When I moved to Blacksburg in 1968 as a graduate student the VPI faculty organized a student-faculty field trip to Papa Joes. it was a night to remember since I cheered the burlesque dancer on and she did the best even show--- just like home - new orleans
Remember my Mom back in the 60's talking of Papa Joes as some kind of scandal .Hushed tones. Seedy side of Roanoke. And woe be it to him who's wife mighta found out of him going there. Roanokes first and most infamous topless bar
I was still living there in 65 but don't remember this. What a hoot. Those women speaking at the city council meeting would likely winners on AFV. Surely that city has changed since then.
@@Purpleturtlehurtler Thanks for replying. I'm a little old now to make the drive down that I used to make in 10 hours. It would take me 2 or 3 days to do it now but I'd like to come back one more time. Haven't been back since the mid 90s. It is a hell of a lot more beautiful than the flat lands of central Indiana. I've found that Google maps is a nice way to explore my old haunts in the Grandin Road area. Took my grand daughter on a tour one day from where I grew up on Maiden Lane to Woodrow Wilson and that whole area in SW. Good memories.
@@petejefferson2 my fiancee and I frequent the Grandin area. I live in the NW near Salem now, but I was born on the top of Memorial Avenue hill. I have lived in several places in the 28 years since then and can say for certain that I prefer this valley to anywhere else.
@@Purpleturtlehurtler I lived in the 1800 block of Maiden Lane and worked at the theater in the 50s before joining the Navy. My bored friends and I probably left butt prints on the window ledge at Garlands. I believe we broke one of big plate glass windows once when horsing around. Lots of memories.
I was there also. And I use to visit Joe and Johnny's on 10th street. Customers would come from out of town and we would treat them to a visit at Papa 's or Joe and Johnny's. :)
The very first opening of pop Joe's is the old vintion roofing building in wich I belive later on pop Joe's moved cross the street in to a mother building wich is turn down now
And remember they had a Topless wedding. Pacific Shane married this young man and later he killed himself....well that is what they say happened to him
No the building is gone. It was on Wise Avenue southeast about 13th or 14th street not far from where the Valley Metro bus garage is now. He ran ads on WROV and at the end they sang "DOWN AT PAPA JOE'S ". I can't remember another topless club in the area but I seem to remember they wore a covering over their nipples. The Raskeller in the basement of the American Theatre I don't think had topless. The Trade Winds at Franklin and Elm was gay and the Boiler Room on Campbell near the Market didnt allow women. It was MEN ONLY. Scotty's telephone lounge was an interesting place. The Ponce De Leon Hotel had prostitutes in the 60's with the Roanoke Police Department across the street on the basement floor of the Municipal Building. I behaved. On Saturday I'd go to the Times World Building for WDBJ's Fanny Boone-Cactus Joe show, then down to the Roanoke Theater for the 15 cent Saturday kids show with 4 cartoons and a western or Horror movie. Occasionally someone would do magic tricks on the stage and the microphone would come up out of the floor. Planters Peanuts was next to the box office and Miss Lillian in the box office enjoyed the smell of fresh peanuts. Then out the side exit on to Kirk Avenue and up to the Sportsman or Luck Lanes for pool or bowling. I didnt have time for Papa Joe's :)
In 1965 I was 12. It was a different times with different values, morals and beliefs. You may laugh at these people, but they gave us a safer place to grow up in. Children played outside, people could walk to the store or movies without worrying about getting shot, or yanked off the streets. Can't say that today. Maybe there was a connection. Sometimes too much is just too much.
@@seesee5363 What were the stats for 1965, and where did you find them? If expressed in percentages, did you account for population number change? I certainly felt safer in 1965 too.
@robhaskins I genuinely don't care what you felt there are just as many people with anecdotes that point to the opposite so what us that supposed to mean? I feel like i'm a millionaire does that make me one? You can just look at violent crime. The stats for that have consistently went down year after year generation. After generation you people constantly fear manger about violence and immigration
Lady at :50 is so funny. What does a go-go dancers have to do with rape and murder? They were probably upset because they caught their old hobbies there . Bet those Christians and minister had reserved front row seats...😂
Hyucklubucks gonna hyucklubuck. These people are always gonna be yelling about something or other. Same people trying to nan books about penguins these days.
The go go dancers made the most coherent statments in this whole video. I wonder how well the business would have run if they were the owners.
If they're so smart and coherent they wouldn't have been dancers now would they
Papa Joe was my grandfather.
Oh boy. Alkyhol
You liked that too
I need a Papa Joe's T Shirt. 😅
Alkehaw and neckless women! Dear God!
You got to remember this was 56 years ago, Roanoke is NOTHING like this now. Lmao we DON'T talk like this no more.
@adcoxrobert3786 🤣🤣 Not that I've come across.
She was just an ignorant woman. Plenty of those still around.
14th and wise ave on the left corner. Boy oh boy do i remember it.
How so?
@@jonburrows2684 man Roanoke was something back in the day, lol.
I live in Roanoke now. Lol.
Ria Lequay so do I
@@makiarn777 hello! Where y'all located?
I lived in Roanoke THEN! This was a blast to watch.
When I moved to Blacksburg in 1968 as a graduate student the VPI faculty organized a student-faculty field trip to Papa Joes. it was a night to remember since I cheered the burlesque dancer on and she did the best even show--- just like home - new orleans
Remember my Mom back in the 60's talking of Papa Joes as some kind of scandal .Hushed tones. Seedy side of Roanoke. And woe be it to him who's wife mighta found out of him going there. Roanokes first and most infamous topless bar
I dimly remember it being mentioned by my parents too.
