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Church Street Station

Church Street Station – One Family Remembers

July 19, 2004 marked the 30th anniversary of the opening of Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium on Church Street in downtown Orlando. July 19, 1974 marked the beginning of a marvelous adventure the likes of which the people of Orlando had not known before. Bob Snow brought his vision – his dream – to life and it was enjoyed by millions of people who passed through those swinging doors for more than 25 years.

“Church Street Station – One Family Remembers” is a tribute to all the people who made Church Street Station possible, before what it was passes completely from the public consciousness. For those of you who were around during the glory days – the 70’s and 80’s – you remember Church Street Station when Bob Snow was still it’s heart and soul.


ABOVE: Glasses from the Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House on the south side of Church Street at the corner of Church and Garland.

For those of you who only experienced Church Street Station in the final years, and for those of you who will never experience the wonder and awe of it all, take a look at the photos, read some of the news clippings, peruse the “memories” here on display, and join us as one family remembers Church Street Station. Read the rest of the flyer.

Read about the 2004 exhibit: VIEW Page 1       VIEW Page 2

VIEW Historical overview of Church Street Station


The above photo is of the entire staff at Church Street Station gathered in Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium – from Rosie’s, the Cheyenne, Lili Marlene’s Aviators’ Pub , Apple Annie’s and Phineas Phoggs Balloonery. Faces in the crowd include Rosie’s Good Time Jazz Band, Bill Allred, Randy Morris, Warren Sauer, Boyd Bergeson, Rosie’s Red Hot Mama – Miss Ruth Crews, Rob Oakes, the bag pipe players, Laurel and Hardy, Spatz Donovan, the Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam, the waiters and waitresses, Mother’s Choice, Randy Morris, Warren Sauer, Sam and Susan Barnes and Charlie Lesink, aviator Joe Kittinger.

Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium – Waiter’s Welcome

LISTEN to Rosie O’Grady’s Waiters’ Welcome

Words and music by Bill Allred. Permission granted.

We’d like to welcome everybody to Rosie O’Grady’s, the place where all the good times are!
You can forget about your taxes, the weather, the wars, and leave your other cares and woes outside our swinging doors.
We’d like to welcome everybody to Rosie O’Grady’s, come in and belly up to the bar.
And if you do, it won’t be long before you see why, we’re rated up there with the flag and mom’s apple pie!
We’d like to welcome everybody to Rosie O’Grady’s, the place where all the good times are!

Sung by Rosie O’Grady’s singing waiters, this was the first song performed each night, and every word was true!

The above post card features Rosie O’Grady’s Singing Waiters who in addition to participating in the patriotic grand finale waving the Confederate flag and then Old Glory and performing the Rosie O’Grady’s welcome song, would drop what they were doing – who they were serving – grab their trays and accentuate the grand entrance of Rosie’s Red Hot Mama Ruth Crews. This photo was from Rosie’s heydays when there was “sawdust” on the floor like in the olden days and standing room only above and below with people lining the 2nd floor balcony and the filling the antique benches pulled from an old train station. Rosie’s served alcoholic beverages but it was a place where folks from newborns to almost-gones could have a rousing good time. You can see the brass fireman’s pole in the middle of the stage. Most of the band members would make their entrance each show by taking the fireman’s pole from the top floor. The can can girls also arrived via this mode of transport. If you look closely you can see the large mirror behind the west bar – painted with the names and likenesses of specialty drinks.

THE EXCHANGE


ABOVE: This photograph shows the elegant brass and glass and escalators with Tivoli lights and glass enclosed elevator overlooking the fountain in the center section of The Exchange at Church Street Station. The huge three story interior featured unique shops on the first two floors with a food court that connected by way of an enclosed walkway over the train tracks to Church Street Marketplace which is now 55 West.

The third floor of The Exchange was called Commander Ragtime’s the Grandest on Earth and was a huge assortment of fun games for the entire family. They had pool tables, old fashioned arcade games, simulator type games, kids games (who doesn’t like whack a mole?) and prizes! We stopped going to CSS for a while when the kids were at the age that they’d rather play games to try to win cheap prizes than to listen to the music. Thankfully, that passed quickly.

