I lived at 4036 Mcpherson behind weber chevrolet on lindell, 1960-65. My most fondest memory of that time, was to see a part of the tv show route 66 filmed on location. I was like wow, look at this. I was a young teen shining shoes up and down olive. those really were the days. The Veil Prophet parade would start in forest park and go all the way downtown, and my brother Tommy would order what seemed like a truck of crackerjacks for all of us to walk the route and sell along with peanuts. Man.
Gaslight Square rose up as a result of the February 1959 tornado that hit the area, I was living on Westminster place at the time, it sure was a grand time, I watched it rise, and watched it fall, an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. thanks for the post.
The area contained the seeds of its own undoing. The atmosphere eventually attracted alcoholics, drug users, prostitutes, muggers, etc. By the late 1960s the area had gained a reputation for being unsafe and people stayed away.
My Mom worked at the Crystal Palace as a Cocktail Waitress in the late 50's to early 60's. I remember her talking about meeting Barbra Streisand, The Smothers Brothers, and Phillis Diller. I remember going to eat their then going to the theater section and seeing "The Boyfriend".
Sent this to my dad and he spotted himself in the video. He is in the lower left with the bow tie at 2:09-2:14 on the video. It brought back great memories for him. Wish they would bring something like that back so my son could experience it 60 years later!
When I first started going to Gaslight Square, for $3, you could see Barbara Streisand open for the Smothers Brothers. Phyllis Diller, Billy Peek, Dakota Staton, Bobby Timmons, Jackie Leonard,Chuck Berry, and many more entertained there. Annie Reckenberg was a Go Go girl at Whisky and Pepe's, and my friend Audrey Mashak was Miss Gaslight Square one year. The Sixty's were the best times since the beginning of the World and we will never see anything like them again. What a great life I've had!!!
This is amazing. My dad opened a restaurant named "Intermission 13" - on the north side of Olive street. My uncle Wade had a restaurant prior to that opening called "Port St. Louis". I still have two color portraits done there of my brother and I as well as some sourviners from gas light sq. That was back in 1964. Where did the time pass too? Thanks for putting this up here.
I was a musician in "The Four Taus" band at SIU (Carbondale)in the early 1960s who used to travel up to St. Louis to see and hear the great musicians at the Gaslight district. What great place it was and what great music! Thanks for posting this video.
Wow does this bring back some great memories. My parents friends had a club there and my step father was a singer. Gaslight was a very cool happening place. Now my son is a Jazz sax player and I think about how he would have loved the Gaslight district! Thanks for the video
What a shame the way Gaslight Square went. It was a great place to party.
Crime was the main reason for its demise.People coming down had to park on Westminster and McPherson and walk in the dark to the square. Robbery and rape became common and patrons of the night clubs began to dwindle.
Entertainment has found its way back to Gaslight Square this year. On Boyle, just north of Lindell, one can find the Gaslight Theater, house to the St. Louis Actors' Studio, as well as the West End Grill and Pub, a new restaurant opening this weekend, formerly the Dove Cafe.
In the early '60s I had just graduated from Mizzou and returned home to St. Louis to edit a suburban weekly. Two friends had apartments in a big Landesman-owned New Orleans-style building on the north side of Olive just west of Whittier. My weekends were spent there as a guest. I met so many incredible people, babysat for a showgirl at George Edick's Roaring '20s, enjoyed the excitement. Weekdays I'd come in for lunch at Carl's. 'Twas a beautiful dream, internationally famed. Still missed.
I lived at 4036 Mcpherson behind weber chevrolet on lindell, 1960-65. My most fondest memory of that time, was to see a part of the tv show route 66 filmed on location. I was like wow, look at this. I was a young teen shining shoes up and down olive. those really were the days. The Veil Prophet parade would start in forest park and go all the way downtown, and my brother Tommy would order what seemed like a truck of crackerjacks for all of us to walk the route and sell along with peanuts. Man.
tonkinshipwreck69 2 months ago
Gaslight Square rose up as a result of the February 1959 tornado that hit the area, I was living on Westminster place at the time, it sure was a grand time, I watched it rise, and watched it fall, an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. thanks for the post.
