Monde Marie

The 1960s saw changes in musical tastes, particularly those of young people, which affected the kinds of music played in cafés. The popularity of folk music was embraced by cafes such as the Monde Marie in Wellington, which became an important performance venue for local and visiting artists. This trend was soon to be overtaken by a more pervasive form of popular music

The memories just keep getting better

Rod McKinnon and Dave Hollis

Folk Musicians at Monde Marie 1960s Rod McKinnon and Dave Hollis

Richard Doctors

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Richard Doctors: web site e-mail: richarddoctors@gmail.com

I am now living in Australia

Jane, I came across the Monde Marie website and was amazed that so much of the real stuff is missing. I am Richard Doctors. I lived in Wellington during the 60's, played at the Chez Paree and the Monde, and have so many memories of Mary and that icon venue I don't know where to start.

So many of the musicians who were part of the living culture are un-named. Here are some of them. Richard Doctors, Steve Robinson, Eric McEachern, Jean-Claude Rochecouste, Dave Brannigan, Bob Silberry, Nick Villard. You could smell the bolognaise a mile away, you'd be drawn into Mary's bohemian world where everyone was "Darling",
and you'd sing with a passion fueled by the magic. Some reckoned the hanging fishnets smelled of mariajuana, but a nose is not always accurate. The magic of the Monde affected all visitors and musos alike. Mary was a wonder. Godmother and Madame. Great cook, a legend.

It was the most colourful and engaging venue, and was indeed part of my own musical history. The Monde is alive in my memories and I carry those days with gladness and laughter. Mary was impossible, un-manageable, outspoken, unreasonable, demanding and the most robust enemy of mediocrity and limpness. I had to vent all this, out of sheer passion for Mary and the Monde. The real story has yet to be told.

Phil Garland

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Phil Garland: phil@philgarland.co.nz

I'm a Kiwi folksinger originally from Christchurch now living in the Nth Canterbury township of Culverden. I sang at the Monde Marie a couple of times around 1967 - 68 or whenever I was in Wellington.

You can visit my website www.philgarland.co.nz for my full biographical background.

Dave Hart

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Dave Hart: See more about Dave Hart here I was surrounded by an amazing mix of music. e-mail: harts@paradise.net.nz

I was first exposed to folk music in 1965, at The Balladeer, a 1st storey cafe, in Willis Street, run by Frank & Mary Fyfe. The memories of The Balladeer are special to me in that if I hadn't found that cafe, I may never have found "The Monde", or in close proximity, "Chez Paris".

It was a time of very few cafes and live music was almost unheard of. There certainly always were drippy candles in those three places & I recall the draped fishing nets in The Monde. I was away from Wellington for about two years, in Christchurch and was delighted, on my return, to find those familiar haunts still going strong.

By this time I was pretty much hooked on folk music, as we then knew it...our mentors were still Peter, Paul & Mary, The Weavers, The Kingston Trio, etc, but pretty soon we were hearing Leadbelly, Ewan McColl's songs & plenty of Bob Dylan, to name but a few.

The Monde was always an amazing melting pot for travelling performers and Mary's food and welcoming ways are legend. Many people still talk about The Monde and very fondly of Mary Seddon.

Bruce King

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Bruce King: bruce@riversea.co.nz

I performed (guitar & vocals) at the Monde Marie regularly (one particular night a week for the better part of a year) around 1960 or 1961. I recall also, an Italian or Greek singer by the name of Ronnie (if memory serves me right) — a regular and very energetic performer with a golden voice. I do have some great photographs from the era including one or two shots taken at the Monde which include some of the International folksingers mentioned on your site such as Josh White, Judy Collins etc. Val Murphy was also a regular in those days as was Max Winnie.

I was there on the eve of that big Wellington concert (circa 1962) featuring Josh White & Judy Collins as well as the wonderful folk duo of Bud & Travis (Travis just recently has died) plus The Rooftop Singers (known for their song "Walk Right In") and The Limelighters—all top performers from the USA. Following this wonderful concert, a "full-on" party ensued at the Monde.

An event from that evening remains etched in my memory: An incident arose where, at the height of the festivities and coffee house babble, suddenly the Monde was plunged into total silence for a tense few moments. As we all watched in amazement, Josh White very skillfully, and with few gentle, yet powerful words, put in his place properly a prominent Wellington "bohemian" of the day, who was getting seriously loud and rude, having presumably consumed too much booze. It was a masterful display of social adeptness, never to be forgotten.

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