The Toot’n Tell It, a former restaurant, dance venue, and hot spot in Clermont County, brought together many locals who have created a tradition of having a 50s dance in Clermont County.
The history of the Toot’n Tell It dates back to 1948, when John and Eloise Lytle, of Williamsburg, were on their honeymoon.
John Lytle had been talking about starting a restaurant with curbside service and had restaurant experience as his family owned Green Gables Restaurant in Williamsburg.
The couple was traveling on a highway in Georgia when John noticed an old shack off the road. He stopped the car, jumped a fence and made his way up to the old building with a sign that read “Toot’n Tellit.” He told his wife he had found the name of their new curbside restaurant.
Two years later Toot’n Tell It was built, but for whatever reason, curbside dining never caught on.
The restaurant was leased by Rosie Lyle and her husband Wilbur Day, who served many Trailmobile drivers that worked out of Danbury’s garage from 1951-1955. Due to an illness, Rosie and Wilbur gave up on their lease but later came back to open Juke Box Inn and Corner Grill in Williamsburg.
The Toot then reverted back to John Lytle who teamed up with Harry “Mussy” Malott, who would later own the well-known Log Cabin restaurant and would become an Ohio State Representative.
During this time, a dance floor was added to the building. And when the Juke Box was installed, teenagers began drifting in. It was the dawn of Rock and Roll.
In 1956, a 24-year-old named Stanley Schaefer bought the Toot and the rest is history.
He introduced the community to the newest thing at the time. It was soft serve ice cream called Creamy Whip.
Stan built an addition on the building and sent his sister Ruth into Cincinnati to learn all about the care and maintenance of the operation.
Under Stan’s leadership, the Toot exploded. Teenagers came from everywhere while the Juke Box belted out singers like Fats Domino, The Platters, Little Anthony, Elvis Presley, and many more. Some of the greatest music of all time was born during the 50s and 60s. Dancing was “the” thing to do.
These years brought us the Jitterbug, the Stroll and the Jerk, not to mention the Watussi. It was a time when young people were drawn together. Even a group of young boys singing on a street corner in New York (i.e. The Jersey Boys) could make it big and become forever known as the Four Seasons.
Many were forever changed on that dance floor. Some met their soul mates, while others just wanted to dance.
The Toot’n Tell It quickly became known as the “Hot Spot” of Clermont County.
Stan sold out in the early 60s and slowly but surely the Toot’n Tell It faded.
Some years back, in 1991, when Stan was still living, a reunion dance was held at a club in Mt. Carmel. The response was overwhelming. Hundreds showed up.
Since that time, the tradition of having a Toot’n Tell It 50s dance has continued.
Though Stan and many of the others are no longer with us, the dance endures.
This year, the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with music beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in the multi-purpose building at the Clermont County Fairgrounds in Owensville. It is BYOB with set ups available. A portion of the proceeds is given to charity.