MIDNITE HOUR - 01 October 2023

We note that the larger Nitespots are more prevalent than before, and they are doing well - Sportsman, the two Breakers bars and the Old German Beerhouse, in particular, seem to gather a crowd. As the total number of Venues creeps up, we note a good mix of Nitespots to choose from - (Sports Bars, Pool Bars, and Massage Parlors.) As is our usual consideration when visiting an Entertainment Area, we evaluate whether (or not) it has reached a "critical mass" - can it be considered a "Night Entertainment Area" in its own right? While we believe Trendy Plaza could easily grow to a "Night Entertainment Area" (where the number of Nitespots creates a 'draw' where customers are likely to congregate to spend the evening.), there are simply not enough customers to go around. As a result, Trendy Plaza tends to be an "expat's hideaway' rather than a mainstream Entertainment Area. The potential is there - there is certainly no shortage of space for future expansion - for example, the virtually empty interior doesn't have even a single active Venue.

Traces of Bangkok's Early Years

The New Year 1967 saw the large Night Clubs continue to bring in celebrity acts from abroad. All the while, the Petchburi Road 'Golden Mile' and the Patpongs continued with their own expansions - new bars, massage parlors, lounges and clubs.

The Sani Chateau (Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area) began advertising early for the arrival of Jayne Mansfield in the coming month of February. "Imagine Her Size !", indeed...

January 1967

Sam Scott, having made good his transition from the New Road area (previously the Drop-In Tavern), his Yard of Ale quickly became a popular (mostly British pub) on the corner of Silom & Convent Roads (opposite Patpong 1).

January 1967

The Riverside Supper Club shared live entertainment acts with the Oriental Hotel's famous Bamboo Bar. The Oriental can legitimately be considered the 'seminal venue' for live entertainment in the New Road area - opening years before the other Venues got their start.

January 1967

Old timers and history buffs tend to forget - the '50's and '60's were an endless procession of "dance crazes", each new dance sweeping the old from prominence. The L'Amour was obviously proud to have 'scooped' the other Bangkok Venues, being the first on the scene with the Bugaloo....

January 1967

The Naturist A-Go-Go was one of two Bangkok Nitespots to feature A Go-Go that year. (The other being the Oasis on New Road.) -Both Venues ramping up their A Go-Go stages the previous year (1966). Both Venues were extremely popular, the 'way of the future' was clear... January 1967

The Star Light remained one of the "Big 5" in the New Road Night Entertainment Area during 1967. (Along with The Balcony, the Oasis, the New Champagne Room and Garden Cafe). The modus operandi for New Road Venues was generally live entertainment - a mix of local and foreign.

January 1967

By January the Cafe De Paris (Suriwong Rd. opp. Patpong) had already booked Brenda Lee, American singing sensation of the 50's - 60's for early February (one night only).

January 1967

In January the Tropicana was hosting Bob Arno and Akiko (Wakabayashi). Arno was a renown performance pickpocket of Swedish descent who took his shows from the Nightclubs of New York to the troops in Viet Nam. Akiko, soon after the above performance, would become known as one of the "Bond Girls" in the film You Only Live Twice. Silom Road, January 1967

The Silom Rose Club is not currently known to us, nor is the Victory Hotel. We are assuming for the time being they were located on Silom Road. Readers? Should we come upon any further info, we will do a return visit.

January 1967

An ad for telephones would seem strange in this day and age, however, in the 60's, there were only so many telephone numbers in existence, so if one wanted to obtain a telephone, the number would have to be purchased from someone else. The going rate was about Baht 30,000 per number, so the above advertiser is looking at up to a Baht 300,000 outlay...

January 1967