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 The Muhlenbrink's ad on this page is especially relevant in light of the fact that Piano Red held down a steady gig here between 1969 and 1979. 

The present day version of Underground Atlanta is unappealing to me and everyone I know.  There are many reasons for this.  Probably  the biggest one is that people today have many, many more options than they used to.  Ron Hudspeth, former columnist for the Atlanta Journal, did a fine job of capturing the immense appeal of Underground Atlanta in its glory days in a piece he wrote for his publication The Hudspeth Report:

"Underground was a phenomenon. Short-lived, but a phenomenon just the same. In its heyday, which lasted only a few short years in the early 1970s, it outstripped New Orleans' French Quarter and Chicago's Rush Street for fun and class.

Then it all ended so quickly. They snuffed out the gaslights and it was gone.

The memories are what is important in building the new Underground.

At its zenith in 1972, Underground was all things to all people.

That probably accounted for the diverse popularity of a place such as Muhlenbrink's, located near the entrance, where the legendary Piano Red held court. One night, the entire cast of "The Waltons" showed at Muhlenbrink's (by bojan). On their heels of John Boy and Co., came Gregg Allman, sipping Chivas Regal mixed with Coca-Cola, accompanied by Cher. Exit Allman and enter the Rolling Stones, big fans of Piano Red, who annually did an European tour.

The partying was so heavy in those days, the joke around town was the Legislature was about to change the divorce laws to make the grounds adultery, incompatibility and Underground."

 

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