The Beatles, Chain Smoking and 1960s Hair Products

[@otisgibbs]

Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel. paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=... www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs Paypal: @otisgibbs Venmo: @OtisGibbs

[@BobbyGeneric145]

I like John Prine because he honored Blaze Foley with playing his songs! Blaze is my favorite singer songwriter ever.

[@nickramsey8638]

“Woke up - fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head.” :)

[@Peter7966]

"Putting positive things out in the world"... We desperately need more of this nowadays. Thanks.

[@otisgibbs]

Just to clarify, I said something about smoke looking cool. I meant the smoke floating around a room looks cool on film. I did not mean a person smoking looks cool. I don't want anyone to think I'm encouraging anyone to smoke because I'm not. Thank ya kindly. : )

[@bigbuddha9197]

I read your disclaimer before I saw that part of the clip. I don't think you glorified smoking, at all. Did you ever get to the Jockey's Club, Newport KY, back in the early 80s? That was pretty smokey. I saw Black Flag, amoung others at that club, back in the day.

[@alabama2uz]

I watch a lot of old TV. It WAS cool at the time. As a parent of a zoomer, its not anymore.

[@Mike583]

Personally for me,being a non smoker, seeing people smoking or a room full of smoke ,never looked "cool" to me. I don't know why,but even as a young boy my eyes were easily burned by smoke. Either it be cigarette or wood smoke. Loosing my youngest sister,because she couldn't quit smoking, her lungs were shot. Sure didn't help my disdain for the stink of cigarettes, cigars & what they do to the lungs.

[@myfavoritemartian]

I hear ya Otis! I'm not a smoker either but was always around it from a little kid, now in my 7th decade. If I'm not mistaken, smokes are $5-$6 bux here in the Georgia and the Carolinas but $12 -$15 bux in NYC places like that. My dad used Brylcreem hair dressing like so many hair products of the days of the 50s 60s 70s. Yep "the dad smell" along with Aquavelva aftershave. I sure do miss those days. Would give a lot for just 24 hrs back in the day... Thanks for these memories again bro... Much love, G

[@stephenfranklin5069]

Idk man i saw a picture of Johnny cash smoking and he made that cigarette pretty cool looking lol

[@bjorntannberg1581]

It's not more than 20 - 25 years ago that when you visited someone's home you just lit a cigarette and asked for an ashtray. That was concidered being polite (not spilling ashes on their carpet). Nobody asked if it was okay to smoke. Some things change to the better. I smoked my last cigarette at new years eve 1999.

[@FuzzyBuzzBoy]

As a Kid I flew in Tubes of Smoke. Crazy to think bad circulation and smoke haze.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

I have an ashtray that has the logo of the insurance company my dad dealt with embossed on it.....

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

I made a ceramic ashtray for my Dad in Art class in school in the early 80s, and nobody thought it was strange at all. I barely know anyone who smokes anymore. I think they all died, lol.

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

And yet last summer a friend of mine sitting in the back seat of my brand new car smoked a cigarette without even asking anyone (three others) if it was ok.

[@mojo6778]

Otis, give yourself another pat on the back for being an ambassador of music and music history. You have been very fortunate in your life of being a working musician to not give in to all of the temptations that are out there and made good friends, unique acquaintances, and wonderful memories. Your mind and memories are just like yesterday, which you have been sharing freely with an audiance that hangs on everyword just wanting to know more. Thank you, as you have definitely broadened my knowledge as well as shared places that I would never get to see. I am looking forward to the next video, and have a great weekend!

[@brianbeavers4659]

Fascinating (l'm being sincere). I started bartending in 79. (2yrs after l graduated) l used to get home & remove my clothes in the basement or porch, immediately place them into the washing machine. As l also was a non-smoker, smoke didn't disturb me when l was "in the thick of it" but, l couldn't stand the smell of my clothes afterward. I still bartend at a private club. Thank GOD they banned smoking, as being a private club it WAS allowed long after other bars.

[@arblankenship54]

I connect deeply with the idea of pining for old age

[@johnrosier1686]

It was a rough gig for the old truck drivers. Truck stops now have showers but they were rare back in the ‘70s. The trucks have improved immensely as far as creature comforts. Both windows down for a/c, everything on them was manual, and most likely smoking hot in the summer and cold in the winter. With working really long hours it was very difficult to look presentable. As far as smoking- when they banned smoking in the bars I actually enjoyed waking up the next morning and not smelling smoky. It took some getting used to for the smokers but for the non-smokers they were able to enjoy the adjustment.

