What Was Thailand Like Years Ago

[sabaijai]

Did anyone see 'The Clash' playing in Bangkok in 1977?

Was it good?

They stayed on Petburi road and took a photo for Combat Rock behind it.

I didn't know about The Clash till London Calling was released in 1980, had no clue they were in BKK in in 77. Are you sure they came to Thailand then? I know their 1st album was released that year. The cover for Combat Rock was shot in Thailand in 82: clash

I went to see Country Joe McDonald, of Country Joe & the Fish, when he played in BKK in '77, and talked to him after the show as The Fish were one of my favourite 60s bands. I worked as an extra for a few scenes when The Deer Hunter was filmed in BKK and Kanchanaburi in Sep (or was it Oct? not sure) 77.

[sabaijai]

Believe Sakol hotel, if on the North side of Rama 1 across from National Stadium was the only hotel in that area and had an upstairs after hours watering hole in the early 70's. Recall a police raid one night that required me to escort several ladies or they would have been arrested. I never stayed in hotel (Golden Palace Soi 1 was my haunt). The Erawan was really a government guest house rather than a commercial hotel and just became too expensive to maintain I suspect. The old Railway Hotel in Hua Hin was more fortunate.

For coups martial music was usually the first clue.

Finally, someone that remembers the Sakol. I'd been asking about it for a long time but no one I've met since that era has ever heard of it. I didn't know there was a bar upstairs, all I remember is the rooms and lobby. I wonder if the building is still there?

I stayed at the Railway Hotel in HH back then too. It was still owned by the SRT and cost 90B a night for a huge room with verandah.

[LaoPo]

Came across these pictures of Pattaya, one in 1968 and the other now. See if you can count the differences.

Hmmm...a lot has changed indeed, like everywhere in LOS. Did you buy some land, back than?

LaoPo

[Neeranam]

I didn't know about The Clash till London Calling was released in 1980, had no clue they were in BKK in in 77. Are you sure they came to Thailand then?

I'm not sure the exact date but I know they came to Thailand.

[pandaparty]

I couldn't remember much how it was like in 80's because I was born in 1985, but everything was much cheaper, 5 bahts for a bottle of coke and the same for milk. Was told by mum that in 60's and 70's it was even cheaper. You could get a big bowl of noodles for a baht. Rivers and canals were so clean that you saw clearly what was swimming. Flooding happened but all kids loved it because it was not polluted like it does these days.

Now back to late 80's and 90's, like everyone said, traffic was much worse. I remember my mum taking me to MBK for my favourite banana pancakes in town before it was burnt down. Not much difference only that these days it is much more organised than it used to be. More friendly people. Siam was not so full of tutorial schools as it is now. Very few international schools. Lots of people used beepers because mobile phone was not available or to very small group of people due to its high cost (30K+ for a phone bigger than your TV remote control and very crap network). Winter was winter - for months, not just a day or two. It started in early October instead of late November.

Good old day. Bangkok is still Bangkok anyway - its soul has never changed to me

[lopburi3]

Believe Sakol hotel, if on the North side of Rama 1 across from National Stadium was the only hotel in that area and had an upstairs after hours watering hole in the early 70's. Recall a police raid one night that required me to escort several ladies or they would have been arrested. I never stayed in hotel (Golden Palace Soi 1 was my haunt). The Erawan was really a government guest house rather than a commercial hotel and just became too expensive to maintain I suspect. The old Railway Hotel in Hua Hin was more fortunate.

For coups martial music was usually the first clue.

Finally, someone that remembers the Sakol. I'd been asking about it for a long time but no one I've met since that era has ever heard of it. I didn't know there was a bar upstairs, all I remember is the rooms and lobby. I wonder if the building is still there?

I stayed at the Railway Hotel in HH back then too. It was still owned by the SRT and cost 90B a night for a huge room with verandah.

Was only there the one time, and only because it was the only place open. It looked more like a function room (or maybe even a suite room converted) than a real bar and know had to take elevator up to it. The hotel was not easy to find as blended in with the other buildings of the area and had never noticed it when passing by in taxis.

[camerata]

These photos were taken in January 1981, after the announcement that Rachada Road would be built from the Soi 16/Asoke/Sukhumvit intersection to Rama 4. They were probably taken on a Sunday.

This is the small bar area on the west corner of Sukhumvit Soi 16, showing the Rosemary I & II and the El Toro.

Here is Soi Cowboy with Our Place on the left and Loretta's on the right. Loretta had been married to Cowboy and had a look-khreung daughter. The only beer available then was Singha, Amarit and for awhile a mean one called Khun Phaen.

This is the original Thermae Bathhouse & Coffee Shop, complete with Grecian columns at the entrance. No one ever used the front entrance though, you entered from a back alley and went through the open toilet.

