MIDNITE HOUR - 01 February 2024

A Fine Madness (Warner Bros., 1966) reached our shores in early 1967. Such 'early' arrivals were not guaranteed in those years.

Texas Across the River (Universal Pictures, 1966) was a 'Western Comedy" starring Dean Martin, and Joey Bishop (as an Indian?), and featuring the then popular international star Alain Delon..

Guy Madison was the only 'star' in this otherwise unknown 'Spaghetti Western'. Wyatt-Earp Gunfighter was renamed from Gunmen of Rio Grande (1946) for foreign release (renaming was common in that era). Madison is best known for a 7-year run as 'Wild Bill Hickok' in the television series of that name (also with Andy Devine).

With such a star-studded cast, one could expect that the film This Property Is Condemned (Paramount Pictures, 1966) would have become an instant classic, but according to the old reviews, it was only moderately well received at the time, and virtually unknown today..

Mark Damon is an American film producer and former actor. He early on moved to Italy and became a popular star of Spaghetti Westerns while hanging out with the 'La Dolce Vita' actors / actresses of the day. His great success was giving up acting for producing, where he was extremely successful in his several Hollywood projects. Johnny Yuma (Delta, 1966).

The Blue Max, while popular with the filmgoing public (note its Royal Command Performance), with it's top-notch cast (and deemed one of the top WWI war films), it receved mixed critical review. A British production released by 20th Century Fox (1966).

The star-studded Battle Of The Bulge (Warner Bros, 1965), was another British production immensely popular with moviegoers, but suffered the wrath of the critics - specifically as to the historical inaccuracies. Retired General Eisenhower came out of retirement to publicly condemn the film's inaccuracies. The classic Siam Theater was one of two Cinerama theaters in Thailand. Soon, due to the complexities of that technology, the Cinerama projectors were replaced with other 'wide-screen' options.

The original Cinerama theater was the Petchrama set back off Petchburi Road. The Fortune Cookie (United Artists, 1966) was a black comedy generally considered one of the best comedies of the year. Walter Matthau brought home the Oscar (when Oscars meant something) for Best Supporting Actor.

Traces of Bangkok's Early Years

The continuous succession of well-known entertainers from the US and elsewhere in the '60's and '70's proved to be, in retrospect, a "Golden Age" of entertainment in Bangkok's nightclubs. That scene has long faded into history - should an entertainer of any celebrity come to perform in Bangkok today, it would be at an arena or stadium, and not in the intimate setting of a nightclub. Meanwhile, the R&R Night Entertainment Scene continued to 'explode' on New Petchburi Road and parts of Sukhumvit Road.

An advance ad for P�rez Prado, Cuban bandleader, pianist, composer and recording star who kicked off the '50s "Mambo' dance craze. He is remembered for his 1955 "Mambo No. 5", whereupon he picked up the handle, "King of the Mambo". He recorded the version of Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White still being replayed today. His orchestra and/or music appeared in several films of the day, most noteworthy being La Dolce Vita (the instrumental 'Patricia').

June 1967

      Neil Sedaka is an American singer, songwriter and pianist.   Having recorded several million-selling records, he has also written or collaborated on over 500 songs for himself and others.   His popularity waned in the Sixty's, but he experienced a resurgence of popularity in the later years.    Cafe De Paris was located opposite Patpong 1 Road on Surawong Rd.

June 1967

      Allan's Place was yet another try by the Plaza Hotel (Now the Pavilion Place) to establish a permanent Night Entertainment Venue (other than the ongoing Other Office).   Allan's Place would not last long.   Today's Pink Panther would eventually succeed at that location (still there today).   Located at the Surawong Road end of Patpong 2 Road.

June 1967

      The Oriental's 'Bamboo Bar' may be the longest running Night Entertainment Venue in Bangkok, having become a 'Nightspot landmark' rivalling Singapore's Raffles Hotel 'Long Bar'' as the most famed bar in Southeast Asia.
June 1967

      The Honey Nightclub was in fact the largest Nitespot in that era, but was not the most popular.   It was located between the then-popular New Road Night Entertainment Area and Patpong.   It would eventually lose out to those established Night Clubs which were booking the biggest names from the U.S. and abroad.

  June 1967

      Ray Anthony is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor.   He is 101 years old, and still kicking..   He played in Glenn Miller's band in 1941 & 1942, and appeared in the film Sun Valley Serenade (also a Glenn Miller undertaking.)   During WWII he was in the Navy AND the Army.   At the War's end, he formed The Ray Anthony Orchestra which became popular (or should we say notorious?), for making the "Hokey Pokey" a hit song.   Among other accomplishments, he also created the theme to Dragnet (radio/TV).   The Sani Chateau was located in the now-extinct Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area.

June 1967

       The Astoria Cocktail Lounge was located in the Rex Hotel higher up on Sukhumvit Road.   Most of us who knew the Rex in the mid 1970's knew it because of it's late-night coffee shop, which was an on-and-off freelancer venue (never gaining the notoriety of the Thermae Coffee Shop, the Nana Coffee Shop or the Grace Coffee Shop).   But during the '60's, it was a popular live music Venue for those willing to go that far 'out of town'.     (In those days, it was perceived as being too far away from the action.)
June 1967

      Many, to include a number of longtime residents, would claim (and still claim) that Patpong Road in the 60's and early 70's did not have a variety of restaurants, some claiming it did not have any restaurants.   Of course, Mizu's was there before any of those 'old timers', but there was a number of other restaurants which have been conveniently, or inevitably forgotten.   One such restaurant was the Sunya Restaurant, above.

June 1967

   USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, has long been active in Thailand for its intended purpose, but USAID in Laos during the conflict in Southeast Asia (up through the '70's) was an 'umbrella' for a variety of activities - primarily providing the real estate which housed other agency activities.   We note the curious wording, "Interesting persons apply in person".                June 1967

      The ever-popular Tropicana Supper Club (Sometimes referred to as 'Night Club'), regularly imported popular shows from Las Vegas and other locations.   It was located in Hilton's Rama Hotel on Silom Rd near New Road.

  June 1967