Bars, Restaurants, & Taverns
DINTY MOORE’S
It was operated by the Norris family, where daughter Bernice became a waitress and bartender in 1949. Next door was an adult bookstore, on the other side was the Lotus Card Room which opened in 1928 all on SW Third. The Lotus Card Room was the first legal gambling site in Portland, and rumors that it was once connected with a brothel.
Per Grant Butler/The Oregonian, “The building opened in 1906 at the corner of Southwest Third Avenue and Salmon Street as the Hotel Albion. But the building was most known for the Lotus Café and Card Room, which opened in 1924, and continued to be a popular nightspot until its closure in 2016.” (SOURCE)
Per another article, “Lotus has been open since 1924 when it started as a pre-Prohibition soda bar.” (SOURCE)
Dinty Moore’s [name similar to the stew] Tavern [924 SW Third Ave – the building is presently known as the Auditorium Building next to the old Lotus Card Room]. 195? To 196?
Not much is mentioned about this bar except it’s where barmaid “Mama Bernice” first appears on the Portland bar/tavern early 1960. One mention is on June 15, 1961, Oregonian article entitled Barmaid, Jeweler Last To See Murder Victim Day She Vanished. The article dealt with the disappearance of Mrs. Caudle, a striking 24-year-old brunette who frequented the tavern. Bernice is mentioned, “Bernice Norris, another barmaid…knew Mrs. Caudle quite well…”
Because of its location, close to the sea wall, it was frequented by merchant seamen. It does not seem to have the same problem with either mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee or Terry Schrunk.
Per papers that called Chronology of Portland’s Gay Bars – author unknown, ”Dinty Moore’s; Carl Wilson owner; Mama Bernice worked as a barmaid here from 1949-1963; sailor’s bar, only partly gay .”
Per City Week, Portland Oregon February 14, 1986, “Cover Story – Passing of Friend Saddens Gay Community” “[Mama Bernice’s] career as a bartender …began in 1949 when she started working at Dinty Moore’s Tavern on SW 3rd Ave. The tavern was owned by her mother and was popular with sailors and dock workers, although it was not specifically identified as a gay establishment. With the closure of downtown port facilities in the 1950s the tavern began attracting a larger gay clientele and by 1960 was almost totally gay…. After Dinty Moore’s changed ownership, Mama Bernice worked for several years…at Mama Bernice’s”
Located on SW 3rd Street between SW Salmon and SW Taylor
Years: 1964-1976 [possible gay]
1963 photo (Oregonian file photo)
photo taken 1976 The 7UP Sign is where Dinty Moore’s tavern was located (Roger Jensen, The Oregonian)
At one time there were four bars located between SW Taylor and SW Salmon on SW Third: The Reed, 901 S.W. Third., The Rose City Club Tavern, 917 S.W. Third, Dinty Moore’s 924 S.W. Third, and The Lotus Club, 932 S.W. Third.
ad from Oct 1976 NW Gay Review
https://vintageportland.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/auditorium-building-7804-1967.jpg
citations & references:
· Cited in GAY PLACES 1971 International Guild Guide – telephone number: 222-2203 with the connotations of B, M,RT,H,L,AYOR – Beer, Mixed, Rough Trade, Hustlers, Lesbian, At Your Own Risk
· Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1971 under Bars/Clubs with notation: M – Mixed, RT – Rough Trade
· Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1972 under Bars/Clubs with notation: M – Mixed, RT – Rough Trade
· Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1973 under Bars/Clubs with notation: M – Mixed, RT – Rough Trade
· Listed in Guild Guide 1973 USA & International
· Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1974 under Bars/Clubs with notation: M – Mixed, RT – Rough Trade
· Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1975 under Bars/Clubs with notation: M – Mixed, RT – Rough Trade
· Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1976 under Bars/Clubs with notation: M – Mixed, RT – Rough Trade
· Not Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1977 or thereafter
· Possibly 1980/81 Listed on Darcelle’s “PATRONS – Round Trip to Lake Tahoe – Courtesy of ‘HELLO RENO” Miss Terri, Darcelle XV and Directors Furniture]