Recent Comments

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Meta

The Twilight Lounge / Chippendolls, 1928 Rosewood Drive: 12 September 1997   105 comments

Posted at 11:46 pm in Uncategorized

This location, now a Gamecock memorabilia store, and apparently starting life as a college hang-out called The Twilight Lounge at one time housed one of the most controversial businesses in Columbia: Chippendolls, a nude dance club.

I'm not sure exactly when the place started. There is a very long and extremely dry 1995 legal opinion on Chippendolls's application for an ABC permit which suggests that the establishment became a strip club around 1988. I was living out of town for most of the period of the Chippendolls controversy, but my memory is that the club had the standard grumbles from the neighbors while it was a topless club, but was operating mostly below the radar of the city establishment as a whole.

That changed when the club decided to go from topless dancing to fully nude dancing. Apparently those few square inches of cloth made a big difference and trying to close the club became quite a local cause celebre for a while -- I believe there were a number of zoning efforts made to shut it down. Either one of them finally succeeded, or the club ran into trouble of its own making, as these places often do. For whatever reason, it has been gone for many years now. In fact, I was a bit surprised to see the 1995 date on the ABC action. If you had asked me, I would have said it hadn't lasted that long. The city continues to have a number of strip clubs, but I don't believe any dare to go bare now.

UPDATE 25 Aug 2009: Added The Twilight Lounge to the post title.

UPDATE 12 May 2010: Added the 1998 Bellsouth Yellow Pages ad for Chippendolls

UPDATE 10 June 2011: Changed the closing date in the post title to "12 September 1997" based on commenter Michelle's info. (Which made me relook at the phonebook mentioned above -- It's actually the Feb-97 through Feb-98 (ie mostly 1997) phonebook.

Written by ted on November 7th, 2008

Tagged with , , ,

105 Responses to 'The Twilight Lounge / Chippendolls, 1928 Rosewood Drive: 12 September 1997'

Subscribe to comments with RSS or TrackBack to 'The Twilight Lounge / Chippendolls, 1928 Rosewood Drive: 12 September 1997'.

  1. I just remember that they didn't have a ABC license, so you were supposed to bring your own coolers. As strip clubs go, it seemed like it would be bottom of the barrel.

    ChiefDanGeorge

    9 Nov 08 at 7:07 am

  2. Hmm,

    Well, they apparently *won* their permit at one time:

    For the reasons stated above it is hereby,

    ORDERED, that the application of S**** B*** and Chippendolls, Inc. for an on-premises beer and wine permit for its location at 1928 Rosewood Drive in Columbia, South Carolina is hereby GRANTED. Chippendolls is required to comply with S.C. Code Ann. § 61-9-410(4) (Supp. 1994) prior to the issuance of the permit. The Department shall issue the permit upon the payment of the appropriate fees and evidence by Chippendolls that it is complying with S.C. Code Ann. § 61-9-410(4) (Supp. 1994).

    AND IT IS SO ORDERED

    Perhaps it was appealed or challenged later.

    ted

    9 Nov 08 at 1:20 pm

  3. I remember the place when it was the Twilight. Was a very popular college bar for a while. They lost their permit because of neighborhood complaints, etc.

    At one time, Rosewood had almost an active nightlight as 5 Points and it was called the Rosewood Strip. Then sometime in the early to mid 80s the city of Columbia decided for some reason to "clean-up" Rosewood which meant getting rid of the numerous clubs that catered to USC that were there then. Keep in mind that the only people who had a problem with many, if not most, of these clubs were neighboring residents.

    I have heard rumors over the years of bribes, politcal dealings and other shady deals that put a large number of these honest business out of business. For this reason I have to chuckle at the seediness that came afterwards to the area.

    Tom

    9 Nov 08 at 1:38 pm

  4. My friends and I had many great times at Chippendolls. I think of it every time I pass that building.

    It was a wonderfully tacky place. Remember the wall of clear plastic bubble wand things?

    It was cheap (bring your own beer from the Piggly Wiggy across the street!), always packed with USC kids, dirty old men and everything in between, and had an endless rotation of girls who really did work there to pay their way through school.

    Dennis

    10 Nov 08 at 8:04 am

  5. We used to hit the clubs on Rosewood in the mid-seventies and always had fun. Great bands, a dollar cover, and 50¢ cold beer.

    The Copper Door
    The Left Guard
    The Tally Ho
    Jaco's
    The Rosewood Lounge (is that the right name?)
    The Purple Onion (top of the hill on Pickens St.)

    Dennis

    10 Nov 08 at 8:10 am

  6. I remember those clubs, spent many hours and lots of money. I remember friday afternoons sitting in the twilight when "Slim" brought in the still warm bushel basket of boiled p-nuts and didn't care how many you ate.. The best part was they were FREE! I played my first video game in the old Twilight, PONG. I also remember the Foosball tables and how good some of those guys were. Those were the days my friends - long ago and far away!
    Also, wasn't ther a bar down near the ROOST named the Tabard Inn?
    Thanks again for the memories.

