MIDNITE HOUR - 01 May 2023

In 1987, Tobacco Road was a dirt path following the railroad track through the slum and past the Tobacco monopoly, reaching from Sukhumvit to Rama IV roads. A year later, there were a few clapboard noodles & beer-type shacks wedged between the dirt trail and the railroad tracks at the Sukhumvit Rd end - and somehow, they began attracting farang custom. By the end of 1988 there were more than a dozen of these clapboard bar beers; reaching a unique, dusty, noisy �critical mass�. As the shacks were on State Railway property, and literally within arm's reach of passing trains, the Night Entertainment Area moved a few meters to the West, under the Motorway overpass, and into semipermanent allotments (see map). It was during that period the 'dirt path' was paved, becoming Duang Pitak Rd. By mid-1990 there were 24 Nitespot Venues open for business. The land was eventually reclaimed by the City in 2006, many Venues seeking other temporary lands within the city.

In 1998, an abandoned bank stood between the old Thermae massage parlor and Ruamchit Mansions (hotel). Behind the bank was a large unused warehouse which became an ad-hoc parking lot. Those using the parking lot observed that a number of shack-style bar beers began appearing between the derelict bank and the warehouse. The area quickly became a Night Entertainment Area, to include several A Go-Go bars. As is the case with many of the opportunistic Nitespot Areas, there was much squabbling and legal jockeying when it came time for the landowner to reclaim the land for redevelopment. The last bar finally abandoned the premises in June of 2003. Many of the bars relocated across the street to the new Sukhumvit Square Night Entertainment Area - yet another opportunistic Entertainment Area.

The large unused piece of land on Sukhumvit Road at Soi 10 proved to be too tempting. -At the end of 1999 entrepreneurs began putting up lean-to shops - calling the area "Thai Help Thai" (a reference to the push for economic recovery after the 1997 crash). One of those lean-to shacks was the Sweet Home Bar - and little did they know what they had started... Two years later the compound had approximately 100 small to medium sized venues of many sorts, to include a few permanent structures - and 60 of those venues were Night Entertainment Venues. By that time the area had been officially named Sukhumvit Square. In the middle of the night, 26 January 2003, a raiding party of men in paramilitary uniforms ushered in heavy construction equipment to level the area, destroying all the bars and other shops. Behind the assault was the owner of the land, Chuwit Kamolwisit, the military mafia and some elements of the National Police. The outrageous gestapo tactics made world news and the legal fallout lasted years (and is still ongoing).

Prior to the 1997 crash, the existing buildings at the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Soi Asoke 21 (continuing through to Soi 23) were torn down in preparation for a redevelopment project. The project was halted by the 1997 crash, leaving a huge area of undeveloped land. By 1998, the area accessible from Soi 23 became an ad-hoc parking lot, and the area at the Sukhumvit-Asoke intersection saw the erection of a few temporary bars and outdoor restaurants. Later dubbed Cowboy Annex (see map), the area went 'viral' - new bar beers appearing every month. By 2003, the Night Entertainment Area had over 40 Nitespots. However, the land being prime Sukhumvit Road property, the land owner revived development plans at the end of 2004. -And the owner, carrying an armload of legal documents and accompanied by police, forced the opportunistic bar owners out at the beginning of 2005.

Built atop the rubble of the former Thermae Coffee Shop, the 13 Night Market originally opened in 1998, but 'went cold' while the next door Clinton Plaza see-sawed through it's ups and downs on its way to close down for good. The 13 Night Market re-launched in 2003, quickly reaching 'Critical Mass' as a stand-alone Night Entertainment Area. Several of the bars moved in from the next door (then defunct) Clinton Plaza. The owner / developer closed down operations at the end of February 2005 (one bar stayed open until 1 March to give away all the beer not already imbibed). The closing of the Nitespot Area sent bar beer operators scurrying to find new / inexpensive Nitespot areas.

   It appears that the crackdown on the "Black Pagoda" group of bars has gone from bad to worse since our initial report last month.   Our current end-of-month survey reveals that the Patpong Museum and Delaney's have also been closed.   This is of particular interest in that both of these Venues were only tangentially involved with the Black Pagoda group through a second company.   These two venues, as well as others in the Black Pagoda group now have notices taped to their front doors forbidding the unlocking (or opening) of the Venues.   The complete listing of Venues currently closed by the crackdown on Patpong 2 Road is as follows :
         *   Black Pagoda
         *   Club Black
         *   Triple XXX Lounge
         *   Bar Bar Fetish
         *   Patpong Museum annex -3rd Level above Bar Bar.
         *   The Strip Bangkok
         *   Patpong Museum
         *   Delaney's

Traces of Bangkok's Early Years

Bangkok Eyes goes back to August of 1966 for an overview of Expat Night Entertainment in Bangkok. We note a more rapid ramping up (more new Venues) in Petchburi Road due to the R&R program associated with the conflict in Viet Nam and Southeast Asia.

August 1966 saw the Salem Bar open newly on New Petchburi Road near the Thai Heaven club. It was a combo Restaurant and Hostess Bar (more than 100 hostesses). Their 'Salem' sign boosted directly from the cigarette of that name - their motto, "Play It Cool".

August 1966

Mickey Curtis was Japanese-English, born in Japan. He was a renown actor, singer and TV celebrity - which accounts for his great popularity with the Japanese tourists and residents in Bangkok. He toured internationally with his rock band 'The Samurai' (changed to Vanguards for Thailand) for 5 years, eventually returning to Japan to produce music. In 1966 Rama Hotel changed their Entertainment Venue name from Tropicana to Ramayana, as above.

August 1966

The directions "for taxi" say the L'amour was located kitty-corner to Channel 7. We place this (tentatively) on Pahonyothin Road near Suan Jatujak Sunday Market. August 1966

New Petchburi Road (Petchburi Extension) was rapidly becoming the primary Entertainment destination for the U.S. military on R&R from Viet Nam. The New San Suk Service was one of the several 'fishbowl' massage parlors to open there at that time. August 1966

      Of all the "stars" performing above, only Rie Tanauchi continues to shine.   She is known more for her stage and film performances, in both Japanese and American productions (usually having a dancing part).   It would have been a treat to see her perform at the Sani Chateau (Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area).             August 1966

      It is said that 'Timing is Everything' - and by way of confirmation, the opening of the Tuck Bar & Coffee Shop in the recently refurbished New Nana Hotel couldn't have been more timely.   The Ra Jah Hotel was taking in R&R arrivals, so the first Nitespot the G.I.'s would come to of any merit would have been the Tuck Bar & Coffee Shop.   And if that weren't enough, in another two months, both the Grace Hotel Coffee Shop and the Thermae Coffee Shop would open - both within walking distance of Tuck.   All three Coffee Shops were, during those years, the most active, most popular of the 24 hour "meat markets".

Soi 4 Sukhumvit -   August 1966

      The Florida Turkish Bath & Massage was yet another 'steam & cream' fishbowl massage parlor to open on what would soon be called the "Golden Mile" of the Petchburi Extension.   (-An Entertainment Area stretching roughly from Soi 3 to Soi Ekamai).         August 1966

      The Sunya Onsen Turkish Bath was a combination Barber Shop and Turkish bath (a common combo in the 60's and 70's).   It was located near the Sipraya Road intersection with New Road.

August 1966

      The Hi Brows were a Maori group out of Aukland, and were popular in the 1960's.   Their routine was singing, comedy and a little tap dancing.

August 1966