This was part 3 of series I wrote parts of for Huntington Quarterly
Intro
Huntington’s nightlife was active and exciting for decades.
The first two parts of this look at bars of Huntington’s bars of yesteryear, looked at many of the bars and clubs that brought the life to Huntington’s nightlife over the years. superstar. Whatever the occasion, there were plenty of places in Huntington to celebrate and have a good time.
There was something for everyone in Huntington. In part three, we look at different types of bars and clubs. Huntington had discos, sports bars, college bars, country bars, strip bars, and even after hours bars where blackjack and poker were played.
There has been a bar or club in Huntington to do just about whatever people liked to do.
CAROUSEL CLUB
The Carousel Club roots are deep in the West End of Huntington. The Club billed as The Best of The West started in the 60s 9n West 14th Street.
Paul Jewel was the long time owner of the club. His mother, Beatrice, operated it as a country western bar before Paul took over the reins. Before becoming a strip bar, the club featured bands. The bar had a reputation being rough and having fights.
Around 1974-75, Paul switched it to a strip bar. Featuring topless dancers, The Carousel would kept a consistent crowd over the next 3 decades.
In the 90s, Paul’s son, Clifford Jewell helped his mom and dad run the bar. It was later sold to Charlie Smith. Paul and Clifford Jewell and Charlie Smith have all passed.
After you were let in the front doors by a doorman, you would enter a large club.
The bar was directly to the left of the entrance, while the stage was slightly to the right. The stage, of course, had a stripper pole that the dancers could swing around in their dances.
The kitchen area was very small but is also on the left, in the back left corner across from the bar. There was a side door in the kitchen which leads to the parking lot.
The door to the right next to the stage was the dressing room, which was very small. This was where the dancer that was going on next would dress and get ready to dance. To the left was the bathroom.
When you first walked in, there was a a door to the right that leads to the apartment upstairs.
The dancers would come out in sexy gowns or clothes and gradually shed clothing as they danced to the music. By the end of their set, they would be naked. After their sets, the dancers would sit at the tables with customers. The clusters could buy dancers drinks. The girls would earn a percentage of the drink the customer bought them as a commission.
The Club closed at the end of 2015 for operating without running water, the club deteriorated before closing. The Heroin epidemic had brought drugs to the area. Many residents in the West End said The Carousel had become a haven for drugs and prostitution.
The bar reopened in 2017 after a major overall. It passed all inspections and opened as a bar. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams released a short statement that The Carousel Club got every permit it needed to open, but the city would monitor activity and make sure there were no illegal activities. Without any dancers, the bar eventually closed again. It is now currently up for sale.
BACHELOR’S BAIT
Bachelor's Bait was a college bar/Disco which opened in 1973 - as Disco was gaining popularity throughout the country!
It was located at 22nd Street & Third Avenue - where the softball field for Marshall's Lady Herd now plays their games.
The "Bait" was a huge dance club with its own raised dance floor with pulsating lights keeping beat to the music through the plexiglass dance floor along with the obligatory disco ball hanging from the ceiling.
Jeff Heath, a college student at Marshall, opened the "Bait" and it was so large that it could hold a thousand Disco crazed college students. These students could saunter up to a 75 foot long bar where they could order their favorite alcoholic beverages
(eg. Singapore Slings, Tequila Sunrises, etc) or their favorite beer (of which the newly introduced Miller Lite was quickly discovered by the students, whereupon the "Bait" sold more Lite beer than any other club in the state)!
Jeff was well known throughout the college community and was devastated when he & his three younger siblings lost both parents on November 14, 1970 in the Marshall Football Team Plane Crash disaster. However within three years, the "Bait" became a reality and an instant smash where dancing & alcoholic beverages could now be offered to those customers who had become 18 years of age - basically everybody at Marshall! In the beginning, waitresses were used to deliver drink orders & pitchers of Bacardi & Coke - however the crowds became so large that these waitresses quickly became bartenders and the monogramed pitchers soon ended up on the shelves in the student dorm rooms on campus!
