Stan Schmidt papers

1    COLLECTION SUMMARY

1.1       Introduction/Abstract

Stan Schmidt was a musician from Hays, Kansas. In 1965, Schmidt joined a band formed by Don Weirman best known as the Tempests. Membership in the Tempests varied as members left and new members joined. The core members of the group were Stan Schmidt, John and Dave Herrman, Dave Wann, and Skip Schyler. By 1966, the Tempests played about every weekend. Around this time, the group signed with Jim Reardon’s promotional agency and began to play as the house band of the Dark Horse Inn, Reardon’s nightclub in Hays, Kansas. Schmidt left the band and the group soon disbanded in August of 1968. The Tempests re-organized for a series of reunion events, including their induction into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, from 2011 to 2014.

The Stan Schmidt papers contain materials gathered by Stan Schmidt related to his career as a musician and band member from 1965 to 1968, materials related to the music industry in the mid to late 1960s, and materials related to reunion and Kansas Music Hall of Fame events in the early twenty-first century. Materials in the collection include audio recordings, newspaper clippings, posters and a scrapbook.

1.2       Dates

1964-2014

1.3       Quantity

2 cubic feet

1.4       Creator

Stan Schmidt, the Tempests

1.5       Title

Stan Schmidt papers

1.6       UID and/or Call #

UID# 535534

1.7       Language

English

1.8     Notes

This finding aid describes materials held by the Kansas State Historical Society. Materials may be used in the Research Room in the society’s Center for Historical Research during regular research hours. Support for telephone, mail, and online research and reference is limited.

In a continuing effort to improve the completeness and accuracy of finding aids, revisions are made as more or new information becomes available. Consequently, this finding aid may differ slightly from what appears in the collection or on the Kansas State Historical Society’s website.

1.9   Repository

Kansas State Historical Society (Topeka)

2    BIOGRAPHY OR HISTORY

Stan Schmidt was a musician from Hays, Kansas. Schmidt began his music career through high school bands, as a member of the school marching and concert bands, among others.[1] Schmidt’s family lived in the same neighborhood as other musicians including Dennis Higgins and Don Wierman. Don Wierman’s older brother Terry Wierman was a prominent member of the Fabulous Flippers, lead act of the Mid-Continent Productions booking agency owned by John Brown.[2] Stan Schmidt and Dennis Higgins often visited the Wierman brothers while Terry was home from touring. Terry brought home tape recordings of the Flippers and often shared stories about the band.[3]

In 1965, Don Weirman began a band and Stan Schmidt and Dennis Higgins soon joined. The group put together their arrangements by ear, without sheet music they copied the style of music from Terry Weirman’s Flippers tapes.[4] Schmidt played saxophone while Dennis Higgins played bass guitar. The band also included brothers John and Dave Herrman, John played drums and Dave played rhythm guitar and trumpet.[5] When the band first formed, the members were around the ages of 12-14 years old. Stan Schmidt, Dennis Higgins, and John Herrman were 14 years old, Don Weirman was 13 years old, and Dave Herrman was 12 years old.[6] The band cycled through a series of names, prior to Schmidt joining the group they had practiced under the name ‘The Fugitives,’ Their first public performance was under the name ‘The Archdukes,’ for a portion of 1965 and 1966, the band used the name ‘The Zinks.’ The final name of the band, and the name they utilized for the longest time, was ‘The Tempests.’[7]

Membership in the Tempests varied as members left and new members joined. The core members of the group were Stan Schmidt, John and Dave Herrman, Dave Wann, and Skip Schyler.[8] Don Weirman left the group in January 1966, his later career included membership in bands such as the Soul Express, Beast, and Spider & The Crabs.[9] Vern and Dorothy Herrman, the parents of John and Dave Herrman, owned the Vern Herrman Motor Company in Hays, Kansas, and agreed to let the band use the garage as a practice venue outside of business hours.[10]

The Tempests played their first public event, under the name ‘The Archdukes,’ on August 28^th, 1965. The band rented the Hays swimming pool’s event hall, produced their own posters with construction paper and spray paint, and sold tickets on their own.[11] Stan Schmidt also met his wife, Shar, at the Hays swimming pool while she was working at the venue’s concession stand. The couple was married when Stan was 19 years old, and Shar was considered “The First Tempests Groupie.”[12]

