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                  MONTHLY
                            COLUMN  
William R. ''Will'' Morledge, News page correspondent (Midnite Hour) and contributing editor - book reviews.
Bangkok,
01 August 2008
William R. Morledge
CLICK TO GO DIRECT TO STORIES
Bars 15 Years Ago  NEW !
August's Nightlife News
Ask Us ! - "Bars, Historically"
A Smile in the Land of Smiles.
Graffiti  -Bangkok  Vandals - #33
         Not long ago we were contacted by artist Ulf  Malmgren from Sweden.   He asked us if we had seen his Bangkok art.   We had not, so we followed his url to his websites, Ulf Malmgren OIL PAINTINGS 1981-1995 <link> - and confess we were pleasantly surprised.

Spirit of Pat Pong.
1989 - 78 x 64 cm.
Oil on canvas
Reproduced with permission.

         Ulf  Malmgren was in Thailand in the late 1980's, and like so many visitors, fell in love with Bangkok and Pattaya.   - And decided to do something about it : he painted them.   A good number of his works on Thailand were on the Nightlife Scene.

Out-take from:
Dolls on display (1989)
50 x 70 cm
Oil on canvas
All rights; Ulf  Malmgren

         We wrote back and requested permission to share his works with our readers on Midnight H our - to which he kindly agreed.   Somewhere on the spectrum between Rembrandt and Chris Cole, he has captured the true spirit of Bangkok's Nightlife Scene - with both skill and imagination.   We remain indebted to his generosity.

Out-take from:
Nana Plaza (1989)
50 x 50 cm.
Oil on canvas
All rights; Ulf  Malmgren

         Ulf notes on his website Ulf Malmgren OIL PAINTINGS 1981-1995 <link> that he will not be returning to Thailand.   We hope to convince him otherwise - we would like to see him continue to capture Bangkok's Night Life in oil.   There is, after all, an unlimited smorgasbord from which to find inspiration....
Artist   Ulf   Malmgren, circa 1990.

         Ulf's website has a wide spectrum of topical art for viewing - an interesting visit for all.   Visit Ulf Malmgren's website by clicking on <this link> , or any of the above links - and see much, much more....



            

- In the LAND OF SMILES -


          This month's "Thai Smile" should be this month's "Thai Eyes".





? Old
BANGKOK NIGHT SCENE
PHOTOS ?

Any old PHOTOS of
Bangkok's Nightlife ?

Please CLICK HERE and send to us for publication.   

Many Thanks,
William R Morledge


            
 Historical Minutiae Dept.

 ASK US (ALMOST)  ANYTHING 


Bars, Historically

WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?

Greeting Boge,

..... a frequent visitor over the years, I would like to see a review of bars from the past ten years, or something like that.   I would take a guess that it would be popular with a great number of your ....

BB
Vancouver

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Boge,

...about a collection every month on old bars and "where they are now" for us old-timers.....

Aran R.
Vienna

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Etc, etc.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Greetings,

   As we have received several emails in the same vein, we got to thinking, maybe the readers are right - we do, after all advertise ourselves as an "historical" website.....

   We then (just recently) set about trying to decide how far back we would go; 5 years?   ten years?   Longer?   We finally decided upon going back 15 years and doing a brief paragraph or two on "15 Years Ago Today".   Our first issue starts this month.

   Thanking you for your interest and support.

Best,
'Boge' Hartman
The Midnight Hour



? ASK US (ALMOST) ANYTHING !
  • Email bangkokeyes@gmail.com and "ASK" - -   Click Here
    •           We can answer virtually any (reasonable) question on the Expat Night Entertainment Scene in Bangkok - be it Historical or very recent.   Send us an e-mail and we will do our best to answer you soonest.
    'Boge' Hartman
    Historical Research
    * Zootramp Publications


     TOP
    Let the August 2008 Follies   begin...
    BANKOK EYES' Expat Night Scene.

