368 replies to this topic

[glenalan54]

We probably had a "few" at one time or another. The "Royal Olympic Hotel" is now called the Carlton on Johnson Street. Interestingly enough on the construction drawings back near the turn of the last century, it was refered to as the Carlton.

Although they had one of the first "beer parlors" (men in one section, women and escorts in another) that is not what I was referring to.

I was under age at the time so after drinking at one or both of the previously mentioned private clubs, my friends and I used to sober up by playing pool in the basement of the "RO' as we called it. (yes before we drove home)

The pool room in the basement was the size of the entire building footprint. Old time decor from the 20's it seemed like. Interesting characters (dressed like they came out of an old movie) hanging around trying to "shark" some money out of you at pool or snooker.

I wished I had my Mom's "Brownie" camera at the time.

You might be referring to the "Churchill Hotel" basement pub......good place to score some pot.

I assisted in the writing of this article when the manager of the Carlton Best Western asked me to research a brief history of the hotel. For the information my wife and I received a free stay at the hotel.

http://en.wikipedia....i/Carlton_Plaza

[glenalan54]

One Lounge - The Limit - Plan B
Icehouse - Terrible strip club across the street from Paul's motor inn, also hosted live coverbands like Hell's Bells and Nearly Neil. (They would remove the pole for those shows) - not sure if it still exists.

The Ice house was horrible. Take a great old pub (The Crown 'n I) and paint it black, get some strippers (and some back rooms) and make it loud, dark and sleazy. It died a deserved death.
The manager moved to Duncan and was bartender at the Phoenix Pub (the old Commercial Hotel).

[glenalan54]

Yes. the The Best Western Carlton Plaza used to be the RO. It was pretty tacky and I never drank there.
I had dinner at the Persian Room when it first opened. I remember the cocktail lounge quite well.

The Persian Room was located in the Century Inn, not the Royal Olympic. See:
http://raincoasthist...entury-inn.html

[glenalan54]

Thanks, Glen. Your history and photos are without parallel and are greatly appreciated here.

Many thanks, this is my mission in life (seriously). It's now been ten years since I have been researching material on the history of Greater Victoria Hotels and drinking establishments (besides the time I spent drinking in them from 1971 until today.)
I hope to submit a manuscript on the saloons of Greater Victoria named, "Aqua Vitae, An Illustrated History of the Hotel-Bars, Saloons and Inn's of Greater Victoria, 1851-1917."

The second manuscript covers the period after prohibition: 1925-2000. But one could not purchase a beer by the glass within Victoria City limits until 1954 unless you belonged to a Club.

Even if my procrastination prevents a book to be published I will continue to write articles on local drinking establishments. An area of research too long ignored.
There are still some great old story tellers (besides some interesting comments found here in Vibrant Victoria from knowledgeably members) that are glad to share their memories of the early beer parlours, Clubs, lounges and pubs.

[glenalan54]

A brief History of the above venues within the Strathcona Hotel:

1) Big Bad Johns: Originally opened as the very first cocktail lounge in BC on July 1, 1954 named the Strathcona Lounge; I wrote an article on it, http://raincoasthist...-room-1954.html
John Olson, beverage manager, mentions in his unpublished biography, <u>The Olson Family in Victoria</u> "...millions of visitors coming to the Pacific Northwest [for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair] gave me an idea. I had been considering remodeling the Strathcona Lounge into a hillbilly Paul Bunion and his blue Ox type atmosphere...We got the green light to proceed with renovations from the Liquor Control Board by the end of May 1962 where we managed to complete the renovation of the room in two days (Sunday and Monday) By Tuesday noon the Strathcona Room was no more and in its place opened Big Bad Johns."
It's interesting to note that the Olson's only intended BBJ's to open for the duration of the Seattle Worlds Fair then to change it once again. But it proved so popular and a real money maker that it is still there to this day.

2)The Old Forge: November 1966 the existing bowling alley and billiard room was replaced by a banquet room which opened in February 2, 1967 as the "Old Forge" John Olson says, "The name came about when I went up to pick up building supplies from Shawnigan Lake Lumber. The owner mentioned he had crafted wooden patterns in his attic. They had been the molds used 70 years ago for the metal lamposts and fire hydrants that now grace the streets of Victoria. We blew the dust off, painted them black and decorated our new banquet room with them when we came up with the name, old Forge."
The band on opening night was the Foundry Brass, which feature a 16 year old on the piano named David Foster.

3)The Sting: The idea to open a Disco in the basement of the Strathcona came about after John Olson visited a disco in Phoenix Arizona named Marble Murphy's. The owner and John got along very well and John learned some new and innovative ideas used at Marble Murphy's.
The Sting was constructed in the old health Club in the basement of the Hotel beside the Old Forge.
An interesting side note: John got a visit on Sunday evening in 1974 (bars not allowed to be open on Sundays back then) from a couple that drove up in a limousine. It was Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward who had heard about the new nightclub and asked to take a tour of the place. So Jon, Paul and Joanne, vodkas in hand, spent an hour going through the nightclub and chatting.

4)The Cuckoo's Nest used to be called, "The Pit". This was the first real nightclub in the Strathcona Hotel built after the Strathcona Room and Barney's Hideaway. It is now part of the Clubhouse. They had a DJ upstairs that would spin rock and roll and everyone who went there remembers the MG that they used as a salad bar at lunch then hosted it up into the ceiling when the dancing started. Innovative.

5) Ivy's, Max Head Room...were side-rooms off of the Old Forge built to keep the place current and fresh. One of the reasons why the Strathcona Hotel was and continues to be, one of the best entertainment centres in Victoria is due in part to reinventing themselves and keeping the place interesting to future generations of party goers while maintaining some of their loyal and aging customers.