    PAUL

    10 Nov 08 at 9:07 am

  7. I think the last time I was in there was around 97 or 98. I remember buying beer at the pig and being able to bring it in. It was a dive. I knew some of the girls who worked there and most were USC students trying to pay their bills.

    Mr Bill

    12 Nov 08 at 3:51 pm

  8. This is "Ciera" the original blonde, 36DD REAL one (there 89-97). Chippendolls WAS A VERY CLASSY place compared to strip clubs in Cola. today. PROSTITUTION WAS NOT ALLOWED AT CHIPPENDOLLS. We made soooo much $$$ thanks to the wonderful men in Columbia, so prostitution wasn't even in our minds. THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY REGULARS AND I MISS YOU ALL COLUMBIA!!!!! And another thing, I wore makeup,fantasy like costumes(Usually witchy cool rock stuff),used candles,loved to be controversal & danced to stuff like Queensryche,Megadeth,Dio,& The CRUE!

    Ciera

    21 Nov 08 at 11:49 am

  9. Ciera's comment brings up the other reason I have spent time in strip clubs -- it's the only place to hear 80s & 90s heavy metal really loud, on a good sound system. Really, where else are you going to hear Sandman?

    Dennis

    21 Nov 08 at 1:20 pm

  10. I remember the Tabbard Inn. I played there in 1977 with my first band called Peace & Music later, called the Music Connection. I remember another band that use to play there called Touch Stone. Their lead-singer (Vernon Young) went on to sing with Bill Pickney & the Drifters. Vernon died while on a cruise ship in Mexico with the Drifters. The club next door to the Tabbard was called the Library. Columbia legend Early Wilds played. Members of that band are all well know in Columbia now. Chuck McCorkle-brother of Marshal Tucker Guitarist George McCorkle; Sid Gattis-the guitar player owner of Gattis Pro Audio. Rick Belt-the drummer worked for Senheiser mics. Anyway, when Roy Beck owned Chippindolls, his son little Roy Jr, was convicted of kidnapping, rape and murder of one of the strippers that worked there. Her body was found near Owens Field park. Other great places were the left Guard, Copper Door, etc.

    jay king

    5 Dec 08 at 6:01 pm

  11. A correction on the previous post. Court papers say that on November 13, 1996, the body of Virginia Russell (Victim) was discovered lying in the road near Owens Field. They said she worked for an escort service, so she may not have been employed by Chippendolls in Columbia.

    jay king

    5 Dec 08 at 6:46 pm

  12. Hey again. Thanks for the comments Dennis.

    Ciera

    12 Dec 08 at 2:24 pm

  13. I'LL BE BACK!!!! I'm working on taking the stage one last time for old times sake. (Out of town probably b/c I work a corporate job now). And I will be BETTER THAN EVER.( I still can do head stands!Lol) I will bring back the big hair band music during my performance, and I WILL ROCK YOU!!!

    Ciera

    15 Dec 08 at 1:02 pm

  14. By the way Jay King, Virginia Russell didn't ever work at Chippendoll's. Prostitution was not allowed of any kind. Now though, it is accepted, and that's just NASTY! Chippendoll's had a rule; if you want to be a call girl, be one, but not in our house, and if you wanted to be a dancer, be one and ONLY that!!
    But RIP Virginia. I knew the guy who killed her. He was such a geek and jerk and a frickin CRACK HEAD!! Imagine that!!

    Ciera

    15 Dec 08 at 1:07 pm

  15. Ciera - you can't tell us you'll be back and then not tell us where & when!

    Dennis

    15 Dec 08 at 8:25 pm

  16. Twilight was great, speant a lot of time there in high school and college. Copper door was also the Tauras Club, Dundees, the Red Barron. Next door was Rupert's Wing Inn, and that became Big Daddy's Bottom for a very short time. Then I believe it all became Rockaway Athletic Club (still there, new building).

    Tabard Inn was known for Tuesday night dime draft, and next door (and belwo) was Slagger's Saloon (later became The Library). Tabard became McGilicutty's.

    Remember Charlie's Cue and Cusion where the Eckerd's is now?

    Bobby

    15 Jan 09 at 10:28 am

  17. Bobby, I loved Rupert's Wing Inn and Charlie's pool hall. There are no wings in Columbia that can compare, I was sad when the Blue Dog finally closed as there is no more Rupert wings to be had.
    I guess the Varsity is about the only real pool hall left, although it has never been that great of one.

    ChiefDanGeorge

    15 Jan 09 at 11:59 am

  18. I still miss Charlie's Cue 'n Cushion. When young and working downtown in the early 80s we'd sneak over there for long lunch of pool and beer. I believe the Asian lady who worked the register was Charlie's wife.