[@tkreitler]

As a kid in the late 60's into the 70's, I would spend the weekend with my grandma and grandpa about once a month or so. They would go to the Elks club every Saturday night and socialize, drink, and dance to music the band was playing. Of course, nearly everyone smoked in there and the haze was thick. I remember my eyes feeling like they were full of sand and fire by the end of the night. The first cigarette I ever tried to smoke was a Salem menthol I had stolen from my grandma. My parents caught me just as I was lighting up. Instead of taking it from me, they sat me down and had me smoke the whole thing and even as much of the filter as would burn. The cigarette was awful but having to tell my grandma, who I loved dearly, that I had stolen from her was the worst.

[@ish474]

I think the reason we all love to hear John Prine stories, is just because we all want to believe that that type of person exists. You know the first thing Grimey says is "John Prine was no pretense and everybody around him was an equal" I think deep down we all search for more of that

[@2packs4sure]

Awesome video Otis. I've smoked my whole life up until 2019,,, I'm 58 and when I quit I decided to because it's just so damn expensive,, when I told my doctor and he asked me why I quit I told him it's too expensive and it made him mad.. lol He goes that's why you quit,, not your health, it was too expensive,, and I go yep....

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

It's amazing what a pack of cigarettes costs now. It varies from state to state depending on how much they tax them; here in TN where the tobacco taxes are low they're a lot cheaper than in WI where they're almost twice as much. But even here I think name-brands are like seven bucks a pack now. And figure most smokers go through at least a pack a day... that adds up over a year.

[@2packs4sure]

@@dogslobbergardens6606 Exactly !! BTW,,, I ran into an old buddy I hadn't seen in forever the other day and he couldn't get over that I had quit and I smoked SEVERAL of his Marlboros with him,,,,,,,, no problem.. They were delicious though,,,, lol........

[@mitchmatthews6713]

How about next week's coffee time talking about Mike Nesmith? So underrated as a songwriter. Stay safe, Otis.

[@regunter6599]

I am 73 and I remember well when almost everyone smoked. When I went to basic training we were given a cigarette package holder that rapped around your ankle. We smoked in cars, four of us in the car in the winter. In the early 70s I was working as an electrician, we were wiring a motel and the bar that was part of it. We put up a smoke eater air cleaner, the owner told us to turn off the smoke eater because the smoke was part of the bar experience. I was a mayor in a small city, we smoked during the council meetings, I was the president of a union that had 900+ members we smoked in the office and the union meeting. I smoked on airplanes and trains. I quit in 1986 and haven't smoked anything since then, I taught in a trade school for about 10 years at night after I quit smoking and it was okay to smoke inside. The smoke didn't bother me then or now but if I picked up the cloths I wore the night before the smell was really strong. I don't remember the comb in cleaner for hair, where I worked was always so dirty by the time I got home the first thing I had to do was take a shower and wash my hair.

[@bobblehead67]

Before the smoking ban in MD/DC bars undressing on the apartment balcony post gig before heading to the bedroom was a must.

[@willysunday]

Thanks again Otis! My wife was nurse for over 30 years and did the "shampoo in a cap" on bed-ridden patients. She also brought home some Aloe-Vesta concentrate. A small amount in foam-spray bottle of water and your good-to-go. Rub it in your hair, pat it dry and instant shampoo! We even used on the dogs for a dry shower or to spot clean 'em. Smokiest place I was in? I had quit smoking (one of many times) and started teaching. I also became a football coach. During our planning sessions and reviewing film, 3 of us coaches huddled into this little room. Head coach "Killer" Kearney (part-time pro-wrestler in Detroit), & other coach Doug both smoked. Like chimneys. Killer would light a new Camel from his last one... non-stop. Doug chain-smoked Newports. I remember looking at the film through the smoke- like fog. After the session while driving home, I had the biggest craving for a cigarette ever. Stopped and bought a pack & smoked two more years. Quit in '82 and haven't looked back. Be well!