This was the first time that Roanoke Virginia made national News put Roanoke VA on the map. Lol
Backward Roanoke. It’s slowly growing up.
Today's strippers should owe thanks to Papa Joe's, because this is what started the revolution of strip clubs in today's generation.
I live in Roanoke now
So!
Lol! She literally said alkeehol. I agree with her though. Nothing good comes out of that.
I was still living there in 65 but don't remember this. What a hoot. Those women speaking at the city council meeting would likely winners on AFV. Surely that city has changed since then.
It has. I was born here and currently live here again and it is way more progressive than it used to be.
@@Purpleturtlehurtler Thanks for replying. I'm a little old now to make the drive down that I used to make in 10 hours. It would take me 2 or 3 days to do it now but I'd like to come back one more time. Haven't been back since the mid 90s. It is a hell of a lot more beautiful than the flat lands of central Indiana. I've found that Google maps is a nice way to explore my old haunts in the Grandin Road area. Took my grand daughter on a tour one day from where I grew up on Maiden Lane to Woodrow Wilson and that whole area in SW. Good memories.
@@petejefferson2 my fiancee and I frequent the Grandin area. I live in the NW near Salem now, but I was born on the top of Memorial Avenue hill. I have lived in several places in the 28 years since then and can say for certain that I prefer this valley to anywhere else.
@@Purpleturtlehurtler I lived in the 1800 block of Maiden Lane and worked at the theater in the 50s before joining the Navy. My bored friends and I probably left butt prints on the window ledge at Garlands. I believe we broke one of big plate glass windows once when horsing around. Lots of memories.
Papa joe's helped destroy the city. It's destroyed now for sure
I was there a few times! I attended Pacific Shane's topless wedding back then.
Mike, I used to work with a Bill Maxey at Grand Piano in 65 for a few months. Great guy and a 1st class salesman. Kin of yours?
@@petejefferson2 Sorry no kin.
Hey guys! Feel free to share the link to this video. I think it's funny how that one lady says Al-kee-haul. 😃
Wow...Pete Jefferson..my father use to drive the truck for Grand Piano around that time.
I was there also. And I use to visit Joe and Johnny's on 10th street. Customers would come from out of town and we would treat them to a visit at Papa 's or Joe and Johnny's. :)
Little did anyone know what was happening in the upper floors of that place... 😂😂😂
Don’t tell me it was a knocking shop?
Oh do tell us. Were you there? We want all the details,too and any pictures you can share. Did they have alkeeha up there,too?
Any one remember a go go girl named Dee Dee ?
The very first opening of pop Joe's is the old vintion roofing building in wich I belive later on pop Joe's moved cross the street in to a mother building wich is turn down now
I’d love to catch up with those go-go dancers and talk to them today. They’d be about 80-ish I suppose? Anyone know their names?
1:10 best part
Alchihol
RIP Papa Joes
And remember they had a Topless wedding. Pacific Shane married this young man and later he killed himself....well that is what they say happened to him
That was the controversy of the times. Wanna share what the contentious issues of this day?
Does this building still exist? Is it off Riverdale?
No building gone my grandma worked there
Im a contractor in town. I'm tryin to remember if i seen this building
14th and wise on the left
No the building is gone. It was on Wise Avenue southeast about 13th or 14th street not far from where the Valley Metro bus garage is now. He ran ads on WROV and at the end they sang "DOWN AT PAPA JOE'S ". I can't remember another topless club in the area but I seem to remember they wore a covering over their nipples. The Raskeller in the basement of the American Theatre I don't think had topless. The Trade Winds at Franklin and Elm was gay and the Boiler Room on Campbell near the Market didnt allow women. It was MEN ONLY. Scotty's telephone lounge was an interesting place. The Ponce De Leon Hotel had prostitutes in the 60's with the Roanoke Police Department across the street on the basement floor of the Municipal Building. I behaved. On Saturday I'd go to the Times World Building for WDBJ's Fanny Boone-Cactus Joe show, then down to the Roanoke Theater for the 15 cent Saturday kids show with 4 cartoons and a western or Horror movie. Occasionally someone would do magic tricks on the stage and the microphone would come up out of the floor. Planters Peanuts was next to the box office and Miss Lillian in the box office enjoyed the smell of fresh peanuts. Then out the side exit on to Kirk Avenue and up to the Sportsman or Luck Lanes for pool or bowling. I didnt have time for Papa Joe's :)
In 1965 I was 12. It was a different times with different values, morals and beliefs. You may laugh at these people, but they gave us a safer place to grow up in. Children played outside, people could walk to the store or movies without worrying about getting shot, or yanked off the streets. Can't say that today. Maybe there was a connection. Sometimes too much is just too much.
You make a valid point!
Safe how? The stats don't agree with literally anything you are saying
@@seesee5363 What were the stats for 1965, and where did you find them? If expressed in percentages, did you account for population number change? I certainly felt safer in 1965 too.
@robhaskins I genuinely don't care what you felt there are just as many people with anecdotes that point to the opposite so what us that supposed to mean? I feel like i'm a millionaire does that make me one? You can just look at violent crime. The stats for that have consistently went down year after year generation. After generation you people constantly fear manger about violence and immigration
Great to see average Joe and Jane speaking out on something that is obviously wrong. If those folks were alive today we would not be sitting at home.
Whoa....AL KE HAW and neckless women lead to rape and murder!
Lady at :50 is so funny. What does a go-go dancers have to do with rape and murder? They were probably upset because they caught their old hobbies there . Bet those Christians and minister had reserved front row seats...😂
Hyucklubucks gonna hyucklubuck. These people are always gonna be yelling about something or other. Same people trying to nan books about penguins these days.