Our favorite stores were the huge rock and gem store, the family crest store, the fudge factory and of course Victoria’s Secret! Never knew when Elvis might be making an appearance! Stores listed in the 1989 Orlando City Directory (page 458) include: First Floor: the Fudgery, Regency Collectibles, Saldini Menswear, Ol’ Times Cigar Tobacco Shop, Candelite Handcrafted Candles, the Toy Depot, Traders (clothing), Victoria’s Secret, Alexia (Women’s apparel), Benetton (clothing), Pazazz (ladies clothing), Elan Jewelers, Splash Creations (child ladies apparel), Calligraphy & Quotes, Joy of Ireland (their sign can be seen in the lower right of the photo above), Santa & Co. (Christmas decorations), Top This T-shirts, Glitterings (fabulous fake jewelry), R. H. Muir and Co. (custom shirts), Bath & A-Half (soaps and scents), Music Box Shoppe, Sunglass Hut. Second Floor: Alexander’s (clothing), Bain’s Deli, Starting Line (sportswear), Nick’s Italian Kitchen, Chinese Cafe, Mrs. Field’s Cookies, Candy Barrel of Orlando, Inc., Sport Shop, Sam Goody Tapes and Records, Cards N’ Stuff, Everything Yogurt, Guiliano’s, Naco’s Mexican Grill, Col. Joe’s Balloons and Kites. Third Floor: Sweet Thomas Ice Cream, Orlando View of the World, Commander Ragtime’s Gift Shop.

Hanging above the escalators were two vintage aircraft, one of them a Fokker D (shown here) is a German plane from World War I. Both plans had what appeared to be a live person from that era dressed in complete aviator’s garb including leather cap and goggles. when standing on the third floor, the craft were poised as if they were heading right for you. If you look closely you can see the ornate tin ceilings and moldings and amazing attention to detail in this new structure made to look turn of the century. It captures the excitement that spanned the years from the gay nineties to the roaring twenties.

All of Church Street Station was decorated for the holidays but none as beautifully as the Orchid Garden – the home of Rock n Soul. This photo was taken 21 November 1997 shortly after they finished decorating. Taken from the dance floor on the second floor above the bandstand, facing the entrance, you can see the fountain under the landing for the staircase and Marilyn Monroe in the back to the right of the entrance doors. You can see the huge garlands, balls, and bows encasing the entire second floor rails and the beautiful symmetry of the architecture. You can see the elegant chandeliers, brick walls, marble back bar and French doors.

Rock n Soul at the Orchid Garden Ballroom

ABOVE: Every Tuesday-Saturday night, the band Rock n Soul wowed audiences at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station. Lead male singer, Clark Barrios, got a big surprise on his birthday in 1996. This photo was snapped shortly thereafter as everyone in the audience say “Happy Birthday” to him. You can see Big Daddy Dave Williams on keys in the background.

Rock n Soul performed four sets each night beginning at 8 p.m. and the last ending around 2 a.m. The first set was the 50’s, second the 60’s, third and fourth were a mixture of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. By the last set, the crowds would thin out and the fans who had long ago become their friends usually made up a good part of the remaining audience. The band could have cut corners, played and sang some mediocre tunes to end the night, but they always seemed to have a special musical gift for those of us who closed the place. Anyone who remembers them singing Seven Bridges Road or Walking in Memphis knows what I mean. I’ve never heard either of these songs done better and I doubt I ever will. During the time we had fun and rocked out to the music of Rock n Soul the band members were Dave Williams (keyboard, sax, vocals), Clark Barrios (lead male vocals, sax), Donna Lamoureaux (lead female vocals, sax), Tim Campbell (keyboard, base, vocals), Phil May (guitarist, vocals), Jeff DeHollander (guitarist), and Mike Bunch (drums).

ABOVE: My family and I live in England, but we were frequent visitors to Orlando, in great part due to the house band at the Orchid Garden Ballroom at Church Street Station in Orlando. This photo is from 1997. The band members are from Back Row L-R: Phil May, Clark Barrios, Tim Campbell, Big Daddy Dave Williams, Mike Bunch. In front is my daughter Lyndsey Haskell and Donna Lamoureaux.