[@bobdawson5221]

Otis love your channel,don't understand you don't think your a great story teller you are. Being 79 an once a smoker know what you mean ,your young ,when I smoked they were 25cents a pack.lol I quit in 89 ,I guess why I'm still around. BUt in my day ,almost everyone smoked. Keep telling your stories,great to hear about gigs and times on the road.Stay safe .Bob here in MD

[@shaunmoss1915]

Groom & Clean is still available and it was one of the first water based pomades. He probably had as Leon Russell would call “Elvis Presley hair” that he would fix and when he would wash it the pomade would come right out and act as a conditioner. Groom & Clean was the first alternative to the heavy petroleum based pomades that were almost impossible to wash out like Royal Crown, Murray’s, or Brylecream that would damage hair and make certain skin types breakout.

[@pambloom_white2050]

I tried every old school men's hair product in the 80s. I went through Brylcreem, Lucky Tiger Brillantine, and had a long run with Royal Crown and Murray's (for Black hair) before I landed on a combination of Top Brass Gold for hold followed up with Top Brass Red for shine. Top Brass smelled pretty good, too, which the other's really did not.

[@ostrichman]

the idea that you showered or bathed everyday only seemed to come about in the 1980s possibly different in US than over here but vast majority of people didnt have showers and baths were more a weekly occurrence with just a good flannel wash everyday! we were a simpler and smellier people back in the day - what I always loved on buses when I was growing up was the fact the back half of the bus was a smoking section and front half for non-smokers which basically meant non smokers were stuck in a constant tube of thick cigarette smoke.

[@FasterFaster196]

It's terrible for your skin to bathe everyday.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

It's mainly a marketing scam. Watch one of those youtube compilations of TV commercials from the 70s and 80s. A LOT of them are for "personal care products" like shampoo and deodorant and so on, basically telling people they have to shower every day or they're a terrible person. Goerge Carlin had a very famous routine about all that. It's kind of the same with bodyhair. The vast majority of people really didn't give a damn about whether or not a woman had hair on her legs or under her arms for roughly 99% of human history... until the 1940s or so, when someone figured out how to make cheap disposable razors and advertise the dickens out of 'em.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@FasterFaster196 Generally, yes... but then it gives you an opportunity to spend even more money on moisturizers and other crap to try to heal the skin you're ruining with all that soap ;)

[@mwmsjuly19]

Like many GenX'ers, I was raised by heavy smokers: the kind who drove us around in the car in the deep NY winters with the windows rolled up as they lit cigarettes off the in-car lighter. (Do they still make those?) My father chained smoked (yes, lit one off the other) and my parents always had overflowing ashtrays within reach. I always found it disgusting. Grateful I never picked it up. Smoking killed my mother, at 59. My father quit decades ago. He's pushing 90.

[@bradc32]

i remember being green getting out of the car with cigar smoke.those were the days

[@frankjamesenglishartist]

Yeah i think watching smoke curls and waves in the light of closed spaces heavily influenced my visual art 70's-90's especially.. begged my parents to quit many times, when i first heard about e ciggs and vapes on the radio 20 years ago i told the folks about it.. last few years my mom has vaped, dad says he quit.. but he says that a lot.. they are in their mid sixties now and do not support my medical marijuana card lol.. grew up with pot and cigg smoke always

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@frankjamesenglishartist I remember a lot of people telling me, "OMG that devil's lettuce will ruin your life, don't you know DRUGS are BAD?" - with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of booze in the other.

[@kylemoran4343]

Vitalis hair tonic was for us guy's in high school and Brylcreem was what your dad would use in the '70's. And English Leather cologne or Brutt after shave was the smell of choice back then. Cheers !

[@jaypack7572]

Groom & Clean is simply enchanting. I can't get enough of the smell. It's in my hair right now. I even sniff my comb. And I am a truck driver.

[@jakelavale5103]

My dad was a truck driver bk. In the 50's60's&70's and yes that was the shaving kit, but I cracked up when you said grooming gleam my dad used it all of my life&picayune cig. that was so funny to me brought bk. So many good memories for me thanks 👍🤠🌴🇺🇸

[@nigeh5326]

Most British homes didn’t have showers till the late 70s early 80s. As a kid in the 70s a bath was twice a week unless I had been playing soccer when I always had a bath afterwards my mom used to make me strip down to my underpants in the garage when I was really muddy. The shower every day thing didn’t really come in until the 80s. Smoking was everywhere until the 2000s in bars and clubs in shops on the street all over. Even in the 60s they knew it was unhealthy but it was seen as cool and as a teen in tho 80s we all smoked. Now only 1 of my group of teen friends still smoke and me. It’s a very addictive drug and hell to quit for many.

