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Storefront of The New Penelope on Stanley Street

Black and white photograph of five young members of the group Sidetrack seated outdoors in front of a sign that reads The New Penelope.

Date: 1966
Credit: Melinda McCracken (photographer), copyright 1966
University of Manitoba Archives collection, Melinda McCracken fonds (A2002-043, PC 147 23_2)

This picture shows the storefront of the first The New Penelope concert venue. It was a small, semi-basement in downtown Montreal, Stanley Street (1965-66). These photos are the only ones that we found of the place seen from the outside. The band The Sidetrack was photographed here in broad daylight, in front of The New Penelope.

This popular musical group of the 1960s played very regularly at The New Penelope. The group was even considered the house band, or “band-in-residency.” This could explain the story behind the series of official-looking photographs this one comes from.

These rare shots were captured by Melinda McCracken, Gary Eisenkraft’s then-girlfriend. At the time, Melinda was writing for various newspapers including the Toronto Daily Star “The Montreal Scene” section, The Montrealer, The Winnipeg Free Press, The Star Weekly, and later in 1968, The Globe and Mail of Toronto “Entertainment” section. Melinda’s writing helped The New Penelope make a name in the Montreal nightlife scene.