    Charlie always threw a big Halloween party and the walls were covered with photos of customers in costume. I was very proud that I made the wall.

    Dennis

    15 Jan 09 at 4:05 pm

  19. Rupert's Wing Inn used to be beside the old Rockaway's, then Rupert moved down to Five Points across the street from the current Food Lion location.

    CJD

    29 Jan 09 at 2:09 pm

  20. Happy 2009 Dennis! I don't know when or where yet. I am working out right as we speak, and dancing in front of the mirror for now. Do you remember me? I also was the oil wrestler, "Angel of Death". I DO MISS THE PARTIES CHIPPENDOLLS threw. Roy Beck was the bomb!!! He was such a good boss. As soon as I'm ready to hit the stage again, which will be sometime this year, I will let ya know! If ya remember me, maybe we can email each other to keep in touch. Take care Dennis and forever ROCK ON!!!
    Ciera

    Ciera

    3 Feb 09 at 12:13 pm

  21. I remember MANY Wednesday nights at the Twilight for 96 cent pitcher beer night. Everyone just got a pitcher and then you used it as your glass all night.

    Eric

    8 Mar 09 at 8:15 pm

  22. Hi Ciera (do you remember that guy who left because he kept telling us are chests weren't real and and we told him they were and he got mad??)!! I worked here for 5 years too, met wonderful friends. Had a lot of regular customers that just wanted to hang out-I dont regret working there a bit! For the most part, the people that visited us were wonderful, always exceptions, and 99.9 percent of the girls did not do anything outside the club for money, again, always exceptions. I met my husband here and we have now been married 15 years. Chippendolls definitely wasn't the classiest of places, but the girls were real and down to earth.

    April

    16 May 09 at 7:39 am

  23. I remember well the Chippendolls commercials since we aitred so many on the radio...the tag line was always : "At Chippendolls we bare it all".
    Also the Library was originally called "Slaggers", maybe after The Beatles song "You Know My Name(look Up the Number)" which had John Lennon saying: "Good evening and welcome to Slaggers".
    My fondest memory there was this girl walking up to me and asking, "Would you like a 'Wallbanger' or a 'Sloe Screw'" Wow.

    Captain Dave

    20 May 09 at 9:20 am

  24. I'm trying to find out information about the Odyssey Club on Gervais St. The Clubs owner, Wayne Branham was an excellent local musician. It would be nice to have a story about all the old haunts in Columbia history. Pictures would be nice too.

    jay king

    18 Aug 09 at 10:41 pm

  25. Sorry, I don't know anything about that one -- perhaps someone else can jump in.

    ted

    19 Aug 09 at 1:15 am

  26. I seem to recall Twilight still being after 1988 -- I first went there with a date before a sorority valentine's party my freshman year of college, which would have been February 1989. Went a few more times that spring, but don't remember any visits after that - it must have become Chippendolls then.

    Allie

    25 Aug 09 at 1:48 pm

  27. i played the odessey for a year or so with wayne branham and andy hinson, both from columbia,,1971-72.. understand wayne took his own life. he was indeed a great musician. i am from thomasville nc... not sure how i ended in columbia but went there to play music,,, but times then were a hoot... a guy named pete hall ownlub before wayne..

    odessey was after hours club and sometimes the sun would be shining when we left club......... music was my whole life then and my memories of odessey are special.

    ted b.

    ted

    3 Oct 09 at 7:22 am

  28. I remember most of those places. Does anyone remember the bar S&J's? It was on the other side of the road from Rockaways right at the corner of Rosewood and S. Maple if I remember correctly. How about Shang-Ra-La over in St. Andrews? Great bands used to play there.

    Rich

    13 Oct 09 at 2:19 pm

  29. Ciera......It's Tony!! I'm sure you remember me. I hope!! (Your old DJ) How does one get in touch with you? I'm on facebook under my real name. Hope we can chat sometime.

    tony

    4 Nov 09 at 2:02 pm

  30. Anybody remember Don's in Five Points? I had some great times there in the 70s.

    bud

    3 Dec 09 at 2:50 pm

  31. Ah, Don's Marching & Musical Society! I remember the place well. Loved their jukebox.

    Tom

    4 Dec 09 at 9:56 am

  32. First of all, this is a different "Bobby" than one of the previous posters on this page.

    I went to this strip club exactly once, for my bachelor party (May 1991). The guys bought me a "stage dance", where I sat on a chair and a dancer danced around me. Her name was "April", which may have been the same person as the April that also posted on this page.

    Man, this website is a real blast-from-the-past!

