September Recollections: Tivoli Day and a Carly Simon Tabernacle Concert

The Tivoli

This year on September 17 on Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs will host its annual street fair and block party known as Tivoli Day. Where did the name come from, and where can you find the Tivol on MV? You can’t, only memories of it remain.

The two story, full block Tivoli Dance Hall stood from 1901 until 1964 where the Oak Bluffs Town Hall is today.  The bottom floor housed shops and an ice cream parlor. My godmother worked in the ice cream parlor and I always enjoyed visiting her there. One time in particular jumps to mind.  I was 3 years old and had newly mastered winking and was anxious to put it to use. Sitting at a table behind my mother and facing me was a sailor. Being that I was wearing a sailor dress, I figured we had something in common and so I began winking at him.

It did not take long for my mother to notice. She turned around and as she did, the young sailor headed for our table. He smiled and said he was alone on the Vineyard for the day and wanted to tell my mother how charming he thought I was. (Blushing here). Not only did my mother invite him to join us at the table, but she invited him home for dinner (this was the mid 1940s)  I was amazed at how powerful this winking thing was.

I don’t know if we ever kept in touch with him, but obviously I’ve never forgotten him. I do keep the winking thing to a minimum now.

The entire second floor of the Tivoli Dance Hall was just that, the dance hall. rece It was huge, at least in the eyes of a 4 year old being dragged there against her will for a dance lesson. I loved all the windows and how far you could see out of them. I liked the clicking noise my shoes made on the floor. I liked the brand-new sundress I had on. But I did NOT like the group dancing part.

I remember reluctantly getting in line with the other victims—er, children—but my feet did not move. They planted themselves firmly in one spot and stayed there.  Everyone danced around me, but I did not care to join in. My mother was not happy with me; not only did I not dance or even talk, but we didn’t even come home with a sailor for dinner.

Tabernacle Concert

Twenty-one years ago it all began with a little item in the Vineyard Gazette.

Sunday, September 16th musician Harry Connick Jr. will perform at the Tabernacle.  Special guest Carly Simon.

My daughter Deb is a fan of Harry Connick Jr. and I’m a huge fan of Carly Simon's—I have been even before I knew of her Vineyard connection. This seemed like a perfect weekend getaway for us. But how could I manage to get tickets when I live in New Jersey and they were only on sale on the Vineyard?

Somehow I did it ... I was determined, and when it involves the Vineyard, my determination is unstoppable. There were a few glitches along the way, like trying to coordinate Vineyard accommodations and ferry reservations, so we decided to stay in Falmouth and just go to the Vineyard for the day of the concert.

It was a spectacular September Sunday afternoon on the Vineyard, the Campground was filled with happy concertgoers bustling around.

Before the concert began we were talking with a woman sitting next to us who was going on and on about how excited she was to be seeing Carly Simon. She said she had chatted about it with her seat mate on the small plane she had flown over to Martha's Vineyard on that afternoon. She told him she had no idea who Harry Connick Jr. was, but that she was mainly there to see Carly.

When Harry stepped onto the stage she gasped and said "Oh my god, that's the yound man I was talking to on the plane." We thought it was very polite and gentlemanly of Harry not to embarrass her by telling her who he was.

The concert began on the dot of 3 p.m. Harry's band was fantastic and Harry’s voice velvety smooth.  After about an hour or so of great music the lights were turned off.  The only illumination was the sun shining through the stained glass windows around the perimeter of the Tabernacle. And out stepped ... CARLY.

I was beside myself. In actuality, the person beside me was Carly’s mother! I have seen Carly in concert several times since then, but seeing her on the Vineyard and at the Tabernacle was something really special for me. Harry and Carly sang a few songs together, their voices meshed beautifully.

Carly did a few songs alone and then way too soon it was over. What a fantastic day, one we’ll never forget.

The reviews of the concert were glowing, much like the talents of Carly and Harry as they stood side by side on the stage of the Tabernacle.

After the concert we had "drinks" with the band at the Oyster Bar in Oak Bluffs—us and about 100 other people—then we headed to Edgartown for dinner.

Too quickly our lovely day on the Vineyard was coming to an end.  We drove back to Oak Bluffs for one last look at the now darkened Tabernacle. We had booked a late ferry and it's one of the few times I've sailed at night. The sky was star filled, a cool breeze was blowing and a young man on board was strumming his guitar and singing softly.  A Perfect day.