Post #775826 by mokan-tiki on Wed, May 10, 2017 7:54 PM

So I found some new info on the Dark Side and the photos of the band posted above.

Turns out that those are not in fact photos of Quartet Tres Bien, but in fact the Don Cunningham Combo. In researching another tiki venue in Gaslight Square, The Islander, I discovered that Don Cunningham was a musician and band leader of the Don Cunningham Combo that played at the Dark Side since its opening, and then later moved to The Islander. When they left the Dark Side, Cunningham reccommended Quartet Tres Bien to the owner. (source: https://www.stlmag.com/arts/It-Takes-a-Quiet-Village-The-Journey-of-Don-Cunningham/). The true tell on the group in the pictures is the fact that Marion Miller was the piano player in the Don Cunningham Combo, and you can clearly see him seated at and playing the piano in those pictures.

Reference photo of Marion from his album Marion at the Mainlander

Two clear photos of Marion Miller at the piano playing with the Don Cunningham Combo

I also read that the Dark Side and Quartet Tres Bien were featured in an episode of Route 66 with the bar being the backdrop for a scene and a speaking roll for percussionist Percy James.

Now when watching this scene...The Dark Side interior really doesnt look anything like the pictures featuring the Don Cunningham Combo posted above.

So it makes me wonder...are the contact sheets that the MO State Historical Society scanned from the negatives provided by the family of the original photographer Thelma Blumberg incorrect? Is that not the Dark Side, but instead really the interior of The Islander?

Here's the outside of The Islander (which I intend to create a post about since I can't find any info on TC about it thus far).

Just makes me wonder...