06-14-2009
( Reply#: 3191 ) |
seejay2 |
There is a really good piece being in the Times about the Strip. It will run for the next three days in www.nwi.com
There are some pretty good pix in the special link.
http://nwitimes.com/sinstrip/
Don't click on 'Skip Intro'.......Cj |
06-14-2009
( Reply#: 3192 ) |
Tom J |
Thank you, Chris! That was VERY enjoyable.
The only bar that I went to on The Strip was Theisen's Lounge, where we used to by BBQ chickens. They had FANTASTIC BBQ chickens there, and we would always buy two of them. I would eat one myself, and then I would help Mom and Dad finish theirs. [:D]
Someone in the discussion section suggested that the Times do something similar for Downtown Hammond. Now THAT would be sweet!
Tom |
06-15-2009
( Reply#: 3194 ) |
nwireporter |
There's couple chaptters in my book Blunt Force based in Cal City "Missing...Still Missing" and "Almost the Luckiest Mayor". Dottie (Missing) performed at the Show Club. After the Mayor closed the clubs and went to jail five of them burned to the ground -- The Paddock Club, Derby Club, Rainbow Club, Hula Hut and a place called Soma's Restaurant. They were all on the North side of State St. and connected by underground tunnels. Surprise! Cal City (once known as West Hammond) sin strip was run from The Paradise Club on Plummer St. one block north of State St. and parrallel to it. Blunt Force is available through Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes and Noble. Cheers, Gary L. Wilson |
06-15-2009
( Reply#: 3199 ) |
duane |
Great photos on that website. I especially like the big marquee with "Cynthia the Body" emblazoned across it. I always teased my sister (Cynthia) about that. |
06-16-2009
( Reply#: 3210 ) |
tom w |
NWI;
Your bit intrests me because Tommy Theisen was a shirttail relative of mine. At one time he had four or five clubs in the city. My question is, since I only remember one place on Plummer St. (not exactly a main thorofare. They didn't even bother replacing the one streer lamp.) Did this mean that some motorcycle club ran the strip?
It was rumored that a school buddy of mine that I hung around with, was the head of the Cal City bikers. Just curious. Thanks much.
tom w Hammond Tech 55-58 |
06-16-2009
( Reply#: 3212 ) |
nwireporter |
YOU GOT ME, MY FRIEND. i SAW VERY FEW CYCLES ON STATE sT. OR PLUMMER. THEY SEEMED TO Be PRESENT ON STATE LINE NEAR THE INTERLUDE lOUNGE AND, IN INDIANA, SOUTH OF ST. MARGARITE HOSPITAL (WEBB sTREET, ETC.) SEEMED FOR THE MOST PART TO BE A BIT OF A LAZY BUNCH FOCUSED ON CANUBIS AND SEX WITH AN OCASSIONAL FLARE UP. THAT COULD BE COVER. ONE ARM JIMMY (PARADISE lOUNGE ON PLUMMER), SAM MILLER AND THE BOYS OVER IN cICERO AND LYON'S SEEMED TO HOLD THE HAMMER. IF WE COULD GET BERNADETTE "BERNIE" SKALKA, HEAD NURSE AT ST. MARGY'S E.R. AT THE TIME, AND SHE WOULD CONVERSE WITH US, WE COULD PROPABLY LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT THE BIKERS. CHEERS: NWI |
06-16-2009
( Reply#: 3213 ) |
Paddy |
I remember Cal City as a place where anything went. After reading the statements from the Cal City police officers in the Times article, I had to laugh. They lauded the "responsible" owners who self-regulated their places. The former cops made Cal City sound like Disneyland. It wasn't.
I actually celebrated my 17th birthday in a Cal City bar, which says a lot about the self-regulation amongst bar owners there. It also implies that I spent a reckless youth in Hammond and Cal City, which is only partially true. All I can say is that Cal City had a darker side than the former police officers admitted to. |
06-17-2009
( Reply#: 3217 ) |
seejay2 |
Paddy, you are absolutely right! This was not a day in the Enchanted Kingdom. I didn't put a lot of time in that area, but I did do enough to know that if you stepped out of line you would probably walk like a crab for the rest of your life, if you didn't disappear altogether. I remember hearing how the 'outfit' refered to the Strip as "The Goldmine in the Sticks". That should say it all.
I went into Chesterfield one night asking for a guy. As soon as I mentioned his name, one guy stood in front of me while another called him on the phone. I got the green flag, but I shutter to thing of what would have happened had he not answered the phone that night.....Cj
|
06-17-2009
( Reply#: 3218 ) |
Alan Vandever |
Does anyone remember, "The Rose & Crown"? I think it was on 154th. pl. I had a lot of great times there in my miss spent youth. Actually I lived up stairs from a bar in Cal City for a year. When I look back now, I wonder how I survived those years. |
06-17-2009
( Reply#: 3219 ) |
Paddy |
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Vandever
Does anyone remember, "The Rose & Crown"?
Do I ever. Being of Irish descent, I found that I had (and have) an affinity for Guinness and redheads. The Rose and Crown served Guinness and thus drew me in. As for the redheads in my life, that is another story.
Here is my Rose and Crown story. I was a regular there at the time I met my future wife. She did not drink but tolerated my desire for a pint now and then. I had told her about this nice pub in Cal City that I frequented. In the summer of 1964, I asked her to meet my friends there on my birthday.
Things did not go well from the instant that we walked in the door. The crowd was in a merry mood and Celtic music was blaring. My friends hoisted me onto the bar and demanded that I dance for my birthday pint. Being a good Irish lad, I danced to the tune and got my pint.
My now ex-wife's glares should have told me that marrying her was a bad idea. But I was young and in love, and I thought that love would conquer all. It didn't.
I continued to stop at the Rose and Crown (sans wife, of course) until we moved to Minnesota. The pub closed sometime after we left, but I don't know when. I just remember the raucous laughter and music, and the dour look on my now ex-wife's face. |
06-17-2009
( Reply#: 3220 ) |
Alan Vandever |
We might know each other. I loved that place. My buddy, Tom Roop, and I were in there at least 2 or 3 times a week. Speaking of red heads, there used to be a bar girl by the name of Betsy who worked there. She had short, red hair and never wore a bra. (sorry ladies)
I had photos of her somewhere but I have no idea where they would be.
Did you know the lead singer for the Buckinghams used to stop in there? |
07-07-2009
( Reply#: 3242 ) |
nwireporter |
nwireporter |