TheAlliswell 7 months ago
The area contained the seeds of its own undoing. The atmosphere eventually attracted alcoholics, drug users, prostitutes, muggers, etc. By the late 1960s the area had gained a reputation for being unsafe and people stayed away.
globalnettuber 1 year ago
OcConnels also had bagpipers leading people into the restaurant.
Streetcar1743 1 year ago
My uncle was a backup musician from the 50's-70's and worked in many clubs through out St.Louis and E.St.Louis.Whoa,the stories he can tell!
goldensassenach 1 year ago
My Mom worked at the Crystal Palace as a Cocktail Waitress in the late 50's to early 60's. I remember her talking about meeting Barbra Streisand, The Smothers Brothers, and Phillis Diller. I remember going to eat their then going to the theater section and seeing "The Boyfriend".
lauradominey 1 year ago
Shame on ALL who run to St. Peters, or Whentzville! Let's stick with Saint Louis!
58CHIEFTAIN 1 year ago
Sent this to my dad and he spotted himself in the video. He is in the lower left with the bow tie at 2:09-2:14 on the video. It brought back great memories for him. Wish they would bring something like that back so my son could experience it 60 years later!
remaxginger 2 years ago
When I first started going to Gaslight Square, for $3, you could see Barbara Streisand open for the Smothers Brothers. Phyllis Diller, Billy Peek, Dakota Staton, Bobby Timmons, Jackie Leonard,Chuck Berry, and many more entertained there. Annie Reckenberg was a Go Go girl at Whisky and Pepe's, and my friend Audrey Mashak was Miss Gaslight Square one year. The Sixty's were the best times since the beginning of the World and we will never see anything like them again. What a great life I've had!!!
KirkwoodKen 2 years ago
black crime only copy after the white crimes like al capone , baby face nelson , bonnie and clyde .. you name it ..etc
robaarm 2 years ago
Petit Pigalle! Crystal Palace! Wow.
T9XWRL 2 years ago
This is amazing. My dad opened a restaurant named "Intermission 13" - on the north side of Olive street. My uncle Wade had a restaurant prior to that opening called "Port St. Louis". I still have two color portraits done there of my brother and I as well as some sourviners from gas light sq. That was back in 1964. Where did the time pass too? Thanks for putting this up here.
thekman714 3 years ago
Cannot we call it what it was? Crime killed Gaslight Square. Black crime that is.
williamnolin 3 years ago
I was a musician in "The Four Taus" band at SIU (Carbondale)in the early 1960s who used to travel up to St. Louis to see and hear the great musicians at the Gaslight district. What great place it was and what great music! Thanks for posting this video.
drharv4tau 3 years ago
Great historic video.
bethsheeba3 3 years ago
Wow does this bring back some great memories. My parents friends had a club there and my step father was a singer. Gaslight was a very cool happening place. Now my son is a Jazz sax player and I think about how he would have loved the Gaslight district! Thanks for the video
laxphotos 3 years ago
What a shame the way Gaslight Square went. It was a great place to party.
Crime was the main reason for its demise.People coming down had to park on Westminster and McPherson and walk in the dark to the square. Robbery and rape became common and patrons of the night clubs began to dwindle.
eold2412 3 years ago 3
What a shame, and loss. Even if it's rekindled, it's a different time. Interesting, thanks.
cheeseeveryday 3 years ago
Entertainment has found its way back to Gaslight Square this year. On Boyle, just north of Lindell, one can find the Gaslight Theater, house to the St. Louis Actors' Studio, as well as the West End Grill and Pub, a new restaurant opening this weekend, formerly the Dove Cafe.
MidnightRush2007 3 years ago
In the early '60s I had just graduated from Mizzou and returned home to St. Louis to edit a suburban weekly. Two friends had apartments in a big Landesman-owned New Orleans-style building on the north side of Olive just west of Whittier. My weekends were spent there as a guest. I met so many incredible people, babysat for a showgirl at George Edick's Roaring '20s, enjoyed the excitement. Weekdays I'd come in for lunch at Carl's. 'Twas a beautiful dream, internationally famed. Still missed.
waynebrasler 4 years ago
The narrator sounds like a little girl.
Ruins the nice photos you have.
Gaslightsqyare 4 years ago