MIDNITE HOUR - 01 November 2023

The biggest surprise (but perhaps it shouldn't have been...) was - there are two separate upstairs areas, each accessed by their own staircase.. The first stairway (centrally located on the map) goes up to a large 'balcony' area, which looks down on the ground level. At the rear of this balcony is the original function room dating back many years, a part of the old Soi 7 Bier Garten. The seond stairway is located next to the 'Office' (see map), and leads up to what will be approximately 6 short-time rooms (or perhaps 'special massage rooms'), each with their own brand-new clear Perspex shower stall. We surmise the downstairs 'Office' will be 'managing' these upstairs rooms...

Traces of Bangkok's Early Years

Although A Go-Go had made inroads into the Bangkok Night Entertainment Scene in the mid-60's, it was by no means the 'mainstream'. Venues with live entertainment and hostesses were still "king". Not to be forgotten were a number of "Coffee Houses", which were more than just corner Starbucks, and often had music and other entertainment, some staying open 24-7, becoming freelancer hangouts.

The Oriental Hotel continued to be one of the more popular sources of Night Entertainment with their Bamboo Bar and the Riverside Supper Club only a few steps apart. At that time, they were the only hotel to boast a riverfront view.

January 1967

The Delight Coffee House opened to a lot of fanfare in the Rachprasong Trade Center (near today's Big C). Most interesting is they were open 24 hours - something usually only allowed if a part of a hotel's F&B....

  January 1967

      The Naturist A-Go-Go continued to draw crowds with their 'imported' entertainment, while A Go-Go dancing was, in those years, not their major crowd-bringer.             January 1967

      The Star Light, a popular New Road Night Entertainment Venue was as popular for its entertainment as it was it's hostess scene.   Note: they hosted many foreign entertainers who were doing 'the circuit' in Bangkok at the time (see panel to the left).

  January 1967

      We published this ad last month as a 'coming attraction'.   For whatever else she was remembered, Jayne Mansfield had classical training in piano and violin.   She sang in both English and German on film soundtracks, on stage and for her theatrical and nightclub performances.   She released both record singles and albums.   Most remember her as the not-so-dumb blonde in the film, The Girl Can't Help It.   She would die in a car accident four months after performing in Bangkok.

  January 1967

      The long-running Trolley changed management mid-stream in 1967, and began promoting their "San Francisco by the Bay" ambiance.   They were a cocktail bar - restaurant, the later it got the more it became a bar.   The Trolley and it's branches lasted through the '70's.

January 1967

       Clifford Stanton was a famous radio and film impersonator in the 40's and 50's.   Remarkably, he was still in showbusiness, travelling the world in 1967.
        Silom Road,   January 1967

      What came before the Pink Panther in Patpong 2's Plaza Hotel?   Dulce's Den Bar & Cocktail Lounge, featuring jazz singer Dulce Din.   The Venue would last only a few months, before changing hands.
February 1967

      What came before Red Bull? (Krating Daeng)?   Why, Gold Bull (Krating Thong), of course.   This was Amarit Brewery's fledgling flight into the Thai beer market.   (Our favorite of decades past was Amarit NB - alas, no more to be found...)

  February 1967