Colonial Supper Club
46°35'23.15"N
111°59'57.80"W
1948
BUILDING IS MOVED IN 1972, MEETS FIERY END AS "MR. LUCKY'S"
IN 1982
COLONIAL
CLUB, 1948 - COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD
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Located
near the present-day intersection of 11th Ave. and N. California
St., the Colonial Supper Club was Helena's most upscale restaurant
and nightspot from 1948 to 1970.
The Colonial
Club was built by Helena bar owners Milton (Mike) Israel and
his wife Helen, who operated it from 1948 until 1967, when they
retired and sold out to Montana Governor Tim Babcock and his
wife Betty. Milton's dates are 1899-1970, Helen's 1909-1976. |
Colonial
Club Opening Day Newspaper Ad, October 15 1948
| The Colonial
Club interior was finished in knotty pine, which added to the
warm atmosphere. There was a large stone fireplace. Live music
was a staple at the Colonial, usually featuring an organ player
such as Helena favorite Pee Wee Weber. It was THE place for
special occasions. |
Alfred
Leopold "Pee Wee" Weber
1915-1989
|
"Pee
Wee" Weber was probably Helena's best-known organist
for several decades. A native of Ashley, North Dakota, Weber
first came to Helena in the mid-1930s, playing at local nightspots.
He and his wife Betty lived for many years at 2198 North Benton.
Vicki
Pawlitschek kindly sent to this website a cassette tape entitled,
"The Little Big Band Salutes 'Pee Wee' Weber". We
think Pee Wee is on the organ. Listen
to their rendition of "Spanish Eyes" by clicking
here.
In 1961,
Pee Wee was asked by the Independent Record to name the tunes
most requested by Helenans. Our favorites then, according
to Pee Wee, were: "Stardust", "Deep Purple",
"Shine On Harvest Moon", "Heart of My Heart",
"Some Enchanted Evening", "Oh, What a Beautiful
Morning", "Begin the Beguine", "Always",
"Calcutta", and "Won't You Come Home, Bill
Bailey".
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1961
Telephone Directory Display Ad
| This 1961
rendering of the Colonial Club shows that two large picture
widows had been added, and the entryway enclosed. |
Colonial
Club Closing, Independent Record
|
The 1949
slot machine raid at the Colonial was part of a statewide
crackdown on gambling in the 1940s. Attorney General Arnold
Olsen was seeking to make a name for himself in order
to run for higher elective office. He succeeded in that, and
was a Montana U. S. Representative from 1961-1971.
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The
Colonial Club Building is moved, 1971
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The building
didn't end up as Mr. Capaldi's private residence in the valley.
Instead, it was moved about one mile NE, to a lot on Airport
Ave., across from the old Helena Municipal Airport terminal.
In 1972 it opened there as the nightspot "Mr. Lucky's".
The building was destroyed by fire in 1982.
Thanks
to Charlie Beaton for this excellent 1971 view of the rear
of the Colonial Club, and the then-new Colonial Inn.
|
COURTESY
OF CHARLIE BEATON
Ad
for Mr. Lucky's, 1972
46°36'7.09"N
111°59'43.77"W
The luck ran
out in 1982 when Mr. Lucky's was destroyed by fire.
Go
back to RESTAURANTS & BARS
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