The Combat Zone Of Old

[Phat Bastard]

I found a couple of pics that I do not think is posted. If they are I'am sorry.
I had 3 pics but 1 was to big.

Awesome pics Rito.

I never had the "pleasure" of visiting the Playland Cafe but I staggered in and out of Essex Liquors next door more times than I can remember.

[Rito1]

I found a couple of pics that I do not think is posted. If they are I'am sorry.
I had 3 pics but 1 was to big.

[Strike2]

Are you thinking of Cantones or Mavericks?

What was the club?

It was a music club not a strip club.

It was for rockabilly winos.

[Harmen]

My guess is you're referring to the Hillbilly Ranch, which was on the property that is now 10 Park Plaza.

[Michaelzxc]

What was the club?

It was a music club not a strip club.

It was for rockabilly winos.

[Strike2]

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/66...-zone/?rel=inf

Great Thread

[Bosbl]

What a great thread. Even though I'm in my early forties, I remember it all very well. Went to high school on the edge of the CZ and my old man was in the nightclub business when I was very little in the late '60s into the '70s. I'll share some of my memories another time. Oh hell, here's one now. When the Celtics won the title in 1981, I went to the rally at City Hall Plaza. I heard Larry Legend say "Moses eats s#%! " and then walked down Tremont towards the CZ. Got propostioned by the cutest brunette in front of the pizza place and Tyson tickets. Went upstairs to the legendary apartments and got a half and half for. 4 I had no idea wheter that was a good deal at the time or not, but she was really cute. Ready for this? I had no idea what a half and half was and I was too nervous to ask. So naturally, during the CBJ I popped. She said to me "Now why did you do that? " She actually was sad. LOL! I'd thought she'd be happy that she only had to do the quick CBJ. Who knew that she actually wanted the other half? After that day, I would stop and say Hi to her on the street when I was going to school later that fall. She remembered me. My first love, LOL.

Fabulous thread. Thanks to everyone who has posted so far and the pictures got me a little misty.

[Phat Bastard]

Your right of course Meatman my memory is not what it once was.

Now I remember his name was John.

That was a great little bar.

Is there anything like that in Boston today?

Meatman? I don't think he's posted in here in months.

Unfortunately no, the days of (hooker) bars like that in Mass are gone, long gone.

In Providence however, Cheaters is essentially a brothel.

[Boris1069]

Your right of course Viejo my memory is not what it once was .

Now I remember his name was John.

That was a great little bar.

Is there anything like that in Boston today?

[Viejo]

He also ran a little bar across from the Naked I
I think it was called the six's
It was a great place to find a hooker for a reasonable price.
Nothing else in the bar

It was Johnny Magaletta who owned the 663 Lounge. He lost his license when the vice sandbagged him with the help of a judge in a court case - the cops and the prosecuter got him to plead guilty, with the promise of a small fine. The licensing board, which had no sense of humor and felt no obligation to honor the deal, scoffed his license. Later he opened at the Park Square Pub, and operated a few years there, until that whole block was leveled. He then moved down to the corner of Essex Street and Harrison Av, at Harry's. Johnny had the longest running hooker bar setup in the city in those 3 locations.

[Boris1069]

He also ran a little bar across from the Naked I
I think it was called the six's
It was a great place to find a hooker for a reasonable price.
Nothing else in the bar

[Rito1]

Holy shit, that second pic is a great find. Any chance you could post or PM a link to where you found it?

I am really not sure where I found it. I was playing around on google and some how found it. If I come across it again I will send you a link.

[Viejo]

...Who's Charlie, the guy from the Two O'Clock or the Intermission or elsewhere?

was Charlie Sicusa (I can't remember if that is the correct spelling, it's been so long) who started in the zone as daytime bartender at Izzy Ort's Golden Nugget. After the Nugget closed, Charlie ran a small taxicab outfit, then showed up as the owner of Goodtime Charlie's. Subsequently he opened the Picadilly, The Pussy Cat and the Mardi Gras. At one point he was the strip club mogul of Boston's Combat Zone.

By the way - in my post about Essex Street, I forgot to mention that the Palomino strip club was just beyond the little package store, and the building just beyond that had been the Golden Nugget.

[Phat Bastard]

that is the Pussy Cat - brand new at the time. I did a little enlargement and enhancement, and you can tell that the refurbishment that turned the Palace into the Pussy Cat is recent in that photo. That picture was taken shortly after Charlie opened the club.

You're right, it's Pussy Cat not Pussycat. Even though the sign can't be read in the pic, you can tell it's two words. Who's Charlie, the guy from the Two O'Clock or the Intermission or elsewhere?

[Viejo]

... Isn't that the Pussycat on the corner next to the chinese theater?

that is the Pussy Cat - brand new at the time. I did a little enlargement and enhancement, and you can tell that the refurbishment that turned the Palace into the Pussy Cat is recent in that photo. That picture was taken shortly after Charlie opened the club.