Tijuana – The Long Bar – Heaven For the Underaged
Written by mac meda on September 8, 2009 – 7:14 am -
Mac Meda Invades the Long Bar - Larry Cornellius(RIP), Richard Krug, Roger Johnson (RIP), The Whale, Bill Decker, Micheal Chicon(RIP), Steve Callaway, Kelly Medogovich, Ed Selby, Bartlett and someone help me out with the rest ...
During the roaring twenties, Tijuana became non-stop action. Americans flooded the tiny border town during probation to gamble and drink. By the 50s and 60s its reputation was known all over for it strip joints, floor shows and cheap bars and beer. It became folklore of wide reputations and spawned many wild stories of bars like Sans Souci, Redd Fox (the place where the comedian Redd Fox started) Clubs Unicorn, Aloha and Bambi. The Donkey Show was born in TJ … and yes, it is true. However, drinks were outrageous in these places. A 6-ounce bottled ‘unknown’ beer cost $1 and it always came open. Gee … could it be they kept refilling the empties?
But TJ was also known for, the famed Long Bar. Oh yes!!!
The bar was the full length of the place. It was the width of a football field if not more and elbow room only. The noise level was always high of slamming shooters down and Mexican music. At the end was a 12 foot surfboard that hung high on the back wall, whoever could power down 24 shots of Tequila and climb up the wall and untie the ropes could have it.
Since the drinking age of Mexico was 18, it became the spot for kids that were not 21. If you looked 18, you could cross the border. However, TJ cops hated the pot smoking long hairs, so one had to pin their hair up and stuff it under a baseball cap to enter even if it only touched your ears. Brilcream, (A Little Dab Will Do You), was used to slick the hair back, which was still cool, since it had not quite gone out of style yet.
Walking down the main drag on a Friday or Saturday night, Revolucion was like old west, street fights were common, people were trying to sell you everything from a fake silver ring - to their sister, and almost all the cops were on the take. A $5 bribe was the common price for getting out of going to jail if you were caught being drunk and disorderly.
From Dave Osborn comment, I got this off the Internet, which shows how long the long bar really was
A pitcher of beer and a shot of cheap tequila was $1. Sawdust packed the corners, and very sticky wooden booths and tables were gouged with initials of those that had to leave a remembrance they were there. It was not a place for women unless you were of the social type. And even that, most were to scared to enter. A carnie hacker was always outside, shoving people inside.
For a buck, one could get a picture like you see above.
The restroom, all I can say, the smell gagged you walking in. A long tile trough with a few rusty pipes dripped a dark-brown water to flush the gallons of urine that was being discharged every second. An old man sat in the corner (restroom valet) that always had a toothless smile with flies buzzing around his head sold gum by the piece, scented colored water and paper towels by the 1/2 piece. Yes he would take a paper towel, rip it in half (that cost 2 cents) and that was what you dried your hands off with or the pants were just as good. A nickel got you a piece of gum and a splash of scented water before you headed back across the border.
Yeah … like the US Immigrations officials didn’t know where you had been when they asked you, “Got anything to declare?”
“Surrrre officerrrr, a gallon of watered down peeeee” Chuckle, puke, chuckle chuckled, puke…
Obviously, the Long Bar was a favorite of Mac Meda’s second decade of Meda Eaters.
Tags: bar-tales, idiots drunks dirtbags
Posted in Bars | 12 Comments »
By Dan Dameron on Sep 8, 2009 | Reply
Pinky:
Front Row Seated: (unknown), Jim Downie, Roger Johnson, Whale, David Brown, Bernie Gerke (behind Brown)Kelly Medigovich, Ed Selby, Decker
Back row Standing: Chuck Maclaren, Ricky Krug, Danny Sammons, Dave Bartlett, Steve Kellaway, Mark Dameron, George Forsyth, Matthews
In the far background: Ric Prouse
By Dan Dameron on Sep 8, 2009 | Reply
An aside…..most of these guys stopped in the Long Bar twice that day…the goal was Rosarita Beach…..Long Bar on the way down, buy bottle rockets…drive to Rosarita Beach, have several bottle rocket wars…on the way home, stop at the Long Bar again….