By 1966, the Tempests played about every weekend. Around the autumn of 1966, the group signed with Jim Reardon’s promotional agency, and began to play as the house band of the Dark Horse Inn, Reardon’s nightclub in Hays, Kansas.[13] Jim Reardon worked as a promotor and manager in the music industry from 1964 to 1974 and included time with the promotional company Mid-Continent Entertainment and his own promotional agency, James N. Reardon & Associates.[14] Shortly after leaving Mid Continent Entertainment, Reardon relocated to Hays to open the Dark Horse Inn, a nightclub with seating for around 100 to 200 guests. Reardon named the club after a bar he once frequented, named the Dark Horse, and included “Inn” as a reference to the Red Dog Inn in Lawrence, Kansas.[15] At one time, the Dark Horse Inn sold the most Schlitz beer in Kansas and was also recognized as the most popular place in Kansas by GQ Magazine in an article about the 50 best night spots in the United States.[16]

Generally, the Tempests modeled themselves after the Fabulous Flippers.[17] The Flippers influence was evident in their song choices, performance styles, and their wardrobe as the Tempests bought a set of blazers from the Flippers in 1966.[18] As their promotor, Reardon utilized similar promotional tactics that were successful for the Flippers and other Mid-Continent Entertainment bands, including radio advertisements on KOMA Radio out of Oklahoma City, and presenting the Tempests as the Dark Horse Inn’s “house band.”[19] While working for Jim Reardon’s promotional agency, the Tempests were booked for a variety of events, including high school dances, fraternity parties, nightclub performances, and other private events. From 1965 to 1968 the band played around 225-250 dances across 5 states.[20]

For a time, all the band members were too young to drive. Early in the band’s development, they were able to depend on family and friends to get to and from events, however out-of-town events were a challenge.[21] The band often hired college students in Hays as drivers.[22] In 1966, Dave Wann joined the band as an organ player. Wann was 16 at the time so was able to drive the band to their performances.[23] Vern and Dorothy Herrman also assisted the band to build the trailer they used for hauling equipment and later helped finance the purchase of a 9-seat Chevrolet van large enough to transport all of the band members.[24]

Stan Schmidt left the Tempests in 1968.[25] The band only played one time after Schmidt’s departure, a performance at the Lamplighter Club in Salina, Kansas at the end of August.[26] Schmidt moved on from his music career, including selling his saxophone, but maintained his connections and friendships with his bandmates and others from his time as a musician.[27] Some members of the Tempests remained in the music industry.[28]

In 2011, Schmidt and some other former members of the Tempests attended the Kansas Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Discussions about reuniting the Tempests led Skip Schyler to book a performance for the Tempests, along with his family’s band, for the 50^th reunion of the Hays High class of 1971.[29] Schmidt hadn’t played an instrument in decades and spent months re-learning how to play the saxophone.[30] The Tempests also decided to host a friends & family event the night prior to their performance for the Hays High reunion event. The band largely practiced separately but did return to the Vern Herrman Motor Company to practice during the two nights prior to their events. The Tempests’ reunion performances were held on September 23^rd and 24^th, 2011. The friends and family event was held first and around 300 extend family members attended, the Hays High Class of 1971 reunion event was attended by around 200 class members and spouses.[31]

In 2013, the tempests were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.[32] Once again, they used the Vern Herrman Motor Company shop as a practice venue for three days, from February 27^th to 29^th, 2013.[33] The induction ceremony into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame was held on March 2, 2013. The Tempests were described as a “nine member show band [that] played the Midwest from 1965 to 1968. When the band was playing in the 1960s, the age of the members ranged from twelve to fifteen.”[34] A total of 16 former Tempests members were included in the band’s induction, and ten of the members performed during the induction ceremony.[35]

In 2014, Dave Herrman was contacted by the Hays, Kansas Wild West Festival committee about booking the Tempests to perform on the final night of the festival as the opener for the headliner band “Hairball.”[36] The band agreed and gathered once more to practice and perform. An estimated crowd of around 8000 attended the Tempests’ final performance.[37] Stan Schmidt began to organize his collection of materials related to his career in the music industry in 2025, and donated the collection to the Kansas State Historical Society, State Archives Division in 2026.

3    SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The Stan Schmidt papers contain materials gathered by Stan Schmidt related to his career as a musician and band member from 1965 to 1968, materials related to the music industry in the mid to late 1960s, and materials related to reunion and Kansas Music Hall of Fame events in the early twenty-first century. Schmidt was a member of the Tempest from 1965 to 1968, the band also played under the names the Archdukes, and the Zinks. Materials related to the Tempest band include audio recordings, newspaper clippings, posters and a scrapbook. Other materials in the collection include audio recordings, posters, newspaper clippings, and photographs related to the mid to late 1960s music industry, with an emphasis on bands from the Hays, Kansas area.

