See the Places and Faces Behind the Real Alice’s Restaurant Story, Just A Short Ride From Albany

As long as I can recall the Arlo Guthrie song "Alice's Restaurant" has been a key ingredient each Thanksgiving. Did you know the story that inspired the lyrics took place about an hour from the Capital Region?

The song "Alice's Restaurant", which is actually called "Alice's Restaurant Massacree", featured Alice, husband Ray and officer Obie and is based on true events that happened in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in the life of songwriter Arlo Gutherhrie.

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The place known as "Alice's Restaurant", located at 40 Main Street in Stockbridge, MA. was actually called The Back Room. Alice owned the establishment at that time, making it Alice's restaurant. Ironically the business closed in 1966, nearly a year before the album and title track were released. Today it is known as Main Street Cafe.

So, who is Alice? Alice May Brock spent her adult life in Massachusetts. An artist by choice and career restaurateur operating a few restaurants over the years. She and Ray divorced and in 1979 Ray passed away at the age of 51. Sadly Brock passed away just last week, November 21, 2024, just one week before Thanksgiving. She was 83.

The church where Alice and Ray lived is located at 4 Van Deusenville Road in Great Barrington, MA. This is where Arlo get's together with his friends on Thanksgiving day. Arlo Guthrie purchased the building and today it is known as the Guthrie Center at the Old Trinity Church which is a nondenominational interfaith meeting place and occasional Folk music venue.

If you have 18 minutes and 20 seconds this Thanksgiving revisit "Alice's Restaurant Masacree" and picture the people and places behind the song, just a short ride from the Capital Region.