    Bobby

    21 Jan 10 at 4:18 pm

  33. Don's...

    "beer is the mother of us all"

    when the place was sold and renovated, they found a five dollar bill in the flooring with a note:

    "if you tore out what we put in, you earned this"

    Eugene

    28 Apr 10 at 3:21 am

  34. wow the tabard and slaggers brings back memories,,,, it seems like slaggers was like a dark cave that went deeper and deeper and never ended ,, lol it had to be a fire trap ,,, those days were so much fun

    budd

    2 Jun 10 at 12:22 am

  35. omg dons was my hangout in the mid seventies ...... i drank alot of cheap draft at dons ,,,,,,, i think it was on the corner of harden and green street ..... does anyone remember zekes and the campus club on south main ?

    budd

    2 Jun 10 at 12:37 am

  36. i remember a strip club near fort jackson a long time ago ,, anybody remember the name of it

    budd

    2 Jun 10 at 12:38 am

  37. ted

    2 Jun 10 at 12:53 am

  38. yes ! the carraige house , thanx tedd :) campus club south , good times there too

    budd

    2 Jun 10 at 1:34 am

  39. Really good memories of this place. Remember April very well. Does anyone remember a blonde dancer named Chere (?SP). Wow! Thought she may end up being my wife one day. lol.

    WillieB

    22 Oct 10 at 9:15 am

  40. I WAS IN THE HOUSE BAND AT THE COPPERDOOR BACK IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES WE HAD A BAND CALLED STONECASTLE THE CLUB OWNER WAS JACK SKEENS . LOTS OF GREAT MEMORIES GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. THE EMPLOYEES THERE WERE LIKE FAMILY. WE WERE THE WARM UP BAND FOR LOTS OF ACTS THAT DID ONENIGHTERS THERE BOB SEGER AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND ,WHITE WITCH, GRINDERSWITCH, WERE SOMR THE BANDS WE PERFOMED WITH. WE SHARED THE STAGE WITH SOME FINE LOCAL BANDS FROM COLUMBIA AT THE COPPERDOOR FOND MEMORIES

    DAVID

    25 Oct 10 at 3:21 pm

  41. Hopefully, I'll do a full Copper Door post sometime..

    Hard to think of Bob Seger playing a Rosewood club!

    ted

    26 Oct 10 at 2:37 am

  42. THAT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THE COPPERDOOR FRIENDS FROM THAT ERA RUSTY SHEHORN [SP] WAS OUR SOUND MAN THERE AT THE COPPERDOOR HE LATER BECAME OUR GUITAR PLAYER. HE WAS FROM CAMDEN,SC. DELEN THOMAS PLAYED DRUMS[DECEASED],JERRY SMITH GUITAR BEFORE RUSTY, DEAN MORGAN ON BASS, RANDY HARROLD ORGAN AND VOCALS, KENNY MCGUIRE LEAD VOCALS ME ON PIANO AND VOCALS. RANDY LATER PLAYED PIANO FOR ARRON TIPPON. WE CAME TO COLUMBIA FROM WV. OUR FIRST ROAD GIG. WE STAYED THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR .

    DAVID

    28 Oct 10 at 8:04 pm

  43. Those were truly fun times. Loved your music. The man at the door and his wife, (can't remeber his name) were so nice. I think her name was Marlene and she worked the bar. SO sorry to hear about Delen.

    l

    5 Dec 10 at 9:38 pm

  44. eoncore! encore!

    l

    6 Dec 10 at 11:23 am

  45. Here are some names to spark memories.

    Crockmyers? Did I spell that right?
    Shannons
    Easys
    Stryders
    Cookie Bears?
    Crow Bar
    Zekes Foosball
    Sylvesters
    Bullwinkles
    The Keg O Nails
    The Big Apple
    Opus Lounge
    GROW Cafe
    Goat Feathers
    Monterey Jacks
    Von Heinmans?
    Little O's
    Franks Hotdogs
    Sneakers
    Elbow Room
    Dundees
    Oshays
    Green Streets
    The Golden Spur
    Dry Gulch Saloon
    Odyssey
    Wings n Things (Ruperts) Harden St
    Wings n Things (Ruperts) Assembly St
    Ruperts Wing Inn (Ruperts) Rosewood Dr
    Wings n Ale (Ruperts) Beltline Blvd
    Blue Dog (Ruperts) Main St

    American Legion (Pickens St) serves Ruperts Wings (1st Tues. every month 6:30pm) Members and Guests
    Hey thats tonight!!!

    rellen

    4 Jan 11 at 2:49 pm

  46. Rellen,

    If you look at the Alphabetical Closings page, you will find a number of those establishments..

    ted

    4 Jan 11 at 2:55 pm

  47. Hey guy's remember me Tony,Ciera,April

    cameron

    21 Feb 11 at 8:45 pm

  48. I worked at Chippendolls, as well as Trophy Room and Twin Peaks in W. Columbia and remember when Diamond's from Charleston tried to open a sister club on Broad River Rd? And then later I worked at Alley Cats behind the Embassy Suites. Those were fun days! Roy Beck owned Chippendolls and Twin Peaks back then. I loved working there! The Trophy ROom, what a dive...we had to put our own money in the juke box before we got on stage on nights when we had no DJ. lol

