Whiskey Go Go
These are some of the entertainment spots located at 435 St. Peter Street in Downtown St. Paul. Thanks to Steve Brunsberg for helping me figure this out!
Located at this address at various times were:
- Chez Rene
- George Willkom’s
- Whiskey Go Go
- Showboat
CHEZ RENE
The Chez Rene Restaurant opened in 1945 by chef Rene A. Boursier. An ad dated October 8, 1950, called it the “newest French Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge in St. Paul.” The address was only given as 7th and St. Peter.
Image courtesy Rosemary Elli Kassekert
On February 9, 1951, fire swept the two-story restaurant, causing losses of $25,000 to $30,000. About 100 lunchtime customers had to be evacuated. The second floor was burned out, and the first floor and basement were damaged by smoke. Some St. Paul firemen had to be called from the 3M Plant. (Minneapolis Star, February 9, 1951)
Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
On February 19, 1952, Rene and one of his waitresses were among ten proprietors arrested for selling liquor to a teen-age St. Paul robbery ring. They were released on $200 bail each. They were accused of selling two Tom Collins drinks to a 17 and 18-year-old, who had gone to the restaurant with their dates to “put on the ritz.” It was a celebration of a holdup that had netted them $500. (Minneapolis Tribune, February 20, 1952) Both cases were dismissed.
Boursier died on November 22, 1956, of a heart attack at the age of 53.
1960 Ad courtesy Mark Youngblood
A “Places to Go” note in some publication from 1960 describes Chez-Rene (with a a dash like that) thusly:
Downtown’s Finest Steak House. Delightful luncheons served from 11 A.M. For your evening’s entertainment, Dorothy Truman, organist in the Main Lounge and Dining Room. Featured in the back room “Allens Alley” is Fabulous Felix Healy. A fine variety of entertainment.
Odd to think of Rene’s fancy French restaurant as a “Steak House.”
GEORGE WILLKOM’S
A Diner’s Club-type ad from May 1963 gives George Willkom’s as the name of the restaurant located at this address.
WHISKEY GO GO
Whiskey Go Go was an over 21 spot that operated here from 1965 to 1967.
Or was it Whisky Go Go? Let’s Google Whisky:
Whether it is whisky or whiskey has been the basis of many arguments over many years. The spelling whisky is generally used for whiskies distilled in Scotland, Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe, while whiskey is used for the spirits distilled in Ireland and America.
The ads below show that the club couldn’t decide either. Which ever it was, it is clear that it was not “Whisky a-Go-Go,” like the club at 8901 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. Just Go Go.
1965 and Go Go Girls
1965 was all about Go Go, with girls in skimpy outfits dancing in cages. The most famous Go Go girl was Lada Edmond, Jr., the girl wearing the fringe in the cage doing the frug on Hullabaloo. The Go Go girls of the Twin Cities were more likely to be college girls or young moms trying to make a buck. Were you a Go Go girl? I would love to hear your story!
The Glass Cage
A 1965 article showed go-go girl Mickey McCann dancing in a glass cage while taking requests for rock ‘n’ roll records from patrons who call from phones around the bar. Are those Hamm’s beer cans on her shirt?? (Minneapolis Tribune Picture Magazine, October 17, 1965)
The Whisky Go Go was featured in the Minneapolis Tribune Picture Magazine of January 2, 1966 – in a feature on glass! The caption for the picture below reads:
Go-go girls dance in a glass cage – and take requests for rock ‘n’ roll records from bar patrons – at Whisky Go Go, a combination go-go place, and discotheque on St. Peter St. in downstairs St. Paul. Cheri Marshall [below] works there part time. She’s also a secretary at Anderson Dodge 1201 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis.
Joey Dee: Week of March 6, 1966
Dee Dee Sharpe: Week of March 13, 1966
Dick and Dee Dee: Week of March 21, 1966
Bill Haley and His Comets: Week of March 27, 1966
The Chiffons: Week of April 3, 1966
The Crystals: Week of April 10, 1966
Chubby Checker: Week of May 1, 1966
Freddie Cannon: Week of May 8, 1966
Jr. Walker: Week of June 8, 1966
Jerry Lee Lewis: Week of June 22, 1966
Joey Dee and the Starlighters: Week of July 10, 1966:
Trashmen: August 15 – 29, 1966, as reported in the Tribune by Will Jones on August 15, 1966.
After mid-1966 there are no more music ads for the Whisky, but there are some scandals to report on.
Assault
On November 30, 1966, Frank J. Belgea, age 23 and identified as the manager of the Whisky Go Go, was fined $100 for assault when he was accused by Gary Gourd of kicking him when ejecting Gourd from the bar. Belgea said Gourd came in drunk, was refused service, fell off a bar stool, and annoyed other customers. Belgea said he “escorted Gourd from the establishment twice but did not kick him.”
Underage Drinking
The next report of bad behavior was in October 1967, when Lt. Ted Fahey of the St. Paul Police vice unit made the recommendation that all of the licenses of the Whisky be revoked because they were serving liquor to minors. This time the owner and operator was identified as Frank Fabio, who had been warned six times since May 1965 about serving liquor to minors and hiring minors as go go dancers and waitresses.
On July 18, 1967, a mother reported that her 14-year-old daughter had been served liquor and had not been questioned about her age. The last straw was on July 20, 1967, when two minor girls were arrested and pleaded guilty of consuming alcohol. The waitress who served them also pleaded guilty and was fined $100.
Listed as the president of the corporation that operated the bar was Richard E. Klein, who was also administrator of Ramsey District Court. Klein said that his family corporation owned the building but that he had never been involved in the running of the bar. Another connection was that the corporation loaned Fabio $5,000 when he bought the property from George Willkom several years ago, and that Klein was still president only because the loan was still outstanding.
SHOWBOAT
According to this fabulous ashtray posted on Facebook by Maureen Flaherty Anderson, the Showboat was owned by Jerry and Al Landreville.
This is not to be confused with the Centennial Showboat, which was an actual boat – paddlewheel – associated with the U of M. It is also not to be confused with the Showboat Lounge, which was in the Holiday Inn in Anoka from about 1973 to 1978.
The album below by a group called Deepwater was recorded live at the Showboat, according to the back of the album jacket. No label is given, according to Discogs.com. The group simultaneously released another album, also recorded live at the Showboat. They were originally from Arkansas.
Image courtesy Steve Brunsberg
SHOW’S OVER
The Showboat, described as a tavern, was destroyed by fire on July 18, 1975. The blaze began in the basement and was reported at 3:25 am. Firemen filled the basement with foam. An Applebaum’s Food Market next door had heavy smoke damage. Both buildings were scheduled for demolition later in the year for the realignment of E. 7th Street past the new Civic Center.