The Pit opened Friday November 16, 1956 at 6 PM in the Strathcona Hotel. It was a 100 seat cocktail/cabaret and was built at the cost of around 45K.
The 76 seat Mahogany Room Dining Lounge opened Friday May 20, 1955. It's hours were from 6 to midnight six days a week (closed Sundays).
For those of you that enjoy the history of the Strathcona you may like this postcard from 1964: http://www.flickr.co...ory/3418231365/

[glenalan54]

I assisted in the writing of this article when the manager of the Carlton Best Western asked me to research a brief history of the hotel. For the information my wife and I received a free stay at the hotel.

http://en.wikipedia....i/Carlton_Plaza

http://www.flickr.co...c&w=7423414@N06

Do you remember:
Barbary Banjo located at 31 Bastion Square
The Down Under Club located at 1206 Wharf Street
The Golden Nugget Cabaret
Inferno A Go-Go
Pink Panther Cabaret
Reggies Club
The Scope Cabaret

There were so many and they changed quite quickly.

[Bob Fugger]

Yes, Oly's. When I hung out there (86-87?) there was an entrance on Broad that lead into the half that had strippers, and an entrance off Johnson that had bands, you could pass between them inside, but not with drink in hand.

Different drink prices each side too.

Hey, my scumbag uncle used to own this hotel back in the '80s! I'd love to any other stories folks might have.

[VicHockeyFan]

Hey, my scumbag uncle used to own this hotel back in the '80s! I'd love to any other stories folks might have.

Shouldn't you wait until he passes, before name-calling, in the off chance you are in his will?

[Ms. B. Havin]

http://www.flickr.co...c&w=7423414@N06

Do you remember:
Barbary Banjo located at 31 Bastion Square
The Down Under Club located at 1206 Wharf Street
The Golden Nugget Cabaret
Inferno A Go-Go
Pink Panther Cabaret
Reggies Club
The Scope Cabaret

There were so many and they changed quite quickly.

Just saw this now - should have posted my "Sapphos" question here instead of in the "defunct restaurants" thread.

So, once more: anyone remember Sapphos? Early 1970s (before 1974), kind of an unofficial place, second floor, old building, old town, no license (but always BYOB in a bag, kept under the table), open till 4a.m. on weekend nights, great disco music (alt disco, in a way) (*gah, someone is going to ask me what I mean by that...), dance till you dropped.

I can't recall the street address. Been bugging me for a while now.

(* ok, what I mean is that it was a gay disco and the music wasn't the top-40 mainstream white disco music. More heavily weighted toward good music, like Isley Brothers, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, and so on. Music that was really really sensual and great to dance to.)

[Bob Fugger]

Shouldn't you wait until he passes, before name-calling, in the off chance you are in his will?

Off chance? No chance. Trust me, he will try to find a way to take it with him.

[Sparky]

How about "Central Station" ? Basement south east corner of Government and Johnson. This was the first (and probably the only) of the "big band" cabaret clubs.

After the drugs wore off, I think I remember seeing Chicago there on opening night.

Sadly it succumbed to "economic combustion."

[glenalan54]

How about "Central Station" ? Basement south east corner of Government and Johnson. This was the first (and probably the only) of the "big band" cabaret clubs.

After the drugs wore off, I think I remember seeing Chicago there on opening night.

Sadly it succumbed to "economic combustion."

I have a copy of a photograph of the outside of the Central Station, when I find it I'll post it here (or a link).
I always thought that "Sauce" on the southeast corner of Wharf & Yates would make a great neighbourhood pub with live bands and open up those great roll up windows during the day and let the air and sunshine in. But I fear Victoria City council would never approve of a venue in that form.

[mangus hung]

it was a club/restaurant in the dominion hotel that was all the rage for about 2-3 years. i cant remember the name but it was very popular. might have even been early in the decade when it was around. thx!

[mysage]

How about "Central Station" ? Basement south east corner of Government and Johnson. This was the first (and probably the only) of the "big band" cabaret clubs.

After the drugs wore off, I think I remember seeing Chicago there on opening night.

Sadly it succumbed to "economic combustion."

Right you are. The clubs demise was preordained by the buildings owner (after he had leased out the space for the club) I believe. One of the more interesting ends to a club in Victoria. The smoke could be seen for miles

[http]

it was a club/restaurant in the dominion hotel that was all the rage for about 2-3 years. i cant remember the name but it was very popular. might have even been early in the decade when it was around. thx!

First guess: Hunters on main floor, Tripples downstairs.

[gumgum]

The Drawing Room?

[Mr_E_Squirrel]

The Old Forge- I remember you could buy a drink that was made in a Test Tube that you could keep.

94th St Music Hall- Used to have live rock music, 99 cent Draft, A free Chinese food buffet.

Scandals- was my favorite place, back in the 90's with the best sound and lights in any bar in Victoria. Back before the internet where DJs could spin music that the general public would have little or no access too (Pre-Internet)

The Carlton Club- or as it's also unofficially known as "The Cartoon Club" I wonder if it's still that horrible grey colour inside with the beach umbrellas. And there is a reason the men's urinals are so close together from the older days...

Brass Rail -I remember the Brass Rail always seemed to have women hanging out in the men's washroom.

[Sparky]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned before, but this site will give you an hour or two of reading about the clubs and musicians that were the start of the music scene in Victoria.

http://rcmpsite.com/

There is some good history about who owned what club.

[LJ]

^ Thought that was going to be an RCMP site with crime logs from the different venues.

[Sparky]

^ You would have had to have been there.