MIDNITE HOUR - 01 November 2022

Traces of Bangkok's Early Years

Our long-term goal is to create an historical record, an holistic view, of Bangkok's Night Entertainment Scene. We have arbitrarily chosen "Ground Zero" as the end of WWII, when there were no active entertainment venues (remaining or new). '' serially (or catch-as-catch-can) endeavors to span Bangkok's Night Scene from 'Ground Zero" through the years up to the present, and on into the future. Over time, we will capture and archive the 'rise and demise' of Night Entertainment Areas and Venues in a comprehensive, cohesive manner.

      The Champagne Room in New Road Night Entertainment Area brought in the comedy magic act of Roger Coker and Arthur Brandon, known professionally as just Milo & Roger.   "Time" tends to fade, or more often bury the past, but while they were performing they were regularly billed as "The greatest comedy magic act of the twentieth century".   (And this was long before the end of the twentieth century...)   They are credited with performing in virtually every type of Entertainment Venue - from Bangkok's hostess bars to carnivals, circuses, medicine shows, minstrel pitches, clubs, Broadway and television.

January 1966

      Unless you are as old as some of the louts hanging around our offices, you will not remember The Deep River Boys.   They were actually an American gospel music group (mid '30's - '80's), but occasionally slipped out of character to rip it up with some early R&B.   And what better place to do so than Bangkok....   Although the members of the group came and went in later years, this 1966 gig at the Mikado on New Road was with the original group, headed up by Harry Douglass.
January 1966

      It would otherwise seem curious that the popular Cafe De Paris would shell-out big advertising baht to wish someone happy birthday, however 'Apasra' (Apasra Hongsakula) was Thailand's (and Southeast Asia's) first Miss Universe, and was duly honored and celebrated by the Thai nation.

January 1966

      The Oriental Hotel's Bamboo Bar has been bringing in top talent since the early '60's.   In addition to bringing in great entertainment, the bar has also become a 'check-list item' for tourists.

January 1966

      The Venice Turkish Bath was located in the Rajprasong / Rajdamri Roads area, which for a while looked like it would be competition to the Gaysorn Road Night Entertainment Area, located just around the corner.   The Rajprasong / Rajdamri Roads area had a number of Nitespots in the early years, but never attained a 'critical mass', eventually fading away.

January 1966

      The Orchid Room, which advertised mostly as a restaurant was yet another popular Nightclub in the Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area.
February 1966

      One would be tempted to say the Mikado Bar on New Road was overblowing the fame, and perhaps the talent of their relatively unknown featured entertainment, however the Tiongco Brothers were, in their day, an international favorite, and remain so in the Philippines.   They continue to entertain - mostly for the older generation who remember them from decades past.   The inseparable "Fabulous Tiongco Brothers" are all now in their seventies.

February 1966

      In earlier years it was not uncommon to find full-service, or near-full-service 'barber shops' in hotels - providing massage and turkish baths, etc.

February 1966

      Newspapers covered the opening of Pretty, the newest Massage Parlor / Turkish Bath on New Petchburi Road (Petchburi Extension).

February 1966

      The Tokyo Turkish Bath was one of the 'early birds' on New Petchburi Road (soon to be dubbed 'The Golden Mile').

February 1966

      Lionel Hampton, famed vibraphonist, percussionist, band leader and recording artist, known for his mainsream jazz, swing, 'big band' and blues, was in Thailand for a limited tour, this time at the Cafe De Paris.
March 1966

      Patpong's Keynote Club reopened March '66, as can be seen from the above, but what they didn't tell us was they were expanding - take note of their address: '81 - 85', which made it then three shophouses wide...
March 1966

      The Can Can quickly became a popular Nitespot in New Road Night Entertainment Area.   If we are not reading too much into the photo, the Can Can and the nearby Oasis were owned by the same people...
March 1966

      The Aladdin carried forward the successful Rogger Herrera Quintet into the new year.   The Aladdin set the tone for Patpong's Sunday afternoon diversions.

March 1966

      In the mid-sixty's, the nudes hanging on Max's Lounge walls were the talk of Patpong Road.   Little could anyone have known that in another twenty years nudes would be working in many of Patpong's Venues...
March 1966