This month The Midnite Hour emphasizes Bangkok's 'entertainment history' with another issue of our "Night Out At The Movies". Cinebuffs amongst us will likely wonder where Bangkok's grand old theaters have gone... (Gone to Cineplexes in shopping malls, of course...) This time around, we also give a nod-of-the-head to the impact of Italian "Spaghetti Westerns" -the crucible for the 'rebirth' of the 'Cowboy Movie' in America in the '60s and '70s.
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.
READER :It was recently passed on to me that the Thai national Saki (real name?) had passed away. He was probably known by most every Patpong barkeep and dozens of us Patpong hounds in years past. I last met him at the Patpong Museum a couple of years ago. Had you heard anything on this?
MIDNITE HOUR:It is our understanding that Saki passed away on 26 December 2023. We found out about it too late for our 01 January 2024 edition. I had known Saki for several years, last chatting with him at the PP Museum - comparing experiences in Utapao during the R&R years (we did not know each other then), and in the 'heyday' years of Patpong. Based on a few different interviews, Saki was between 72 and 75 years of age when he passed away, but the consensus is he was 73. Godspeed, Trooper...
The above excerpted clip (Copyright 2022) of Saki at the "Grand Prix Bar" in the Patpong Museum was sent to us with permission to repost - for which we are eternally grateful.
The post-CovidTip Top has been stumbling along in fits & starts, sometimes open, other times closed. Last month, we announced its re-reopening, only to findit closed again this month. This appears to be the final curtain-call, as the entire interior has been ripped out. It will be a 'wait-and-see' to find out what the 'Patpong Group' will replace it with.
Last month we saw the signs... literally. The old sign (in Thai language requiring permission to enter) pasted on the front of the long-closed Vinai's Cosmos Club was removed. The sign replacing it (in English), said "Space For Rent". This month we see the Venue hammers and saws a-flailing late into the evenings. The entire famed central bar has been removed, as has been the entirety of the interior. None of our contacts on the street are letting on as to who and what will be replacing it. We'll be updating next issue, should there be anything to report.
The tiny bar sandwiched in between Penny Black and the cannabis shop has opened - at least softly so (see our comment last month). It has no sign, nor could we see any staff, but there were a few customers seated outside. "More on this as we hear of it."
An update on Hillary 2 and it's facelift. The new signage (in answer to reader's questions) reads Keep Walking (a Johnny Walker promotion) - it is not the new name of the bar... May they continue to rock 'n roll...
The Stranger Bar's sign notes they have moved from their previous digs to deep in the Soi. To be more accurate, they are in the process of moving, and have not yet reopened. They are moving into the old Fork 'N Cork pub/restaurant. As yet, no indication as to what will replace them at their old digs.
The Mimi Massage Lymphatic Massage has opened newly in the just closed Regal Massage digs, deep in the Soi. (Don't ask, we don't know either...) Rub-a-dub-dub.
SOI 22
For the longest time, one of the tiny bar beers at the top of the Soi had a sign reading, "Internet". (It might have been an internet cafe a decade, or so, ago, but now everyone carrys around their own internet cafe...) Suddenly it pops up out of nowhere as Infinity, sporting a tiny pool table. We would formally welcome them to the neon circus, but they have been there for years - this is just a case of a new sign and some new lighting. May they keep on keeping on...
SOI 22
The Suvan Apsorn Spa & Massage has popped up between the Bear Hug Massage and the Wild Orchid Massage deep in the Soi. May they continue to slip 'n slide...
SOI 22
The BTS Massage (Best Thai Special) has taken over lock, stock and KY from the Dio 22 Massage. Located just inside Subsoi Titanium.
SOI 22
The attractively appointed White Night, having closed and reopened more than once, has called it a day. The insides have been stripped, and renovations are ongoing. Located in Subsoi Hana. Another wait-and-see item...
SOI 22
The Absolute and the Bangkok 1 Massage had been playing musical chairs, or rather 'musical signs', as they attempted to determine who would be staying, and who would be going. It looks like Absolute has one the day... (But in this small subsoi, nothing is for sure.) Welcome them back to the bright lights, big city..
SOI 22
The Yuki Day Massage has apparently closed up shop. We'll check back next round to confirm, and let all know if there are any changes. Located deep in Subsoi Lemongrass.
Last month, Big B's CD bar was closed when we passed by, but this month they are open 'bigger-and-better'. Let the good times roll...
7 CENTER POINT
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
Last month it was Leo's Wall (The Wall Bar), having just put up new signage, and all... So we were surprised to see they had been supplanted by the Secrets. (Were they the same Secrets previously on Soi 22?) Welcome Secrets to the briar patch.
7 CENTER POINT
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
For whatever reason, about 2/3 the way back in the 7 Center Point compound, someone has put up a row, nay, a wall, of small shops/shacks, some of which have opened for business. This has created a dead-space to the rear of the compound behind the Nana Seafood (fronting on Sukhumvit Rd), and beside the new, large Arabian restaurant (which fronts on Soi 5). What that dead space will be used for is anyone's guess... Looks like its time to update the map again... The clip below is a quick look at the current state of the sheds....
VIDEO CLIP
7 CENTER POINT
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
The Sky Bar vacated its original location and took over the space originally occupied by Tony Bar (now closed). Original and new locations are in the new "Bier Garten" area.
7 CENTER POINT
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
What was briefly the The One Bar is no more. It was also located in the "Bier Garten" area. Greener pastures, ladies...
A For-The-Archives of the 7-Heaven Japanese bar. Located at the end of Subsoi Pan Pan.
SOI DEAD ARTIST (Sukhumvit Soi 33)
The Star Japanese Snack Bar has fallen a-foul of the fates. Better luck on the flip side... Renovations are under way for a successor Venue, name not yet available.. Located in Subsoi Pan Pan.
For many months, The Entrance bar beer had been operating without a sign. But that was then, this is now. Their new signage below. Gotta let the train roll on...
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 Pérez 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.
Graffiti #1475
Tree Boy
20 ft high x 4ft - incl 'tree'
Graffiti #1476
Fugazi
6 ft high x 13 ft
Graffiti #1477
7 Come 11
6 ft high x 23 ft
Graffiti #1478
Bubble People
6 ft high x 8ft
Bangkok Eyes is an historically based news outlet, and as such, all graphic excerpts herein are considered, under current legal precedents and
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The MIDNITE HOUR Graffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor "Boge" Hartman.
(Boge's photo, above, is not a graffitiper-se, although there are those who have insinuated....
-
Ed)