[Boon Mee]

These photos were taken in January 1981, after the announcement that Rachada Road would be built from the Soi 16/Asoke/Sukhumvit intersection to Rama 4. They were probably taken on a Sunday.

This is the small bar area on the west corner of Sukhumvit Soi 16, showing the Rosemary I & II and the El Toro.

Here is Soi Cowboy with Our Place on the left and Loretta's on the right. Loretta had been married to Cowboy and had a look-khreung daughter. The only beer available then was Singha, Amarit and for awhile a mean one called Khun Phaen.

This is the original Thermae Bathhouse & Coffee Shop, complete with Grecian columns at the entrance. No one ever used the front entrance though, you entered from a back alley and went through the open toilet.

Thanks very much for those, camerata.

I remember Loretta and Cowboy well.

Seem to also recall beer Kloster was available too at that time?

[Gazza]

Something I remember from around '91 is going to a coffee shop in Nakhon Phanom for breakfast.

While reading the menu I was asked if I would like a lady. I replied 'No thanks. I'll have the AFB with a cup of tea instead'.

But not so long ago I went to a hotel coffee shop in Phitsanulok for some company and the place was deserted. When I asked the hotel doorman why there was so many girls entering or leaving the hotel, I was told that if I wanted one of them he could phone to them for me.

I guess the 'times-they-are-a-changing' or 'have-already-a-changed'.

[camerata]

Thanks very much for those, camerata.

I remember Loretta and Cowboy well.

Seem to also recall beer Kloster was available too at that time?

I think you're right. I was probably thinking of 1976 or 1977. By 1981 it should have been on sale and Amarit (same company I believe) was getting harder to find. In fact, I think the only people drinking Amarit were the ones who believed the old myth about Singha containing formaldehyde as a preservative.

I just noticed the Playboy logo at the top right of the Soi Cowboy photo. I think the Playboy Bar was Soi Cowboy's first (and short-lived) upstairs bar, run by a French guy called Michel who had originally started the JetSet Lounge on the ground floor - the only place to watch recent videos (pirate copies of course) in the area.

Someone mentioned The Deerhunter. The bar scene for that one was shot at the Mississippi Queen in Patpong. The Thailand premiere of the movie was held at the Washington Cinema. In 1987 the bar scene for Saigon (aka Off Limits) was filmed at the Moonshine in Soi Cowboy.

[Rinrada]

Seem to also recall beer Kloster was available too at that time?

I think you're right. I was probably thinking of 1976 or 1977. By 1981 it should have been on sale and Amarit (same company I believe) was getting harder to find. In fact, I think the only people drinking Amarit were the ones who believed the old myth about Singha containing formaldehyde as a preservative.

L ot of people still believe....

Also seem to remember that Amarit was served up in draught and one place that def had it was the german B.B in Soi 7.(mai chop...but it was cheep)

Dont want to spread rumours....honest...but Crazy Jack (x-Shadow-now RIP)once "indicated" to me that Cowboy and Pam may have been ..as it were more than just good friends...MKjai...any truth....

[qualtrough]

Someone asked if anyone saw The Clash play in Bangkok. I saw the Clash and later the Pretenders when they played concerts at Thammasat in the early 80s. Not sure, but I suspect it was 82 or 83?? What's my prize?

[blabbel]

This is the original Thermae Bathhouse & Coffee Shop, complete with Grecian columns at the entrance. No one ever used the front entrance though, you entered from a back alley and went through the open toilet.

Didn't know there was a front entrance.

Got my glasses smashed in the 'alley of revenge', a girl pimped a non-English speaking 'friend' to me, and the <deleted> insisted I underpaid her, trying to wriggle out of paying the pimping 'friend' her cut...

[Nordlys]

Someone mentioned The Deerhunter. The bar scene for that one was shot at the Mississippi Queen in Patpong. The Thailand premiere of the movie was held at the Washington Cinema. In 1987 the bar scene for Saigon (aka Off Limits) was filmed at the Moonshine in Soi Cowboy.

Washington cinema sounds very familiar but i can't remember where it was. There were many more cinemas in Bangkok then than now, it seems. I saw the premier of the Deer Hunter in Bangkok at a theater somewhere I believe was on Sukhumvit, and remember hearing Thai viewer's exclamation when a household name Thai actor appeared in the film as a bad guy wearing eye patch in the scene from the underground gambling den playing Russian roulette in the final days of Saigon.

Does anybody know where they shot the scene from the Army Hospital in Saigon where Christopher Walken was questioned if his name Chevotarevich is Russian and he answered in a daze "American"? I remember somebody told me it was the back side of the Central Post Office on Charoen Krung Rd. but I can't ascertain on this.

Someone asked if anyone saw The Clash play in Bangkok. I saw the Clash and later the Pretenders when they played concerts at Thammasat in the early 80s. Not sure, but I suspect it was 82 or 83?? What's my prize?

