The Continental Club History

in photos & more

Austin, Texas

The Continental Club sign was repainted by Gary Martin and the neon was restored by Ben Livingston. This photo was taken at Ben Livingston's shop in December, 1987

Steve in the shadows (yes, his hair was dark then) next to the glowing neon sign

Ben Livingston's date book from December 29, 1987 - "Continental Sign - paint out glass - rewire if necessary - wire in new housings - test transformers"

The freshly painted & newly restored neon sign gets loaded onto the flatbed to make its way home to The Continental Club, on the morning of December 31, 1987

A crane on South Congress Avenue lifts the sign back into place atop The Continental Club, around noon on December 31, 1987

It's almost there!

Ben Livingston's date book for December 31, 1987 - "Continental Club must go up today 12:00" because the Grand Opening was that night!

1957

The Mascots / The Four Spades

The Mascots, a quartet from Houston Texas, were Jerry Lloyd, Harry Bell, Larry Hovis and Joe Toland. Originally called The Four Spades, they were convinced by Arthur Godfrey to change their name in order for radio stations to play their music in the 1950's. A contest was held on a Texas radio station for fans to pick out a new name for the group and Mascots was chosen (The O'Jays were once called The Mascots as well).

The Mascots earliest recordings were:
1955 - Please Have Mercy b/w Dreamboat M-G-M 11959
1955 - Relax-A-Voo b/w The Others I Like M-G-M 12027
1955 - Nobody's Arms b/w Little Mustard Seed M-G-M 12107
1956 - Java Jive b/w Who Put The Devil In Evelyn's Eyes M-G-M 12107

These MP3s are free to download at LarryHovis.net

Larry Hovis' brother, Tom Davis, owner of Green Mesquite BBQ in Austin, relates, "I remember a big moment when his band [The Four Spades] was featured on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts on CBS. The whole family (and a bunch of neighbors) crowded around the black and white television to watch Larry, our brother, on a national TV show! Larry's band won a recording contract from Columbia Records soon after the broadcast."

The Mascots became the house band for The Continental Club in 1955. This was the year that Morin Scott open The Continental Club as a private supper club. Rusty Weir's mother, Iona, was the one who hired The Mascots to provide entertainment for the supper & dance crowd. Larry Hovis said playing there was a big deal for his band. They had recently made a deal with Columbia Records and this was the place to be seen and heard.

Larry Hovis became much more famous after The Mascots, thanks to a singing, dancing, comedy & acting career that took him to Hollywood and Hogan's Heroes!

L-R: Joe Toland, Larry Hovis, Harry Bell & Jerry Lloyd

L-R: Joe Toland, Jerry Lloyd, Harry Bell, Larry Hovis

Posted April 16, 2009 by Dianne Scott