The hottest new music (via 33LP's) was being rushed down from the discos in New York City, whereupon the students could hear & dance to the latest disco hits. Live bands were also brought in from across the country such as Detroit's Four Mints &
NYC's Jive Time, along with the Carolina beach sounds from the Tams..! The "Bait" was also kept hoppin' by local personality, Sky Fisher, who served as the Club DJ & disco dancer extraordinaire.
On one particular wintry day during the "Blizzard of 75", Marshall had called off classes and the "Bait" had previously advertised an all day - all the beer you could drink special - for only one dollar. Obviously, the special went over exceedingly well and since there were no windows throughout the "Bait" the students were totally unaware of how bad the snow drifts had become and many a student had a cold snowy trek back to their dorm rooms and more than likely, quite a few students probably slept through their alarm clocks and missed their classes that day..!
Jeff married Sally Wolfe in 1975 and sold the legendary "Bait", which would later become the Inferno.
HARRY’S OLD COACHMAN’S CLUB
The Old Coachman’s Club, or as most people called t Harry’s stood on 1897 9th Street. The building as since been remodeled and sits next to 9th Street Diner and around the corner from the Downtown branch of Huntington Bank. The Old Coachman’s Club saw its busiest times in the mid to late 1980’s
The bar was owned by Harry Hill. Harry had just one arm. Everyone who came into the bar respected Harry. Harry’s sons helped him operate the bar.
The legend was that a trolley car was built into the back of the bar. Something else was different about the bar. Once you rang the door buzzer, you were greeted by a doorman and taken into a foyer. Once inside this locked foyer, the patron would be checked for their identification. Then, once the doorman was satisfied with the patron’s identification, he would let the patron into the bar.
The doorman would use the peep hole in the door to make sure it was not the police department at the door. The Old Coachman’s Club was called “an after hours bar”. When other bars and clubs were shutting down after 2 or 3 o’clock, Harry’s was coming to life. Partners from other Cubs would leave the closing clubs and head to Harry’s.
Harry’s would be crowded until morning. If there was a good poker game going, they may not close for a couple of days. It was not unusual for customers to leave the bar rubbing their eyes as they walked into the morning sun.
As the foyer door opened, bar patrons entered a club that was surprisingly well lit. To the right was the bar which served liquor and beer all night into the next day. To the left at the front of the club was a blackjack table. There was also often a dice game. These games were played with real money and went on all night.
In the back room was a table which featured an invitation only poker game.
The bar also had a pool table and a Juke box. For years, AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” would play several times a night and skip in the same spot.
Outside, The Huntington Police Department would regularly cruise out front of the club. They were aware of the illegal activities going on inside of the bar but rarely raid it.
In the late 80s as a new mayoral administration took over and a Herald Dispatch article chronicled the activities of several “after-hours bars, the frequency of the raids increased until Harry closed the bar.
Although there were many after hours clubs over the years, Harry’s and bars operated by Leo Combs (Leo’s) are the clubs most talked about when people talked about a time when Huntington partied all night.
HERITAGE STATION
The Heritage Station was located in the old B&O Railroad train station which was built in 1887 by The Huntington and Big Sandy Railroad which later became the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
The historic train station was preserved by a group of concerned citizens during the 1970s. The preservation was a shining example of what government can accomplish when it works together on the state, federal, and local levels. The property at the time was managed by Urban Renewal, who turned it over to The Huntington Park Board. The Cabell Wayne Historical society was also instrumental in saving the building which was going to be demolished as a common area to a new civic center project. Jim and Mickey St. Clair headed up the project to save the train station. The Hood family also provided plumbing on the project and The C&O Railroad also donated a steam engine, a Tender car, and a Pullman car. Governor Rockefeller sent a representative that provided funds for brick pavements, gazebo, and other items for preservation.
The Heritage Station Restaurant and Bar opened in April of 1978. The renovation of the interior train station was completed by Karry Harrison and family members and took two years to complete.
As you entered in Heritage Station; the first room featured a fireplace, couches, chairs, and a hostess stand with an old telephone switchboard. This was originally an old passenger waiting room. To the left was a baggage room with the old baggage scales. This became the main dining room. To the far back was The Pullman room which featured real Pullman seats for dining. Next to this room was The Backgammon Room, which was one of the most requested rooms in the station.
