Music Box Factoid #11: In 1959 Shirley Kelly made her own party dress and threw her hat in the ring for Houghton Lake’s Tip Up Town Queen at the Winter Carnival. Unfortunately, she didn’t win but she certainly won the hearts of mid-Michigan young people when she kept the music playing at The Box.
Music Box Factoid #12: The Box never featured live music but, at the height of their early career in 1965, Sonny & Cher did visit and dance at The Box…following a night performing at Daniel’s Den during its short-lived presence at Houghton Lake.
Music Box Factoid #13: When the Music Box reopened in the late 90s and early 2000s, young people enjoyed dancing to the traditional older Music Box tunes as much as current day hit dance songs.
Music Box Factoid#14: When the Kelly’s first obtained their St. Bernard puppy, Shirley discovered that he would “sing” to the Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace every time she played it and that’s how “Bopper” got his name.
Music Box Factoid #15: Whenever Shirley found a record that kept teens on the dance floor, she would buy multiple copies because she knew she’d wear them out with frequent plays.
Music Box Factoid#16: Owner Lee Kelly worked in metro Detroit throughout the glory years of The Box in the late 50s and 60s, only returning to Houghton Lake on weekends to help wife Shirley and employees. Lee was a counselor for troubled youth and also employed by the Detroit News.
–Jim Sullivan: Lee worked at Pontiac State Hospital as a psychologist counselor and he was friends of Jimmy Hoffa, who helped Lee save the Box in the 1960’s from the Mafia…Lee told me this story himself. Thanks Dr. Jim Sullivan–former Bouncer at the Box starting in 1964.
Music Box Factoid #17: Few people knew that Shirley Kelly, co-founder of The Music Box with husband Lee, was an architect. She designed many buildings constructed in the Detroit area in the 1940s/50s. Perhaps her most famous design was…The Music Box!
–Sally Voorheis: Wonder if the plans are around. Let’s get it rebuilt!
–Clark Harder: We have not found the original architect drawings that Shirley made; however, we do have a drawing done from memory and confirmed with several who were in all parts of the building and it is pretty accurate. Would you care to fund construction, Sally Voorheis? Donations of land would also be welcome! 😉
–David Detmer: She designed 3 houses for my father back in the mid to late 50’s that he built.
So, how many of these Factoids did you know? Thank you, Clark Harder and The Enchanted Music Box for sharing these!
Music Box Historical Society 