    Brooke

    26 Feb 11 at 9:07 am

  49. Cameron.....YES!!! How are you? Would love to catch up with you. Hope you're well.

    Tony

    5 Apr 11 at 2:37 pm

  50. That's too bad. Just heard about the club closing. Passed through there once a year when the fair came to town in the late 80's early 90's. Got me my t-shirt still and the girls there sure loved us Canadian boys!! This place and Jaco's were good to party at. Is Jaco's still around? The 3 storey house made into a bar?

    Clint

    27 May 11 at 1:59 am

  51. I believe Jaco's is still open. I did a closing on it a few years ago when it was up for sale, but I guess that fell through or something.

    ted

    27 May 11 at 11:27 am

  52. All I can say is the Piggly Wiggly across the street made lots of $$$ on beer and ice due to Chippendolls. As least, that's what I've heard.

    palmettopanic

    27 May 11 at 8:49 pm

  53. The Piggly Wiggly Closed August 2002...

    I recall my late grandmother telling me how she had a friend who went before us that enjoyed the hot dogs at a hot dog place that used to be at this particular intersection...

    Andrew

    27 May 11 at 9:03 pm

  54. Yep, I remember their closing around that time because I lived on S. Edisto at the time, and it was just a block away to walk there!

    I remember the hot dog place also (I believe it was Edisto Market on the corner there, and they moved around 2003). "COLD BEER"... "HOT DOGS" signs out front? It had been there since the early 90's - never tried it even though I lived a few houses behind the place! But, my friend tried it and said it was... interesting, lol.

    Dave

    28 May 11 at 4:17 am

  55. Hey Tony it's Michelle. Glad to see you are still around. Been a long time! Chippendolls closed its doors on September 12th, 1997. The interior was lacking some compared to the clubs today but it was a clean club. We were entertainers and never mingled with our patrons outside of the club. We did not do lap dances grinding and being felt up. Touching the girls would result in being sent on your way. Just good clean fun! I am discussed when I go to clubs now, NASTY! Those were some of the best years of my life!

    Michelle

    10 Jun 11 at 6:44 am

  56. Thanks for the 12 September 97 date Michelle -- I'll change the post title to reflect that.

    ted

    10 Jun 11 at 12:41 pm

  57. Oliver's, Slagger's, Saloon, the Other Place....... remember those days?

    Tom

    29 Jul 11 at 7:35 pm

  58. Campus Club

    Tom

    29 Jul 11 at 7:36 pm

  59. ted

    30 Jul 11 at 3:00 am

  60. I'd like to hear more about the Odyssey Club. Heard cool things about this club. Actually visited the building to potentially lease the upstairs portion which was the Odyssey. When did it close? Did anything else open up in it's place? Any info would be great!

    Cindy

    27 Aug 11 at 12:00 am

  61. cindy,

    i was keyboard player there for almost 2 years..
    I, also, would like to hear from folks who remember
    the Odyssey.....

    .

    ted b.

    13 Sep 11 at 10:18 pm

  62. Hi Michelle......One of my all-time faves!! Hope life has been good for you these last 14 years. WOW....don't seem that long. Wish there was some way for us to send each other messages or addresses on here.

    Tony

    9 Nov 11 at 8:49 am

  63. Does anyone remember the band "Sugar" that played the Copper Door a few times in the mid-70s?

    Tony

    9 Nov 11 at 8:52 am

  64. It was the bomb for columbia.Cheap beer and .....well you know the rest. Good times.

    JG

    6 Jan 12 at 4:44 pm

  65. Tony....you can look me up on FB- Michelle Feagin. Hope to hear from you soon!!

    Michelle

    7 Feb 12 at 9:39 pm

  66. Michelle........looked you up; but none of them looked like you. Email me ....... djtonyr@aol.com

    Tony

    9 Apr 12 at 3:11 pm

  67. Great memories. The Twiight Lounge was a beer and dance (Shag of course) club, with 25 cents drafts on Wed. Down the street the Rosewood Lounge had 25 cents bottles of PBR. Rosewood Drive was the place in the 70s. Steve "Big Daddy" Lipscomb had a string of clubs, the Library in the basement of a convenience store directly across from the Roost, comes to mind. People kept stealing the books. Lots of fun!

    Boomboom

    4 Aug 12 at 10:42 am

  68. Some wonderful and not so wonderful memories of the Twilight. I am still trying to understand why I thought it was cool to get a drink and sit in front of blaring speakers and walk out not able to hear. This was the early 70s, loud rock and roll.

