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The 'Ginza Effect'
- AND A REMAP OF SOI COWBOY...
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A little over 30 years ago, when we stragglers trickled into Bangkok from Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam after the war, we would marvel at the bar scene in Southeast Asia in general. But mostly, we rambled on about how there would likely never be another bar scene to match that found in war-time Saigon, (not to mention Danang, and other Vietnamese cities).
Historically, there had been other great "Nitescenes" in Asia, and some that likely rivaled in delights, if not in magnitude, that of Saigon in the '60's and '70's: There was the Ginza in Japan after WWII; there was the South China coast (Hong Kong & Shanghai) after that same war and before Mao's armies came south; there was Itaewon in Seoul during and just after the Korean War in the early '50's; there was Manila's Ermita-Malate area with it's Mabini and M.H. Del Pilar streets whose heyday lasted until it was closed down by Mayor Lim in '93-'94; and last, but not least, there was the Taipei scene in, and around Roosevelt Blvd. (Taipei was probably one of the best-kept Nightlife secrets - it's heyday lasting up until the U.S. Military departure in April of '79.)
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Soi Cowboy, born just after the Viet Nam War R&R troops went home, started out most modestly; the Gold Label, and a few single shophouse lounges; Chitra's, the Red Diamond, Loretta's, and then along came Cowboy's. Soda was 15 to 20 baht, and beers were usually around 30 baht, with lady 'dinks' about 40 baht. Today, a drink for a Coyote girl can be 200 baht, yours will be about the same. A barfine can be more than we used to spend in an evening. Is Cowboy a candidate for pricing itself out of the race? Will it be relegated to the sidelines by The Ginza Effect? Only time will tell....
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 SOI COWBOY
In those early days, we also realized that Bangkok was a Nightlife force to be reckoned with -as was Pattaya- but we didn't know at the time that they would in fact develop to rival Saigon in it's glory days. Part and parcel of our pontificating on Asia's several bar scenes was how these various and different bar scenes would start up, build up rapidly to their zenith, and just as surely head into decline. Many 'reasons' were formulated, but it always came back to 'when in doubt, follow the money'.
By unspoken concensus, we took Tokyo's Ginza as typical : - during Japan's occupation by U.S. forces after WWII, the Ginza area began to grow rapidly; prices for services were minimal. As decades passed, the prices rose, and continued to rise. By the '70's the Ginza was for only the wealthy, or those foreign tourists wanting to 'take it all in' and check it off the list. The Ginza had succeeded in pricing itself out of the game, and was only on the sideline of world-class Night Entertainment. (Or so ran the scenario in our minds...) This "pricing one's self out of the competition" became known within the circle as "The Ginza Effect".
Although The Ginza Effect was not the cause of all such declines in Asia's Nightscene Areas, we held to the belief that it would be the guiding principle in most instances. (Saigon's Nightscene demise, for example, was not typical - the entire Scene was terminated literally overnight when the South Vietnamese Army fell to the north in April of '75)
As we progressed into the '80's, the group of Bangkok-hangers would bemoan each increase in barfines, each increase in the cost of a soda-water or beer, and any increase in the price of an all-nighter (short-times were almost unheard of in the expat population - short-times were for Thais in curtained hotels....). And with each increase in price(s) a round of cries would be forthcoming, "The Ginza Effect ! The Ginza Effect !". And the usual round of predictions would burst forth, "Bangkok will be dead as a Nightlife Scene within two years !", etc, etc.
Well, Bangkok and Pattaya are still very much amongst the cities to be considered "players" in the Asian Nightlife game (as is Angeles City in the Philippines - which also refused to lay down and die after the 'Viet Nam Era'). These cities have also continued to see steady, sometimes staggering, increases in prices of Night Entertainment-related services. We read on
Dave The Rave < link> the other day that some of the girls in the bars frequented by Japanese patrons were hopeful of being short-timed for Baht 4,000. Now, that's more than enough justification to cry out, "The Ginza Effect" !
Somehow, though, we just don't see Bangkok (or Pattaya, or Angeles) dying out, or even pricing themselves out of the mainstream, any time soon. First of all, there seems to be enough to go around, and more and more of the expat community are 'going off-Broadway' to get their kicks - specialty massage parlors, out-of-town Night Entertainment Areas, etc.
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- In the LAND OF SMILES -
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This month's Thai Smile was a former PR girl on Soi Cowboy.
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Historical Minutiae Dept.
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Constellations
remembered
- AND THE MON CHERIE ESCALATOR
NOT FORGOTTEN....
Hi,
I really like your historical section. Keep it up.
I came here the first time in 1978 and loved it from day-one. It's good to read about these old places and bring back some memories. I remember Lucy's when it was on Surawong back when I ran on Patpong.