      PATPONG  I  
    MAP
                The Funky Dojo at last sports some neon that can be read without your bifocals.   But that is not the real news - the Dojo is an almost invisible little bar located on Soi Superstar (with a very avid following), and sometime in the next few weeks it is going to be coming into it's own; it will be expanding into the adjacent restaurant digs to the tune of another 7 meters (on the Patpong II side.)    Rock on....
      PATPONG  I  

      PATPONG  II  
    MAP
                The "Pink", once again tempting fate, and the Sign Gestapos, is going full-hog on the use of the use of the copyrighted "Pink Panther" name, the very name that has caused them untold grief in the past....   Shake it, don't break it, gentlemen.....
      PATPONG  II  

                The French Kiss will be switching on their brand-new neon sometime in the next couple of weeks.   From what we could gather by cupping our hands on the window and peeping in like a one-eyed cat, all looks to be good.   We'll check back, and get back.
      PATPONG  II  

                As Adam said to Eve, "Stand back, I don't know how big this thing gets," so goes the construction of the mega- bar "The Factory" and it's sister bar, The Bridge Bar.   The owners have big plans for the 3rd floor of Cosmos Stairwell.... and are throwing buckets of money at the dual bar project.   The Bridge Bar abuilding ON the bridge just above Cosmos will be done in 4 weeks time.   (So we should have pix by next issue.)    The Factory is going to take a little longer - as now all you can see is a flurry of slurry, and bricks ,and hammers and saws.   All this to be brought to you by the same people who brought us The Strip and Bar Bar a little further on down the Soi.   Get ready to rock 'n roll; it is very possible that Patpong II will soon overtake Patpong I as the center of the action in this part of town.
    The above photo shows what can only be described as the tip of the graffiti iceberg.   The " Factory Group" (my name, not theirs) have contracted two renown local artists to transform all four floors of the stairwell into a graffiti- style showcase - so you may want to take the lift up and slowly walk down and enjoy the show.   -And you can bet the stairwell will be featured on this website in the near future.
      PATPONG  II  

                Gone, but not gone, the Cafe De Paris has once again rolled out the red carpet - so all come on back.   
      PATPONG  II  

                Every other time we turn around the Royal Salute Cocktail Lounge has closed again.   This is one of those times - and as this is deja-vu all over again for the Royal Salute, we'll hold off on any final pronunciamentos until next month....
      PATPONG  II  

       SOI  COWBOY  
    MAP
                 The Afterskool (say, 'Sunshine') has got some uptown neon shining brightly since last we looked.   Looks good from where we stand.   Same friendly service....
    SOI  COWBOY

                 The Spice Girls PR Girls ushering in the occasional nightcrawler from an obviously diminished customer pool, as the slow season, well, slows....
    SOI  COWBOY

     NANA  P LAZA  
    MAP
                 As the new "No Smoking" ban is being at least sporadically enforced, A Go-Go dancers, who are also smokers, will wander out to the Plaza's walkways to light up.   The below photo shows the walkway in front of the ever-popular Rainbow 4 A Go-Go.
    NANA  PLAZA  

      SOI  KATOEY  
    MAP
                The Nursery Bar will be opening up right about........... now !   Word on the street is this little venture was put together by a bunch of Silpakorn University graduates.   We hope they learned all about Darwinian survival while attending lectures - because 'it's a jungle out there'....   We'll check back, and get back atcha with the details next issue.
    SOI  KATOEY

      S OI  DEAD   ARTISTS  
    MAP
                It looks like the Alice Massage Salon finally have their full compliment of neon up and cooking.   It would now appear that they are going strong on attracting the Nippon - which is par for the course as far as successful massage parlors go....   Keep on a slippin' and a slidin'.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                The two bars we mentioned on the second floor of the Peep Inn Park last month now, it seems, have names: the Tsukasa and the Joy.   (We stand ready to be corrected on this, though....)
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                The Le Pre Grill has the makings of becoming a Night Entertainment Venue (as we would define same), however it seems to be suffering from Western Feng Shui problems (location, location, location).   It is located way the heck down, and around the corner on Sub-Soi 5.   But let's not jump to any pre- conclusions - wish them well as they test the waters in Partytown.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                The Tum Tum Gallery keeps threatening to open - and if it ever does, we will then be able to put it's feet to the fire and see if it stands up to our rigid scrutiny (as to whether it will be functioning as a Night Entertainment Venue, or not).   Nevertheless, it already looks to be very comfortable digs.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                The Great Pub is now the LATE Great Pub, long live The Great Pub.   We suspect trying to bring in gigolos for the single girls and coyote dancers for single guys was just too strange for Soi Dead Artist tastes.   Unisex bars have the obvious built-in problems - proof that the Darwinian Imperative applies, especially to hermaphrodites like The Great Pub.   Greener pastures, gang.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

      W ASHINGTON  SQUARE  
    MAP
                Last month, we wandered into the abandoned 52 Club wondering where everyone was, and whether they had just forgotten to lock the door.   This time around, things have clarified considerably - there is nothing like a 'For Sale' sign to take the ambiguity out of the equation.   We wish them luck on "selling" the place, but anyone buying now, when rumors are rife on Washington Square's redevelopment, would want to first consult their Business Plans For Dummies...
    WASHINGTON  SQUARE

