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EARLY REHEARSALS 1965-1966:
From 1965 through 1966 during the formative period of the band, The Doors conduct rehearsals and jams in various locations around Los Angeles. MildEquator.com has compiled a list of the known early rehearsal spots for the group based on the best available resources, and will continue to update and revise this section as more information is brought to light. If you possess knowledge of any early rehearsal information or data, we'd like to hear from you! Please write to us HERE and let us know what you know!
VENICE BEACH APARTMENT
In July of 1965 following their graduation from UCLA, Ray Manzarek encounters Jim Morrison on Venice Beach and their conversation leads to a recital of songs written by Jim. Shortly after, Jim Morrison moves into Ray Manzarek and Dorothy Fujikawa's apartment and the duo begin working out ideas for music to accompany his lyrics. This is the same Venice Beach apartment used for the shooting of Ray's UCLA student film Evergreen, although the film is shot months before Ray and Jim form The Doors. Between this location and the UCLA campus (See Below), Jim and Ray are developing the songs that would famously become The Doors music. Later, Ray and Dorothy are evicted for having too many tenants in the apartment, and the couple moves on to rent a house right on Venice Beach where rehearsals will resume with the fully formed band.
Ray Manzarek's Venice Beach Apartment
UCLA CAMPUS
Over the summer of 1965 while formulating songs in the apartment on Venice Beach, Jim and Ray's first real rehearsal space becomes the music rooms set up with pianos in the basement of the Schoenberg Music Hall at UCLA. Dorothy Fujikawa witnesses many of these rehearsals, and indicates that the newly formed group was working on arrangements for songs such as Moonlight Drive, End Of The Night, and I Looked At You. In his book Light My Fire, Ray recounts many other songs including My Eyes Have Seen You. Members of Rick And The Ravens may have joined in on these UCLA rehearsals soon after as the duo attempt to form a true band. No photographs or recordings are known from these UCLA rehearsal sessions.
The Schoenberg Music Hall c.1955
THE PSYCHEDELIC RANGERS & THE CLOUDS
Prior to auditioning for and joining The Doors in October of 1965, Robby Krieger is acquainted with drummer John Densmore and the pair form a group called The Psychedelic Rangers with their friends Bob Brunner, Grant Johnson, and Bill Wolff. The rehearsal space for this group is currently unknown, but was likely located at Grant Johnson's parents house who regularly hosted a group of friends and jazz musicians for jams. The Psychedelic Rangers record one song titled Paranoid in early October of 1965 at an unknown location. Robby Krieger then moves on to join a group called The Clouds with Bill Wolff and David Kent who is the songwriter of the group. Although The Clouds record a demo at Gold Star Studios, their rehearsal space is unknown. It is during this period with The Clouds that John Densmore has already joined The Doors and is encouraging Robby Krieger and Bill Wolff to audition for the new group. For more information about these early groups featuring Robby Krieger, be sure to pick up a copy of Set The Night On Fire wherever books are sold!HANK OLGUIN'S HOUSE
Located in Santa Monica near 5th street, Hank Olguin's house is a rented shack behind a commercial building housing the General Adjustment Bureau, of which Hank is an employee. He shares the house with roommate Andy Engvall who is acquainted with Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek through their enrollment at UCLA film school, which leads to Hank's involvement in Ray Manzarek's 1964 UCLA student film Evergreen. Later, Hank provides the newly formed Doors their first practice space and allows them the use of his upright piano. John Densmore has already joined the band by this time period, and Robby Krieger who auditions in late October of 1965 joins the group for his first rehearsal at this location. It is here at Hank Olguin's that Robby Krieger introduces his bottleneck slide to the song Moonlight Drive and The Doors become solidified as a group. Rehearsals take place a few times at this location until broken up by local police. The exact address of Hank Olguin's house has been lost, however reports of a nearby Greyhound Bus station place the location in the vicinity of 1433 5th St., Santa Monica. Photographs were known to exist from these sessions, but have since gone missing, and there are no known recordings from these sessions.
1965 Advertisement Showing The Address Of The Santa Monica Greyhound Bus Depot On 5th St.
STU & MARILYN KRIEGER'S HOUSE
Robby Krieger's parents are supportive of The Doors and allow the band to practice at their residence after no longer having use of Hank Olguin's house in Santa Monica. Their home is located at 710 Alma Real Dr. in the Pacific Palisades. They set up in the living room and jam during the day while the Krieger's are working. The Krieger's have a piano which they allow Ray to use. It is during this time period that Stu Krieger recommends his attorney Max Fink to the group following an incident with Jim Morrison in Blythe, CA resulting in his arrest and detainment in a biker bar mishap. Later during a period when the Krieger's are on vacation, Robby invites Jim Morrison to stay with him at his home and the two are given the opportunity to collaborate alone. Jim Morrison has lyrics for songs such as Strange Days, The Crystal Ship, and Robby has words and music for Love Me Two Times and You're Lost Little Girl. Robby shows Jim an Indian influenced musical piece he's developed, and Jim introduces the lyrics for a song he calls The End. It is also during rehearsals at this location where Jim Morrison asks all the band members to attempt to come up with a song, and Robby Krieger writes and responds with Light My Fire. These early rehearsals begin in late 1965 and continue on into 1966. No photographs or recordings are known to exist from these sessions.M&B MARKET
This location doubles as the home and family grocery business of Raymond and Helen Manczarek. Although reports of The Doors rehearsing in the garage space are known, there no confirmed or clear indications that The Doors rehearsed here. While this property was for sale from March to June 1964, Rick and Jim Manczarek are still signing paperwork using this address in January 1965. While this location was undoubtedly a rehearsal space for Rick And The Ravens, further confirmation is needed that this rehearsal space was used by The Doors in later 1965 or 1966. The M&B Market was located at 574 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach, California.
The Garage Space At Raymond & Helen Manczarek's M&B Market
VENICE BEACH HOUSE
After moving from their Venice apartment, Ray and Dorothy take up residence in a new beach house located at 4419 Ocean Front Walk and The Doors are ecstatic to use the location as a rehearsal space. The Doors have now signed with Columbia Records and the first sessions begin with new equipment given to the group by Vox as part of their record deal. Through early 1966 and while The Doors are performing at the London Fog, rehearsals continue at this location and Ray is able to convince The Doors to cover half the rent. Following their signing with Elektra in August of 1966, Jac Holzman instructs Elektra art director Bill Harvey to photograph the band at this location. At this point the group has now completed their tenure as house band at the Whisky A Go Go, and possibly some or all of their first album recording sessions, and will soon travel to New York to perform at the Ondine and mix their debut album for release in January. Prior to leaving for New York, Ray Manzarek signs his ASCAP application on October 14th using this address, revealing that The Doors are still using the Venice Beach house as a rehearsal space during this time period. The Venice Beach house was located at Speedway & Northstar St. and can be seen briefly in Jacques Demy's 1969 film Model Shop. No recordings are known to exist from these rehearsals.
The Doors At Ray Manzarek's Venice Beach House In 1966 - Photograph By Bill Harvey