    Gary

    17 Aug 12 at 9:58 pm

  69. In the 70's one of my favorite bands was Choice and they often played @ the Copper Door. I seem to recall seeing them there as late as the early 80s. It was the Copper Door or the Left Guard where I saw Mother's Finest a few times as well.

    There were more than a few nights up and down Rosewood.....The Crow Bar was a great late night spot.

    Tim

    13 Nov 12 at 11:18 am

  70. I was the only April that I ever remembered being there :)

    April

    23 Nov 12 at 1:47 pm

  71. If you check back in, are you the same April that used to live in California, oh, probably sometime in the 1980s?

    badger

    23 Nov 12 at 6:42 pm

  72. I remember when The Twilite Lounge was a small local bar with only Slim Cagle and Ruby running it in the mid 60's. We would go there after leaving the original Witt's End (Jimmy King's not Bobby LaMotte's which was years later). Slim doubled the size and hired bartenders David Adams who opened Weejuns later, Wayne McDonald and Larry Cooke who later opened Polo's with Slim's backing. The place took off with the Carolina crowd afterwards. The other bars were The KR Club later The Second Level, Wheat Sreet Club, Red Derby, VFW, The Star, Doug Broom's on Main, Gene's Pig and Chick . I bar hopped for about seven years then got it out of my system but it was the best of times.

    JT

    7 Jan 13 at 2:04 pm

  73. I remember when The Twilite Lounge was a small local bar with only Slim Cagle and Ruby running it in the mid 60's. We would go there after leaving the original Witt's End (Jimmy King's not Bobby LaMotte's which was years later). Slim doubled the size and hired bartenders David Adams who opened Weejuns later, Wayne McDonald and Larry Cooke who later opened Polo's with Slim's backing. The place took off with the Carolina crowd afterwards. The other bars were The KR Club later The Second Level, Wheat Sreet Club, Red Derby, VFW, The Star, Doug Broom's on Main, Gene's Pig and Chick . I bar hopped for about seven years then got it out of my system but it was the best of times.

    JT

    7 Jan 13 at 2:04 pm

  74. I'm a local musician who like to used to hang out at the Odyssey Club. I was good friends with the band Communiqué (1978-80). Tilford Jackson used to play in the Music Connection with me and then took the job as the keyboard player in the Odyssey Club house band. they always stayed on top of current music at the time. He has moved to LA and is very successful. Their drummer, Dave Roof got married in the club. Steve Few was on bass and lead vocals. (I had to fill in for him a few times on bass). Mike Gregory was on guitar who went on to form the Agents Band with Steve Few and Rick Belt from Early Wilds Band.
    Email me if you would like to discuss old times.
    jaykingmusic@aol.com

    jay king

    1 Feb 13 at 3:21 pm

  75. can anyone post about "The Tally Ho" near the fairgrounds/stadium
    Don's in five points, the twight, and the tally ho
    what a time in 1973; babes, beer and backgammon
    richard

    richard blenko

    6 Feb 13 at 10:51 pm

  76. can anyone post about "The Tally Ho" near the fairgrounds/stadium
    Don's in five points, the twight, and the tally ho
    what a time in 1973; babes, beer and backgammon
    richard

    richard blenko

    6 Feb 13 at 10:51 pm

  77. I was the black bass player who sat the bass on fire for the John Bailey Group. We played all through the 70's at the Copper Door. Jack Skeens was head of Beech Club Booking and always had the acts hang out at the Copper Door after the shows. I opened up for Brownsville Station, Sugarloaf, Atlanta Rhytym Section, and others there. When we played - Mothers finest or Capt Beefheart would be at the Left Guard. All the bands stayed at the Town House Hilton that Jacks wife owned. Jack Skeens was also involved with the Mafia. I miss him and all the people of Columbia at that time. We all had great fun!! Great memories.

    Curtis

    18 Mar 13 at 7:29 pm

  78. Curtis, Beach Club Promotions was the legendary Cecil Corbett, not Jack Skeen.

    John

    8 Jan 14 at 1:22 pm

  79. Curtis, Beach Club Promotions was the legendary Cecil Corbett, not Jack Skeen.

    John

    8 Jan 14 at 1:23 pm

  80. Curtis, Beach Club Promotions was the legendary Cecil Corbett, not Jack Skeen.

    John

    8 Jan 14 at 1:23 pm

  81. You can say that again!

    badger

    8 Jan 14 at 3:44 pm

  82. A friend of mine scored this awesome footage...waiting on confirmation from the person who filmed it. But its NY Dolls and labeled Columbia SC 1975. Any clue what club this was? Anyone attend this show?
    http://vimeo.com/88865429

    Thanks.

    Emily

    13 Mar 14 at 5:49 pm

  83. @Emily-I'm pretty sure this was at Dundees, A club that used to be called the Copper Door that was on Rosewood Drive. Then changed its name. I partied there six nights a week back in the 70's. It was the place to go for live music.

