Considered Opinions

The Carousel Club

It was Winter 1963, and I was in Dallas. I had been sent there by the Delco Radio Division of General Motors to conduct training classes throughout the surrounding half-dozen states on repairing the new model year car radios. At that time, Delco had what was called the Listening Post Program, consisting of dozens of auto-electric repair shops in every major city around the Country. The Dallas one was called Long’s Auto Electric, owned by Harold Long and his wife. They employed 3 or 4 technicians, whose job it was to remove the defective radio from the customer’s car, repair it, and reinstall it in the car. That often would take more than a day, so one of the many benefits of being a Listening Post was that Delco supplied “loaner” radios to get customers in and out faster.

Of all the technicians working for the Longs, Ray Tucker was by far the best, and he wanted to leave to set up his own shop and arrest the Listening Post status away from his current employer. I let it be known that I was willing to suggest that idea to Delco, but to secure my lobbying efforts, he offered to take me along with his wife to dinner at The Carousel Club.

Although I was 22 years old, having grown up in rural Michigan, I did know what a Supper Club was, but I had never been in one. I also knew about burlesque, but I had never experienced that either.

We were greeted at the door by the owner of the club, who shook everyone’s hand and exchanged brief chit-chat before being shown to our dinner table. I remember him well for his firm handshake and slicked-back hair. He was a character right out of the Chicago 1930s. I learned later that his name was Jack Ruby. After dinner, the evening entertainment was a well-known exotic dancer from New Orleans named Jada, who went on to receive much free media attention in the weeks that followed. I returned to my office in Kokomo a week or two later, and shortly after that came the day that stunned the world.

Eventually, the Longs retired, and Ray’s “Tucker Automotive” became the Dallas Listening Post. He and I often talked by phone over the years that followed. He even visited me in California once, during a vacation trip with his wife, and we enjoyed a fine dinner together, but Santa Cruz had nothing to offer that could match that evening in Dallas.

By: Jim
Written: January 29, 2025
Published: January 29, 2025
Revised:
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