by Wentzel Slavich

During the Big Band era of the 40's, Central Pennsylvania spawned a rash of music palaces. Among them were the Crystal Ballroom in Reading, Allentown's Castle Gardens, Pottstown's Sunnybrook Ballroom, the Hersheypark Ballroom and Berwick's West Side Park.

West Side was a large imposing structure, one whose musical history was etched in every timber and worn floorboard. For the devotees of swing, such luminaries as Vaughn Monroe, Harry James, the Dorsey Brothers, Les Brown and his band, Sammy Kaye and Glen Gray and the Casalona Band all came to West Side and left their mark.

As the craziness of rock and roll made its impact during the 50's and 60's, the halls of West Side once again became a proving ground for raw talent. Recording stars Gary 'US' Bonds (Quarter to Three: School Is Out) and Brian Hyland (Polka Dot Bikini) played to capacity crowds. West Side's roster also included local bands Joe Nardone and the All Stars, Dee Cool and the Casuals, Angie and the Raiders, The Midnighters, The Saints, The Blazers, and the local favorites,  The El Caminos.

Taking their name from a high school Spanish text called El Camino Real, the Berwick group quickly became the house band at West Side and easily out-distanced their competition, as far as having a mass following went. They were composed of Berwick's George Fox, piano and vocals; Steve Bond, drums; Jim Shrader, saxophone and bass; and guitarists Tom Verano and Carl Siracuse from the Wilkes-Barre area. The group reigned from 1960 to 1968.

The magic of West Side and the El Caminos ended as fast as it began. A fire burned the grand structure to the ground, taking with it musical memories spanning several decades, and perhaps the most dynamic group to ever come out of the Berwick area.