[@lordsleepyhead]

I remember this too. Until I was 7 I lived in the UK, after that I moved to the Netherlands. But in our house in the UK we didn't have a shower, we had a bath. I think I had a bath like twice a week, on other days my mum would just wash me at the washbasin. Today, I can't even fathom not taking a shower every morning, but I guess it's just what you're used to that seems normal.

[@amatullah76]

Hell to quit, absolutely. I smoked 30 years, then finally switched to vaping after reading the statements from the NHS. It's not perfect, but they estimate 95 percent harm reduction. Give it a go if you can. Changed my life. I was a serious smoker, just assumed I'd never quit.

[@richardroberts5668]

My Dad was stationed in the UK 66 to 70. We lived in a village close to Newmarket and Cambridge. Our rental had a bathtub. Our next door neighbor lived in and older, smaller house. The man of the house was about my Dad's age and was a printer. They had a bath, but you had to go outside to get to it. I was 10 in 1966, so I didn't think about it much at the time.

[@jamesmachado9366]

New theory: The real secret to the great sound of all the old sound boards was the smoke on the faders. LOL. Thanks for all these great stories. Otis, you are a national treasure.

[@ML-rz2hb]

I haven't seen the Beatles film yet, but I imagine it's particularly hard to watch George smoking, knowing how he died.

[@jeffstockton8227]

On old time hair products… I’m 64, have very long hair, and still use Brylcreem. It gives a nice shine and a wonderful aroma to my hair as well as keeping the curls and waves in place. “A little dab’ll do ya”. Unless you have long hair like mine. Then you’ll need a palm full ! Love the John Prine info. Keep up the great content. ✌🏼😎🇨🇦

[@lordsleepyhead]

I'm from the Netherlands, and I can remember you could just roll a joint in the train and smoke it right there. Seems so bizarre to me now but yeah, this was the reality I lived in back then.

[@FasterFaster196]

Your best intentions and positivity shine through. Thank you.

[@bertstadnyk6467]

Totally enjoyed all the Beatles content video's . As a young kid of 14 or so I remember hearing "Help " on my little transistor radio and it literally changed my life ........From that point on guitars and music were in my life. . My son introduced me to John Prine's music ... great songs .

[@good_king_guitarman1334]

My wife grew up in the north of England and she reckons that in the 1960s and 70s she only had a bath on Friday nights. They didn't get a shower in their house until the early 1980s. I'm glad that she showers every day now!

[@PedroNord]

Growing up, everyone had a giant ashtray in the middle of the coffee table and matching smaller ashtrays (usually cut glass) on the end tables at both ends of the sofa. All of my male role models smoked and so did I. Hopefully I quit before too much damage was done. As for haircare products, Anytime you washed your hair (as a guy) after it dried the only things available were Brylcreem (a little dab will do ya), Wildroot, or Alberto VO5 to smooth out the frizz. If you hadn’t washed your hair or if it was naturally oily, you could use Vitalis or witch hazel (basically non-drinkable alcohol) to remove some of the oiliness). We didn’t know about “conditioners” and this wasn’t information women were sharing. My favorite hair product was Southern Rose Butch Wax which I used for my “flattop” and one small jar of which lasted me for 10 years.

[@buddylobos5277]

The Beatles were a product of our times. You can draw a direct line from Buddy Holly & Elvis right to the Beatles. Sort of like the Blues were fading away until Stevie Ray Vaughn. arrived & exploded. A punk/rap record producer I know has a tattoo on his bicep of Ringo's drum set. The Beatles continue to reach people after it all happened. Great shows Thank You. Otis

[@sicilianeye]

I don't know much about your hair products. but to this day, the memory of "Butch Wax" - mixed with cigarette smoke - fills my nostrils.

[@fredgritts6517]

Brings back memories of paw-paws Vitalis!👍 ✌

[@gregmattox]

Got my coffee and looking at the first snow in Iowa.