And I saw David Bowie on serious moonlight tour playing at Army Stadium in Din Daeng in Dec. '83 and also saw Ian Mitchell Band (former Bay City Rollers and Rosetta Stones member) performing at a hall in Dusit Thani Hotel in late 70's.

Pretenders was in Bangkok again not too long ago performing at BEC TERO hall in Lumpini Night Bazaar.

[Rinrada]

Washington Cinema in...Washington Sq. (soi 24) is located just behind a pleasant little Gin Joint called The Dubliner (opened about 5 or so years ago)and is now called "Mambo Cabaret"...a Transvestite show place.

re: Suk Cinemas ...been demolished.

Nearest now (from memory)are located further down the road at MBK-Siam-Discovery etc.

As far as Chris Walken is concerned (saigon) I will need to take another shufty again at the film....good actor.

Remember when he was making the "Mercs" which was supposed to be in Sierra Leone in the 70s but I didnt see him there....

[strabel23]

OMG! From pristine to a megatropolis. It's almost scary.

I skipped through this topic fairly quickly and I don't think anyone has said anything about Koh Samui so I'll say a few words and then off to bed. In 93 I visited this paradise and will never forget the tranquility at that time compared to what it has become now. I loved the Reggae club before it burned down and went there with a couple of Americans I had met along the way. They were in their mid twenty's and I was about 41 but looked no older than 35. The reggae club was beautiful, built with all natural wood and always the no. 1 hangout in Chawaeng beach. Good music and lots of people to hang out with and enjoy. You could get to the beach with no problem and park your vehicle whereever you wanted. The natives were much friendlier then too. Now they only look at you like you are a cash cow come to spend all your money and go home. Commercialism has certainly taken the charm away. There are still many nice locations on the island but I will never forget how it was 13 years ago.

[Neeranam]

Koh Phangan was great 13 years ago too - I wouldn't go near the place now.

[sabaijai]

Someone mentioned The Deerhunter. The bar scene for that one was shot at the Mississippi Queen in Patpong. The Thailand premiere of the movie was held at the Washington Cinema.

The producers got permission to film all night on Patpong despite the 1am curfew then, just for that one scene (and associated set-ups leading to that scene). If you know the part where Walken's character grabs the shoulder of a GI in front of the Mississippi Queen - thinking it's Mike, the DeNiro character - the GI in the foreground buying fried bananas (though the vendor isn't in the frame) is me. The actor playing the GI who Walken grabs had just come from working in the Philippines on Apocalypse Now. No one famous but he was one of the 'gang' that formed among us extras and bit parts that week.

I had a chat with Christopher Walken during one of the many long breaks. He was relatively unknown at the time.

Does anybody know where they shot the scene from the Army Hospital in Saigon where Christopher Walken was questioned if his name Chevotarevich is Russian and he answered in a daze "American"? I remember somebody told me it was the back side of the Central Post Office on Charoen Krung Rd. but I can't ascertain on this.

It was shot in a Catholic school decorated to look like a hospital, somewhere off Charoen Krung, probably not far from the GPO but not behind it. I was an extra there too but didn't end up on film. I was also around for the US embassy evacuation scene, which was shot at yet another Christian school off Phetburi. They spent a week filming what was essentially no more than 5 min on film. I met DeNiro briefly that week. Michael Cimino, the director, asked me to come to Sai Yok for the Russian roulette scenes but I declined because I would've had to quit my job, thus losing my work permit.

One of the production assistants for the film was the infamous photographer 'Shrimp' (Patrick Gauvain) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077416/fullcredits

[Ice Maiden]

My Dad swears Thailand was better a few years ago.

Right now it is becoming more western every second and not even the apperance but the customs are changing too. Like I am sure you wouldn't of seen holding of hands a few years ago.

Thai natives are becoming more western too. You can't go anywhere without seeing a billboard or an advert with a whiter than white person with a nose job and "whiter" hair with a painted smile advertising a new brand of cosmetics.... To also make you more western.

Eye surgery is popular now too I have heard.

[Tippaporn]

These photos were taken in January 1981, after the announcement that Rachada Road would be built from the Soi 16/Asoke/Sukhumvit intersection to Rama 4. They were probably taken on a Sunday.

<snip>

Thanks very much for those, camerata.

<snip>

Thanks from me, too, camerata. And, Laopo for the Pattaya pics. I hope I get to see more . . . if available. Still want to see that cement sub . . .

Someone mentioned The Deerhunter.

<snip>

If you know the part where Walken's character grabs the shoulder of a GI in front of the Mississippi Queen - thinking it's Mike, the DeNiro character - the GI in the foreground buying fried bananas (though the vendor isn't in the frame) is me.

<snip>

You may have never made it to the big times in Hollywood, sj, but you certainly did here at TV!! If ever we meet up I'll be sure to get your autograph. (No charge to TV members, chai mai?)

