Claeys: R.I.P. smoke-filled bars
By Jesse Claeys Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008
Know who I don't feel sorry for right now? Used ashtray dealers. While I'm not certain these people actually exist, the Iowa market is booming with an overabundance of supply and not a hint of demand.
As Bob Dylan might say, "times they are a changin'." Smokers seem to be the new lepers and the smoke-filled bar -- arguably as much a part of our culture as apple pie -- is now a thing of the past.
The smoke-filled bar, a place that had long welcomed in the least of us and offended the self-proclaimed best of us, has died. I'm wondering why no obit has been written.
Here, I present the obituary for Iowa's -- and the rest of the nation's, for that matter -- smoky taverns and pubs:
Smoky Bar, the illegitimate child of Philip Morris, died July 1 of a lengthy illness. Smoky's age was unknown.
Although his roots stretch back to colonial times (some say a lodge outside of Jamestown, Va. in 1608), Smoky rose to fame in the 1940s, '50s and '60s, as his influence in Hollywood found him rubbing shoulders with the likes of Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, Bette Davis and others. He is said to have left his mark on millions, some of whom are still trying to wash his odor out of their sweaters.
"It's not going to be the same around here without him," said James Beam, a longtime associate and frequent coworker. "I feel like all of us, every single one of us, will and should feel some sort of remorse due to his passing."
Smoky's legacy, according to Beam, Jack Daniels and another associate who simply goes by the name "Captain" Morgan, will be debated for decades. He inspired poets and authors, captured the eyes of filmmakers, witnessed the birth of relationships, the demise of many more and the repair of a few, they remembered. He is also said to have negatively impacted the health of the willing and the unwilling.
Through it all he remained a man of dark mystery.
"I always advised people to use caution around Smoky," Daniels recalled. "Although he'd spend time with anyone, one thing was certain -- anything, and I mean anything, could happen. Often it wouldn't be pretty."
Smoky was said to be a champion for individual rights, a dirty, smelly and often loud man who didn't care much for rules and simply asked that everyone be entitled to do mostly what they wanted when they wanted to -- if they had a few bucks in their pocket.
"Smoky told me he was worried what would happen once he passed," Morgan said. "Without him around he saw a world where everything was sort of sterile, lacking the grime of humanity that he saw as a spice of life. Well, there's always casinos, I guess."
Survivors include several ex-wives; no children that he knew of; sisters Salad Bar and Martini Bar; and brother Biker Bar.
Jesse Claeys can be reached at 712-293-4221 or jesseclaeys@siouxcityjournal.com
As Bob Dylan might say, "times they are a changin'." Smokers seem to be the new lepers and the smoke-filled bar -- arguably as much a part of our culture as apple pie -- is now a thing of the past.
The smoke-filled bar, a place that had long welcomed in the least of us and offended the self-proclaimed best of us, has died. I'm wondering why no obit has been written.
Here, I present the obituary for Iowa's -- and the rest of the nation's, for that matter -- smoky taverns and pubs:
Smoky Bar, the illegitimate child of Philip Morris, died July 1 of a lengthy illness. Smoky's age was unknown.
Although his roots stretch back to colonial times (some say a lodge outside of Jamestown, Va. in 1608), Smoky rose to fame in the 1940s, '50s and '60s, as his influence in Hollywood found him rubbing shoulders with the likes of Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, Bette Davis and others. He is said to have left his mark on millions, some of whom are still trying to wash his odor out of their sweaters.
"It's not going to be the same around here without him," said James Beam, a longtime associate and frequent coworker. "I feel like all of us, every single one of us, will and should feel some sort of remorse due to his passing."
Smoky's legacy, according to Beam, Jack Daniels and another associate who simply goes by the name "Captain" Morgan, will be debated for decades. He inspired poets and authors, captured the eyes of filmmakers, witnessed the birth of relationships, the demise of many more and the repair of a few, they remembered. He is also said to have negatively impacted the health of the willing and the unwilling.
Through it all he remained a man of dark mystery.
"I always advised people to use caution around Smoky," Daniels recalled. "Although he'd spend time with anyone, one thing was certain -- anything, and I mean anything, could happen. Often it wouldn't be pretty."
Smoky was said to be a champion for individual rights, a dirty, smelly and often loud man who didn't care much for rules and simply asked that everyone be entitled to do mostly what they wanted when they wanted to -- if they had a few bucks in their pocket.
"Smoky told me he was worried what would happen once he passed," Morgan said. "Without him around he saw a world where everything was sort of sterile, lacking the grime of humanity that he saw as a spice of life. Well, there's always casinos, I guess."
Survivors include several ex-wives; no children that he knew of; sisters Salad Bar and Martini Bar; and brother Biker Bar.
Jesse Claeys can be reached at 712-293-4221 or jesseclaeys@siouxcityjournal.com
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sportbikerider wrote on Jul 12, 2008 7:04 PM:
mrb wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:14 PM:
Smokey Supporter wrote on Jul 12, 2008 2:01 AM:
sportbikerider wrote on Jul 11, 2008 11:05 PM:
Rita wrote on Jul 11, 2008 11:01 PM:
Freedom of choice doesn't have to be such a burden. Great obit JC. "