50s Medley

 

Chantilly Lace

 

Rock Around The Clock

 

Motown Medley

 

Mac The Knife
This is an excerpt of Clark Barrios – lead male singer with the group Rock n Soul – performing the Bobby Darin standard “Mac the Knife” live at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station in 1996

 

Suspicious Minds

 

Pretty Woman

 

When A Man Loves A Woman

 

Brown Eyed Girl
Brown Eyed Girl was one of the band’s songs that bought lead singer Clark Barrios out in the audience to choose a young lady to help him on stage. Clark would always ask the father, spouse, or boyfriend of the young lady if he might borrow her for a moment and escort the young lady back to the stage where he hoped she would dance with him and sing along. Regardless, she would receive a complementary signature drink of Church Street Station – the Flaming Hurricane Special with the souvenir glass. T

 

Walking In Memphis
This became one of my favorite songs when I first heard Clark Barrios perform it at the Orchid Garden. I read that women would “swoon” when Frank Sinatra sang, but could never relate until I heard him sing this song.

 

Disco Medley

 

Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium – Spatz Donovan

LISTEN to Spatz Donovan the Church Street Dynamo performing at Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium. This small sampling of the musical stylings of the Church Street Dynamo Spatz Donovan is from a live albums called “Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station.” The album follows two visitors on their evening of fun at Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium and Apple Annie’s Courtyard.

 

Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium – Patriotic Finale

LISTEN to the Patriotic Finale starring Rosie O’Grady’s Red Hot Mama – Miss Ruth Crews, the Church Street Dynamo – Spatz Donovan, the Rosie O’Grady Good Time Jazz Band, the singing waiters, Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty and the Can Can Girls!

The patriotic grand finale of the show at Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium brought everyone to their feet! The band leader would pose the question: Are there any folks here from the north? The response would be loud since many of the visitors to Orlando were from the North. The follow up question posed to Southerners would evoke even louder response at which time Ruth Crews and Spatz Donovan would lead the crowd singing Dixie as waiters unfurled the Rebel flag and waved it from the bar.

And then the Rebel flag was put away, Old Glory unfurled and Yankee Doodle sung, followed by You’re a Grand Old Flag” and finale “God Bless America” with everyone on their feet, waiters and can can girls in front of the stage, Uncle Sam on stilts and the Statue of Liberty on stage with Ruth and Spatz. It was a site to behold and an experience to remember.

 

Bob Snow creator of Church Street Station

LISTEN to Bob Snow performing with Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Jazz Band.

Bob Snow, usually remembered as the dreamer and doer who created Church Street Station entertainment complex in Orlando in 1974, was actually quite a musician himself. His rendition of When the Saints Go Marching In performed at Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium and included on the live album “Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station” proves that point. Boyd Bergeson on banjo, Randy Morris on piano, Jim Maihack on trombone, Warren Sauers on drums, Bob Snow vocals and trumpet.

 

Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium’s Red Hot Mama – Miss Ruth Crews

LISTEN to Rosie O’Grady’s Red Hot Mama – Miss Ruth Crews

Rosie O’Grady’s Red Hot Mama Miss Ruth Crews belts out her rendition of “Hostess with the Mostess” as she makes her grand entrance from the 2nd floor balcony. Featured on the album  “Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station” recorded live at Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium.

 

Apple Annie’s Courtyard – Mother’s Choice

LISTEN to Mother’s Choice at Apple Annie’s

This take off on the once popular Kingston Trio song “Charlie on the M.T.A.” is performed by the Apple Annie’s Courtyard band “Mother’s Choice.” The song places Charlie on the monorail at Disney instead. It was record live on the “Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station” album that followed two visitors experiencing the entertainment at Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium and Apple Annie’s Courtyard.

 

Clark Barrios tribute to Elvis

WATCH Clark Barrios Elvis Tribute that Rock n Soul did in August 1997. Rock-n-Soul was the house band at the Orchid Garden Ballroom and consisted of Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoureaux, Phil May, Tim Campbell, Big Daddy Dave Williams, Mike Bunch.

Clark Barrios was lead male singer with the group Rock-n-Soul at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station. In 1997 Clark created a tribute to Elvis on the Anniversary of his death. We got wind of it and decided to participate, giving red roses to ladies in the audience to give to “Elvis” and throwing under garments at the appropriate moments. The wait staff decided to join in on the fun. Be sure to watch all three clips especially number three.       VIEW Part 1        VIEW Part 2       VIEW Part 3

 

Peruse all the IMAGES and DOCUMENTS under ATTACHMENTS below. Click on the first image to begin the slide show and REMEMBER to read the captions!
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ATTACHMENTS

Clark Barrios - The Orchid Garden

Every night, Tuesday-Saturday, the band Rock n Soul would wow audiences at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station. The first show...