    Rick

    13 Mar 14 at 6:19 pm

  84. Copper Door was first the Box, Blondie was the door man. Saw the Ojays and many other great bands of the times there. We had many good times there.

    Rawdog

    1 Oct 14 at 7:27 pm

  85. Got kicked out, for that night, when someone passed a joint to me. I didn't realize the bouncer, USC football player, working for all the beer he could drink was right behind me. I came back the next night and all was forgiven. Jack Skeenes and company had seen a lot worse. Partied all night long with a band from Atlanta by the name of Mafiia one time. We all saw the sun come up at the "old" lake muuray dam. Killed many brain cells that night, lucky to be able to remember and tell about it. R

    Rawdog

    1 Oct 14 at 7:34 pm

  86. Oh yes, I remember the place. On a business trip from the Netherlands back in '95 i came in with my American colleagues. Men from all sorts were cheering and having a good time. As a Dutchman I'm quite used to something but this place was special. Pity to hear it closed down.

    Jan

    31 Oct 15 at 7:50 pm

  87. Jordans pond ..crazy nights off leesburg road.

    larry

    1 Jun 16 at 2:05 pm

  88. I worked at Chippendolls for a few years, was a friend of the owner.. Hated his son turned out to be a piece of SHIT!

    Mike

    4 Jun 16 at 5:14 am

  89. I worked at Chippendolls for a few years,hey April remember fucking me and everyone else, Tony has you miss healed from all the coke.. Cierra your tits are still the ugliest tit job I've seen.. Fuck that SHIT hole!! April married a rich guy then got caught fucking the floor man!!!! Her nasty ass sister sucked me off while her man was in prison!!! U can't make this shit up!! April was the best body there, but Cam was the prettiest!

    Mike

    4 Jun 16 at 5:22 am

  90. Damn, Mike! That's some cold shit.
    I have to agree that April had the best body there, and she was the nicest. She'd hang out even if you weren't paying for a lap dance, at least until it was her time to hit the stage. She seemed to have low self esteem issues.....obviously from your remarks. I wonder what she is up to these days.

    palmettoconnection

    7 Jun 16 at 12:53 pm

  91. Wonder if April was the same 'April' (there are only so many stage names) one who worked at the Carriage House and the Trophy Room. If so, yeah, she was nice. So I heard.

    badger

    8 Jun 16 at 9:37 am

  92. OMG - The Carriage House. That brings back some memories, none of them so good!!!!

    Homer

    8 Jun 16 at 11:34 pm

  93. Reports from one of the Shandon FB pages is that he Publix House on Devine street is closed.

    Robert

    9 Jun 16 at 11:43 am

  94. That is a shame. I visited the Publick House several times for happy hour.

    Joe Shlabotnik

    12 Jun 16 at 9:12 pm

  95. The Publick House on Devine Street did not close . . . best wings I've had in Columbia the past 40 years (as best as I can recall!).

    Jim Little

    29 Sep 17 at 11:45 am

  96. Badger and JT, thank you and everyone else that came to the Twilite and played with us. I need to correct a few wrongs in the story. Slim did double the size of the Twilite and put a dance floor in. Robert Bruche and Charlie True worked The bar after Rudy left. After Robert and Charlie left and Wayne McDonald started working and hired some other guys I can’t remember. Larry Cooke was hired next and Wayne and He hired David(now Deceased). After graduation Slim offered to back Wayne and Larry in a St. Andrews private club called McDoogle’s. The club took off with people coming from all over the state. There
    were plenty of marriages and hook ups that are still talked about today. Wayne and Larry went own to open other places including SAHARI’S ON Hilton Head island which became the local F&B
    place to be after work. We found that the Island folks drank about 25% more than the Columbia drinker but suffered worse hangovers than Columbia. I will close now but I have many memorizes of all those good times and the people that made them.