I recall heading to the Le Cheri early afternoon, the massage place that had 'the escalator to Heaven'....it was great. Then about 7 - 8 p.m., I would head down to Patpong 'till early morning.
Remember the Peppermint on PP1? They used to call it a 'Constallation' for some reason. I think Trink started that.
Anyway, thanks for memories.
M.
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Greetings, M.
Your memory serves you well - the Mon Cherie escalator must have been the first escalator in Thailand (or at least one of the first).
Bernard Trink did in fact first use the term 'Constellation' - for a place where people would 'gather together', usually after hours. He applied that term to a few different locations in Bangkok, not just the Peppermint Lounge'.
Thanks for reading - and for writing in.
'Boge' Hartman
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? ASK
US (ALMOST) ANYTHING !
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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.
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'Boge' Hartman
Historical Research
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* Zootramp Publications
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 TOP
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Let the October 2009 Follies begin...
BANKOK EYES' Expat Night Scene.
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The Madrid has yet another new bit of signage up as of this last month. A mosaic, very much in keeping with the original decor. Same pleasant hostesses, same good pizza - keep on keeping on....
PATPONG I
The original "bar on a bridge", the Park Bridge closed down suddenly two months ago (suspended three floors above Patpong II Road). But that was only a prelude to the opening of the Black Pagoda. There are some differences - this time around there is A Go-Go / Coyote dancing - the silhouettes of which may be seen from street-level. Let's hope fate deals them all aces and faces. (Third floor, Cosmo's stairwell.)
PATPONG II
That which was recently (and several other times over the last few years) The Pink Panther, has gone under the boot of Bangkok's Sign Gestapos yet again. Both the main venue and the outdoor bar beer are now being most compliant - and showing only their legal, registered name to the outside world. They are now, both in name and logo, The Pink - the logo lets you assume the "Panther" part.....
PATPONG II
The Funky Dojo, undergoing major expansion and renovations for the last couple of months, was staying open while work proceeded, however this last month, they were closed - presumably while renovations are finalized. We will keep our finger on the pulse on this and get back atcha.
PATPONG II
The Old Dutch is now The Old Dutch Corner - the new neon looking good. Most won't remember that up until June of 1993, it was the Tomatohead Tavern (TOM). By August of that same year it had reopened as The Old Dutch Cafe Bar. There you have it, history buffs.... Consistently good food and drink - from breakfast 'till midnite.
SOI COWBOY
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Door Art Of The Month
Award
Just as we thought Midnite couldn't possibly pack on any more neon..... they packed on more neon. Soi Cowboy continues to take on the aura of a Vegas Night Carnival.
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SOI COWBOY
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Tiny sign, tiny bar....
Hidden underneath the escalator, there are probably a lot of Nana regulars who have never seen this bar. Wish the @ Lift luck as they cast their dice against the pitted wall of fate.
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NANA PLAZA
Recently opening in the old Luminous digs (Luminous closed 1 year ago) is the Spanish On 4 - and it looks like they are already doing a good business. Welcome to the neon machine.
SOI KATOEY
Last month we noted the eminent opening of the 4 Sport's - and open, it did. Welcome them to the piranha pool.
SOI KATOEY
In recent years the New Club Fushicho had been forced by the Bangkok Sign Gestapos to open as "Fushicho Plan Co. Ltd", their legally registered name. However, judging by their new neon, they seem to have finally won that battle.... (We didn't see a separate venue for "Sexy Bar" - more on that as we hear of it....) Let the good times roll.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The mostly-Thai Plearn Karaoke is open about half the time, but when it is, they have some colorful neon shining out from within. Continue to rock, then, gentlemen....
WASHINGTON SQUARE
Hugh's bar beer opened in Washington Square this last month (it fronts on Sukhumvit, and is open in the rear to Washington Square - as does the Dubliner). Photo to follow.
WASHINGTON SQUARE
This - a pic for the MIDNITE HOUR archives - the long-lived Baan Beer 22 is successful at what it does - serve beer and Thai cuisine. Well done, lads.
QUEEN'S PARK PLAZA SOI 22
The Blue Lightning opened in October of 2006, however, the Darwinian Imperative doesn't look at time-in-grade. They fell this last month to the Grim Reaper after a 3-year run at it. Ashes to ashes, so be it, then....
SOI EDEN SUKHUMVIT SOI 7/1
This pic a 'neon update' for the Future Boys located in Bangkok's 'Twilight Zone'. Let the rock continue to rock.
SOI TWILIGHT
! ORDER NOW !
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Archives
2002 - 2009, BANGKOK EYES / bangkokeyes.com
October's Nightlife News 
PATPONG I 
