Howdy y’all! I’m the Big Tulsan, and it’s mighty fine to meet ya! My good buddy, Todd, and I have called T-Town home for a very long time. I’ve been around so long I have fond memories of having fun at places like Cimarron Ballroom, the Orpheum and, of course, riding the Wildcat at Bell’s Amusement Park. I’ll never forget fun meals at The Louisiane, Crystal’s Pizza and Utica 21 Club.
My hobbies? Meeting new folks and sharing my memories of Tulsa’s past as well as my thoughts on current happenings around town. Send me your burning questions about anything and everything pertaining to Tulsa. Send your questions to bigtulsan@tulsaflyer.org, and Todd and I will see what kind of fun we can get into by digging into the mail bags and responding to some of our favorite Qs.
Let’s get to this week’s question.
Dear Big Tulsan,
“We’ve lost so many locations that were once happy hangouts for happy hour in Tulsa. We enjoyed The Boston Avenue Market, Cardo’s Cadillac and others. Can you please list some other popular watering holes from the 1980s?” – Connie, south Tulsa
Why hello! I remember a Connie with dark brown hair and known for her long legs, who used to hang out at Cardo’s and drink $1 scotch. Could this be you?!?! To be honest, my memory is a bit hazy from the fun times we all had back then when Tulsa was much smaller, but some things still float up like that time TPD shot a man dead at Cardo’s on a snowy Christmas day.
You asked me to mention some other long-gone watering holes that I can recall, and more and more keep coming to mind the longer I sit here with Todd and talk to a few old-timers at a bar.
There was the 500 Club, Scotch Mist, Avalon, George’s Club and Palladium. I had great times at the Billabong, Windjammers, Sunset Grill and the original Arnie’s location on Cherry Street. No amount of whiskey shots could make me forget about some good times at Butterfield’s over at 51st and Memorial.
Of course 20th Century Electric Company was known for disco dancing in snowy conditions that seemed to travel across Tulsa to the Yucatan Liquor Stand, where I once saw Head East play a hell of a show.
We also can never forget all the incredible music we enjoyed with our drinks at Tulsa City Limits, Ziggy’s and Duke’s, where I remember seeing George Strait play a set. Then there was the first iteration of the Crystal Pistol and its punk shows. I was drunk as a skunk if you remember seeing me there moshing.
Then there was good ol’ Judy Booger who was well known for all the tricks she could go behind the bar — and on top of it — at Stables and Trapeze as well as at the Camelot. No amount of liquor can erase those fun memories from my mind.
I hope I’ve helped you remember some of the fun places we got to hang out in back in the ‘80s. Whew. Those were good times! Take care, Connie!
Cheers,
The Big Tulsan