The owners of Robert’s Western World said actions like that won’t be tolerated at their bar.
*****
Sorry, but when somebody describes the place as a honky-tonk, I'm envisioning fights inside, unshaven bartenders in dirty wife beaters, bouncers flinging unruly customers out the door and into the street, stages screened in with chicken wire, bullet holes in walls, skanky barflies, shit like that. It's a place where a man goes for some action, not a relaxing drink.
Kenny, your description may be accurate but know that most every restaurant has a theme. Here, honky tonk is the theme and is as real as an urban cowboy.
ReplyDeleteMy sister took me to a 'cowboy saloon' in Santa Barbara County. The band actually performed a lively Orange Blossom Special. Other than that, I made loud fun of the Hollywood 'cowboys' present. A bunch of pretenders pretending to other pretenders.
Used to read a site where a guy would ride his bike around to various places. Saw a sign on a building claiming it was the best biker bar in the area - which was all upscale. So he stopped and went inside. The bartender, man-bun and all, saw him step in and had a look of horror show up on his face. It was all an advertising gimmick, they didn't expect a real biker to stop by.
DeleteYou've aptly described what we refer to as "Punch Palaces" where I'm from!
ReplyDeleteirontomflint
Yep. I remember going to "ladies night" on a Tuesday at a small western Ohio town in the late '90's. At about 10:00 the fights would start, and I would watch from the top of a table as the fists would fly. Had a buddy even get a broken nose, and all he did was play pool. Strange to say, but I miss those days. Probly because I was so much younger.
ReplyDeleteTell ya what, good buddy, if'n some unknown took a swing at me while I was playin pool, his head be crack by a pool cue. His buddy would get jabbed with the bleeding end. When I was younger.
DeleteI had my fun in my younger days. But fightin wasn't part of it. Although, several times some dood and me traded blows. But that was because he was harmless and I pulled my punches. I figured it was more fun to reel him in then let him out then reel him in again.
Today, being all stove in, I'd shoot the lot without a 2nd thought.
If you're in a bar and a fight breaks out you have the same two choices as you do when you're playing football and a pileup on the ballcarrier begins near you - jump in whole hog or get the hell away. If you don't do either you will, almost without exception, be caught up in it and hurt.
DeleteShell
In South Carolina in the 1980's we called them juke joints. Cinder block walls, one door, no windows. That place sounds like what Lewis Grizzard would call a "Fern Bar".
ReplyDeleteTomOldGuy
Reminds me of a few times I manged to get out alive.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite bar in Ohio growing up was “Ringside Cafe.” That’s what it turned into every Friday and Saturday night. Back in the days of 3.2 beer for 18 year olds. Once you got through the door you could order (literally) anything. Good times.
ReplyDelete