I didn’t get to a bar the other night, so I thought that today I’d pay tribute to a former newspaper that was all about Peoria’s bars: Nearby Nite Life.
If you were out and about in the area years ago, you remember Nearby Nite Life and its writer, photographer and publisher, Nite Life Sam Mahony.
Sadly, there’s not a lot to be found online about this old paper that was a document of the night life from decades ago, but here’s a few things that I can contribute to celebrate the memory of Nearby Nite Life and it’s creator, Nite Life Sam Mahony!
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Yesterday’s Pages: A Tribute To Nearby Nite Life
The creator, writer and photographer of Nearby Nite Life, Sam Mahony A.K.A. Nite Life Sam, died in March of 2011 and Phil Luciano wrote a nice tribute to the man who created a newspaper devoted to Peoria’s night life shenanigans. Click on this link to read this tribute to Nite Life Sam.
Back in March of 2014, Jan, from Jan’s Tap showed us some copies from past editions of Nearby Nite Life that she had at the bar.
Here’s some classic photos from those issues. You can read the whole post by clicking here.
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Nearby Nite Life: September 17, 1979
I have one edition of Nearby Nite Life in my collection of past print newspaper and magazines and it’s this issue from September 17, 1979. Note that there was “NO SALACIOUS/PRURIENT INTEREST ADVERTISING ACCEPTED.” Whatever that means!
Here’s the opening “GOSSIP” page along with some ads to bars that are now long gone.
Sam always featured lots of photos of local bands and musicians.
“Country Fever” and more ads. Sam certainly had no shortage of advertisers for Nearby Nite Life!
“The Gossip” continued here, along with more ads, of course!
Here’s the “Lucky Face” Restaurant Guide with the words of wisdom, “EAT WHEN ON THE STREET.”
Local comedian, Ray LeRoy had a running column in Nearby Nite Life. I knew Ray and used to have lunch with him back in the ‘90’s. I always liked his closing, “Later” at the end of his column.
Here’s the back page ad for a show at the Robertson Fieldhouse starring the Atlanta Rhythm Section back in September of 1979. Anybody go to that show?
Okay, we’ll be back at the bars tomorrow. See you then.
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Bar List, Rules, Banner Art & Donation Link.
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