# Is Alice's Restaurant a tradition for your Thanksgiving? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 24, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983 "2011-11-24T17:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/241 "2019-11-27T20:27:34Z")
I haven’t listened in years, but my favorite take on that song is “Remembering Alice” on the Arlo Guthrie album “Live in Sydney”. If you have Amazon Prime, you can listen to it for free! I’ll play that one tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/242 "2019-11-27T22:43:21Z")
Tomorrow is going to be too uncertain, since I’m working, so I queued it up today, and yes, I do own a copy. Happy Thanksgiving from the Group Outlier bench. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/243 "2019-11-28T14:22:42Z")
Time for your yearly reminder that all you have to do to join the Alice’s Massacree movement is sing it the next time it comes around on the guitar, which in my case is in a little over two and a half hours from now. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/244 "2019-11-28T14:48:44Z")
Checking eBay, I find hundreds of LPs of the original Arlo Guthrie recording (album), also CDs, but no singles at any size or speed. I did find a 7" 45 of the New Christy Minstrels with that title (!), but the time was 3:15, so I doubt if they reproduced the narrative part to any degree. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice%27s_Restaurant) suggests that a (rerecorded?) single was released after the movie came out, but doesn’t specify the size or speed (probably 7" 45): > [@](#): > > Guthrie recorded a more single-friendly edit of the chorus in 1969. Entitled “Alice’s Rock & Roll Restaurant”, it included three verses, all of which advertise the restaurant, and a fiddle solo by country singer Doug Kershaw; to fit the song on a record, the entire monologue was removed, bringing the song’s length to 4:43. This version, backed with “Ring Around the Rosy Rag” (a cut from the Alice’s Restaurant album), peaked at #97 on the Billboard Hot 100. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/245 "2019-11-28T15:32:23Z")
We just watched the animated video version, followed by the WKRP Turkey Drop episode. Dinner will be an anticlimax. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/246 "2019-11-28T16:42:32Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > We just watched the animated video version, followed by the WKRP Turkey Drop episode. Dinner will be an anticlimax. I hope you didn’t overlook “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/247 "2019-11-28T17:28:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I’m surprised so many of you wait to listen on the radio! Don’t you own it? 🙂 Of course I own it. But noon on Thanksgiving is a tradition that can’t be beat. It’s like football on Thanksgiving, part of the yearly routine that never changes even as families lose members or go their separate ways. Like today, for example. My sister is with her in-laws in Texas, my aunts and uncles are doing their thing, and Robin is working so we’re not doing a big turkey feast, we’re probably going to the local truck stop for their Thanksgiving buffet. But even with all that I can still count on Arlo every Thanksgiving at noon. It’s the little things that make days special, otherwise it’s just another day in a life full of them. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/248 "2019-11-28T21:05:15Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I hope you didn’t overlook “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”. I’ll have to squeeze that in. I also want to watch the Bob Newhart Thanksgiving episode. (“Moo goo gai pan!”) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/249 "2020-11-25T08:24:24Z")
It’s that time of year again, folks-Time to get stuffed, get arrested and get drafted 😁 I’ll be listening to the original version on KINK 101.p at noon, and the revision at 5pm. What about y’all? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/250 "2020-11-26T15:47:21Z")
I’ll be listening as usual, though perhaps not at noon on our local radio station like I usually do. But, if I do listen at noon, it comes back around on the guitar 73 minutes from now… ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/251 "2020-11-26T16:08:54Z")
Not exactly a tradition, more like a semi-annual event. It was part of that time that divided my life between childhood and all that followed. I’ll listen to it any time. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/252 "2020-11-26T16:50:46Z")
We have Alexa playing it for us now. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/253 "2020-11-26T17:11:40Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/B_tMzSxvoeA/maxresdefault.jpg "Alice's Restaurant (The Massacree Revisted)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_tMzSxvoeA) Listening to it right now! Happy Thanksgiving! ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/254 "2020-11-26T17:12:28Z")
It came around again on the guitar, still makes me smile and sing along. ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/255 "2020-11-27T22:59:52Z")
OMG! This is my all-time favorite movie of all time! I watch this entire movie at least three times per year by myself but I won’t watch it on Thanksgiving because no one in my family will watch it with me more than, on average, more than thirty minutes or so.because it’s from a different era and difficult for them to relate to this movie. I prefer to socialize with everyone at Thanksgiving.instead. So, I love this movie to no end. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/256 "2020-11-28T02:41:09Z")
Can’t say I’m familiar with the movie. The song? Now that’s on repeat, for a couple of days. Lookin’ forward to when this thread comes back around on the guitar … ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/257 "2020-11-28T02:50:57Z")
I don’t associate it with Thanksgiving, but with long car trips. He’s great for long car trips. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/258 "2021-11-25T17:20:09Z")
Today’s the day. I had to put it off until this afternoon when it comes back around on the guitar, but I’ll be listening in a bit. After all, it’s a Thanksgiving tradition that can’t be beat. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/259 "2021-11-25T18:01:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It’s that time of year again, folks-Time to get stuffed, get arrested and get drafted 😁 > I’ll be listening to the original version on KINK 101.1 at noon, and the revision at 5pm Same thing, one year later. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/260 "2021-11-25T18:39:47Z")
I almost forgot! And I’m the OP. Anyway, I have a favorite video version, which can be found [here](https://youtu.be/W5_8U4j51lI) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983.md?page=14)