And So It Goes...

Building partially collapses in downtown Shreveport

From Shreveport Times Staff Reports • September 19, 2009

Shreveport firefighters and police are downtown, just north of Texas at Spring streets, where a building has partially collapsed.

The building, behind the Blind Tiger restaurant and the former Humpfrees-in-the-Square, once housed such nightclubs as Malibu and SportsPage.

At this time, firefighters believe there is no one in the building and no injuries have been reported.

However, a sagging roof is putting pressure on the remaining back wall, and further collapse is possible, Assistant Fire Chief David Dice said.

"I hate to see these things fall in like this," he said, as yellow caution tape went up and investigators started to look into what happened. "I like to see people come in and refurbish them."

My best friend Bobby Menefee did some fact checking for the 'Times:
The article is incorrect about the Malibu nightclub being located in this building. It was located in the old Planters Seed Building which was located across the alley & next to Commerce Street. That building is still being occupied at this time. The building that is falling in on itself has not be used for many years. It is part of the same structure that houses the Blind Tiger & Chicago Nightclub. The area where the roof collapsed was home to the Shade Tree Bar in the mid to late 70's, followed by the SportsPage and the SportsPage II from 81 to 89. The bar located in the basement was called the Tack Room and was part of the SportsPage and was later a seperate entity unto itself. I worked in the SportsPage II for 4 years and it is a tragedy that the place has finally died on the vine, so to speak.

I cannot honestly remember the first time I walked into that building, but I am certain I was under age and it was known as the Shade Tree. It's a little foggy but I am pretty sure it was the first time I saw Miki Honeycutt and A-Train. That's when that crush began.

The Shade Tree, Sports Page, and Sportspage II were the place to drop by between live sets at Humpfrees, Steamboat Annie's, The Fritz, and Circle In The Square. I spun records at Denim & Diamonds next door as well as the previously-mentioned Circle, just steps away from whatever was happening in that alley where they would rally.

Ted Ferguson from 98 Rocks introduced me to Sportspage II owner Steve Johnson in early 1984. Steve hired me and before long I was the primary DJ at the club, working alongside Dudley Brumfield, Mike Kerr, "Jap" John White, "Johnny Rotten" Jackins, and Bobby Menefee -- among others. This group of friends became some sort of dysfunctional surrogate family. So much so that most of those mentioned were at my bachelor party and wedding reception. Too bad none of them were sober enough to call it off!

I was one of the proponents of bringing live music back to the 'Page, knowing that it would eventually cause me to look for work somewhere else. I was more interested in catching a radio break. One of the first live acts booked was a group from Atlanta I recommended, The Producers.

As more and more bands were booked into the 'Page, like Afterwards, The Mailbu Boys, Exit, and Southpaw, my hours were cut down to almost nothing. It's a good thing my old friend K.C.Sledge came calling and offered me a job at the best new dance club in the area, Starz in Bossier. Those stories are being saved for an entirely different chapter.

If you happen to be in Shreve Square over the next few days do me a favor: get me a brick from that old building. My blood, sweat, whatever innocence I had, and tears (from laughter) were left behind in that place.