Clark Barrios - Orchid Garden

Every Tuesday-Saturday night, the band Rock n Soul wowed audiences at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station. Lead male singer, Clark...

Rosie O'Grady's Red Hot Mama - Miss Ruth Crews

Ruth Crews belted out songs at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium at Church Street Station for 25 years, making many friends and...

Rosie O'Grady's Red Hot Mama - Miss Ruth Crews

Ruth Crews belted out songs at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium at Church Street Station for 25 years, making many friends and...

Swing Nights - The Orchid Garden

During the height of the Swing Dancing craze in the 90s, the Orchid Garden pushed back the tables and chairs, the band...

The Good Time Gang at Rosie O'Grady's

The entire staff at Church Street Station gathered in Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium - from Rosie's, the Cheyenne, Lili Marlene's Aviators'...

Halloween - Church Street Station - The Orchid Garden

Halloween at Church Street Station meant costumes, contests, street parties, friends and fun. Clark Barrios, lead singer of the band Rock n...

Halloween - Church Street Station - Orchid Garden

Halloween night at the Orchid Garden Ballroom at Church Street Station. I am dressed as Kitty a character from the Vegas style...

Rock n Soul - Donna Lamoureaux

Lead female vocalist and only female member of Rock n Soul, the house band at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station...

Church Street Station - Looking West

My family lives in England. We visited Orlando regularly because we loved Church Street Station! This photo is from November 1995. My...

The Orchid Garden Waiters

My family is from England but we visited Orlando often because we loved Church Street Station and the music of Rock n...

The Orchid Garden - Holidays

My family lives in England but we were frequent visitors to Orlando because we were big fans of Church Street Station and...

Orchid Garden - Holiday Decorations

All of Church Street Station was decorated for the holidays but none as beautifully as the Orchid Garden - the home of...

The Orchid Garden Courtyard

Behind the bandstand at the base of the two staircases that led down from the 2nd floor dance floor at the Orchid...

Orange Blossom Special

The locomotive parked at the Church Station was one of many purhcased and refurbished by Bob Snow when he first created the...

Rock n Soul - Orchid Garden Ballroom

My family and I live in England, but we were frequent visitors to Orlando, in great part due to the house band...

Rosie O'Grady's - Church Street Station

Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium featured a Red Hot Mama, a hot Dixieland band, singing waiters and Can Can girls. The waitresses...

OPD Horse Patrol - International Drive

My family is from England and our first visit to Orlando was in 1995. We were staying on I-Drive and met the...

Church Street Market - Fire Engine - Olive Garden Restaurant

In 1996, before Church Street Market was demolished to build the 55 West condos, we caught an Orlando Fire Department fire engine...

Horse Drawn Carriage - Church Street Station

This is a photo of a very posh horse drawn carriage awaiting riders in front of Lili Marlene's Aviators' Pub and Phineas...

Church Street Station - Hot Air Balloon

My family and I live in England but were regular visitors to Orlando when Church Street Station was the place to be...

Church Street Market - Topiaries

Church Street Market was just across the railroad tracks and just east of Church Street Station. It was a shopping, dining and...

Rosie O'Grady's 1982

We moved away from Orlando in 1976, but returned often and visited Rosie's every time we were in town. In November 1982...

Rosie O'Grady's 1982

We moved away from Orlando in 1976, but returned often and visited Rosie's every time we were in town. In November 1982...

Rosie O'Grady's 1982

This photo was taken in November 1982 from the second floor. This was Christopher's first time at Church Street Station and he...

Edward Radzinsky - Halloween 1988

Edvard visited Orlando in October 1988 to speak at UCF and give a talk at the Orlando Public Library. We invited Edvard...

Apple Annie's at Church Street Station - Grand Opening Announcement

This is the table advertisement circulated at Rosie O'Grady's prior to the opening of Apple Annie's Courtyard. Church Street Station downtown Orlando'...

Apple Annie's at Church Street Station

This is a photo of several of the Can Can girls who doubled as waitresses at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium having...

