Bars, Restaurants, & Taverns
HAPPY HARE
1730 S.W. Taylor Between 17th and 18th
Years: possibly 1964-1968 ?
Per an article in the newspaper Northwest Gay Review, June 1977 written by W Holman “A Gay History – lest it be Forgotten” sheds many stories on various bars, “By the Stadium, The Happy Hare opened. Its decor was intimate Alpine with a fireplace and rustic furnishings. There was one great problem, however: it was spasmodically open when whim or tender collided. The whims were not posted and there was no way of telling whether or not, or when, or who – maybe even what would appear with a key.”
Article Below Left is from January 19, 1964, Oregon Journal – Happy Hare has a baseball team. Blow Right Oregon Journal, April 9, 1965 article ‘mill ends’
The tavern applied for its 1967 liquor licenese by Sidney Smith. It appears the Portland City Council tabled his application due to “an unfavorable police report, which cited allegations of liquor being served to minors and homosexual behavior by certain of Smiths’ patrons. Because most of the police report was drowned from Smith’s problem with an OLCC inspector, the council felt it should not consider the matter until the OLCC had made a decision on its own charges.” This is all stated in an Oregonian article dated January 5, 1967. It on further to say that the Happy Hare had been closed “because of the council’s action.” There is no further information, and it appears that both the OLCC and the city council’s actions closed the tavern. In early 1967, the Portland City Council recommended against renewal of its liquor license partially because of “homosexual behavior” by some patrons (Oregonian, Jan. 5, 1967, p. 47) [see below].
The location of the tavern seems off the ‘beaten track’. It’s across i405 close to Lincoln High School – near Multnomah Athletic Club. Per the book A Curious and Peculiar People, “Its décor was intimate alpine with fireplace and rustic furnishings. There was one great problem, however: it was: spasmodically open—when whim or tender collided. The whims were not posted and there was no way of telling whether or not, or when, or who would appear with a key. “
citations & references:
o City of Portland Directory, page 231, 1964 – Happy Hare Tavern 1730 SW Taylor
o Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1965 under Bars/Clubs
o Listed in Around The World with Kenneth Marlowe Magazine 1965
o Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1966 under Bars/Clubs with connotation - * - Very Popular
o Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1968 under Bars/Clubs with connotation - * - Very Popular