Charlotte Lenkowsky was admittedly a little surprised by the size of the crowd that showed up at Daiker’s Inn on Monday evening, August 29 to hear her play the piano.
Earlier that day when her friend Midge Daiker, who prompted the nostalgic performance, told her the staff was hooking up a microphone for the show, Charlotte told Midge not to bother.
“Who’s going to show up, six or seven people?” she said.
But around 6 p.m. cars started to fill the lower parking. By 7:30 p.m. the upper parking area was filled to capacity and folks were being shuttled down the hill by golf cart.
Charlotte’s fans had arrived—and after her 30-year hiatus they were ready to be transported back in time.
Close to 200 admirers, many of whom had the pleasure of being entertained by Charlotte at area summer resorts and hotels in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, greeted her with rousing applause as she entered the room.
Once at the piano, it was as if her fingers were glued to the keys. For three straight hours she belted out selections from the American songbook as the crowd sang along.
For a few numbers she was accompanied by Joyce Schweinsberg on the gut bucket (a one-string bass made from a wash tub and broom handle) and Midge on the spoons—just as it was 30 to 40 years ago.
“It was a wonderful night and everyone absolutely loved it!” Midge said. “It was great seeing some of the people after so many years, and it was so nice that the bartenders who worked the Sunday and Wednesday nights that Charlotte played years ago were able to stop by.”
Among those former bartenders were John Cameron, and the Tompkins sisters—Bette (Pepper), Kathi (Noble), and Nanci (Russell)—whose family camp was just a short walk from Daiker’s.
Nanci said her late mother Jeanne was a regular Sunday night customer, along with her friends. They would enjoy a cocktail or two and eventually join Charlotte in song.
“Consequently, I knew the words to all Charlotte’s songs,” Nanci said. “It was a lot of fun watching my mother and everyone else have such a good time. That’s why I had to be here.”
No doubt many in the crowd had similar memories as they enjoyed Charlotte’s music.