Now I'll really have to watch the movie again.

And again, fascinating posts by all. Great stuff. Thoroughly enjoyable reading. And a HUGE khorpkhun khrup.

[Mighty Mouse]

One of the production assistants for the film was the infamous photographer 'Shrimp' (Patrick Gauvain) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077416/fullcredits

I read through the list of actors with interest and it motivated me to dive through a stack of old photographs of the people I have met over the years in Thailand.

I have always believed that the subject of the photograph below, is the girl who played the part of the "bar girl" in the movie.

Are you able to confirm?

I shot this photo in Pattaya in 1985.

[Tippaporn]

So far the best pic yet. Are you holding out on us, MM . . . ?

[Boon Mee]

Any you old-timers recall a guy named Tony Kiin - 1/2 Burmese, 1/2 Italian who had several places in Soi Cowboy. Last one I remember was one just down the soi from Loretta's - very well decked out. He used to take the junkiest bars and turn them around - had a few in Patpong 2 as well.

Heard he was 'offed' by the Thai Mafia around '81/'82?

[buadhai]

I skipped through this topic fairly quickly and I don't think anyone has said anything about Koh Samui

Did you see my photos of Koh Samui from 1977 on this page:

Thailand 1977

There's one of Chaweng beach with nothing but a pile of oyster shells on it.

[Patsycat]

This thread is really interesting and informative. I just wish i had discovered Thailand all those years ago when life seemed so much more mellow and slower.

Keep the stories and pics coming...

[Padkapow Guy]

I found this link with some old photo of Thailand. scroll half way down to see some old pic's of pattaya.

Man you won't believe how clean the water use to be.

PKG

http://home.gci.net/~bobbyellis/slideshow/

[buadhai]

Here's a flash from the past:

I first flew Thai International back in the mid-70's from Rangoon to Bangkok. Of course, I was in economy, but the service was excellent. After the meal one of the FA's came around with a tray of cigarettes. If you wanted one the FA would light it for you with a gold-tipped wooden match which she would then put out by dipping it in a glass of water in which was floating a fresh orchid.

Smooth as silk!

Never see that again.

[lopburi3]

My Dad swears Thailand was better a few years ago.

Right now it is becoming more western every second and not even the apperance but the customs are changing too. Like I am sure you wouldn't of seen holding of hands a few years ago.

Thai natives are becoming more western too. You can't go anywhere without seeing a billboard or an advert with a whiter than white person with a nose job and "whiter" hair with a painted smile advertising a new brand of cosmetics.... To also make you more western.

Eye surgery is popular now too I have heard.

Have to ask "better for who" when that argument is raised. The Thai do not want to turn back time anymore than most people do. We live in the present and for the future. If you live in the past you become the past.

You observation about the "need to be white" I believe most of us can agree on but 90% of that can be laid at the feet of advertisers making money off of products. And it was around long before it became chic to be western. Amazing that one of the naturally most attractive people believe they are not. The power of advertising at its worst.

As for holding hands that has always been done - but used to be same sex more often than couples.

[camerata]

Any you old-timers recall a guy named Tony Kiin - 1/2 Burmese, 1/2 Italian who had several places in Soi Cowboy. Last one I remember was one just down the soi from Loretta's - very well decked out. He used to take the junkiest bars and turn them around - had a few in Patpong 2 as well.

Heard he was 'offed' by the Thai Mafia around '81/'82?

I remember Tony. A very charismatic-looking guy. He looked like Hollywood's idea of an Asian resistance leader in WW2. No idea what happened to him. Some bar owners in the early years were linked to (drug) money laundering. Mississippi Queen was one.

Another character from the bar scene was Frank, manager of the Superstar. He was Burmese, but looked like an Arab. On some nights he used to get up on the dance stage dressed in full Islamic hijab, switch on the strobe light and dance like a demented robot. It was hilarious but not very PC. The last I heard he was involved in the early development of the RCA entertainment area on Rama 9.

[camerata]

Here's a flash from the past:

I first flew Thai International back in the mid-70's from Rangoon to Bangkok. Of course, I was in economy, but the service was excellent. After the meal one of the FA's came around with a tray of cigarettes. If you wanted one the FA would light it for you with a gold-tipped wooden match which she would then put out by dipping it in a glass of water in which was floating a fresh orchid.

Smooth as silk!

Never see that again.

When I flew from Rangoon in 1977 on TA the flight was cancelled due to lack of planes!! TA put me up at the Strand Hotel for a night. The Strand was the No. 1 hotel at the time, a beautiful old colonial style building, and seemingly one of the few places in the city where beer was available. It was the fashion in Burma at the time to eat potato crisps dipped in tomato ketchup with your beer. But Mandalay Beer was pretty much like sweet-tasting water anyway.