After entering the front door, there was a ticket room where passengers actucally purchased tickets. It became a small dining room, too. Moving to the next room to the far right, was the most popular room - the barroom.
The star of the barroom was an old twenty- foot long antique bar made by the Brunswick Collender Company in the 1880s.
It also had a solid brass bar rail, foot rail, and draft beer dispensers. Draft beers were served in frosted Mason jars. To the far right of the room we’re large double doors that led to a large outdoor bar and dining area under a large awning.
Heritage Station was sold in 1996.
Bobbie’s UL
Bobbie’s University Lounge sat close to the Uptowner Inn on 1441 4th Avenue. Bobbie’s UL was the name of the lady who bought it from the original owner. In the 1960, 1970, early 80s, it was owned and operated by Felix Hage and his son Ralph. It was a local neighborhood bar and the main hangout for the TKE fraternity across the alley behind the Uptowner.
Felix was a member of the prominent Hage family in Huntington. His brother Raymond was a well known businessman and Board of Education member. His brother Cam owned Cam's Ham.
Linda Milum commented on Bobbie’s UL, “ Worked at Bobby’s UL. Could only sell beer at that time so she kept a bottle of bourbon hidden for me and her! Great times there”
Bobbie’s was sold to Bob and Jane Warf in the mid 90s. The name changed to The Stadium Lounge.
The bar hasn’t changed much over the years. Patrons ring the door bell and are let in the front door. There was a pool table in the front room. The bar sits to the left and a juke box to the right.
THE WAREHOUSE
Dirk Harrison was managing Yancy’s when he decided he would like to own his own club. Dirk and his family had previously owned Snak’s Fifth Avenue. He had also helped his brother Karry renovate Heritage Station from the B&O Railroad Train Station.
He went out looking at buildings and came upon a huge building on 15th Street and 3rd Avenue. He went down to the courthouse and looked up the owner. Dirk discovered Tom Wolfe owned it. He called Tom and the owner agreed to rent it to him.
Someone asked Dirk why he named it the Warehouse. He said, “Look at it. It is a Warehouse. Why call it anything else?”
In 1992, The Warehouse was opened. Dirk went broke renovating the club. He did not have the money to afford a liquor license so his plan was to just sell beer until he could afford to buy the liquor license. The Warehouse sold enough beer on opening day to afford to buy the liquor license on the second day.
Right inside the front door was a three level dance floor. There was a five foot wooden Marco sign. Holes were drilled into the sign and fog for the dance floor would come out from the holes. The dance floor at The Warehouse would soon become a legend.
Behind the massive dance floor was a DJ booth.
Then to the right was a horseshoe shaped bar, They had a Lanakai frozen drink machine.There was a beer bar close to the bar that sold just beer.
The Warehouse would often feature “ The Luge Slide”. This was a five foot block of ice and carved into it was a sidewinding path. Liquor was poured down the path and into the patron’s mouth. The drinker would know the luge was over when a gummy bear popped into their mouth.
Upstairs the club had four pool tables and another bar.
There were baskets inside and outside the huge club. Volley ball games also were played and there was a horseshoe pit.
They were basketball tournaments held in the alley behind the club. Many times, customers were go outside and partake in a game of basketball.
The Warehouse was a true Huntington legend. Everyone has a happy story about the Warehouse. It closed in 1998 after a 6 year run. It later became a 7 11 convenience store. The store later closed.
TAVERN OFF THE GREEN
Tavern Off The Green or Caz’s, as it was commonly called, was a popular bar close to Marshall’s Campus in the 90s. The bar was where Now Hear This is on 14th Street and 4th Avenue. Next to it was Verb’s Dugout. Patrons would walk back and forth between the two bars.
Popular school teacher John Castlegrande was the owner. John had a New York accent but was a huge supporter of Marshall sports. Two former Marshall football players who went on to play pro football worked there. Terry Echols, Steelers, and Sam Manos, Bengals, both worked at Tavern Off The Green.
