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Dayton Memories > Dayton Nightclubs in the 70's-80's
Dayton Nightclubs in the 70's-80's
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meltdown
1 post
Apr 09, 2015
4:51 PM
ok I was hanging around livin grew up in Dayton over at elpaso ave off salem 2 places not mentioned here and I was one small handfull the best foosball players during 70-80s in Dayton , the others were daros on main street and funway freeway salem mall man the memories I got iwas all over,, anyways thank for sharing memories,, ill never forget
Pkennell
1 post
Apr 11, 2015
7:50 AM
Hi everyone, I truly love reading these memories. So I've owned Timothy's since 1996. Can you believe the business is now 50 yrs old! We are looking to celebrate its history with a remodel that brings the building into the future without forgetting it's history. I'd love to hear more of what you remembered from your time there. Maybe it's about a drink or something you once ate there. I'd love to know how the original bar was laided out. Or something more personal about the original owner/bartender. Did you guys know there is an upstairs? Not sure it was ever opened but would love to know about how that space was used. Also, I've learned before Timothy's it was know as the Rebicon Bar. Anyone here ever frequent that business? Also we found a very old neon sign in the basement with the name "double 18 lounge." I'd guess it's at least 75 years old. I'm sure there is a story ther too, just not sure if I'll ever learn it.
joey m
354 posts
Apr 11, 2015
9:50 AM
Pkennell I knew the owners in the 70's & 80's. Tony & gary were friends of mine and they frequented my restaurant back then. They also owned Newcom's down in the Oregon District with two other friends. I think the previous name was the Rubicon bar or lounge.
miles away
21 posts
May 01, 2015
11:22 AM
Hey JG: Remember the Roadrunner Lounge? Are you kidding? As far as I'm concerned that joint put ALPHA on the map (who needs Beavercreek?) I think I stopped by several dozen times during 1980-81, after clocking out from work in one of the little factories (I won't say which one) across Dayton-Xenia Road. The place was a riot; always packed, great for shooting pool after work with the guys, and usually good music on the weekends. I wasn't big into Country back then, but I always appreciated a live show and the atmosphere it created.

One night I shut the place down with one of the mechanics at work. We clock out of work at 7 pm, drop by the Roadrunner, end up shooting the breeze and BS'ing until Last Call, and then go out to our cars covered with six inches of snow! We laughed our drunken butts off until we realized we had to drive home in that.

I saw the live news bulletin on the TV above the bar announcing John Lennon's murder in December 1980. The place was packed and I couldn't hear what was being said, but I could tell it was big news. I yelled SHUT UP! at everyone so I could hear what the announcer was saying. Everyone in that joint could have beat me to a pulp, but I yelled so loud and dead serious that everyone got real quiet and listened too. News flash over, we all started drinking and shooting pool again.

The Roadrunner was one of the few places where someone pulled a gun on me; on old dude who figured out I was hitting on his young girlfriend (that's what I call the "Baby Sitter story" and I'll tell it to you some day if you buy me a beer in, like, a foreign country, but it's beyond the scope of this string.) I was having a few drinks after work with the mechanic I mentioned earlier; he pulled me out of harm's way in the nick of time. I never saw the old dude or the baby sitter again.

I enjoyed the Roadrunner at the height of my irresponsible youth. Not long after those days I was married with children, moved away, following jobs from state to state, and the last time I drove by the Roadrunner's old spot a year or so ago, it was obviously gone away too. Like Lynyrd Skynyrd sang in Mr. Breeze "I might go out to California, or down to Georgia, I don't know..." If he's still around, please thank your grandfather for me; it was a great place.
jamesjohnson1970
44 posts
May 10, 2015
8:21 PM
Anybody remember The Purple Onion on Free Pike? Had an uncle who used to go in there. Seemed liked an odd name. Think it had purple lighting inside. Never got the part about onions though.
Don't think it was a nightclub in the sense of bands playing, but could be wrong on that. Think it had clantily scad girls as waitresses.

Last Edited by jamesjohnson1970 on May 10, 2015 8:55 PM
luv my dayton
994 posts
May 20, 2015
1:57 PM
Purple onion was a go-go bar which were big back then.Did you by chance ever go to a place called The Way out Lounge I believe was out on N. Dixie? They have been replaced with your strip clubs of today.
pathfinder
1 post
May 21, 2015
12:27 PM
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The Purple Onion was indeed a go-go bar.I dated a lady that used to work there.There was a record shop upstairs.The purple onion was replaced by a VFW Post.She worked there,too.The VFW moved upstairs to where the bookstore was in the '80's I think,and guess what?She is STILL there!
Dwaine
5 posts
May 22, 2015
12:45 PM
Don't forget the Mayer's Head, just off Stewart St. and Brown St. With Tank (now owns Tank's) as security. Bob Leib (RIP) who owned it also opened the Mouse That Roared, the Troy Union Express and the Sunkin Lounge in Fairborn. I put the sound in at the Head.
Centerville had The Sure Thing, Bailiwicks became Obadiah's, ended up as Diamond's (built by the guys who owned the Living Room when it was a rock/dance bar). Centerville also had Waldo's (opened by the guys that opened Sweetwater) that is now a Goodwill store, met my wife at Waldo's.
Djed at the SHE, Living Room North (and Visions), Sweetwater, Bourbon Street on Brown, Waldo's, Jonathan's, Industrial at Palace Club Beavercreek and Industrial Thursday at 1470 WEST, with a stint as manager at Skyborn and Therapy Cafe.
Dayton has changed a lot, not all for the good. Many have moved or passed. Houses burn daily. But they torn down the hell-hole Parkside and that neighborhood is looking much more alive.
Let's go ride a bike, get drunk and party. In any order you like.
Goodbye.


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