What's behind the Green Door?
Oct 23, 2020 17:50:54 #
It was during the time I was covering the University of Texas Medical Branch hospital in Galveston. When I was first introduced to this large hospital by the former salesman who covered it, he took me around to the different departments and clinics. In addition, he also introduced me to some ancillary places, such as the “other clinic” and “the Green Door”.
Both were local watering holes where nurses, interns, and residents would go after hours for informal rest and libation. While it wasn’t a requirement that I go and hangout at these places, it was an opportunity to get better acquainted and make friends. Additionally, we had expense accounts and the residents and interns were living on tight budgets and appreciated our generousity.
If you have any doubt of the former wild nature of Galveston, read my other post on Fishing Forum/Stages, The State of Galveston. Now, let me explain the meaning of these names. First, “The Other Clinic” was so named so when a resident or intern decided he or she needed a break they would tell the nurse or secretary they were going to “the other clinic” so if their spouse called, it was a suitable excuse to a be absent, but still working.
The Green Door was a strange and wild place, and really was a piece of Old Galveston history that was continued into a later time. It was owned and managed by two Greek brothers. It was famous as being an after hours drinking joint. It had been raided several times so the brothers had erected a heavy-duty cyclone fence about 8 feet tall with an electric lock on the gate.
Through a spy hole in the door, they were able to check out any potential guest before opening their gate. If it was the local police, they would have all the drinks removed, and coffee and sodas to replace them, all quite innocent when they finally opened the gates and allowed the police to enter and check their service.
However, the police having gotten wise to their scheme would climb up on their roof. When they opened the door for regular customers after hours, the police would jump down and proceed to arrest them for serving alcoholic drinks after hours. So, the brothers, refusing to be treated this way, finally put a cyclone fence roof over the already fenced-in entrance to stop anyone from jumping down from the roof to surprise them. As far as I ever knew they stayed open all night if there were customers to be served.
I knew also about other entertainment centers, like the houses of prostitution on Post Office Street, but there was no reason for my going there as it was beyond my call of doing business.
Now, one might wonder just why we would have any interest in hanging out in either of these places. Often, during the press of seeing patients, the doctors we most wanted to see would not have time for us to visit with them. They would often tell us meet me at “the other clinic” after 5:00.
There was an old joke about the bars down along the docks of Galveston. It was famous for barkeeps slipping a “mickey” into a person’s drink. A young man, probably a visitor and in his early 20’s wandered into one of the dives and was slipped a mickey.
Later, he awakes on a slave ship and was required to row, being chained along with many slaves on this ancient ship. Over time, he got to know and become friends with another slave seated next to him. After the ship had been at sea for a long period of time, it returned to Galveston and they were all set free. Well the newbie asked his friend if it was proper to tip the sergeant at arms, who had commanded the entire slave cadre. His friend said, “I don’t know, I didn’t last year!”
Just Sayin…RJS
Both were local watering holes where nurses, interns, and residents would go after hours for informal rest and libation. While it wasn’t a requirement that I go and hangout at these places, it was an opportunity to get better acquainted and make friends. Additionally, we had expense accounts and the residents and interns were living on tight budgets and appreciated our generousity.
If you have any doubt of the former wild nature of Galveston, read my other post on Fishing Forum/Stages, The State of Galveston. Now, let me explain the meaning of these names. First, “The Other Clinic” was so named so when a resident or intern decided he or she needed a break they would tell the nurse or secretary they were going to “the other clinic” so if their spouse called, it was a suitable excuse to a be absent, but still working.
The Green Door was a strange and wild place, and really was a piece of Old Galveston history that was continued into a later time. It was owned and managed by two Greek brothers. It was famous as being an after hours drinking joint. It had been raided several times so the brothers had erected a heavy-duty cyclone fence about 8 feet tall with an electric lock on the gate.
Through a spy hole in the door, they were able to check out any potential guest before opening their gate. If it was the local police, they would have all the drinks removed, and coffee and sodas to replace them, all quite innocent when they finally opened the gates and allowed the police to enter and check their service.
However, the police having gotten wise to their scheme would climb up on their roof. When they opened the door for regular customers after hours, the police would jump down and proceed to arrest them for serving alcoholic drinks after hours. So, the brothers, refusing to be treated this way, finally put a cyclone fence roof over the already fenced-in entrance to stop anyone from jumping down from the roof to surprise them. As far as I ever knew they stayed open all night if there were customers to be served.
I knew also about other entertainment centers, like the houses of prostitution on Post Office Street, but there was no reason for my going there as it was beyond my call of doing business.
Now, one might wonder just why we would have any interest in hanging out in either of these places. Often, during the press of seeing patients, the doctors we most wanted to see would not have time for us to visit with them. They would often tell us meet me at “the other clinic” after 5:00.
There was an old joke about the bars down along the docks of Galveston. It was famous for barkeeps slipping a “mickey” into a person’s drink. A young man, probably a visitor and in his early 20’s wandered into one of the dives and was slipped a mickey.
Later, he awakes on a slave ship and was required to row, being chained along with many slaves on this ancient ship. Over time, he got to know and become friends with another slave seated next to him. After the ship had been at sea for a long period of time, it returned to Galveston and they were all set free. Well the newbie asked his friend if it was proper to tip the sergeant at arms, who had commanded the entire slave cadre. His friend said, “I don’t know, I didn’t last year!”
Just Sayin…RJS
Oct 23, 2020 17:54:34 #
Oct 23, 2020 18:07:48 #
Oct 23, 2020 18:33:20 #
I saw an eyeball peeking through a smoky cloud behind the Green Door,
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the Green Door...
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the Green Door...
Oct 23, 2020 18:34:31 #
I saw an eyeball peeking through a smoky cloud behind the Green Door,
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the Green Door...
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the Green Door...
Oct 23, 2020 18:36:43 #
I saw an eyeball peeking through a smoky cloud behind the Green Door,
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the Green Door...
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the Green Door...
Oct 23, 2020 18:37:55 #
I saw an eyeball peeking through a smoky cloud behind the Green Door,
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the Green Door...
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the Green Door...
Oct 23, 2020 18:49:31 #
Think the eyeball got to you there Smokey and made you studder 4 times😂😂😂😂😂
Oct 23, 2020 19:58:14 #
Well, one story about the Green Door. We had just been admitted in and were walking back to a table, when a good lookin gal, hailed me by name, and started chatting me up, and I stopped to visit.
After i finally got detatched from her and found my salesman whom I was replacing, I asked him, What office or clinic was this gal that was so friendly and knew my name? He said, "she's just a hooker, and you haven't taken off your name tag!" Woops!
Here, I thought I had made a good impression at one of the offices! Just Sayin...RJS
After i finally got detatched from her and found my salesman whom I was replacing, I asked him, What office or clinic was this gal that was so friendly and knew my name? He said, "she's just a hooker, and you haven't taken off your name tag!" Woops!
Here, I thought I had made a good impression at one of the offices! Just Sayin...RJS
Dec 17, 2020 15:57:13 #
Say, wasn't 'Behind the Green Door' an adult movie back in the '70s with Marilyn Chambers, the former cover girl on the 'Ivory Snow' box ? Hmmm ! Odd
coincidence, that ! Just sayin' !
coincidence, that ! Just sayin' !
Dec 17, 2020 18:28:57 #
Don't know anything about that movie. I remember the song Green Door.
I say an eyeball peeking through a smoky cloud behind the green door;
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the green door...
I say an eyeball peeking through a smoky cloud behind the green door;
They have an old piano and they play it loud behind the green door...
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