Apr 11, 2024

📷 Throwback Thursday: Hutch Bands - Vol. 65

Posted Apr 11, 2024 11:00 AM
Hutch Bands - The Jades - initial band members - in front of the Fireside Club Sign - 1223 E. 30th - c. 1967 (Bob Maddern, Dana Messing, John Hostutler, O'Dell Reed, Doug Messing). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hutch Bands - The Jades - initial band members - in front of the Fireside Club Sign - 1223 E. 30th - c. 1967 (Bob Maddern, Dana Messing, John Hostutler, O'Dell Reed, Doug Messing). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then & Now Collection."

STEVE HARMON
Hutch Post Contributor

Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" is a detour from our normal format. I thought we'd deviate from Hutch architectural history to Hutch social history.

This feature starts with "The Jades" — the house band at the Fireside Club at 1223 E. 30th, which was owned by Harold Nevius. The first photo shows The Jades in front of the Fireside Club sign in 1967.

Hutch Bands - The Jades - initial band members - in front of the Fireside Club Sign - 1223 E. 30th - c. 1967 (Bob Maddern, Dana Messing, John Hostutler, O'Dell Reed, Doug Messing). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hutch Bands - The Jades - initial band members - in front of the Fireside Club Sign - 1223 E. 30th - c. 1967 (Bob Maddern, Dana Messing, John Hostutler, O'Dell Reed, Doug Messing). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

These initial members were Bob Maddern, Dana Messing, John Hostutler, O'Dell Reed and Doug Messing. As the house band, they played four nights a week for several months before setting off to play all over Kansas on the weekends.

The second photo shows a publicity photo of The Jades in 1968, on stage at the Fireside when the band was Dana Messing, Darrel Milhon, O'Dell Reed, Dan Downing and Ron Dutton.

Hutch Bands - The Jades on the Fireside Stage - 1968. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hutch Bands - The Jades on the Fireside Stage - 1968. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

The third photo shows the group in 1970's attire at the soldiers and sailors monument.

Hutch Bands - The Jades at the Soldiers Monument - c. 1970. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hutch Bands - The Jades at the Soldiers Monument - c. 1970. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

The fourth photo shows the band "Beast" in 1973, that played the Fireside many times. Members included Donnie Wierman, Tom Rietcheck, Mike Schmidt, Dana Messing, Michael Kerns and Bruce Brown.

Hutch Bands - Beast - 1973 - Donnie Wierman, Tom Rietcheck, Mike Schmidt, Dana Messing, Michael Kerns and Bruce Brown. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hutch Bands - Beast - 1973 - Donnie Wierman, Tom Rietcheck, Mike Schmidt, Dana Messing, Michael Kerns and Bruce Brown. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

The fifth photo shows "Cruisin'" in 1987, that included Bill Jones, Bruce Brown and Dana Messing.

Hutch Bands - Cruisin' - 1987 - Bill Jones, Bruce Brown, Dana Messing. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hutch Bands - Cruisin' - 1987 - Bill Jones, Bruce Brown, Dana Messing. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

They came along after the Fireside closed and moved to the San Francisco Bay area. All these bands had one member in common: Dana Messing.

To purchase a print, contact: [email protected].

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

Gambino's Pizza
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum

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