[@gerrydooley951]

good stuff as always. The Get Back series is like having the boys alive again and it's incredible. You're right about the Beatles appearances, they were all just really good looking, even Ringo who was thought to be homely is very good looking, he has beautiful skin.

[@paulcoleman3081]

I used to drink in a pub in Somerset England in the '80s called the Sun Inn where it got so smoky you could hardly see the dart board... even if you were playing darts.

[@jimmycollette9209]

Yes I grew up in the sixties and my dad smoked in the bathroom while pooping. It was his quite time. He would smoke,poop,and read the readers digest. When he came out the smell will never be forgotten. Also the mennen skin bracer after shave smell. Great memories. Almost forgot the cigarette ashes blowing in my face while riding in the back seat of the car.

[@LesViperesMusic]

In France, we've got Pento ! It makes your hair look dirty even when it's clean ! Super usefull !

[@divingduck1970]

Oh, Dippity Doo! Also a great smelling product, and it was green, in a jar.

[@mikefarmer1082]

For some of us old rockers with oily hair back in the early 70's, we would use baby powder to sprinkle in our hair and brush out we couldn't get to a shower. Worked fine and smelled good too.

[@niceguymick9780]

in the 1960s lemons were big and so was commercialism. we had lemon cigarettes and there was a TV commercial for a lemon shampoo and Donovan was the first sell-out way back then because they used his 'wear your love like heaven' and made it' wear your love like lemons!'

[@ditch1776]

I'm 54 way back in elementary school one kid from our neighborhood used groom and clean his stepdad with real old school. Kept his hair slicked back like palm aid or fell. Got a tube back then and tried it. By highschool he was the drummer in a hairband.

[@leecrowell3198]

I enjoy your talks. You make it feel like I'm sitting around the fire ring telling bass player war stories with my musician buddies. Thanks much.

[@FBDerringer]

Yep. Groom and clean…and YES!! Smoking at all times! Every older man I knew definitely did both. Try driving with six kids and chain smokers in a ‘59 Cadillac (windows up) from Columbus , Ohio to LA. Hated it then, one of my fondest memories now! LMAO

[@garytrew2766]

Otis John Prine was awesome. He came to Chattanooga TN and did a free show in Miller plaza downtown once. Great show. I love his music, signed bewildered,lol. Thanks brother, Brother Gary

[@Nighthawkrun]

From a former smoker with Emphysema I thank God you got away from cigarettes. My first time by your channel, you have a positive easy going way about you. Take care, Jim

[@gastonflatulenza1276]

Ha ha! I remember Groom and Clean! I also remember a product that came in a spray can called "Psssssst." The name was from what you say to someone when you want their attention to tell them a secret, "Pssssssst!" It was aimed more at girls, but I do remember guys that used it. You sprayed it on your hair, fluffed it up, then combed it out and your hair was supposed to be clean. Hospitals also used a similar product so bedridden people could wash their hair without showering. Somewhere along the line Psssssst disappeared from the shelves. Maybe it just quit selling? Also, both my parents smoked at that time and I remember in about 1970 a pack of cigarettes cost 40 cents.

[@MrGlasgow51]

I had a similar experience in Vienna. I like getting away from the tourist traps, and went into a neighborhood diner. I almost choked to death from the smoke. I grew up around smokers in the late 60's and 70's, but I had forgotten what it was like in a room full of smokers.

[@julesotis13]

thanks uncle Otis for the shout outs and heart felt words about us Prine fanatics...its true, been said before and nice to be said from you...and is true...Prine brings out the best in music lovers and in us.... saw him twice tho never met him but i sure felt like i did and sure would love too...have meatloaf with him, a handsome johnny, break a guitar string.... he's Saint John Prine to me...thanks brother uncle Otis - sTephen Jules Otis Career Rubin

[@paulofreire7520]

I totally know what you’ve been talking about 😃 Glad I came across your channel. Im loving these chats. Keep rocking 👍🏻

[@ayronsmama05]

I gotta do some catchin up on your videos, I am behind by a few. But glad you made it back home safely and in good health. I bet Ms. Amy was a happy girl! Have a good one, Blessings y'all!

[@gagedbrown]

I’m so glad you mentioned John’s hair in Get Back. I noticed it too and thought it was so great and emblematic of the era.