Holly and Dolly - Can Can Girls at Rosie O'Grady's

Black and white photo from a newspaper in 1979 - Holly and Dolly and another Can Can Girl at Rosie O'Grady's Good...

Holly and Dolly Harris

Holly and Dolly are two of the most identifiable Can Can Girls to ever dance on the bar at Rosie O'Grady's Good...

Mother's Choice - Apple Annie's at Church Street Station

The music group Mother's Choice were the featured band at Apple Annie's Courtyard. Sam and Susan Barnes and Charlie Lesink were very...

Mother's Choice - Apple Annie's at Church Street Station

The music group Mother's Choice were the featured band at Apple Annie's Courtyard. Sam and Susan Barnes and Charlie Lesink were very...

Orchid Garden at Church Street Station

The Orchid Garden Ballroom went through several musical genre's before settling on rock-n-roll. The house band changed several times before what my...

Orchid Garden at Church Street Station - Halloween

Halloween at Church Street Station was something to behold. There was a street party with a huge costume contest. Our favorite band...

Rock-n-Soul - Halloween at the Orchid Garden - Church Street Station

Clark Barrios and Donna Lamoureaux of the Orchid Garden's house band Rock-n-Soul on Halloween.

Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Band

This is one of my favorite T-shirts because of the caricatures of the band members of Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Jazz Band. Dave...

Church Street Station - Rosie O'Grady's Flying Circus

This is the logo for Rosie O'Grady's Flying Circus which at one time included hot air balloon rides, bi-planes, banner planes, and...

Orchid Garden at Church Street Station - Christmas Music Cassette

The Orchid Garden's house band, Rock-n-Soul, recorded a cassette of Christmas music in 1996 titled "Old Fashioned Holidays". Phil May, Donna Lamoureaux,...

Church Street Station - Apple Annie's Postcard

Postcard showing the cobblestone Church Street and scenes from Apple Annie's Courtyard after it was altered to create an entrance to The...

Church Street Station - Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium Bartenders

Black and white photo from 1973 of the bartenders at the East Bar at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium at Church Street...

Church Street Station - Soda Glasses

Purchased after Church Street Station closed it's doors, these are typical of the glasses found at all of the showrooms for soda.

Church Street Station - Special Glass

Purchased after Church Street Station closed it's doors, this is a special issue glass with brass emblem attached.

Church Street Station - Shot Glass

Purchased after Church Street Station closed it's doors, this is a shot glass sold at the Bumby Arcade gift store featuring an...

Church Street Station - Cheyenne Saloon Glass

Purchased after Church Street Station closed it's doors, this is a glass used at the Cheyenne Saloon and sold at the Bumby...

Church Street Station - Flaming Hurricane Glasses

Purchased after Church Street Station closed it's doors, these are two sizes of glasses used for the signature Flaming Hurricane Special. Notice...

Church Street Station - Apple Annie's Glass

Purchased after Church Street Station closed its doors, this is a glass from Apple Annie's Courtyard and was used for fruit drinks...

The Exchange - Commander Ragtime's

This photograph shows the elegant brass and glass and escalators with Tivoli lights and glass enclosed elevator overlooking the fountain ...

Apple Annie's at Church Street Station - Original Look - Postcard Front

This is the front of a postcard produced with images of the original configuration of Apple Annie's Courtyard before Phineas Phoggs Balloonery...

Apple Annie's at Church Street Station - Original Look - Postcard Back

This is the back of a postcard produced with images of the original configuration of Apple Annie's Courtyard before Phineas Phoggs Balloonery...

Church Street Station Display at Orlando Public Library

Collection of photos and memorabilia displayed at the Orlando Public Library in July and August 2004. Heartfelt thanks to Ruth Crews, Bill...

Church Street Station Display at Orlando Public Library

Collection of photos and memorabilia displayed at the Orlando Public Library in July and August 2004. One of a series of seven...

Church Street Station Display at Orlando Public Library

Collection of photos and memorabilia displayed at the Orlando Public Library in July and August 2004. One of a series of seven...

Church Street Station Display at Orlando Public Library

Collection of photos and memorabilia displayed at the Orlando Public Library in July and August 2004. One of a series of seven...

Church Street Station Display at Orlando Public Library

Collection of photos and memorabilia displayed at the Orlando Public Library in July and August 2004. One of a series of seven...

