KETC | Living St. Louis | Gaslight Square

From KETC, LIVING ST. LOUIS Producer Margie Newman looks back at the part of St. Louis known as Gaslight Square—a nightlife hotspot during the 1950's and 1960's. Although there were plenty of popular cabarets and clubs, Gaslight Square fell into disrepair as reports of the crimes committed scared patrons away. For 30 years, the area sat vacant, but companies and residents are starting to move back.

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Travel & Events

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• KETC
• LivingStLouis
• StLouis
• GaslightSquare
• MargieNewman

[eold2412]

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.

[thekman714]

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.

[tonkinshipwreck69]

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.

[TheAlliswell]

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.

[globalnettuber]

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.

[Streetcar1743]

OcConnels also had bagpipers leading people into the restaurant.

[goldensassenach]

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!

[lauradominey]

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".

[58CHIEFTAIN]

Shame on ALL who run to St. Peters, or Whentzville! Let's stick with Saint Louis!

[remaxginger]

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!

[KirkwoodKen]

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!!!

[robaarm]

black crime only copy after the white crimes like al capone , baby face nelson , bonnie and clyde .. you name it ..etc