L.A.W.).
The Green (Youngstown) - A bar
The Mouse Trap (Coitsville) - A bar
University Club (Liberty) - A bar
The Happening (Canfield)
Carousel Teen Clubs (Struthers, Youngstown, Hubbard, McKinley Heights) - Four different teen clubs operated by the same people. The Youngstown one became the Apartment.
Freakout I (Youngstown) - Burned down in '68
Freakout II (Youngstown)
Champion Rollarena (Champion) - a roller arena that held teen dances in the mid 60s through early 70s. Prime place that hosted all the local legends.
Packard Music Hall (Warren)- Built by auto industry pioneer W.D. Packard in the grand era of corporate philanthropy, Packard Music Hall has hosted theatre, symphonies, pro wrestling, and rock-n-roll shows. Most prominent in the mid 60s to early 70s. The building is still active - www.packardmusichall.com. Unfortunately, no info about their rock show history is posted....
Zodiac Club (Vienna) - The Zodiac Club, a teen club, with membership, ran from summer of 1970 to April 1972, and was owned by Floyd Phillips as an extension of the Starshine operation. Hosted all the bands in the local scene, including Mother Goose, where the 'legendary' Mother Goose(with Stiv Bators) film was shot. The club changed names to the Tin Pan Alley (in 1971) and the House the Jack Built (briefly before closing).
Akron/Mid Ohio area
Inferno (Mansfield) - held in the Mansfield YMCA from 1966-68, featured top bands from all over Ohio including Choir, Dantes. Run by Larry Woolson.
Dome (Kent) - popular Kent bar/club.
Draught House (445 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Rd, Akron) - Mid 60s - mid 70s (and later?) Featured local bands.
J.B.s (Kent) - Probably the most famous of the Kent bars, where the James Gang and Glass Harp launched their international fame.
Fifth Quarter (Kent) - Another big and boisterous Kent bar with live bands.
Ninos (451 N. Main, Akron) - Nightclub from the early 60s until the 70s that featured bands on the loungey side. The Akron band Faux Pas recorded an LP there called "Live At Ninos".
Columbus area
Blue Dolphin - A 'swimming club' that featured teen dances in the mid 60s. Actually spawned a record label that lasted for one 45 (the Epics).
Valley Dale - Valley Dale has been hosting entertainment since the 1930s/40s. In the mid 60s they held many teen dances and battle of the bands competition. Considered to be the top venue in Columbus.
Holiday Swim Club - Just east of Bexley, this swimming pool hosted weekly teen dances. In the Winter they were indoors (upstairs), and in the Summer outdoors by the pool. In 1968 the venue was part of a group of local venues that had The Byrds, McCoys and Bobby Goldsboro perform.
The Upper Deck - A venue in upper Arlington that had dances. Like Holiday Swim Club, they were part of the "three-in-one-night" shows, where a national act appeared with a local act at three venues in one night, using the equipment in place from the local act.
The Gloria - A restaurant in Grandview (near northwest side of Columbus). Had weekly teen dances with the likes of The Dantes and Electras (before they became The Fifth Order) and other popular bands.
Whetstone Park - north side of Columbus. The park had dances on Wednesday nights in the Summers of the mid 60's. An outdoor shelter house made for a nice, open air atmosphere and it was free. Frequented for the most part by teens from Whetstone, Worthington, Upper Arlington and North High Schools. Jerry's Drive In was the popular cruise spot nearby, both after those dances and on weekends throughout the year.
The Golden Bull - A block or two south of Jerry's Drive In, this restaurant became a dance hall once a week. Hosted and sponsored by Phil Gary, it featured many popular bands of the time.
The Sugar Shack - A large bar near the Ohio State campus that drew more people from the greater Columbus area than the OSU student population. In addition to local and regional acts, they sometimes hosted national acts for one nighters.
The Agora - On High Street and immediately across the street from Ohio State University, this converted movie theater with balcony hosted many local and regional acts in the 70's, as well as impressive national acts such as Heart, King Crimson, and AC/DC. It is still in operation, now called the Newport Music Hall. This was part of the Agora chain out of Cleveland.
Twin Lakes Pavilion (Coshocton) - Teen dances with popular bands.
Ater's Lake (West of Chillicothe) - This swimming and recreational facility hosted bands at teen dances for many Summers. (Grayps, Osiris and The Load all played there)
Moose Hall (Lancaster) - Johnny Garber promoted weekly teen dances in this venue in central Lancaster. Many central Ohio bands played there.
Siggy's (Lancaster) - Johnny Garber eventually operated this bar with live rock music in the early 70's.
Baltimore Swim Pool (Baltimore) - Hosted summer teen dances around 1970, '71.
The Sugar Shack (Chillicothe) - Not related to the Columbus "Sugar Shack," this venue rte. 23 on the north side of Chillicothe featured alot of regional rock bands.
Eckel's Lake (South of Delaware) - Many rock events in the Summers of the mid and late 60's.
Dayton area
Cavern Club (Dayton) - The Cavern Club was a prime destination for teens in the mid 60s. Billed as a 'members only' operation, they hosted local and regional bands.
Tempest (Dayton) - The Tempest was a teen club that had Tom and the Tempests as the house band.
Toledo/NW Ohio
Note (Intersection of Rt 2 and Rt 6, Ruggles Beach) - A major attraction in vacation oriented "north coast", the Note was active from the early 60s into the 80s (and maybe beyond that) under different names - the building was still standing AFAIK. The Note held a large teen crowd and included many national 'second tier' touring acts.
Pony Tail (Sandusky) - Teen club.
Compiled by the editors, with help from Sterling Smith, the Blue Ash Yahoo Group, and Jerry Centifanti.