Old Bars and Night Spots

[jstaylor62]

You write that as if it's a good thing. Try losing a very close family member (as I have) to a drunk driver screaming through a stop sign. Should the cops have stopped him a mile back before this happened and just poured out his booze and let him go? You're a piece of work, Vail.

The point is, that is when the police actually knew who you were. More than likely they lived in the neighborhood themselves and knew the families of the people they stopped. They were able to get better results by handling things with the family instead of the courts.

[soonergeezer]

I don't know if this qualifies as a night spot, but there was a bar at 50th and Macarthur, southwest corner where Blockbuster was for a while(I think it's gone now too). A guy named Ed Strawn owned the place. He pictured himself as an attempt at being a mobster, he wasn't. I hung out there for a while and got crossways of a few of the regulars and ended up in the alley with my brother and one of his friends fighting about 5 of the regulars. Fortunately 3 of the regulars were loaded and not doing a lot to help win the fight. I had figured we were going to be outnumbered so I slipped a pool ball into my pocket. I cracked a couple of the drunks on the head and the fight was pretty much over, my brother was a Viet Nam era green beret and was pretty capable in a fight. For some reason I can't remember the name of the bar, maybe Eds', not sure. But that was my last trip there. There was also a place on N May on the curve just north of Wilshire, west side of the road, at one time it was called the Speakeasy. I hung out there a while about the only thing memorable was a guy named Crazy Horse hung out there and he was always getting into it with someone. I think at one time this place was called the Crazy Horse, not positive, but maybe. m There was also 2 other small bars in that area called the Wilshire Club, and the Bandolero. I never became a regular, but did go there occasionally. Anyone else hang out at any of these places?

[ljbab728]

Uh, no. It sounds like you have led a much more adventurous life than I ever wanted to.

[bluedogok]

In the mid-90's The Wilshire Club was a popular dive bar spot for my age (30 at the time) crowd. It was an "interesting" place.

[ksearls]

I don't know if this qualifies as a night spot, but there was a bar at 50th and Macarthur, southwest corner where Blockbuster was for a while(I think it's gone now too). A guy named Ed Strawn owned the place. He pictured himself as an attempt at being a mobster, he wasn't. I hung out there for a while and got crossways of a few of the regulars and ended up in the alley with my brother and one of his friends fighting about 5 of the regulars. Fortunately 3 of the regulars were loaded and not doing a lot to help win the fight. I had figured we were going to be outnumbered so I slipped a pool ball into my pocket. I cracked a couple of the drunks on the head and the fight was pretty much over, my brother was a Viet Nam era green beret and was pretty capable in a fight. For some reason I can't remember the name of the bar, maybe Eds', not sure. But that was my last trip there.

Mr. Ed's Flame Club.

[Urbanized]

The Wilshire Club is still kicking. At least it was last time I checked.

[soonergeezer]

Glad your memory is better than mine.

[soonergeezer]

The Wilshire Club is still kicking. At least it was last time I checked.

That surprising, it has been around at least since the mid 60s.

[bluedogok]

I would imagine that Dorothy is no longer around there.

[soonergeezer]

In the mid-90's The Wilshire Club was a popular dive bar spot for my age (30 at the time) crowd. It was an "interesting" place.

Just remembered, there was a bar maid at the Wilshire club, her name was Dorothy, really really liked young guys. It seems like she may have quit the Wilshire club and moved to the Bandolero.

[soonergeezer]

I would imagine that Dorothy is no longer around there.

She would be about 900 by now.

[Lynne]

What an awesome topic. I remember the old Canadian Club so well. My other foray here was getting opinions and info on the 1980 Guest House murders and your kindness and info was overwhelming. The book is coming along nicely and I am now in touch with Raymond's son who is just a doll. Ray and I were together for six years if memory serves but I wasn't present nor did I have any info about his murder as we parted ways in 76, four years before his death.
Now knowing who Ray was and his business you can probably surmise my means of income and it sure wasn't drugs.
Anyway at the end of an evening it was great to know there was a place with music and dancing and smoky back rooms where the creatures of the night could meet without fear of raids or arrest .Maybe not so much when you left the bar unless you knew when the police changed shifts and everybody was gone for the early morning. 'Getting between the ditches ' was a safe passage back to The City. Things were very different then and police operated as they pleased. If you knew who was who you could survive to fight another day. And we always did. Call it one of the tools of our trade. lol.
So much more to tell.But this will have to do for now. See you soon.
Lynne

Oh, one more thing. In the 60's there was a gay bar/club west of Edmond. It was another all- nighter. Does anyone remember that? I think it was called the Continental Club.
Lynne

[Lynne]

Where was the Wilshire and when did it operate? Sound familiar but my memories go back to the late 60;s and 70's.

[RadicalModerate]

The Wilshire Club is still there. It's just west of May on Wilshire. North side of the street. Not sure that they even have a sign.

[bluedogok]

The Wilshire Club is still there. It's just west of May on Wilshire. North side of the street. Not sure that they even have a sign.

If I remember correctly there is an alley like drive next to the old liquor store that goes back to the parking lot and entry.

[Lynne]

Uh, no. It sounds like you have led a much more adventurous life than I ever wanted to.

WAIT'LL YA GET A LOAD OF ME. . .SAYS THE GIRL IN HER BEST jOKER/BATMAN VOICE.lolol

[RadicalModerate]

For Lynne (off the record . . . yet for the book, without any "cackling" so 2 speek--that's Batman Code fer whatever without all caps) . . . Have you investigated the "after-hours triumvirate" consisting, in part, of The Nook, The Crutch and Maurice's Club (way off in "The County" . . . on North Sooner . . . =)? Are you familiar with "Luster's Motel?"? How about the "Jesus is Lord Salvage Yard?" (over on 10th street . . . not far from the EPA mandated cleanup site). Ironically, the spot to which I refer is near some railroad tracks . . . where the whistles blow whether you want them to or not.

That stuff lend texture to the story.
Like frozen hashbrowns in Organic Mushroom Soup.
Sorry . . . not really good at the difference between grammar forms.
Can't tell an analogy from a simile. Dang.

Is it possible that Lynne worked the Wilshire Club back in The Day????