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Do you recognize this bar?
Topics: old photo, bar, historic photo, local history
Posted by citizenjournalist Fri Oct 19, 2007 11:25:10 PDT
Viewed 3264 times
0 responses 17 comments Do you have any info to share about this photo?

I'm guessing the photo was taken at an old timer's day because there are about two dozen people posing for the photo in a bar, and everyone is dressed in old fashioned attire. The main clue that it was taken no earlier than the 30s or 40s is a pinball machine from that era in the corner.
 
The photographer's name, which is superimposed in the corner of the photo, is Claude P. Dorman.
 
On the back wall there's a calendar, and I can make out the words "Bakersfield Emergency Hospital." The calendar is from October, but I can't make out the year, although you could narrow down the possibilities because you can see that October 1 was a Tuesday. It looks like the hospital's phone number had only two digits, so that's another clue as to the vintage of the photo.

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Comment From: tja2fordsters

It looks like woolworths Comment From: jackicarter

It looks like it could be maybe The Padre Hotel or maybe The Pyrenees Restraunt. ( this is just my guess ). Jackie Comment From: jbaldwin

Dan Giordano e-mailed me this: "I believe this picture is of the inside of the now burnt down Granite Station stop. The wood work on the back of the bar and the flooring made me think of the place immediately." Comment From: jbaldwin

Gloria (Barsotti) Cory e-mailed me this: "How surprised to see the picture of the bar in Saturday's paper. It really brought back memories from my childhood. I am almost sure that the bar is The Brass Rail that was located on the SW corner of 20th and Eye streets. My grandfather Wally Linn spent many an afternoon or evening there. I would stop by on my way home from school and peek in through the double doors to see if he was on his usual stool. Sometimes he would call me in, and the bartender would give me a cherry with a stem, what a treat. I especially remember the long bar and the tile floor pattern. I have thought about that wonderful place with the smell of alcohol, and felt so daring to peek in to a place where only adults could go. Thank Mr. Apanel for bring to life a wonderful childhood experience." Comment From: jbaldwin

Robert Rivera e-mailed me this response: This bar looks very familiar to me. I recognize the tapestries on the wall and the dogs behind the cash register. The ceiling fans and the black and white diamond floor pattern are typical of the era. My Dad, John Rivera Sr. owned the 905 Club on Baker Street in East Bakersfield from the 1940's up until his death 6 years ago. He knew all the bar owners on the Eastside. He would often frequent other bars in the area to discuss business with the bartenders and owners. As a young child (1953-1955), my father would take me with him on short business errands. Here is my best guess. My dad had those very tapestries and ceiling fans stored in the upstairs storeroom located at 905 Baker St. for the longest time. I do not think they are from the 905 Club bar, I believe they came from another bar. Sometime during the late 50's or early 60's he purchased the bar next door located at 903 Baker St. I think it was called Rene's. That is where I remember the dogs behind the register. If you have time, go to the northeast corner of Baker and Jackson. Checkout the tile work underneath the entry way of 901 Baker St. (my dad purchased that building around the same time as Rene's). It has similar black and white tile work; and says "Globe", for Globe Pharmacy. I think the tile work is still there. It was once owned by a prominent pharmacists here in Bakersfield, I think he owned the pharmacy on the corner of Chester. I am nearly certain the bar is Rene's 903 Baker . I don't know the name of the prior owners. I would not be suprised if the man in the dress suit and the woman seated behind the young boy are the owners (but that is a guess). My dad and his brother Don purchased the 905 Club during the 1940's from a Mr. Frankel. I believe he was the father of our former Coroner, Helen Frankel. There is definitely some interesting history on that corner of Baker and Jackson. I hope this may be of some help. Robert Rivera Comment From: jbaldwin

Robert Rivera also sent me this: Are those dogs behind the cash register? Or are they rabbits? Are my eyes and memory deceiving me? . . . They're hunting dogs disguised with rabbit ears! Rene is the man in the dress suit. He had a great sense of humor, everyone that met him loved him. As the former owner Rene's 903 Club, he was proud of his antique gun collection on the back bar. I once asked him how he could have guns behind the bar, I thought it was illegal. He replied, "it's okay they are antiques". However, the rumor was that he kept one loaded and in working order just for protection. Can you guess which one? Someone once asked Rene, which gun works? Rene scoffed at the question and then replied with a chuckle, "They all do!" That is his wife seated next to him. And the young boy may be their son. Baker Street was the center of many celebrations and parades during that era. This one was most likely a celebration of western days . . Old Kern days . . . but obviously something along the lines of the "Old Town Baker" theme. LIfe was fun . . . life was great . . . life is a celebration . . . Baker Street was in its heyday. The gaiety of the tapestries behind the bar depict life's celebration. Rene's 903 Club was a bar for the working man, as portrayed by the two men in the foreground of the picture. But during the evening the bar would be full with people dressed in white shirts, ties and suits. It was a time of prosperity, it was a time for celebration . . . this was clearly the "good times" on Baker Street. My dad and Rene were competitor's in the bar business . . . but they were also good friends. A little friendly competition was good for business. And so it was on Baker Street. I had the honor of befriending Rene when I was a 5 year old child. He treated me like a son. But alas our friendship was short lived. I was saddened one day when his widow told me that he had died suddenly . . . we hugged each other and agreed that everyone loved Rene. . . and the celebration of life continued. Rene, "Are those dogs or rabbits behind the bar?" Comment From: jbaldwin

