The Trip on Sunset Strip


In 1965 Valentine and partners opened "The Trip" at 8572 Sunset Boulevard right next to the towering Playboy Club building. The Trip was located in the former popular '60's jazz club called the Crescendo. There was a comedy club upstairs called the Interlude. The Trip was short lived (Oct 1966-May 1967) however there was quite a music scene going on here. This is where the Byrds and the Velvet Underground & Nico would play regularly.




The Whisky a Go-Go, the Galaxy, the London Fog, Gazzari's, the Crescendo, the Interlude, the Trip; these were some of the clubs of the era where the scene met crowds of kids streaming into town from all points east to find the soundtrack to this tradition-shaking new youth culture.





Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 19, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    Hello - do you have other pictures of the Grass Roots at The Trip? Thanks for all these great pictures.

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    1. NightLightNovember 30, 2017 at 9:05 PM

      Would you know if that is the 'real' Grass Roots, or the band "Love" who used to call themselves 'Grass Roots' before changing their name, and were known to play The Galaxy club in that time frame. It is interesting to note both bands used two words 'Grass Roots' but the name on the drumkit is (The) Grassroots.

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    2. AnonymousFebruary 18, 2019 at 5:52 PM

      It is likely the “real Grass Roots” apparently. By Oct 65 - the band “Love” I believe had shed their old Grass Roots name and was already about to begin working on their first album.

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    3. PikaBJuly 10, 2020 at 8:05 AM

      For detail on the Grass Roots band at The Trip, look at the "Background" section of the Wikipedia article for the song "Where Were You When I Needed You" at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Were_You_When_I_Needed_You
      This is not the same Grass Roots which later had many hit records.

      Almost all of the 1964-66 issues of the "KRLA Beat" are available online. The issue of October 30, 1965 includes a full page of Barry McGuire photos from his opening at The Trip. See page 3 of http://krlabeat.sakionline.net/issue/30oct65.pdf

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  2. Hatikvah MusicJuly 24, 2012 at 2:45 AM

    In June of 1966, Jackie Wilson performed at The Trip for about 10 days. I was there at almost every performance. Elvis came down twice. Prior to than night, contrary to to so much that has been published, that was the first time they had ever met. They became very close friends. Other artists who came to see Jackie perform: james Brown, P.F. Sloan, The Rolling Stones, Mel Carter, Bobby Hatfield, Larry Williams and so many more that I can no longer remember!

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  3. AnonymousMay 17, 2013 at 12:45 PM

    I grew up in the Silverlake area not far from the Strip, and have such great memories of all the clubs on the Strip, most of the time we'd just go up to the strip just to people watch, it truly was a "TRIP!" The first group I saw at the Whiskey was The Spenser Davis Group! saw Sonny and Cher at the Palladium during the teen-age fair, I could go on and on......those were the days!!

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  4. AnonymousMay 25, 2013 at 5:40 PM

    I was at the opening nite of the Trip! The Grass Roots opened for Barry McGuire! The Mommas and the Poppas were there, as well as Phil and Ronnie Spector, my girlfriend, now wife of 48 years, sat next to most of the Byrds. Also saw Loving Spoonful and the Paul Butterfield Band play there!

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  5. UnknownOctober 29, 2013 at 7:19 AM

    Nice review and accompanying photos ! Such an obscure venue ; a shadow of its bigger brother , the Whiskey A Go-Go . My number one favourite Rock band played there in May 1966 , which brings me to my point ; there's a typo in your mention of The Trip's opening : Octobre 1966 . I believe that you meant '1965' :-)

    Thanks for the segment on this club :-)

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    1. c v trierJune 28, 2015 at 10:04 AM

      Yes, the dates are off 1965 would be correct for opening.

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  6. AnonymousOctober 17, 2014 at 2:40 PM

    Was it really that long ago? eeks! I saw the Byrds and the Loving Spoonful on the same night there. I lived in Arcadia and came into the Strip as often as I could get away with it. I also got my first traffic ticket there, following too close. It was a BS ticket because traffic on the strip was bumper to bumper and stopped. Perhaps it was because of my car: a red 1957 Chevy BelAire Coup. Wish I still had it. I miss those days and yes I wish I were that young again.

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  7. Grateful dadJuly 30, 2015 at 2:16 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Grateful dadJuly 30, 2015 at 2:17 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. Grateful dadJuly 30, 2015 at 2:17 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. cuppajoeJanuary 19, 2016 at 10:38 PM

    I worked as a cocktail waitress at "The Trip" when it first opened. Barry McGuire headlined. I lasted 3 weeks before getting fired for refusing to plant a kiss on the mouth of lecherous old Burgess Meredith.
    He complained to Elmer Valentine, one of the owners. Valentine tried to convince me to kiss him in exchange for a very big tip. No dice. I got canned.

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    1. AnonymousMay 6, 2019 at 8:09 PM

      I'm impressed by your courage and integrity.

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  11. UnknownApril 20, 2016 at 7:08 AM

    The Trip is where Elvis Presley first met Jackie Wilson, The Black Elvis, in 1966. Read Jackie Wilson's story in the upcoming book, "Jackie Wilson The black King Of Rock 'N' Roll" by Doug Saint Carter.

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  12. jeffhanna7July 26, 2016 at 10:26 PM

    All of you who are interested in the scene on the Strip in the mid and late 60's need to read a fascinating and creepy non-fiction book called "Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops & The Dark Heart of the Hippie Dream" by David McGowan. Trust me on this one. Check out reviews at Amazon & elsewhere online. Also plenty of interviews with the author about the book at youtube. Quite amazing.

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  13. Stephanie ValentinoJune 18, 2020 at 5:27 PM

    I have heard that my father in law was one of the owners of the Trip Nightclub in the mid to late 60's. His name was Anthony Valentino, does anyone possibly have information on if that is accurate?

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    1. AnonymousMay 8, 2022 at 6:15 PM

      His name was Elmer Valentine

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    2. DeeDee KeelJune 9, 2022 at 9:21 AM

      I was Elmer Valentine's secretary at The Whisky a GoGo from 1971-1983.
      Never heard the name Anthony Valentino mentioned over the years...

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  14. Grateful dadNovember 24, 2021 at 2:33 PM

    My Father Ed Fontaine was part owners in the Trip but left there in 67 or early 68 and isnt familiar with his name but memory fades as age consumes....

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  15. UnknownJanuary 14, 2022 at 5:09 AM

    I. Worked as a doorman for Lee Taylor Manager in 1966 what a TRIP 😎

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  16. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2022 at 11:16 PM

    The Grass Roots and Love were two seperate bands.. I recall being at The Trip the night Donovan first performed in America. All the groovy bands were there...few of us regular people. A night to remember!

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  17. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2023 at 9:24 PM

    It used to be the Crescendo club - there's a live album there by Ella Fitzgerald. Great rendition of Candy.

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  18. AnonymousMay 18, 2023 at 8:47 AM

    Ruscha photos of Sunset in 1966 captured the front of The Trip with signage for acts playing in June (replacements of original schedule). This is the point where the club re-opens after the closure. The images can be found on Curbside Classics which displayed select shots.

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