4    CONTENTS LIST

• Box and/or Locators
  • Series
    • Folder or item

• Box 1: 008-05-03-08
  • Audio-Visual materials
    • A Simply Grand cassette tape
    • Fabulous Flippers “Something Tangible” album on open reel tape
    • “Tape-1, Flippers Composite Taped Mar 30 ’69.” Open reel tape.
    • “Tape #2, The Jerms “Live” April 11, 1969” and “Tape #2, The Soul Express Hays High April 25, 1969 and The Jerms two songs.” Open reel tape.
    • “Tape 3, The Tempests 1968 “Live” at Studio.” Open reel tape.
    • “Tape #4 Side One Flippers 1967” and "Tape #4 Side 2 Flippers Jan 69 Great Bend.” Open reel tape.
    • “Soulful Seven Hays, Kansas Unknown location.” Open reel tape.
      • Digital copy available for reference use.
    • “Spider and the Crabs, Hays, Kansas.” Open reel tape.
      • Digital copy available for reference use.
    • “The Tempests Early Years.” Open reel tape.
      • Digital copy available for reference use.
    •  “Soul Express Rusty Bucket Feb 1969, Red Dogs Seward, Nebraska April 6, 1969.” Open reel tape.
      • Digital copy available for reference use.
    • “Soulful Seven Hays, Kansas 1967.” Open reel tape.
      • Digital copy available for reference use.
    •  “Soul Express Sioux Falls, SD, Back side ???” Open reel tape
      • Digital copy available for reference use.
    • "The Tempests Practice.” Open reel tape.
      • Digital copy available for reference use.
    • Folder 1: Two 45 RPM Fabulous Flippers phonographs.
    • One phonograph contains songs “Shout” and “Turn On Your Love Light,” the second contains songs “Harlem Shuffle” and “I Don’t Want To Cry.”
    • Folder 2: A collection of CDs including:
      • 2 CDs labeled “Jerms 1969 April 11^th R2 S1 P1” and “Jerms 1969 April 11^th R2 S1 P2”
      • 2 CDs labeled “Soul Express Hays High April 25, 1969 R2 S2 P2” and “Soul Express Hays High April 25, 1969 R2 S2 P1”
      • 3 CDs labeled “Flippers Live 1969 March 30^th R1 S1 P1,” “Flippers Live 1969 March 30^th R1 S2 P1” and “Flippers Live 1969 March 30^th R1 S2 P2.”
      • 2 CDs labeled “Flippers Live 1967 R4 S1 P1” and “Flippers Live 1967 R4 S1 P2.”
      • 2 CDs labeled “Flippers Great Bend 1969 R4 S2 P1” and “Flippers Great Bend 1969 R4 S2 P2.”
  • Photograph(s)
    • Folder 3: A Flippers photograph
  • Publications
    • Folder 4: A folder of band articles from the Hays Daily News
• Box 2: 145-01-04-20
  • Scrapbook
    • The Tempests history scrapbook
      • A four-inch binder containing scrapbook materials such as photographs, newspaper clippings, contracts, and some audio-visual materials on CDs and DVDs. This scrapbook serves as a biography of the Tempests band. The scrapbook is divided into sections to chronical different aspects of the band’s history, including challenges, notable events, stories, photographs, poster designs, and memorabilia.
• 073-04-08-02
  • Oversized Materials
    • Proclamation by the Governor, Tempests Day
      • A copy of the Proclamation by the Governor. Signed by Governor Sam Brownback, Secretary of State Kris Koback, and the Assistant Secretary of State on March 2^nd, 2013.
    • Dance to the Tempests poster
      • This poster describes the Tempests as a rhythm and blues showband. Also included on this poster is information regarding performances by the Soulful Seven and Candy Topless. This poster was used in August of 1968. The band used this poster design throughout 1967 and 1968.
    • The Zinks poster
      • This poster was for a performance at the Hays High School Gym on December 11, 1965. The Zinks, later known as the Tempests, were hired to play the Hays High School Christmas Dance.
    • Dance to the Fabulous Sounds of the Archdukes poster
      • This poster was a draft design drawn in pencil of the posters the Archdukes, later known as the Tempests, used for their first public dance at the Hays Swimming Pool on August 28,1965. A note on the poster describes the Archdukes as the youngest show band in Kansas.
    • Dance to the Fabulous Sounds of the Archdukes poster
      • The Archdukes, later known as the Tempests, used this poster for their first public dance at the Hays Swimming Pool on August 28,1965.  Admission cost was 1 dollar per person or $1.50 for couples. The posters were made with construction paper and spray paint. This poster was kept by Shar Schmidt, after she wrote “Stan & Shar” around the design.
    • The Flaming Tempests poster
      • This poster is signed by six band members. The Tempests used this poster design in 1966. The poster was designed by Louis Schmidt-Wagner, Stan Schmidt’s sister.
    • The Tempests reunion performance poster
      • This poster is for a performance at the Hays, Kansas VFW on September 23, 2011. The VFW performance was a private event held by the Tempests for friends and family, around 200 guests attended. On September 24, 2011, the Tempests also played for the Hays High class of 1971’s 50^th anniversary reunion.
    • The Fabulous Flippers Then and Now informational poster
      • This poster was used to promote the Fabulous Flippers reunion tour in 1994.
    • The Fabulous Flippers poster
      • This poster was for a performance at the Hays, Kansas National Guard Armory.
    • The Fabulous Flippers Then And Now Reunion Tour poster
      • This poster was for a performance at Belleville High Banks on June 10, 1994.
• 39-04-03-02
  • Audio-visual materials
    • The Heat's Extreme Heat vinyl record
• Digital materials
  • Audio-visual materials
    • Oral history interview with Stan Schmidt conducted by Kansas State Archives Division Director Michael Church on March 8, 2026.
    • Donation interview with Stan Schmidt and James Reardon conducted by Kansas State Archives Division Director Michael Church and other Kansas State Archives employees on June 25, 2026.