Angelo A. Haddad e-mailed this: The floor tile looks like the tile in the Padre Hotel that was revealed when my daughter Shawna Haddad Byers and her partner Kip Sullivan opened up Fishlips in November 2000 (the 18th Street entrance, next to the Post Office). You can peer through the window today and still see the tile, despite the construction that has been halted. The Padre opened in 1927 . The long room pictured in the photo could either be the large room in the back called “The Frontier Room” or it could have been a part of the large lobby. Comment From: jbaldwin

E-mailed by Kenny Loewen: I think it is the old Hermitage Bar that was located in the 1800 blk. on the west side of Chester Ave.. Between the Wall St. Ally and 18th. street. Approximately 1936 or 1937 I was in that bar with my Dad. Comment From: jbaldwin

Mr. Kenneth Rhoads, born in 1929, called me this morning to say this photo was taken in the 1930s during Old Frontier Days in Bakersfield -- an annual celebration that included parades, rodeos and other events. He says he believes the photo is from in the Old Southern Hotel at 19th & Chester. He says he used to sneak in there as a boy, and that he went there with his uncles and dad in the 1930s. He said it was a really high class hotel, second to El Tejon. Comment From: jbaldwin

Jess Perales e-mailed this: I believe this picture is of the Arizona Cafe located at 809 Baker St. I've been going to the Arizona Cafe for the last 30 year, at least once or twice a year. When I saw the picture, it reminded me of this restaurant. I called the Cafe and was told that at one time it was a bar, prior to opening as a Cafe in 1953. Comment From: jbaldwin

Mr. Richard Lopez just called me to give this response: The bar looks like it's my cousin's bar at Narducci's. I'm not sure, but it looks like that bar. It's not Woolgrowers because they never had a bar. It's not the Padre because the bar at that angle is too big. It looks like Narducci's. At the far end of the wall where the people are standing, they may have taken that out and that's where the kitchen is now. The bar looks big enough ... to be the same. Comment From: jbaldwin

Sent by text message by Darrell Bowen: Is the picture in todays paper the Noriega hotel? I know that Noriega's has been changed a time or 2 but you can walk in there today and see that wall behind the bar thats what i thought it was when i first looked at it. Comment From: jbaldwin

This comes from Mona Carver of Granite Station: This photograph of the bar is not Granite Station bar because it never had tile floor and no pin ball machine and the bar was much shorter than the one pictured in this photograph. Comment From: jbaldwin

I just realized that because I'm posting everyone's responses that are sent to me via e-mail, MY picture is showing up a lot here. Sorry! I just talked with Marlene Orloff who says her dad is the man in black in the foreground of the photo. She is not sure which bar is pictured, but she is sure it's her father in the photo: Martin Orloff. He was born in 1905 and she puts him at about 35 years old in the photo. She says he was in oil and real estate and spent a lot of time at the El Tejon and Padre hotels for business or drinks. Marlene says she was adopted when her father was older, 47 years old. And he died in 1967. But her family is part of the well-known Orloff family of Taft. Comment From: jbaldwin

I just talked to Mary Metropolis, who was born in 1917 and will turn 90 on Halloween. She says that when she was 16, she worked for Advanced Beverage and knew many of the local bars. She is not sure which bar is in the photo. But she says the photo is from either 1933 or 1934 when Bakersfield hosted Frontier Days. Her dad, John Demos, owned The Last Chance bar under the Bakersfield Hotel at 19th and M streets. She also remembers the Brass Rail, Johnnie Johnson, Mission, Mint and Suzy's. As for the Frontier Days event, the parade route included 19th Street and Chester Avenue. And the men all grew facial hair lest they be thrown in the "jail" and have to pay to get out. Her father, who is on the far left of the photo below, won first place in the category of "Best beard started on or after Sept. 1, 1934."


Comment From: jbaldwin

This was e-mailed to me by Angie "Checchi" Brown, the niece of Dick and Rose Fanucchi: It is our families opinion, (and we hope the correct one) that the bar you featured in The Bakersfield Californian submitted by Peter Apanel, Oregon resident was The 808 Club on Baker St in East Bakersfield. The The 808 Club was owned by our Uncle and Aunt, Dick (Domenico) and Rose Fanucchi. Dick and Rose are in the picture, Rose sitting at the bar and Dick sitting directly behind her. The picture was probably taken during one of the “Western Day” celebrations. Some of the light fixtures bar equipment and furniture featured in the picture was stored at their ranch in Old River, but was stolen years ago. My brother, Alfonso Checchi still owns a gun given to him by Uncle Dick in the past, once adorned the walls of the 808 Club. Comment From: jbaldwin

This is from Tom Hawkins: The picture in qestion is either the Brass Rail or Pyrenese Bar in the late 30's but more probably in the early 40"s. My dad is the second gentleman standing at the back of the bar behind the pin ball machine. He worked for Genetral Petroleum, which I believe later became Mobil. He worked on the old Belridge Lease and was foreman of a roustabout gang. If there was an old days parade close by he was in it. As far as being in the bar it was to have a drink, I'm sure it was not to have his photo taken. The latest it could have been was when he moved to East Bakersfield around 1945.