Arlo Guthrie Remembers Alice Brock

Photo via Rising Son Records’ Facebook page

Arlo Guthrie has posted a remembrance for his friend Alice Brock, whose namesake restaurant inspired the title of his most famous song, the 1967 ditty “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.” Brock, who was 83, died on November 20, just over a week before Thanksgiving. Set on and around the holiday, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” has been a Thanksgiving classic for decades and Guthrie performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall every Thanksgiving weekend for years.

In a note posted on his Rising Sun Records Facebook page Guthrie said:

Alice passed away a week before Thanksgiving. She was living in one of her favorite places – Provincetown, Massachusetts where she’d been for over four decades.

I first met Alice in 1962 when she was the school librarian at The Stockbridge School (boarding school), in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. I was there beginning my second of four years. I also met, Rick Robbins, another student, and we’ve been friends ever since.

Alice’s mother, Mary Pelky, bought the church in June of 1963 and gave it to Ray & Alice who began transforming it into a home. After the school year, my brother and I, along with Rick and a few others spent the summer with Alice and her husband, Ray on Martha’s Vineyard where they ran the Youth Hostel in West Tisbury. Alice always loved being on the Cape. It was home.

I returned to The Stockbridge School after a most wonderful summer, playing music every night, and generally goofing off. Ray & Alice got busy at the church, making it into a home.

For the next couple of years, friends would gather at the church from time to time, play some music, and generally enjoy a loose network of like minded people. Then it all changed.

Rick & I went to visit Ray & Alice for Thanksgiving in 1965. The rest is history. Alice went into the restaurant business and I began my years as an entertainer. We were, both in our own ways, successful. As well as being a restauranteur, Alice also became an author, and an artist. We worked together on various projects. During the next few decades we remained friends while our lives kept us busy. She was a no-nonsense gal, with a great sense of humor.

This coming Thanksgiving will be the first without her. Alice and my daughter, Annie had spoken together recently and Alice, knowing her circumstances, approved an exhibit at the church to tell her own story. Alice and I spoke by phone a couple of weeks ago, and she sounded like her old self. we joked around and had a couple of good laughs even though we knew we’d never have another chance to talk together.

A couple of years ago, Alice, Rick and I met up at the church, and from there went to Rick’s home for a Thanksgiving Dinner. Marti & I, along with a lot of old friends celebrated 60 years of friendship. Some couldn’t be there, as time has taken its toll. But, the spirit was all that mattered, and we got to celebrate it.

This year we get to add one more to those whose life we celebrate – An important one. Alice was a lifelong friend.

The Guthrie Center, which is located on the site of the church central to “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” will host their 19th annual free Thanksgiving dinner tonight. Arlo founded The Guthrie Center on the site in 1991.