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After 40 years, T.T. the Bear’s calls it a night

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  • For more than 40 years, Bonney Bouley has owned and operated T.T. the Bear’s Place, the beloved Cambridge nightclub that’s now in its final days. Here she is (far left) in 1973 with Miles Cares (her business partner at the time), and Chuck Shawls (right), a salesman for Tuborg beer, outside the original Pearl Street location of T.T.'s.
    Bonney Bouley
    For more than 40 years, Bonney Bouley has owned and operated T.T. the Bear’s Place, the beloved Cambridge nightclub that is now in its final days. Here she is (left) in 1973 with Miles Cares (her business partner at the time), and Chuck Shawls (right), a salesman for Tuborg beer, outside the original Pearl Street location of T.T.'s.
  • 17ttfarewell Seven Seconds 1987001: Seven Seconds performing at T.T. the BearÕs in 1987. ÒThis picture is on the wall of the club. I love everything about this picture,Ó Gonson says. ÒThere's something about the arc of his arm. The handsome, rugged man who's protecting the stage is Rev. Hank Peirce, who was a sweet guy and the bouncer who kept the kids from getting hurt.Ó Photo credit: JJ Gonson.
    JJ Gonson
    Seven Seconds performed at T.T. the Bear’s in 1987. “This picture is on the wall of the club. I love everything about this picture,” photographer JJ Gonson, owner of Cuisine en Locale, says. “There's something about the arc of his arm. The handsome, rugged man who's protecting the stage is Rev. Hank Peirce, who was a sweet guy and the bouncer who kept the kids from getting hurt.”
  • Crowd-surfing at T.T. the Bear’s in 1988 at a show by the hardcore band Scream. “If that guy weren't there, we could see the drummer, who at the time was Dave Grohl,” says Gonson.
    JJ Gonson
    Crowd-surfing at T.T. the Bear’s in 1988 at a show by the hardcore band Scream. “If that guy weren't there, we could see the drummer, who at the time was Dave Grohl,” says Gonson.
  • Verbal Assault, a Rhode Island band, at T.T. the Bear’s in 1987. “This is another of my all-time favorites,” Gonson says. “Look at them: Everybody is sweating.”
    JJ Gonson
    Verbal Assault, a Rhode Island band, at T.T. the Bear’s in 1987. “This is another of my all-time favorites,” Gonson says. “Look at them: Everybody is sweating.”
  • Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction at T.T. the Bear’s in 1988. “Look at how drunk he is,” Gonson says. “That wine bottle is almost empty. Jane’s Addiction played T.T.'s a few times over the years.”
    JJ Gonson
    Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction at T.T. the Bear’s in 1988. “Look at how drunk he is,” Gonson says. “That wine bottle is almost empty. Jane’s Addiction played T.T.'s a few times over the years.”
  • Led by Perry Farrell (center), Jane’s Addiction performing at T.T. the Bear’s in 1988.
    JJ Gonson
    Led by Perry Farrell (center), Jane’s Addiction performing at T.T. the Bear’s in 1988.
  • Sluggo (left) from the Boston band Hullabaloo with Wright Maney from Feeding Frenzy at T.T. the Bear's in 1987.
    JJ Gonson
    Sluggo (left) from the Boston band Hullabaloo with Wright Maney from Feeding Frenzy at T.T. the Bear's in 1987.
  • Billy Ruane, the late local music promoter and man about town, at a Descendents show at T.T. the Bear’s in 1987. “I love this picture of Billy, and to the right of him is Dana Ong from the band Slaughter Shack,” says Gonson.
    JJ Gonson
    Billy Ruane, the late local music promoter and man about town, at a Descendents show at T.T. the Bear’s in 1987. “I love this picture of Billy, and to the right of him is Dana Ong from the band Slaughter Shack,” says Gonson.
  • Spectator outside a Descendents show at T.T. the Bear’s in 1987. “I don't know who that is, but I just love this photo. It’s like a Diane Arbus image,” Gonson says.
    JJ Gonson
    Spectator outside a Descendents show at T.T. the Bear’s in 1987. “I don't know who that is, but I just love this photo. It’s like a Diane Arbus image,” Gonson says.
  • 17ttfarewell Beefeater 1988001: Fans outside a Beefeater concert at T.T. the BearÕs in 1988. ÒWhat's great about this picture is the clubÕs sign in the background,Ó Gonson says. ÒAnd the kids look basically the same way kids do today.Ó Photo credit: JJ Gonson.
    JJ Gonson
    Fans outside a Beefeater concert at T.T. the Bear’s in 1988. “What's great about this picture is the club’s sign in the background,” Gonson says. “And the kids look basically the same way kids do today.”
  • Fans outside T.T. the Bear’s in 1987 for a show by the punk band Descendents. “I don’t know who she is, but whoever she is, God, they are not up to her level,” says Gonson. “We were at the 2 p.m. all-ages show, and then it was Faith No More that night at 9.”
    JJ Gonson
    Fans outside T.T. the Bear’s in 1987 for a show by the punk band Descendents. “I don’t know who she is, but whoever she is, God, they are not up to her level,” says Gonson. “We were at the 2 p.m. all-ages show, and then it was Faith No More that night at 9.”
  • Rich Gilbert of the Zulus at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge, circa the late 1980s.
    Wayne Viens
    Rich Gilbert of the Zulus at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge, circa the late 1980s.
  • Charlie Chesterman of Scruffy the Cat at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge circa the late 1980s.
    Wayne Viens
    Charlie Chesterman of Scruffy the Cat at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge circa the late 1980s.
  • Randall Gibson of Scruffy the Cat at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge circa the late 1980s.
    Wayne Viens
    Randall Gibson of Scruffy the Cat at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge circa the late 1980s.
  • Randall Gibson (left) and Stephen Fredette of Scruffy the Cat at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge circa the late 1980s.
    Wayne Viens
    Randall Gibson (left) and Stephen Fredette of Scruffy the Cat at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge circa the late 1980s.
  • A group outside T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge circa the late 1980s.
    Wayne Viens
    A group outside T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge circa the late 1980s.
  • Musician Brian Viglione (of the Dresden Dolls) is seen playing bass at T.T. the Bear's Place in Cambridge in 2000 with the band Asciento.
    Tina Tietz
    Musician Brian Viglione (of the Dresden Dolls) played bass at T.T.’s in 2000 with the band Asciento.
  • Organizers tossed T-shirts into the crowd during the finals of the Rock 'n' Roll Rumble in 2013 at T.T.'s.
    Aram Boghosian for the boston globe
    Organizers tossed T-shirts into the crowd during the finals of the Rock 'n' Roll Rumble in 2013 at T.T.'s.
  • Pixies frontman Black Francis performing at T.T. the Bear's Place in Cambridge on June 18.
    James Reed/Globe staff
    Pixies frontman Black Francis performing at T.T. the Bear's Place in Cambridge on June 18.
  • Bonney Bouley and her dog, Ella, in her Dorchester home. She has owned T.T.the Bear's since 1973. The club will close on July 25, 2015.
    SUZANNE KREITER/Globe staff
    Bonney Bouley and her dog, Ella, in her Dorchester home. She has owned T.T. the Bear's since 1973. The club will close on July 25, 2015.
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