Doc Holliday’s
Hwy. 101 & Cty. Rd 89
Shakopee
This page discusses the following venues at the same location:
- Twins Stagecoach Inn
- 1 & 44 Club
- Barbary Coast
- Doc Holliday’s
THE STAGE COACH INN
First there was the Stage Coach Inn, a complex that began in 1951 to house Osborne “Ozzie”Klavestad’s gun collection in 1951. That became a very popular tourist attraction and has been described as an amusement park.
TWINS STAGECOACH INN
In May 1970, the Twins Stagecoach Inn opened – Will Jones characterized it as “an entirely new and separate establishment, a vast two-story frontier-type dining hall and saloon. Klavestad had held a liquor license but never used it until Ray Colihan and his partners, twins Billy and Jimmy Robertson of the Minnesota Twins, bought the food and beverage concession and the right to the Stagecoach name. It was officially called the Twins Stagecoach Inn to distinguish it from the museum and theater. The balcony, called “Reggie’s Roost,” could hold 400 people, and had a 65-foot bar that Colihan called the longest in Scott County.
This building was located east of the Stage Coach campus, always described as on Highways 101 and 13 between Savage and Shakopee. If it ever had a street address, I’ve yet to find one.
1 & 44 CLUB
The Twins Stagecoach Inn became the 1 & 44 by May 1972. Pat Lindquist of the Skyway News explained that the name came from the fact that drinks started at 44 cents, and appetizers were the same price. Dinner specials went for $1.44, at least at the beginning. In articles dated August 29, 1973 and July 2, 1974, Lindquist spelled the owner’s name Bobby and Bobbie Bell, not indicating the gender of said owner/operator.
Lindquist described the place as a “big barn,” with the capacity of 1,000: rooms included the Scoreboard Saloon; a large, two-story dining room; and a spacious loft. She wrote in 1973 that Bobby had taken over a losing proposition less than two years ago and turned it into a gold mine. Most of the review was about the food, but she had all sorts of good things to say about local group Denny and the Tornadoes, featuring the multi-talented Heidi.
Wendy Waldman graced the stage at the 1 & 44 on June 10 and 11, 1974.
On July 2, 1974, Pat Lindquist of the Skyway News wrote another review of the 1 & 44, mentioning the deal offered, whereby you could buy a combination ticket for dinner at the restaurant and a show at the Stage Coach Opera House. Normally, two tickets to the melodrama were $6. For an extra 95 cents, you could get two dinners as well. Fridays only during the summer of 1974.
The 1 and 44 was mostly a Country/Country rock place, although Chubby Checkers [sic] did a two-night stand there in September 1974.
BARBARY COAST
This short-lived club followed the 1 and 44, starting in about September 1975.
But mostly there was Wayne Cochran, as a reader named Len hipped me too. He sent me this great poster:
DOC HOLLIDAY’S
Doc Holliday’s opened in about June 1976.
Jon Bream described it as a “two-story, ski-lodge-like bar.” Another article said it was decorated with “wagon wheels, yokes, and other western decorations.”
Doc Holliday’s Local Bands
Here’s a show featuring four popular local bands: The Mystics, The Daisy Dillman Band, The Delcounts, and Atlantis II. December 6, 1976.
The Wright Brothers were a very popular local country band.
The Radio Rangers was another popular local group. The poster below was drawn by Johnny Hanson.
On February 8, 1978, Doc Holliday’s was given a seven-day suspension by the City of Shakopee for code violations, including overcrowding, cars parked in fire exits, and an overflowing septic tank. The owner was named as Stanley Sellburg, who had only operated the club for four months. The permit allowed 1,230 people in the club, but patrons congregated on the first floor of the two-story building, which worried the fire department.
Doc Holliday’s National Acts
- Barefoot Jerry, August 2 and 3, 1976.
- Jerry Jeff Walker, October 2, 1976.
- Dr. Hook, with Willie and the Bumblebees, November 16 and 17, 1976
- Doug Kershaw, February 1, 1977
- Flying Burrito Brothers, May 2, 1977
- Larry Raspberry and the High Steppers, October 14, 1977, and October 27-29, 1977
- Larry Gatlin, December 9, 1977
- Canned Heat, June 20, 1978
- Asleep at the Wheel, June 29, 1978
- Jimmy Witherspoon, August 11-12, 1978
- Johnny Paycheck, January 20, 1979
- Billie Jo Spears, January 26, 1979
- Roy Buchanan, February 3, 1979
- Elvin Bishop, February 16 – 17, 1979
- Bellamy Brothers, March 30, 1979
- Asleep at the Wheel, May 15, 1979
MURDER AT DOC HOLLIDAY’S
Tragedy struck on May 5, 1979, when Barbara Helen Smith was fatally shot at the club. In 2021, Barbara’s friend Paul Eggert, wrote to say that he was going to go with her that night, but he could not get off of work. Barbara went with her brother Tom instead. Barbara was a 1975 grad of Harding High School – her birth date was November 23, 1957, and she was one of eight children. Paul wrote, “She was in my opinion, stunning. I don’t want her to be just a footnote and forgotten.” Barbara’s niece Rachel Grove contributed additions and corrections to this account on Facebook.
According to memories on Facebook, Daisy Dillman had just finished “Southern Man” and was taking a break. Lawrence Lyle Marquardt, 28, of Minneapolis and David Kraml, 37, of Bloomington had been thrown out for being drunk and fighting with some bikers. They had also been drinking at the Dan Patch Lounge. At about 11:30 pm, they came back with a .308 caliber hunting rifle, and Marquardt shot two rounds into the second floor of the building. Barbara was wounded on her ankle, and when she leaned over to look, and was fatally shot in the neck. Seven other customers were wounded as well. The club held 800 people and was packed. “A group of bikers [the same group they had been fighting with] had the shooter on the ground and were kicking the shit out of him, says one witness. “Then the law started to descend on the place. I had never seen so many state troopers and county sheriff’s cars in my life.” One of the bikers was quoted as saying, “We got him good. First time I was able to beat up somebody for a good cause.” (Minneapolis Tribune, May 14, 1979)
Marquardt and Kraml were arrested at the scene. The Judge set bail at $40,000 for Marquardt; Kraml was not charged. Marquardt was originally charged with third-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault. In return for pleading guilty, six other count of aggravated assault were dropped. He was sentenced to eight years in Stillwater. In August 1979, the estate of Barbara Smith and two other victims filed civil suits against Doc Holliday’s, the Cities of Savage and Shakopee, and the alleged shooter. (Minneapolis Star, May 9, 1979) (Minneapolis Tribune, August 4, 1979)
The club reopened on May 11, 1979, but the Shakopee City Council had decided not to renew its liquor license when it came up for renewal because of fire code violations including overcrowding, storing flammable liquids, serving drinks to minors, and nailing fire doors shut. (Minneapolis Tribune, June 22, 1979)
A fire on June 21, 1979, was the last straw, doing $10,000 in damage to the second floor offices. No one was injured. Although Montana Star was scheduled to play on June 22-23, 1979, the club closed after the fire. It appears that the last band to play at Doc Holliday’s was, in a macabrely appropriate way, called Headstone. The owners withdrew their application to renew their liquor license on June 20 and it expired on June 30, 1979.
There is no vestige of the old Doc Holliday’s left to remind us of the good and bad times there.