Kelly was driving one of the cars and after a piss stop on I-5 he drove off leaving a couple guys behind…..they ran with peckers flailing and piss drops falling to jump on the back bumper of the station wagon and crawl in the back window….
By Dave Osborn on Sep 13, 2009 | Reply
About 100 years ago the Long Bar was across the street from present location.
at one time I heard it was the whole block long (It ran same direction as street unlike
one is now)…..about 95 years ago when I first drank at old Long Bar it was a half block long. It was really a chance to drink in one of the last of the wild west saloons…. (Same as Hussongs Cantina Margarita in Ensenada BC back in the late 50’s & early 60’s)….
One day after a bull fight in the down town arena featuring the great and insane
El Corbez….(I normally cheered for the bulls as I hated an unfair fights, I was sort of the only one that did this). El Corbez was different he gave the bulls a lot of shots at him and paid the price over the years…after fight we went back to (old) Long Bar and that day a big melee broke out, flying chairs, beer mugs etc like big food fight but wildly more dangerous!. Our table it was covered with beer, broken glass & blood. I can remember (I think? I remember) Jerry Troyer was there plus 4 or 5 other La Jolla guys and gals. It was truly like an old western movie saloon fight scene!
Another story from the old Long Bar was the day Donny Thomason grabbed a Cop from behind by the gun belt and collar and tossed him over the bar…but that a story for later.
Dave Osborn
By Kelly on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply
hey Dan is that you or your brother? Was I the only guy that brought a date? Here is my shot at it. From the back left to right Chuck Maclaren, Ricky Krugg, Rick Prowse (back at the HEAD) Danny Sammonds, Dave Bartlet, Bernie Gerke, Steve Calloway, Mark Dameron, George Forsite, one of the Elstons, ft row from the left, Jim Downey, one of the Guthry bros, Roger Johnson,Whale, Dave Brown (below the finger) Kelly, Ed Selby, Bill Decker. Where’s my date, and the others? no friggin idea!
It was Deckers idea “itsy bitzy bikini contest” in Rosarita, never saw anything but Hooks. I don’t think the contest got a big review, It was nothing but a barker with a pencil thin mustache and a few over weight soiled doves. *accuracy + or – 10%
By Dan Dameron on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply
Kelly:
That’s Mark and I stand by my identifications and the spelling of names. I should have been there too but I think I was on The Ice at the time.
By Rob on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Hello. Great job. I did not expect this on a Wednesday. This is a great story. Thanks!
By mike doering on Nov 11, 2009 | Reply
I grew up at the Long Bar back in the 60’s, 64-69. Many important experiences happened there, though I do not remember them all that well. I remember the Mac Meda Destruction Co. T shirts and wondered what cool bunch of dudes that was. A few years ago, when the Long Bar was still there, I went back and had a beer. It was daytime and quiet. Ramon was the bartender, same as back in the 60’s and this was probably in the 90’s. I asked him what happened to Mario, the shoe shine guy who the women were always hugging and buying shots for. “He is dead” said Ramon. Why? “Too much tequila”.
Ah, but what I would give for just one of those weekend nights at the Long Bar, with it filled with Gringos. To walk by the crooked mirror again.
By Carla Marriner Bowlin on Dec 11, 2009 | Reply
Sure looks like Timmy Ambrose on the left front behind the guy with the mustache.
What a great site!
By Beachball on Jan 15, 2010 | Reply
Drean, Robbie Hannd, et all..lived 1 block from each,,,bad vides…But the SAA House Took care of busine,,,humes,canning roel kept the of the situation well in hand,Parties were wild, regular 100 people.
By ramon on Mar 18, 2010 | Reply
The long bar in tijuana in ave. Revolucion
& 4th street, the name:
“la ballena” in 60’s.
By John K. Weldon on Jun 12, 2010 | Reply
Forground left side Bill “Dupie” Demoullen…Had to be around 1969. Long Bar is all gone now…We always seemed to start out there…Then Mikes Bar, Red Fox, Chicago Club, Hotel Nelson…John K wana Tijuana.
By Rohn on Jun 22, 2010 | Reply
Or for a buck some guy would take your picture and bring the finished print back in about 20 minutes. I still have one circa 1964