{GHQ} Hitsville USA Traditional Cache
Hidden : 12/19/2010
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Congrats to ORL35 on the FTF!!



The Geocaching History Quest is a series of caches that are at or near important historical sites that can include the places, people, or events that are part of local, regional, national, or international history.  These caches should be a good lesson of the rich history and better understanding for anyone that visits the area that the caches bring you to.  This history surrounds us almost everywhere we go and hopefully will not be forgotten through our stories and caches that are part of each and every one of us.
As always, with ANY geocache hunt, PERSONAL SAFETY is of the utmost
importance and BE AWARE of your surroundings at all times.


Welcome to the WORLD FAMOUS HITSVILLE USA...Where it ALL BEGAN!


Motown Historical Museum is one of Detroit’s most popular tourist destinations. Each year, the museum attracts thousands of visitors from across the nation and around the globe. The museum was founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards. Its mission is to preserve the legacy of Motown Record Corporation and to educate and motivate people, especially youth, through exhibitions and programs that
promote the values of vision, creativity and entrepreneurship.

The museum exhibits trace the roots of Motown’s remarkable story and chronicle its impact on 20th century popular culture and musical styles. The story begins with Berry Gordy, Jr. and a small house in Detroit that he christened, Hitsville USA (now home to Motown Historical Museum). The story continues as Motown evolves into a major entertainment enterprise that was among the most diverse and influential in the world.

The exhibitions include a fascinating collection of historical photographs, artwork, music, costumes and other memorabilia from this booming musical era. Each item tells a story – from the $800 loan given to Berry Gordy, Jr. by the Gordy family savings club (the Ber-Berry Co-op) to produce his first record – to the explosive popularity of Motown’s artists throughout the world. Visitors take a step back in time as they walk through the fully restored apartment that was once home to Berry Gordy, Jr, and stand in the original recording studio “Studio A” where Motown’s greatest hits were recorded.
**MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS**


Barry Gordy, Jr. at Hitsville USA.
 
Empire on West Grand Boulevard

This museum exhibit is a telling representation of the growth of Motown from a small startup business begun in 1959 to what became by the mid-70s the largest independent record company in the world. The exhibit includes models of eight houses on West Grand Boulevard acquired by the company to house its growing operations until it moved its offices to a high-rise in downtown Detroit in 1968. The display begins with Gordy’s purchase of “Hitsville USA”, a house that served a dual purpose as his company headquarters and home. Visitors see the houses that made up the Motown empire from the front porch of the Hitsville house.
The Gallery

The gallery includes the museum’s core interpretative exhibition. Visitors get an overview of the key events in the development of Motown as a business and cultural force. The exhibits show how the music and the artists grew in accomplishment and influence, and how the company evolved from a small record company to a force that shaped and reflected one of the most dynamic cultural and political periods in our history. Visitors see original stage uniforms worn by famous Motown artists, sheet music, early promotional materials, rare photos and other significant items relative to this remarkable story.
The Echo Chamber

Before the age of synthesizers and computer-aided recording, Motown engineers created special sound effects by ingenious means. A rich piece of Motown’s history is relived, when visitors clap and sing into Motown’s innovative echo chamber (a hole cut in the ceiling), and experience early reverb. When “Studio A” was in use, the effects created by the echo chamber were relayed to the recording studio; they can be heard on recordings such as “Where Did Our Love Go, ” “Dancing In The Streets” and “Make Me The Woman You Go Home To.”
Motown Style

In addition to their sound, one of the key elements that distinguished Motown artists was their uniquely polished style and wardrobe. On display are uniforms designed for a number of famous Motown artists such as the Supremes, Brenda Holloway, The Temptations and others. The museum is also home to the trademark, jeweled white glove and black fedora hat worn by Michael Jackson.
Berry Gordy’s Apartment

In 1959, Berry Gordy, Jr. purchased the two family flat at 2648 West Grand Boulevard and christened it “Hitsville USA.” The apartment has been restored to its 1959-1960 appearance when it was home to Gordy and his young family. It contains the original master bedroom set and living room sofa. The dining room table served as the “shipping department” in the company’s earliest days. When Gordy and his family moved to a separate residence, the apartment was converted into office space for songwriters and producers.
Control Room

Visitors get an up close view of the original control room equipment used to record the “Motown Sound”. The equipment on view is a three-track recording console from the early 60’s that was upgraded to eight-track capacity by Motown’s in-house engineering department. It replaced a two-track recording console that was used to record Motown’s earliest hits. Voices and instrumentals were recorded on separate “tracks” which enabled producers and engineers to adjust the individual elements of a song after the recording session was over. Among the first songs recorded on this equipment were “Shop Around,” “Please Mr. Postman,” and “Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance).”
Recording “Studio A”



In 1959 Motown Records created its first recording studio, the famous “Studio A.” “Studio A” was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week from 1959 until 1972. Although in 1968 the company moved it’s headquarters to a ten-story building in downtown Detroit, artists continued to record in “Studio A”.

Today, visitors see “Studio A” just as it was with original instruments and equipment used during Motown’s Detroit era. Visitors stand where Motown greats such as, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and the Jackson Five, among others, stood and recorded their hits.


And Now...for the Cache:

The Cache originally was a micro-container, and was later upgraded to accomodate some trade-items and/or travelbugs/coins.

I had an opportunity to place this here because it's part of Detroit and Entertainment history, and i'm not sure there's anyone around that hasn't heard of "Motown" or the "Motown Sound".

Difficulty here...is because of the ever-present Muggle population that is around 24/7.... please be aware of this while you hunt this one.
This SHOULD be done during DAYLIGHT hours due to the area's residents and street-folk that may not be too-friendly.

The Container is Winter-Friendly and should pose no problem to locate.

Happy Hunting! :)

 

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Thneqrq Cnex...naq Tb. :)

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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