[@otisgibbs]

Thank you, Gage! : )

[@JKlasen]

This is a different and wonder-full place. My tribe

[@kurtdavidson9808]

I am digging what you always have to say. It’s fun to go back in time and think about those days. I remember in the mid 70’s cigarette from a machine were about 65 cents. 1980 is when they went above a 1.00. Over 10.00 a pack now. People smoked in hospitals grocery stores and I smoked but airplanes got really smoked up. Jump on a plane to go see the dead out west. Red eye flight that joint was all smoked up. Smoking was basically permitted just about anyway. We smoked in school and our teachers would bum cigarettes from us. Crazy huh? Fun stuff to go back in time Otis. Thanks

[@batesblues]

There was a smoking section in my high school during the 1980's

[@vicvega3614]

What? Lol

[@tomk4475]

All the things you take the time to talk about are very interesting and appreciated. Your time with Dan Baird is my favorite. Always felt he is so underappreciated. Enjoyed the short talk on Twitter last Christmas morning talking about friends of Bob, Lloyd the Reindeer. Thank you Otis, hoping to see you again in Lafayette

[@silverthorn575]

You sir are a treasure, thank you for sharing all the stories. ✌🏼

[@randallkrasomil280]

Love your videos! I used Groom n Clean when I was in junior high mid-60’s!!! You brought back a flood of memories.

[@chuckbaker8413]

I absolutely remember Groom &Clean…It cleaned your hair and also styled it… or made it easy to get a duck tail… flat top with fender’s…That stuff… freakin 62… I graduated HS in 74… Smoking on airplanes and in movies… yes… movie theaters.. I remember as a kid seeing the ciggy cherries glowin… My older brother graduated he in 67… I saw it all…hell no.. cigs were 75 cents… they are 20 bucks now…that’s why the rat pack Vegas crew all died at 63 65 at that age… if your grandpa lived to 75 … he was freaking OLD…

[@gregwalker1913]

Hey Otis, my Dad was a trucker (and my brother is now) and in the 1970's I can only remember one truck stop in Northern Ontario, between Southern Ontario and Winnipeg , that had a shower. Most welcome. But you're right. People just didn't have the opportunity or desire (sometimes) to shower every day. So they didn't. Happy New Year, stay safe and keep up the good work,.

[@sayeager5559]

Im a Dapper Dan man when it comes to vintage hair products. I discovered Burroughs when I was 15 and immediately wanted to age just like him. His accent and rhythm of his voice was also the coolest thing to me.

[@ApplesOranges123]

You deserve the pat on the back. Your channel reaffirms my faith in humanity. Its calming. I hope you don’t mind that I use it as sort of a meditation. Stay awesome.

[@hypnocracy6102]

Just a little older than you Otis...so no pomade knowledge...Smokie bars never made an impression either...BUT, my wife was out of the room when Yoko, John, Paul and Ringo were doing the Freakout....She was not aware of this talent by Yoko and rushed back into the room to see what the heck was going on....The thing I noticed was later on when Heather McCartney got on the microphone and I swear she was doing her impression if Yoko...my wife and I burst out laughing.

[@RandyJoeDuke]

My Grandfather was a Lucky Tiger man. I always associated that smell with him and after he passed in '92 I kept a half used bottle of his to remember him by. I figured it was a product from a bygone era but I was shocked about a year ago when I was working a third shift job and caught the scent of it on a female employee who was half my age as she walked by. During break I had to ask if she used Lucky Tiger and she said yes, and that it was a popular product for her and her friends. I guess everything has a cycle. Thanks for the vids Otis, glad I finally stumbled upon them.

[@ghaus1961]

I happened on your channel by chance , of watching a video on a 170 old Martin guitar and then I saw your video on being thrown off a flight by Sky Marshalls and you said you were trying to get to your destination to play a festival and so then I looked up you music on here , and I loved your style and your story telling in your songs. I'd like to say most of all that you are as far as I can discern that you are a very kind man by all accounts of your experiences of that flight screw up , so I said to myself this cat is so cool I gotta look him up ,so here I am a fan now . Keep up the hard work storytelling in music is a lost art, I love artists like Charlie Daniels , Gordon Lightfoot , America, Bread, The Eagles , Lynyrd Skynyrd. Your music is like a gumbo of like Charlie Daniels, Glenn Campbell, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bluegrass , Country and a little blues I love it very much ,Thank You Otis, I love happy accidents like finding real talented song writers and artists such as yourself.

