Columbia Stations Redux

Marie @ Columbia Station #1

Last week Columbia Station, a jazz club for 25 years, closed at 2325 18th Street in Adams Morgan. The end of this club may give some music fans a serious case of deja vu because back in pre-historic times, a very different Columbia Station once existed. Many of us have fond, albeit heavily impaired, memories of the first Columbia Station- the one at 1836 Columbia Road.  

An ad from a 1979 Unicorn Times (which I had stashed in a closet) reminds us we saw bands like The Slickee Boys, Grits, and Skip Castro along with the caveat: "proper attire discouraged."

But much to my surprise, very little other information can be found online never mind a picture. Even with history hunter Andrew Ratliff's help, we could only dig up this one grainy photo from the Washington Post.

I had to turn to old pals to fill in the blanks although more than one said they'd have to think a bit to come up with a story not rated X.

Former manager Doug Porter remembers: "Columbia Station served many purposes as the neighborhood crossroads. Artsy types met to do artsy things. Old men came in and sat at the same spot at the bar each visit to watch the world go by. But things got different after about 10:30 at night. The station became a choice location for people of every persuasion to meet the one night stand of their dreams." Doug still has his business card.

He also recalls "Columbia Station always had a problem with rats. In the early years, then owner Paul Tauber would open up by clapping his hands loudly as he walked through the door. After Tauber sold the place to the Wheeler brothers, things got so bad the bartenders started keeping a baseball bat behind the bar to fend off the more aggressive ones."

Marie Broussard continues the rat-mares with a vivid memory of her first shift as bartender in 1980. "My first night of work, a rat came crawling out of the phone booth in the dining room and died in the middle of the room during the dinner rush. I think it succumbed to James the Dishwasher’s special peanut butter and rat poison sandwiches. After a prolonged death scene, while people jumped up and fled their checks, James scooped him up and took away the body."

Marie also recalls:  "We did dinner theatre for a while, and Arch Campbell came to review the show - a Kurt Weil review starring Sheila Joy.  Arch had a few too many and left for the TV station to go on air. We were gathered around the TV when Arch wandered back in the door after two hours of looking for his car. I don’t know if he ever did review that show."

Former bartender Mary Connole recalls a rodent-free story when Doug Porter was managing. "On my 30th birthday Tex Rubinowitz was playing, and I had told Porter that I had a crush on him. Next thing I knew Doug announced on stage that, for my birthday, I'd like to take Tex home." 

On a sadder note, my friend Jan Stovall, devoted Beatle fan, says she "was sitting outside on the patio when my waiter frantically announced that John Lennon had been shot. We were all in shock. I immediately went home, and friends started calling to commiserate."

Mark Hall also worked there as a manager/bartender and booked bands from roughly 1976 until about 1982. He remembers The Original Fetish, The Urban Verbs, Bill Holland and Rent's Due, Root Boy Slim, Razz, Catfish Hodge, Billy and the Shakes, The Dinettes, The Beatnik Flies, and Switchblade to name a few.

The one article I did find online was about Columbia Station's demise in 1984. Another old friend pops up here as well:

"As the neighborhood changed, so did the clientele," said Theodore Pawlik, a disenchanted former patron.  "And from there the nature of Columbia Station as an institution went through phases when they the owners weren't sure exactly what they wanted."


You can bet that more than one musician playing this weekend either remembers or has played Columbia Station starting Thursday with Dan Hovey (Rootboy Slim) and the David Kitchen Band at JVs. 

Friday a crazy, guitar slinging birthday bash happens for Anthony Pirog at Black Cat's Red Room.
(Happy Birthday, dude!)

Saturday... be on the look out for Joe Dolan (Beatnik Flies) and band The Vi-Kings throwing down a 1960s dance party at Rosensteel Hall which is a great place to see live music with its roomy dance floor and cheap drinks. 

Finally all you Dead-head types will appreciate the Black Muddy River Band's groove at DC Brau on Sunday.