1.Built in the 1940s, the Kehoe building was converted by the Fey Brothers (whose
grandfather invented the slot machine) to a bar in December 1955. Named the Swinging
Door, there were two swinging doors at the entrance. Price for a 12 oz mug of beer was 20
cents!
2.Early 1956 saw World War Two pinup girl Betty Grable and bandleader Harry James
frequent the bar. They had horses running at Bay Meadows at the time.
3.The upstairs dance floor was installed in 1956 to accommodate a dance school which
lasted for several years.
4. A young and struggling group named the Kingston Trio played upstairs in1957.
5.The usual tranquility of the barroom was momentarily disturbed when a tear gas bomb
was lobbed into the bar in 1958.
6.Famous jockey Willie Shoemaker dropped in during the 1958 racing season.
7.A seat-belt was installed on the pillar near the bar for those who wanted to “buckle-up”
before driving.
8.Hugh Courtney hung the first bristle dartboard in the bar in 1963 and the following year the
first All-Star match was played here between San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles Area
dart teams.
9. A Go-Go dancer did her thing in 1964 while patrons talked about Carol Doda, the Beatles,
and Vietnam.
10.Later in 1964 actor Ronald Reagan bought the bar a round in his hunt for political office.
11.Longtime regular Ash White treated newly elected Congressman Pete McClosky to a
drink after the 1964 elections.
12.The present Bird of Paradise “tree” was planted by Len Titus in 1966–when it was 18″ tall.
Now it is the tallest in Northern California.
13.All through these years the bar underwent many changes and many owners. Always a
beer bar, beer drinkers of repute (Carl, Joe, Wolf, Auggie, Len, Ralph, Ash, Hugh, Red, Jake,
Helen, Harry, Stan, Toots, Hubbard, Mike, etc.) have been familiar faces on both sides of the
taps. Keeping the action hot on the dartboards has been darters (Hugh, Ralph, Trevor, Al,
Terry, Walt, Parker, Phil, Dereck, Brian, etc.) of great and not-so-great repute.
14. Around 1969 an irate person delivered a gunshot from the street through the front door
and into the end of the bar–fortunately the bar was closed.
15.Shut down for several months, the bar was reopened in 1971 by Ken Gilley as the Prince
of Wales with the present British decor.
16.Popping in and out through 1970–1973 was the famous crooner, Bing Crosby, as he
would quietly sip a beer at the kitchen end of the bar. During this time the fantastic Windsor
Burger and delicious Fish & Chips were starting to gain local fame.
grandfather invented the slot machine) to a bar in December 1955. Named the Swinging
Door, there were two swinging doors at the entrance. Price for a 12 oz mug of beer was 20
cents!
2.Early 1956 saw World War Two pinup girl Betty Grable and bandleader Harry James
frequent the bar. They had horses running at Bay Meadows at the time.
3.The upstairs dance floor was installed in 1956 to accommodate a dance school which
lasted for several years.
4. A young and struggling group named the Kingston Trio played upstairs in1957.
5.The usual tranquility of the barroom was momentarily disturbed when a tear gas bomb
was lobbed into the bar in 1958.
6.Famous jockey Willie Shoemaker dropped in during the 1958 racing season.
7.A seat-belt was installed on the pillar near the bar for those who wanted to “buckle-up”
before driving.
8.Hugh Courtney hung the first bristle dartboard in the bar in 1963 and the following year the
first All-Star match was played here between San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles Area
dart teams.
9. A Go-Go dancer did her thing in 1964 while patrons talked about Carol Doda, the Beatles,
and Vietnam.
10.Later in 1964 actor Ronald Reagan bought the bar a round in his hunt for political office.
11.Longtime regular Ash White treated newly elected Congressman Pete McClosky to a
drink after the 1964 elections.
12.The present Bird of Paradise “tree” was planted by Len Titus in 1966–when it was 18″ tall.
Now it is the tallest in Northern California.
13.All through these years the bar underwent many changes and many owners. Always a
beer bar, beer drinkers of repute (Carl, Joe, Wolf, Auggie, Len, Ralph, Ash, Hugh, Red, Jake,
Helen, Harry, Stan, Toots, Hubbard, Mike, etc.) have been familiar faces on both sides of the
taps. Keeping the action hot on the dartboards has been darters (Hugh, Ralph, Trevor, Al,
Terry, Walt, Parker, Phil, Dereck, Brian, etc.) of great and not-so-great repute.
14. Around 1969 an irate person delivered a gunshot from the street through the front door
and into the end of the bar–fortunately the bar was closed.
15.Shut down for several months, the bar was reopened in 1971 by Ken Gilley as the Prince
of Wales with the present British decor.
16.Popping in and out through 1970–1973 was the famous crooner, Bing Crosby, as he
would quietly sip a beer at the kitchen end of the bar. During this time the fantastic Windsor
Burger and delicious Fish & Chips were starting to gain local fame.
The Swingin' Door was a Hang-out for noteworthy folk in San Mateo
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Would you like to win a private
party for you and 50 of your
friends? Email
Warren@TheSwinginDoor.com
to register
party for you and 50 of your
friends? Email
Warren@TheSwinginDoor.com
to register
| The Swingin Door |