[@davidsingley9949]

I played a lot of fraternal organizations throughout southern Indiana when I was in grad school in the '80's. Some of them were really smoky!

[@angelotro]

Ive never smoked, but when I was hanging out with smokers, I would often ask for the last half of someone's cig. If the smoke was irritating my sinuses, somehow a couple of drags would cancel it out and I'd be good for awhile. I don't miss waking up smelling like smoke and having my glasses coated in smoke; being hungover was bad enough 😅. Good vid, man.

[@cptntwang]

I am so glad about nonsmoking in. Bars and clubs.

[@flagrentfoul3829]

I can remember seeing groom and clean on my uncle's sink as a kid. The stuff you bring up always brings back great memories. Thanks Otis.

[@Semiosphereconsulting]

My dad smelled like a bar. It was mellow mix of cigarette smoke, beer, and the deep fryer specials (wing dings). I remember around 1988 as a Graduate Assistant at SIUC they told me I could no longer smoke in my office. I was outraged, lol. Unimaginable smoking indoors at your workplace now. In 1980, I was a roadie for a band who were recording an album at the Power Station in NYC. I think everyone smoked. The control room was a cloud of tobacco and weed. As you said, I don't know how non-smokers and folks with asthma ever survived.

[@galenbrewer4229]

I remember that there was a product like Groom and Clean but never used it and don’t recall the name. In the 1950s and early 60s my dad used to use hair oil that had some kind of manly fragrance. Can’t imagine putting oil on my hair!

[@ministerofdarkness]

I played Springwater for 20 years and was the happiest dude in Nashville when they banned smoking in the bar!

[@richardcleveland1763]

I worked at and hung out at the Pastime Tavern in Tallahassee, Florida in 1974-75. There was live music downstairs, and yes, it was very smoky there.....

[@f81456]

We took a bath once a week, and shared the water. People were conservationists. We used that stuff on Sundays to go to church.

[@rcleveringa65]

I noticed John's hair too. Thanks Otis drinking my coffee with you.

[@catdeli]

The worst, smokiest environment for me was Sept. 89. A friend and I had never seen The Stones and we found a "bus trip" to their show a bar about an hour away from us was having. We went down, got tickets and come show day we went back to the bar to go. The "bus" turned out to be a 12 or so seat van. Everyone else in the van knew each other and we started on the 4 hour drive to Syracuse, NY. EVERY person except my friend and I was a chain smoker and commenced to puff away furiously the minute we hit the road. It became an endurance test and was too cold for rolling down windows, so like a scene from Cheech & Chong on we went. Same thing on the drive home after. To this day we laugh about that trip.

[@gregb8565]

You Rock Otis - one of the few channels i subscribe to - hope you have safe travels. I remember my first 'non music, non bar' job interview for a computer job for a state agency in 1987 or so. It was a panel of 8 or 10 crew cut guys (They were 20 years behind reality even then) and the whole crew were smoking in this government conference room - I was an ex smoker by then - but it was brutal - And I gigged in smoky bars that had capacity of 50 or so at times :) - but the close quarters smoky conference room was on par with what they had at airport - smoking rooms (Maybe still do )

[@HighPlainsDrifterYYC]

Smokies place I ever played was a tiny bar in High River Alberta. There would be times in the set when I would sing second hand smoke would literally be coming out of my mouth. Really happy smoking bans came along.

[@elburko9453]

Mornin'. I appreciate your stories too, man!

[@michaelgregory2231]

This channel is a treasure! I plated the Sweetwater in Nashville once and that was enough for me. Saw a few friends' bands in there as well. I played SO many smoky bars and clubs over the years. When my kids were little, I'd come home at 2:00 AM, shower and put my clothes in a separate pile from the rest of the family laundry cuz they smelled so bad.

[@motomuso]

I remember when some of these men's hair products were called "Greasy kids' stuff". Great marketing. And smoking? I smoked the Parliament cigs in the hard box - very short ciggies. I could never keep a lit one in my mouth while playing the keys as the smoke tortured my eyes so I saved it for the breaks.

[@divingduck1970]

Groom 'n Clean is the shizzit, used it in the 90s, and it does smell amazing, like a barber shop. Nice to know it's still out there.