      QUEEN'S  P ARK  PLAZA  
    MAP
                It may be a little hard to read their sign, but it is not hard to read the signs of success - the Sport 20-2 have had their fair share of custom since before they finished construction - and that can't be all bad.   Let the Nightgames continue unabated....
    QUEEN'S  PARK  PLAZA -  SOI  22

                We thought the Bada Bing ! was dead and gone - and said so loudly last month.   But we were dead wrong.   We passed by the other night, and there were actually customers inside enjoying themselves.   Welcome them back to the neon machine.
    QUEEN'S  PARK  PLAZA -  SOI  22

                The Sweetheart Bar is once again "Open For Business".   They seem to open and close like a lady of the evening changing unmentionables.   I may not know much, but my Business Plan For Dummies tells me that regular clientele can be cultivated much more quickly if said clientele can actually get in the front door.   But, hey, what do I know?
    QUEEN'S  PARK  PLAZA -  SOI  22

    Music Police

             The Queen's Park Plaza is currently the focus of yet another "crack-down".    The bar owners there were quick to dub these perpetrators, these particular representatives of Bangkok's Finest as "The Music Police".
             The Music Police can be either uniformed or in plain clothes.   Their modus operandi is quite straightforward - they walk into a bar and strike up a conversation with the person in charge - often the bar "owner".   They will often take a few photos.   If the bar is playing any kind of recorded music, they are required to show the music license - which allows them to play copyrighted music.   
             Of course, virtually no one has such a license, and they are required to fork over an amount not less than Baht 5,000.   The Baht 5,000 is the receipted amount for the actual license, and surprisingly for Bangkok, some of the bar owners are getting away with paying just the actual license fee.
             We expect we'll be getting more feedback on this as time goes on....   What next?   Metered air tanks?


    QUEEN'S  PARK  PLAZA -  SOI  22

      SOI  E DEN  
    MAP

    Door Art Of The Month
    Award

                          These ceramic figures from Thai mythology, now residing in front of Bill Healthy Massage, do seem apropros....


    SOI  EDEN -  SOI  7/1   SUKHUMVIT

      S OI  TWILIGHT  
    MAP
                Taking over the old upstairs X-Man digs is the Soi's third massage parlor, the Bangkok Massage.   New readers be advised that massage parlors on this Soi have male masseurs exclusively for gay men.   Welcome them to the frazzle.
    SOI  TWILIGHT


    "We Never Close"

              Recently, the owner of a massage parlor became quite upset because I congratulated him on his re-opening.   It took me a moment to catch on....
             "Why do you say that?!" he asked.
             I explained that I was (at his massage parlor location) last month, and had observed that it was closed.   He objected strongly, "We have never been closed!   We have been open every day!"
             Oh, really?   I explained to him that I was not making any of this up, and that, in the belief his massage parlor was closed for good, I even took a photo of his darkened premises.   He told me in no uncertain terms that I was mistaken, and that he could personally swear that they had never been closed.   "But what about the photo?" I persisted.
             "Oh,.... well you must have taken it late at night after we had closed..."
             Not.  &nbs p;I took the photo between 20:00 hrs and 23:00 hrs, when I do my normal rounds, but it would serve no purpose to continue the conversation further, so I made a swift departure.   Isolated case?    Not on your tin-type : this and similar responses are becoming more frequent, not less frequent.   It happened again last night at (an establishment) whose owner I have known for more than twenty years; I of course, have a photo, but it would not serve to call an old friend down over such a triviality.
             But perhaps the most exasperating example took place about 3 months ago on Patpong II, when I happened into that Soi in the middle of a crackdown by Bangkok's Men In Too-Tight Uniforms (and quite a few plainclothes officers).   I took several dozen photos of the proceedings; one was of a particular Night Venue, where, at the time the photo was taken, the owner and mamasan were just leaving, with representatives of Bangkok's Finest flanking the doorway.   The following month, they had no recollection of having been closed, of course.
             This unusual behavior by Night Entertainment Venue owners fired off a synapse - and I remember The Night Owl, Bernard Trink years ago saying he would become annoyed at bar owners who would prevaricate about having a new and beautiful line-up of A Go-Go dancers, when they had nothing but the same fat old grandmothers; -that their bar was overflowing with customers every night, when they were always observed mostly empty, etc.   It seems this 'barkeep mentality" has been with us from the outset, that I have just come across a variation; a new manifestation.
             But it begs the same old question, why would a barkeep or staff of a Night Venue risk bullshitting the very people who are in a position to observe the truth?   Why are they willing to risk discrediting their good names to make an entirely meaningless point?   These are rhetorical questions, of course, and only serve to point out that human nature is what it is, and that we do, indeed, 'live in interesting times'.



