Crystal Chandeliers
It's the 1970's in Pleasant Dale, Nebraska. The place was called Keller's, an old brick bank building converted to a bar. The building's one claim to fame was the egg carton ceiling. It also came complete with the usual furnishings of a bar including the juke box and shuffleboard. As in most small town bars, one or two locals would be sitting at the bar no matter what day of the week you stopped in. At Keller's, it was Scotty.
Bob and I made frequent visits to Keller's either after fishing or on our night out bar hopping from small town to small town. It we wanted dinner, we would have one of Keller's great hamburgers. We especially enjoyed the evenings when Scotty would be there. It was during these days the idea that we should live in Pleasant Dale was born, but I digress.
This is about Scotty and his song. There was one song on the juke box Scotty always wanted us to play if we decided to put in a quarter--The Crystal Chandeliers. It seemed like there was a story behind Scotty's request for this song. Being a romantic with an imagination, I figured it had to be about an unrequited love. No matter how much we coaxed, Scotty never said. Harry Keller felt the same way. There had to be a story. For several years Bob and I stopped at Keller's, drank some beer, maybe played some shuffleboard talked to Scotty and played The Crystal Chandeliers.
Scotty had one phrase he used all of the time, "You damn well better believe it." Through the years, if Bob or I say those words, you will see a smile and a faraway look as we remember those days.
One night we stopped in and I looked to see if Scotty was there when I noticed a jar on the bar. "Donations in memory of Scotty" was labeled on the side. Tears threatened. You know I don't even remember his last name. Just another person we crossed paths with, got to know a little, and then he was gone. Harry did use the donations to be sure Scotty has a headstone in the Pleasant Dale Cemetery. There didn't seem to be any family around.
Many years later, Harry and Ila Keller built a new bar, Kellers II. Harry always wanted to put The Crystal Chandeliers on the juke box, but couldn't find one. Now days that would be no problem.
Pleasant Dale has a thousand more memories for me, but this memory of this song, is special.
About the song
In 1965, song writer Ted Harris received a Grammy Award for The Crystal Chandeliers sung by Charlie Pride.
