The Kingston Trio: Tijuana Jail

The second troupe of the Kingston Trio performs a single hit record from the period of the first troupe. "Tijuana Jail" was banned from radio stations in Mexico because the government felt it perpetuated demeaning stereotypes. It's unlikely that a song like this, however innocently intended, could be released in the U.S. market today. It is worth noting, though, that the real object of humor in the lyrics are the hapless drunks who get thrown in jail and need to bail themselves out.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• KingstonTrio
• TijuanaJail
• folk

[didgmanofdogwood]

I'll bet it was Hussongs Cantina (Ensenada, BC) that place was kickin back then. That was when you could actually walk from the boarder to the main drag "Revolucion" Hit every bar up one side and down the other and if you got hungry there was this little side street vendor under what looked like a stand made of cardboard and get a Tortuga sandwich.

[CompVid101]

@didgmanofdogwood - I always wondered if it might have been Hussong's - that was one wild place back in the day. I don't even know if it's still there - it's been more than 20 years since I've been to TJ. Not inclined to go now with all the often random-seeming drug violence.

[niremetal]

What show is this from?

[CompVid101]

I believe it's a Jack Benny show from 1965. Benny had a very popular weekly variety show with comedians, acrobats, sketch comedy, and musical guests - kind of a junior grade Ed Sullivan Show, which was the absolute monarch of that genre in the 50s and 60s.

[charliekucharski]

If you haven't seen this show with Nick, Bob, and John of the Kingston Trio with Mel Blanc and Jack Benny in this skit, you should. It's a classic.

[BruceBeatlefan]

Let the Midnight Special shine your ever-lovin' light on me.

[keaton1895]

@CompVid101 Not a junior grade Ed Sullivan show but another variety show.

[MrArazael]

oh yeah...!! TIJUANA ES MI CIUDAD...!!!

[fromthesidelines]

From "THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM" of January 29, 1965. Yes, this led into a nutty sketch where virtually everyone winds up in the "Tijuana Jail" (Jack's close friend Benny Rubin, whom he often featured on his radio and TV shows for over 20 years, playes the Mexican police chief).

[terpsichoreankat]

@didgmanofdogwood

Scuttlebutt around NAS NI told the tale of 3 guys off one of the squadrons stationed there in the '50's did go on leave to TJ n Ensenada, got snagged but escaped, but the MP's caught up to 'em in TJ-I'd guess the same scenario u described. It fits the area at the time, but there were places called 'gambling spots or spas' near the TJ racetrack/bullring at that time. There were some guys claiming to b the source of the song on one of these video sites few months back, (I thin

[terpsichoreankat]

@didgmanofdogwood Scuttlebutt around NAS NI @ the time told of 3 guys from one of the vessels

[terpsichoreankat]

I've loved these guys since I was a kid. They'd play at NAS NI in Coranado, CA. I think it's Bob Shane but doesn't he resemble Stan Ridgeway? Check out Ridgeway's Camouflage video; their voices r similar also, which makes sense if there is a strong parallel in features. =^..^*=

[terpsichoreankat]

I was a navy brat aboard NASNI in 65 when these guys would come n play for us... such a great memory! Thx! =^..^=