    15 Years Ago Today

    A PAGE FROM BANGKOK's NIGHTSCENE HISTORY
    JUNE-August 1993
    This month, by popular request, Bangkok E yes presents a brand-new feature (read: "old feature").   And we'll be willing to bet that many of you "Old" Bangkok Hands will be reminded of a good many Night Entertainment Venues that you had completely forgotten about.   We also will be willing to bet you won't even remember an even greater number....

      PATPONG  I  
                The Pink Lady Bar, a small upstairs bar located between the Thigh Bar and the then Pent House Bar snuffed, or perhaps, was snuffed with the help of Bangkok's Finest .   The bar, tout-driven, was often accused of being a rip-off bar.
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  I  
                The Thigh Bar took to calling itself the New Thigh Bar .   We have no idea what this was all about - it didn't last long, however, and has long ago reverted back to 'Thigh Bar'.
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  I  
                The Mars Party House, which followed the historic Napoleon into those digs, was closed the month before, allegedly because of illegal activities and frequent fights involving staff and customers.   This month, they tried to keep things going by serving outside on the sidewalk.   It didn't last - they tanked for good a few weeks later.   No one missed it, really....   (The highly successful Radio City / Lucifers now occupy this slot.)
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  I  
                The Takara Bar Ber, located upstairs where the Club 66 is currently coyotying away the nights, took to calling themselves Takara II Bar Ber, apparently in an effort to further distinguish themselves from their sister across the street - the Takara Turkish Bath & Massage.
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  II  
                The Cleopatra Garden (Cleo Bar Beer) beer bar opened in the old Blue Sky Beer Bar digs.   They are still there today - we should be wishing them a happy 15th birthday....
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  II  
                The Honey Pot Bar opened in the then- recently closed 19th Hole up on The Ramp.   It closed long ago, but was located next door to Swing Club, which is still there today.
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  II  
                The Banana Cafe Bar Restaurant took over the reins from the Black Swan Bar .   These bars were predecessors to the Le Bouchon Restaurant & Pub, which is currently holding down the fort.
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  II  
                The Xanadu Cocktail Lounge threw open its doors for the first time.   It would in time, and through various changes, become what is today Pinocchio's Club .
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  II  
                The Pornthawee Turkish Bath Massage (we bet you don't remember this one) took over from the La Costa.   This was actually just some shadow-dancing with Bangkok's Sign Gestapos - on which was the legal name, and which name appeared on the sign.   The La Costa "reopened" a month later.
     JUNE-August 1993 

      PATPONG  II  
                The Country Pub, located on the 3rd floor of what was then the EC Pub Stairwell (and is now the Cosmo's Stairwell) closed it's doors for the last time.   It would eventually become Bua Luang Karaoke (now vacant).
     JUNE-August 1993 

      SOI  COWBOY  
                The Tomato Head Tavern (TOM) closed it's doors for the last time.   You may remember that it became The Old Dutch Cafe Bar shortly after that....
     JUNE-August 1993 

    Source: Zootramp Publications -   
    Saloon Count Archives and Data Base   



    VICARIOUS ART CRIMES   # 33

    MIDNITE HOUR's

    [ Check out Bangkok's own source of evil spraycans, etc, at Montana Land <link>. ]

    - And now to Bangkok's own brand of Graffiti ....


    Graffiti #232
    Methyl Methane
    8 ft. high x 15ft. (approx)


    Graffiti #233
    Dwarf Mice
    8 ft. high x 18ft.


    Graffiti #234
    Octogenaric Rooter
    8 ft high x 20ft


    Graffiti #235
    Glyph Man
    6 ft. high x 4 ft. (approx)


    Graffiti #236
    Dead Icons
    10 ft. high x 15 ft.



    Graffiti #237
    Slower
    6 ft. high x ft.


    Graffiti #238
    Surveyor Party
    7 ft high x 18 ft



    GRAFFITI ARCHIVES :
    Graffiti, Graffiti , and more Graffiti - Bangkok's original and ONLY graffiti Site !

       The MIDNITE HOUR Graffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor "Boge" Hartman.

    (Boge's photo, above, is not a graffiti per-se, although there are those who have insinuated....   - Ed)


           
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