Guest Essay | Bob Stane: The Coffee Gallery Backstage. A Sentimental Message

Editor’s Note: Bob Stane, the long-time venue manager of both the Ice House in Pasadena (decades ago) and later The Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena, was unexpectedly hospitalized in April 2023. The 86-year-old Stane is a local music legend and concert promoter who has been an inspiring and iconic figure in the Southern California entertainment scene for over fifty years. The Coffee Gallery Backstage was permanently closed upon his hospitalization. We heard from him on Sunday, in this update.

Thank you very much to my patrons and entertainers of The Coffee Gallery Backstage.

You made it possible for me to live my lifetime dream of looking forward to coming to work every day and night. Few people in this world can look upon their careers with pleasure and a feeling of accomplishment. I did what I wanted, when I wanted and had so many wonderful people to do it with.

How lucky I have been to genuinely cherish the people who left their homes and shared our mutual love of quality entertainment. I made such wonderful friends and had many excellent conversations. What a bright group you are. You are the best.

And how about all those pickers and singers who trod upon my dusty stage? All were skilled musicians with so much talent and way too good to come to a little town above Pasadena and play to a small room of 50 people. They did it with world class execution. We, and I, owe them for their skill, talent and dedication. You are giants and fully appreciated.

Thank you for all of you who came to The Coffee Gallery Backstage after closure and picked up a few souvenirs of our happy evenings together. Kudos to Michael Haynes for running the few shows I had left over when I was forced to start my hospital stay. Great job.

Also, admiration for my grown children, Julie Beltran and Scott Stane, for organizing and executing the final Saturday afternoon sale of all of the equipment leaving just petrified dust bunnies and the ghosts of evenings of music and prose behind. 100% perfect.

You may remember that I got an autoimmune malady that is extremely rare and survived through a series of timely discoveries. I spent 24 days and nights, with excellent results, in Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital. According to professionals, the disease, DERMATOMYOSITIS, can be fatal and requires a lot of care, expense and recuperation. I suspect I will be getting therapy and infusions through 2023. Fortunately, I can access Medicare and Blue Cross for most of the cost but not all. I am still out-of-pocket. I recommend you get the best health insurance you can afford. Things happen.

Again, thank you, patrons and talent, for all you do and for all the years of happiness we shared.

Wasn’t it wonderful? Now it is up to you to keep the music playing. I’ve done all I can.

My blessings, appreciation, and gratitude to you all. Exit, stage left.

BOB STANE…. (My history…The Upper Cellar in San Diego, The Ice House(s) in Pasadena and Glendale, The Playboy Clubs, International, in Chicago and The Coffee Gallery Backstage in glorious Altadena, California). Long may their memories last.

P.S. I may still do the final editing of my book. It is written but I lack editing energy right now. I have started to edit again.