Soon as a patron walked through the glass doors, they were carded by the doorman. There was a pool table off to the left. Along the left side of the tavern was a long bar that stretched almost all the way to the back. Caz had a bunch of high school and college helmets displayed behind the bar.
Straight back to the back of the building were the bathrooms. To the left of the pool table there was an opening that lead to another long room that had video games with the Golden Tee being at the very back. It was also the most popular game.
Wednesday nights were dollar pitchers. It was Natty.
Van Halen’s David Lee Roth visited after a concert.
Marshall athletes regularly hung out there. Caz’s was considered a sports bar as well as a college bar. Caz’s closed in the early 2000s.
ROPER’S
Roper’s emerged on the Huntington bar scene in 1993 as the country music line dancing craze was spreading. The former home of the Inferno on 3rd Avenue became the new home of the Boot Scooting Boogie, cowboy hats, and big name country artist. The club was owned by Tom Lucas and Brett Rize.
Confederate Railroad, David Allan Coe, Mark Collie, John and Audrey Wiggins, and Johnny Wiggins performed live at the club.
Up and comer Tim McGraw also played. Roper’s manager Ronald “RT” Thomas recalls, “McGraw’s manager agreed for Tim to play for $3,600. The next day, “Indian Outlaw” hit number one and his manager said he will never play another show for under $25,000 again.”
Thomas recalled, “ McGraw came in with a bandanna on and asked if we had any of that new Bud Light Ice. We sat and drank and talked for 2 or 3 hours.
Thomas talked of another country music star that came but never played. RT and his friend Tommy Dawson were cleaning up the bar on a Sunday afternoon as the bar was closed. They had been cleaning, playing pinball, and drinking Coors Light Ponies that they had brought. They had been there for hours and were already intoxicated when the phone rang. It was Marty Stuart’s manager. Marty Stuart wanted to see the club. So Marty and his manager came to the closed bar and ended up partying until around 3 in the morning.
Toby Keith also came to Roper’s and hung out a while after playing a show at The Huntington Civic Center.
Managing Roper’s was an experience that changed RT’s life. He met his future wife there. They are still married. His friend Shawn Fuelheart was a bartender and Brett Swingar was a DJ. They met their wives at Roper’s as well and are still married. Randy “Redwoods” Gibbs was also a bartender. Former Marshall football star Kurt Nethercutt was a bouncer and Johnny Ray Rice Jr. was head bouncer.
RT tells how Roper’s landed a mechanical bull. “Ronnie Meyers had been trying to get my gaming business but we were using a company out of Ironton. Ronnie asked me how he could get my business. I told him to get me a mechanical bull. The next day there was a mechanical bull from Gilley’s in my bar and all of the pool tables and machines were in the parking lot waiting for the company from Ironton to pick them up.”
In addition to the mechanical bull, the club also had a life sized mechanical horse. A patron could sit on the horse and a robot calf would run out and the patron could rope the calf like they were in a rodeo.
The bar also had a punching bag machine that patrons could see how hard they could punch.
The club also featured line dancing lessons.
After walking into Roper’s there was a Parquet dance floor. There was a little bar next to the dance floor and a big bar across from the floor
Roper’s closed in 1996. It was later knocked down and is the current home of The Marshall Lady Herd softball team.
The Valhalla
For decades The Valhalla Club and The Bob Ton stood side by side, basically the same building on 741 6th Avenue. Around 1984 the dividing wall was taking out and after a huge remodel, it became one bar - The Valhalla.
Bud Nichols owned both clubs and it was easier to have one club and one license.
As the Valhalla. after walking in the entrance, there was a huge U shapes bar that split the club into two sides. The were booths and tables on each side.
Walking in the front door and moving to the left, there was a dance floor where bands would play. Back against the wall to the left was an old phone booth with a pay phone. It had a seat and the person making a call could close the door and block off the music from the band playing.
In 2006, The Valhalla was sold. The club was completely remodeled and became The V Club. COVID hurt The V Club and it was sold and is now The Loud.