5    RELATED MATERIALS

• John Owen Brown papers (UID 531297)
• Jim Reardon papers (UID 474484)
• Evan Johnson papers (UID 531890)
• Steve Clark papers (UID 532645)
• Chris Cruz collection (UID 531891)
• Steve Alter papers (UID 531109)
• Roger Lewis collection (UID 530825)
• Kansas music history collection (UID 532588)
• Allan Miller papers (UID 532589)
• The Tyme Peace CD (UID 530974)
• Larry Dimmitt papers (UID 531603)
• Mike Doyle collection (UID 530087)
• Lester Dennis Higgins Collection (UID 530938)
• The Fabulous Flippers “Then” cassette tape (UID 531806)
• The Fabulous Flippers posters and newspaper articles (UID 531807)

6    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stan Schmidt papers, Kansas State Historical Society.

James N. Reardon, interview by Michael Church, recording, Kansas Music History Program, Kansas Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas, 3 September, 2024, Kansas Historical Society, State Archives Division.

Jim Reardon Collection, UID 474484, Kansas Historical Society, State Archives Division, Topeka, Ks.

7    INDEX TERMS/SUBJECT HEADINGS/ACCESS POINTS

• Kansas Music
• Rock and Roll
• Rhythm and Blues
• The Tempests
• James Reardon and Associates
• Mid-Continent Entertainment
• The Fabulous Flippers
• The Red Dogs
• The Blue Things
• The Rising Suns
• Spider and the Crabs
• The Young Raiders
• The Dark Horse Inn (Hays, KS)
• The Red Dog Inn (Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS)
• 1960s
• KOMA Radio
• Kansas Music Hall of Fame

8    ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

8.1       Restrictions on access

None

8.2       Restrictions on use

Notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The user is cautioned that the publication of the contents of this collection may be construed as constituting a violation of literary property rights. These rights derive from the principle of common law, affirmed in the copyright law of 1976 as amended, that the writer of an unpublished letter or other manuscript has the sole right to publish the contents thereof unless he or she affirmatively parts with that right; the right descends to his or her legal heirs regardless of the ownership of the physical manuscript itself. It is the responsibility of a user or his or her publisher to secure the permission of the owner of literary property rights in unpublished writing.

8.3       Custodial History/ Provenance

This reflects the personal collection of Stan Schmidt, who was a former member of a band best known under the name “The Tempests.” Schmidt collected the materials of this collection while working in the music industry from the middle to late 1960s. Portions of the collection were donated to the Kansas Historical Society by Stan Schmidt in 2025 and 2026, and was received by Division Director Michael Church and Acquisitions Archivist Teresa Coble.

8.4       Alternate forms

A portion of the audio-visual materials are also available in a digital format.

8.5       Preferred citation

Note: [document and/or series description, date], Stan Schmidt papers, Kansas State Historical Society.

Bibliography: Stan Schmidt papers, Kansas State Historical Society.

8.6       Acquisition information (Accession #)

Accession # 2026-208, 2027-001.

UID #535534

8.7       Processing information (Processor name)

Cordell Moats, digital archivist, 2026.

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