Church Street Station Display at Orlando Public Library

Collection of photos and memorabilia displayed at the Orlando Public Library in July and August 2004. One of a series of seven...

Church Street Station Display at Orlando Public Library

Collection of photos and memorabilia displayed at the Orlando Public Library in July and August 2004. One of a series of seven...

Church Street Station Display at Orlando Public Library

Collection of photos and memorabilia displayed at the Orlando Public Library in July and August 2004 Approximately 4 feet x 7 feet banner...

Miss Ruth Crews - Bio Flyer

Rosie O'Grady's Red Hot Mama, Miss Ruth Crews.

Church Street Station One Family Remembers in the Orlando Sentinel

The Orlando Sentinel featured the "Church Street Station One Family Remembers" display at the Orlando Public Library in a full color front...

Church Street Station One Family Remembers in the Orlando Sentinel

The Orlando Sentinel featured the "Church Street Station One Family Remembers" display at the Orlando Public Library in a full color front...

Church Street Station Presents.... Marketing Brochure front

Full color fold out promotional brochure featuring images from all the entertainment and dining venues at Church Street Station including Rosie O'Grad...

Church Street Station Presents... Marketing Brochure center section

Full color fold out promotional brochure featuring images from all the entertainment and dining venues at Church Street Station including Rosie O'Grad...

Church Street Station Presents... Marketing Brochure back

Full color fold out promotional brochure featuring images from all the entertainment and dining venues at Church Street Station including Rosie O'Grad...

Apple Annie's Flaming Fountain

Apple Annie's Courtyard was a Victorian delight with high fan back wicker chairs, ceiling fans, ornate chandeliers, lush plants, a parrot and...

Mother's Choice - Record Album - front cover

Mother's Choice was the house band at Apple Annie's Courtyard at Church Street Station. They played a mix of folk and blue...

Mother's Choice - Record Album - back cover

Mother's Choice was the house band at Apple Annie's Courtyard at Church Street Station. They played a mix of folk and blue...

Apple Annie's Courtyard - 1987

Our family frequented Church Street Station usually arriving early to avoid paying the entrance fee which was waived for persons arriving before...

Holly and Dolly - Rosie O'Grady's East Bar

Photograph of Holly and Dolly Harris performing the Can Can on the East Bar in Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium circa 1979....

Orlando - The City Beautiful - Church Street Station

This is a wonderful overview of the history of Church Street Station with great color photos taken from the book "Orlando The...

Rock n Soul - 50's Medley

Rock-n-Soul - 50's Medley

Recorded live in 1999 at the Orchid Garden Ballroom at Church Street Station, featuring lead vocalist Clark Barrios and Rock n Soul: Donna Lamoureaux, Big Daddy Dave Williams, Mike Bunch, Tim Campbell, and Jeff DeHollander.




Rock n Soul - Chantilly Lace

Recorded live in 1999 at the Orchid Garden Ballroom at Church Street Station, featuring lead vocalist Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoureaux, Dave Williams, Mike Bunch, Tim Campbell, and Jeff Dehollander.




Rock n Soul - Rock Around the Clock

Recorded live at the Orchid Garden Ballroom at Church Street Station in 1999, this cut features lead singer Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoureaux, Dave Williams, Mike Bunch, Jeff DeHollander and Tim Campbell.




Rock n Soul - Motown Medley

Recorded live in 1999 at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station, this is a medley of Motown favorites and hits from the Blues Brothers, featuring lead singer Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoureaux, Tim Campbell, Mike Bunch, Dave Williams and Jeff DeHollander.




Rock n Soul -Mac the Knife

Mac The Knife. This is an excerpt of Clark Barrios - lead male singer with the group Rock n Soul - performing the Bobby Darin standard "Mac the Knife" live at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station in 1996. Rock n Soul was Phil May, Tim Campbell, Donna Lamoureaux, Dave Williams, Jeff DeHollander and Clark Barrios.




Rock n Soul - Pretty Woman

Recorded live at the Orchid Ballroom at Church Street Station in 1999, this cut features lead singer Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoureaux, Dave Williams, Mike Bunch, Jeff Dehollander and Tim Campbell.




Rock n Soul - Suspicious Minds

Rock n Soul did everything well, but their lead singer's renditions and impersonation of Elvis, was unbelievable. Suspicious Minds was recorded live in the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station in 1999, featuring lead singer Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoureaux, Dave Williams, Jeff DeHollander, Mike Bunch, Tim Campbell.