    Larry

    7 Oct 18 at 5:09 am

  97. None of you know how to spell D'zik's

    Dellen

    8 Feb 19 at 2:11 pm

  98. Hey again everyone! First of all I want to say that Mike I do remember you very well you are always a freaking jerk! You wanted pussy and if you we're turned down like I turned you down, you would talk childish lies like you are now! LMAO and back then everyone was wild and crazy! April was and still is very beautiful inside and out. You just talk slander about her because you couldn't have her! You my man, had a bad reputation of being a jerk! I don't understand why you have to even be like that for real! And by the way,, I never had a tit job.... If you spit that dick out your mouth and get those balls out from in front of your eyes you would have noticed! Lol I don't even act or even talk this way anymore because I'm grown up now but you brought it so I'm giving it right back! But what I'm saying is total truth! I take great pride in saying I worked at chippendal's because we did not allow prostitution or anything in that club and if you even tried to touch one of us you would get your ass kicked! And I've kicked a few damn asses myself! So to everyone out there that enjoy coming to chippendolls over the years I want to say thank you so very much for the great memories I can look back on now. Our club still stands out over every club I've ever worked in in my life. Because I danced to metallica, megadeth, iron maiden and Dio. I spent so much money on custom-made costumes to go with the music. And I was one of the ones that did not go to jail when it first went to go on nude because I refused to. But even the girls that did go nude they did it in a very classy way they did not bend over they did not spread their legs or anything. We were a family way back then and a lot of us still are and keep in touch. I do miss when we all got off of work we would go by our nightly stop at Keg O Nails, then pavlov's, sneakers, and then go across town to hideaway or teasers. Oh and let's do not forget cracker jacks! Oh and one more Shangri-La. I would not even take a million dollars in the place of the memories I have of those years. And I love Roy Beck and Susan Beck Spoone.... And I hate to say this but Tony the best DJ I've ever had in my entire life has passed away. We always kept in touch over the decades after the Chippendolls days were gone. I had fallen in love with Tony and I wasn't able to tell him before he passed from cancer. I was supposed to do a comeback series at the club he worked at but he just was gone before I was able to do that. But I do plan to hopefully one day, still go and at least answer set in memory of Tony on the stage of where he last worked. He was so excited that I was going to do that. But anyway, if anyone wants to get in touch with me and rehash good memories, I am on Facebook, and my real name is Sonya Johnson. And yes I'm a lot older now but don't worry, I'm still the metal Queen in this town! Lol love you all take care and hope to see you on Facebook...❤️

    Stage name Ciera

    5 Dec 21 at 10:09 pm

  99. Ciera

    Thanks for the memories!
    That was a great place and time.
    I had more fun there when it was just a topless bar.

    My favorite performer was Misty

    John

    7 Dec 21 at 7:01 pm

  100. If Ciera checks back in, you must be a different one from the one I remember from the Carriage House and the Trophy Room. Oddly, this Ciera/Sierra was also friends with an April who also worked at the Carriage House and the Trophy Room.

    badger

    11 Dec 21 at 5:41 pm

  101. Mothers Finest at the Left Guard! $3 cover. Bully Beef sub at Keg O Nails. I didnt see any mention of the babes from Ft Jackson. Those were the days!

    Bruce

    13 Aug 23 at 9:05 am

  102. Oh my the Copperdoor or whatever it was called in 1967 when I first went there. I was new in town just moved here from Tennessee. I lived on Wheat St. and went my senior year at Dreher. Once at Jacks
    Palace/Copper door (whatever it was named) I recall a private club on Rosewood Drive. I slipped in to see Jackie Wilson. Being only about 16. I was drunk since I had been next door at the Rosewood Lounge. I was having the time of my life. I loved Jackie Wilson and was so overwhelmed that I jumped up on stage with him and started singing and dancing with him. He loved it. I figured he would push me off the stage but he let me do my thing. Afterward I was kindly asked to leave. I anyone can remember the other names the Club had please email me what you remember. I’m Frank. follydaze@gmail.com.

    I usually hung out at the Rosewood Loung. I was told that he you were brave enough to order a Pabst Blue Ribbon they would serve you. I was and they did. I remember they had a sign posted say No Unescorted Ladies Allowed.” A couple of years later I became worthy of a member of Bullwinkle's an exclusive club on Ft. Jackson Blvd. I met many different types of people there. I believe that is where I met Jack Skeens. BYW I saw where someone impled that he was involved with the Mafia. I don't think that is something that I would ever mention about an upstanding businessman and gentleman.

    Frank

    10 Sep 23 at 4:08 pm

  103. I also remember going to Rupert's Wing Inn just down Roosewood Dr. He I am sure illegally showed movies with the best wings in town. He also had a place on Assembly Street in the basement in a hotel. It was great. Right behind the bar was a huge window looking into the swimming pool. Unbeknownst to the swimmers you had a fantastic view of the girls in their bikinis. Especially nice when they dove into the pool. Inside the bar he had pool tables set up. The best set up was the girls who worked there would play pool with you topless.

    Frank

    10 Sep 23 at 4:19 pm

  104. @Frank,

    Sounds like The Pirates Cove, perhaps?

    ted

    10 Sep 23 at 7:11 pm

  105. What about BL Roosters the college bar on Bluff Rd had a party trolley and bus to offer free rides back to campus held 50 Keg Parties and The Only Place Hootie and The Blow Fish Darius Rucker and Tottie and The Jones Played Together. Saw Driving and Crying and Blackfoot play there on their outdoor stage. Many good memories Moved over to Lady Street Next To the Art Bar as The Naked Iguana still the hottest Night Club to ever exist in Columbia. Good Memories

    The Breeze

    2 Apr 24 at 3:43 am

Leave a Reply

Tags

Recently Updated Posts

Blogroll