MIDNITE HOUR - 01 April 2025

I found I could, and did, depend on him to provide invaluable chronologies of those Patpong bars of grand, and often notorious reputation that have long since closed their doors. Not to mention a mile-long listing of other Patpong bars that came into existence for a brief period -that no one remembers today- (who today remembers the Oui Bar, the Patpong Penthouse -or where it was located- or the Playgirl Lounge -or where it was located)? Etc... Bangkok's Nitelife history has been enriched by orders of magnitude by his decades-long research. It remains to be seen if his recently completing documentary will see the light of day (a tentative working title : 'Patpong - The Mississippi Twins"). It would be a minor trajedy should it be canned and shelved in some digital archive for the duration. We also had discussed as 'possibles' other future documentaries - those regrettably will never be made...

Traces of Bangkok's Early Years

This month Midnite Hour continues to review Bangkok's Nightlife Scene offering live entertainment, both foreign and local, as found in the bigger hotels, expat Night Entertainment Areas, and other Venues within the City.

Artist Miki Haruta was a cartoonist whose shows were part-comedy, part stage magic. Not to be confused with today's Miki Haruta, who is also an artist - whose paintings are sold at prestigious auctions. No known relationship. Sani Chateau was located in the Gaysorn Nitespot Area.

November 1968

Jan McArt�s 6-decade career singing opera and acting took her around the world a number of times. Popular on Broadway and in supper clubs, she also appeared on U.S. television - The Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson, and others. In later years she was director of the theater arts program development at Lynn University. The De Castro Sisters (covered in earlier editions) were return visitors to Bangkok.

November 1968

Although Bangkok's Naturist A Go-Go (and the Oasis) pioneered A Go-Go as a 'regular feature' back in 1966 - as late as 1968 A Go-Go dancing had not yet captured the imagination of the Expat population. The Naturist A-Go-Go was on Sathorn Rd. near JUSMAG, the Starlight and the Oasis were on New Road. (The Nite Owl archives.)

November 1968

Andy Russell was a vocalist, actor, and entertainer whose specialties were pop and Latin music. Although rarely remembered today, in the 1940s he sold 8 million records, rivalling Frank Sinatra and Perry Como.

November 1968

We could find no trace of the "internationally famous" Serge & Marolyn, either in our records or our clippings. There may be a reason. . .

November 1968

The Lido Club was located in the Rajdamri / Rajprasong area. Apparently "exotic" means "anything that starts with a bikini". . .
(The Nite Owl archives.)

November 1968

An ''exotic'' chair-dance perhaps. . .   (The Nite Owl archives.)

November 1968

      The Moulin Rouge was a real 'mollusk' from a previous age.   In the '40s and '50s the entertainment "center of town" was still the Rajdamnern area, slowly spreading to New Road and (of course) China Town.   A minor miracle that it survived into the '60s, and then some. . .

November 1968

      Here Bernard Trink elaborates in the Nite Owl column on Nitespots of the day, and their varied 'specialties-of-the-house' that were employed to attempt to stay ahead of the competition.
      We note in particular the Reservoir Club and their "overhead A Go-Go dancing".   (Was this Baccara / Mandarin style or Mississippi Queen style?   Perhaps we will never know.)
      Even though at least 3 Nitespots have featured regular A Go-Go dancing from 1966 (plus several other Venues featuring occasional "A Go-Go" acts), no one had the slightest inkling of the A Go-Go revolution just around the corner. . .   This included bar owners, managers and even Bernard Trink himself (who categorized A Go-Go as just another "gimmick"),

November 1968

       The An An "psychedelic" club had a semi-popular, and relatively short run in the basement of the Montien Hotel (competing with the upstairs Montienthong).   They also had the misfortune of alienating Bernard Trink (Nite Owl column), having banned him entirely from the premises because of a less-than-glorified review. . .

November 1968

             The Maori Volcanics Showband were entertainers out of New Zealand that began performing in 1967.   The Maori Volcanics toured widely on the international cabaret / club circuit.   The Volcanics lasted longer (over four decades) than most other entertainment groups of the era, performing in nearly 60 countries.   They released a compilation of the band's recordings in 2002.

November 1968

       Leigh Ann Austin, as early as 1966 did a 6-week gig entertaining the troops in Viet Nam (on her own dime), and was called the "Self-propelled-battle-zone entertainer" in various press releases.   A native of Texas, she learned the ropes as a Las Vegas chorus girl.      (The Nite Owl archives.)

November 1968