Rock n Soul - When A Man Loves A Woman

When A Man Loves A Woman. This is an excerpt of Clark Barrios - lead male singer with the group Rock n Soul - performing the standard "When a Man Loves a Woman" live at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station in 1999. Rock n Soul was Phil May, Mike Bunch, Dave Williams, Donna Lamoureau, Jeff DeHollander, Clark Barrios, Tim Campbell.




Rock n Soul - Brown Eyed Girl

Recorded live in the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station in 1999, Brown Eyed Girl was one of the band's songs that bought lead singer Clark Barrios out in the audience to choose a young lady to help him on stage. Clark would always ask the father, spouse, or boyfriend of the young lady if he might borrow her for a moment and escort the young lady back to the stage where he hoped she would dance with him and sing along. Regardless, she would receive a complementary signature drink of Church Street Station - the Flaming Hurricane Special with the souvenir glass. This selection features the entire band, Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoureaux, Tim Campbell, Jeff DeHollander, Dave Williams, and Mike Bunch.




Rock n Soul - Walking in Memphis

Rock n Soul performed four sets each night beginning at 8 p.m. and ending at 1 around 2 a.m. The first set was the 50's, second the 60's, third and fourth were a mixture of 70's, 80's and 90's. By the last set, the crowds would thin out and the fans who has long ago become their friends usually made up a good part of the remaining audience. The band could have cut corners, played and sang some mediocre tunes to end the night, but they always seemed to have a special musical gift for those of us who closed the place.
Anyone who remembers them singing Seven Bridges Road or Walking in Memphis knows what I mean. I've never heard either of these songs done better and I doubt I ever will. Rock n Soul was Dave Williams, Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoureaux, Tim Campbell, Phil May, Jeff DeHollander, Mike Bunch.




Rock n Soul - Disco Medley

Recorded live in 1999 at the Orchid Garden at Church Street Station, this is a medley of disco favorites, featuring lead singer Clark Barrios, Donna Lamoreaux, Tim Campbell, Mike Bunch, Dave Williams, and Jeff DeHollander.




Waiters' Welcome - Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium

This is the famed "Waiters' Welcome" song written by Bill Allred and sung nightly by the male waiters at Rosie O'Grady's. The song was performed live at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium for a live album entitled "Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station" - following two gentlemen visiting the entertainment complex for the evening. Rosie O'Grady's Waiter's Welcome - Words and music by Bill Allred. Permission granted.
We'd like to welcome everybody to Rosie O'Grady's, the place where all the good times are!

You can forget about your taxes, the weather, the wars, and leave your other cares and woes outside our swinging doors.

We'd like to welcome everybody to Rosie O'Grady's, come in and belly up to the bar.

And if you do, it won't be long before you see why we're rated up there with the flag and mom's apple pie!

We'd like to welcome everybody to Rosie O'Grady's, the place where all the good times are!

Sung by Rosie O'Grady's singing waiters, this was the first song performed each night, and every word was true!




Church Street Dynamo - Spatz Donovan

This small sampling of the musical stylings of the Church Street Dynamo Spatz Donovan is from a live albums called "Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station."

The album follows two visitors on their evening of fun at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium and Apple Annie's Courtyard.

CSS Audio File - Spatz Donovan




Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium - Patriotic Finale

The patriotic grand finale of the show at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium brought everyone to their feet! The band leader would pose the question: Are there any folks here from the north? The response would be loud since many of the visitors to Orlando were from the North. The follow up question posed to Southerners would evoke even louder response at which time Ruth Crews and Spatz Donovan would lead the crowd singing Dixie as waiters unfurled the Rebel flag and waved it from the bar.

And then the Rebel flag was put away, Old Glory unfurled and Yankee Doodle sung, followed by You're a Grand Old Flag" and finale "God Bless America" with everyone on their feet, waiters and can can girls in front of the stage, Uncle Sam on stilts and the Statue of Liberty on stage with Ruth and Spatz.

It was a site to behold and an experience to remember.




Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station - Bob Snow

Bob Snow, usually remembered as the dreamer and doer who created Church Street Station entertainment complex in Orlando in 1974, was actually quite a musician himself. His rendition of When the Saints Go Marching In performed at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium and included on the live album "Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station" proves that point.
Boyd Bergeson on banjo, Randy Morris on piano, Jim Maihack on trombone, Warren Sauers on drums, Bob Snow vocals and trumpet.




Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station - Rosie's Red Hot Mama Ruth Crews

Rosie O'Grady's Red Hot Mama Miss Ruth Crews belts out her rendition of "Hostess with the Mostess" on the album "Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station" recorded live at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium.




Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station - Mother's Choice

This take off on the once popular Kingston Trio song "Charlie on the M.T.A." is performed by the Apple Annie's Courtyard band "Mother's Choice." The song places Charlie on the monorail at Disney instead. It was record live on the "Sights and Sounds of Church Street Station" album that followed two visitors experiencing the entertainment at Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium and Apple Annie's Courtyard.




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Apple Annie's Courtyard - Church Street Station

Front and back images of a post card from Apple Annie's Courtyard at Church Street Station after the fire and water fountain were removed and the wall opened for access to the Exchange shopping and entertainment area. You can see the bandstand with Mother's Choice performing in the back on the right and the new sign for THE EXCHANGE in the center where the fountain was formerly located. You can also see some of the architecture - the chandeliers were from old churches in Europe as was the bar.


Church Street Station - Pamphlet

This full-color, two sided, multi-fold advertisement pamphlet has scenes from every showroom and restaurant in the Church Street Station complex that stretched from Garland to the train tracks at the old Church Street train station.


Church Street Station - Matchbook

This matchbook is from the final years of Church Street Station before the decline as it includes the names of all the restaurants and showrooms and shopping emporiums that existed. These include Rosie O'Grady's (Red Hot Dixieland Jazz, Cheyenne Saloon (Life Country and Western Music), Orchid Garden (Classic Rock and Roll), Phineas Phogg's (High Energy Dance Music), Apple Annie's (Featuring Fresh Fruit Daiquiris), Commander Ragtime's Midway of Fun and Games, Lili Marlene's (Exemplary Food Fine Wine), Crackers (Fresh Florida Seafood), Cheyenne Saloon Restaurant (Texas Style Barbeque), Exchange Food Pavilion (Convenient International Cuisine), The Exchange (Over 50 Specialty Shops), and The Wine Cellar (Orlando's Only True Wine Cellar).


Church Street Station - Legal Tender

Church Street Station had "just for fun" card games at the Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House. Guests were given "free" legal tender to play in the games.


Church Street Station - Orchid Garden Ballroom and Dessert Cafe

Purchased after Church Street Station closed its doors, this is the souvenir glass used in the Orchid Garden Ballroom and Dessert Cafe.


Church Street Station . . . One Family Remembers

Church Street Station became an Orlando entertainment destination when Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium opened it's doors in July 1974. Central Floridians and people from around the world enjoyed the music, laughter, food and fun that made CSS the stuff of memories. In July 2004, the 30th anniversary of the opening of Rosie's, an exhibit created by a Central Florida resident entitled "Church Street Station ... One Family Remembers," toured the Orange County Library System.

The exhibit was featured in a two page color story in the Orlando Sentinel entitled: "When the party's over; Back in the day, Church Street Station was the place to be. Memories of its good times are on display at the Orlando Public Library." August 5, 2004, pg. H1. This is the flyer that accompanied the exhibit.


Rosie O'Grady's - Neil and Mary Ann Fischer

Neil and Mary Ann Fischer celebrated a belated 24th Wedding Anniversary with their daughter Kim and son in law Oliver Peters at Rosie O'Grady's Goodtime Emporium at Church Street Station in September 1975. The photography staff presented them with this souvenir photo to commemorate the event.


Church Street Station Presents... Marketing brochure

Full color fold out promotional brochure featuring images from all the entertainment and dining venues at Church Street Station.



Comments to “Church Street Station”

  1. Tom Harrell says:

    I worked with Mike Bunch, the drummer featured in this page and one of the photographs, in 1974 at Rollins College. He was an excellent drummer and I remember him fondly. So happy you posted this!

    • Kim P says:

      Greetings! Our family and friends went to CSS every weekend in the 1990s. Mike was a great drummer and had a great sense of humor, too! Really nice guy. Thanks for visiting Orlando Memory and sharing your memories with us! ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM

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