BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
During the mid-1960s, Mr. Charles Chester “Gay Pappa” Miles was an Algebra teacher at Howard W. Blake High School. He was also very interested in providing students with some kind of recreational outlet after school.
It was during that time Mr. Miles created teen dances that were held in the gymnasium at Blake. The event was so successful it started drawing bigger crowds, so he moved the teen dances to the Gasparilla Room at Curtis Hixon Hall.
During the early 1970s, Mr. Miles left Curtis Hixon and opened “The Psychedelic Shack” in the Tampa Park Plaza on Nebraska Avenue. That later became known as “The Alien,” and the teen dances continued until the late 1970s.
Mr. Miles has since been stricken with Parkinson’s Syndrome, but members of the All Class Reunion group thought this would be the right time to organize a tribute to him and speak on how he effected the lives of a lot of teenagers who might have otherwise turned the wrong way in life.
Efforts are now underway to reunite as many of the performers, DJs, and patrons of that era for this tribute.
Among those who have already pledged to be a part of the tribute are the Jackson Brothers, Eddie Durant, Sharon Thompson, Dwight Bolden, Daddy Cool, Floyd “Floyd Joy” Rivers, and some patrons.
“If it weren’t for Gay Pappa Miles, there’s no telling how I may have turned out,” said one Isaac Hayes impersonator.[private]
“Mr. Miles gave us all something to do on Friday nights, and brought together groups from Middleton and Blake in one room where they all got along without any conflicts. It was truly a beautiful thing to see and be a part of.”
What Mr. Miles did can’t be duplicated today as evidenced by the number of violent incidents that have occurred at teen gatherings over the years.
“But, that doesn’t mean we can’t look back and say thank you to the man who paved the way for teenagers to be responsible people and at the same time, display their talents.” said Mr. C.
“If it weren’t for Mr. Miles, no one would have ever heard of “The Mighty Good And Strong” Band.”[/private]
If you were a part of the Curtis Hixon, Psychedelic Shack or Alien history and want to be a part of this tribute, call (813) 743-8779. The tribute has been planned for October.