[@julesotis13]

just about time for coffee with beloved uncle Otis a very good cool generous co-otis before this jules otis goes to be in the holidya play wekend one show two...and tries to remember his rights form leffs...thanks as always Otis!

[@leesanna7835]

Thank you Otis, this channel became a favorite of mine very quickly, much love to you Brother...

[@ish474]

Growing up I never smoked but I spent so many nights in front of a stage and I still remember waking up the next morning and smelling my clothes on the bedroom floor from my bed, and those days I usually had a hangover. I still go to shows but I don't miss the smoke and I don't miss the hangovers

[@leecrowell3198]

The Austin Outhouse was probably the smokiest place I ever walked into. Then we had to play.

[@joeurbanowski321]

First time I’m watching.. and more to the point..listening to ya… You’ve got a very pleasant voice.. and cadence.. So I’ll be tuning in.. Thanks for the tales..👍🏼

[@KeefsCattys]

I'm a fairly recent finder of your channel and really love your take on things . I very much enjoyed this . Thanks Otis and just need to tell you that Hoosier National album has been playing pretty much constantly in the kitchen where I work nightshifts .. Great album . Thank you

[@otisgibbs]

Thank you! : )

[@carlvincelette5899]

Nice video as always otis

[@FuzzyBuzzBoy]

Love you and your Videos. All of it is Great. Thanks Forever!

[@stevejewett3650]

Brylcreem for hair and 50 cents for a pack of Marlboros. The golf shack on the Naval supply depot had a vending machine with cans of beer. Schmidt's, Shlitldts, Carling Black Label, etc.

[@ronsoaper3737]

Mr. Gibbs --I had a conversation with my friends --none of us smoked , but our parents did--what I am getting at---we all must have went to school stinking--my friend said everyone smoked --so nobody took note of our odor--LOL--thanks for all your posting

[@williamparrish673]

Ok this is what I recall Pryor to Beatles on ed Sullivan. Greased back hair black leather jacket and engineers boots. Black jeans that were taken in on side seems called peg leg paints. Now after Sullivan , peg leg pants with Beatle boots laced up the side the leather jacket phased out to a white t shirt and the grease left oh it was called brylcream. Smoking it was unbelievable. There were ash trays in doctors office waiting rooms. You could smoke while shopping for groceries and put it out on the floor no kidding. I used to buy cigarettes for mom 35 cents a pack with a note. At the corner store. Smoking was not only allowed it was expected. Corporate hasn't changed Otis they are just using different products. Love your videos I feel like we are friends. Been playing my whole adult life but never got a gig. Construction and power plants governed my career. Thanks for what you do sorry I can't afford to be a Patreon.

[@Sluggo]

Goddammit, I love your videos. The description of the “dad smell” was dead on. I was laughing my ass off (in my head) watching this. Hell yes.

[@gamoonbat]

We smoked in classes when I was in college (1976-1982), particularly in philosophy classes.

[@MitchCrane]

I don't remember Groom & Clean, but I do remember Brylcreem and their jingle. "A Little Dab'll Do Ya!"

[@earsonlyaudio887]

I remember playing in a band in Florida in the early 2000s. When I first moved there, smoking was allowed in all bars, but the state government soon passed a law that if you served food, you could not have smoking. My band sat down and had a discussion about how to strategize, and we correctly assumed that the bars that kept their kitchens would lose business, and those without kitchens or that closed them to keep smoking would either remain stable or would grow. I remember playing in this very smoky joint that had another pub right next door that had kept their kitchen open. A band we were friends with was playing that joint the same night we played the smokers lounge. The other band was way better than us. I mean not even close. Our club was packed. On a set break, we walked next door to say hey to our friends, get a break from the smoke and watch them shread. When we walked in, we multiplied their audience. They got to play 2 songs for the bar tender and us. When it was time for us to get back to work, it was back to a company party as we call it when you're just playing for the bar keep and bouncer. The bigger downside of our decision is the clubs with food would always feed the bands, so when the new rule came down, we did continue to make ok money, but we lost out on a lot of free meals.

[@clockwork914]

❤️ Otis. Lots of videos to catch up on ❗️

[@lloydwright8977]

That was on my mind as I watch cigarette after cigarette - I wonder if it came back to haunt any of them. Great documentary!