Allentown Anglophile The Purple Owl/The Zoo The Purple Owl was the first of the late 60's teen clubs to open. Ken Bray got the idea watching the old TV show Hullaballoo which had popular bands playing every week. Success was the greatest problem Bray had to deal with, as neighbors did not take kindly to the thundering herd of teens that descended on the club many nights a week. The Purple Owl opened on December 29, 1966, and it was several months until the Mad Hatter, Mod Mill and King Arthur's Court came along to diminish the over-crowded conditions at the Owl. By the fall of 1967, Bray had enough visits from the police to no longer wish to continue his successful venture. The club re-opened under another owner as The Zoo on December 16, 1967. But the Zoo lasted for less than a year as well. Newspaper Ads Click on blue-bordered images to open full size versions in a new window. April 29, 1967 September 30, 1967 November, 1967 December 16, 1967 December 30, 1967 March 9, 1968 March 16, 1968 April 6, 1968 May 4, 1968 April 27, 1968 October 26, 1968 November 23, 1968 November 16, 1968