Housed in the Majestic Hotel with a side entrance on Stark Street (1217 S.W. Stark) Per the National Register application for the building states, New ownership re-opened a somewhat sanitized operation, and the club continued operations until the late 1960s……when it became the Pied Piper, and then the Red Garter.

The oldest continuing gay bar on Stark*, operating from the late 1960s until the 2000s under various names.  It is quite possible that it may have had a gay clientele even earlier that the late ’60s, because Robert Saunders, who also owned the very gay Tel & Tel Tavern on Oak, attempted to open this site under the name of The Mocambo in 1960, but the application for a dispenser class license was refused by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.  This suggests that perhaps the location was already attracting some gays back then. [Per GLPAN website states though, attempted to open this site under the name of The Mocambo in 1960, but the application for a dispenser class license was refused by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.]

* I would say not the ‘oldest continuing gay bar’ I would say, the ‘oldest continually used bar for gay bar businesses such as The Pied Piper, Red Garter [not confirmed gay], Riddles, Kachina Lounge, Bushes, Stark Street Station, Flossies, and Silverado.

Per papers that called Chronology of Portland’s Gay Bars – author unknown, “later known as Riddle’s 1976-1977; Stark St. Station (1083), renamed Flossie’s on June 12, 1982; now Silverado.”

Per the GLAPN - A Walking Tour of Downtown Portland: A Century of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Historic Sites June 1999: The Pied Piper, 1217 SW Stark St., formerly known as Riddles, Stark St. Station, Flossies, (now Silverado). The oldest continuing gay bar on Stark Street operating since the late 1960s under various names. It is quite possible that it may have had a gay clientele even earlier than the late 60s because Robert Saunders who also owned the very gay Tel & Tel Tavern on Oak Street, attempted to open this site under the name of The Mocambo in 1960, but his license application for a Dispenser Class B license was refused by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. This suggests that perhaps the location was already attracting some gays back then.

The Pied Piper located at 1217 S.W. Stark opened in early 1968 and appeared to have been opened as a “supper club” and by the want ad there was a request for waitresses and dancers. And by the original ad, it appears that the ‘dancers’ were female. Through research, it cannot be verified if this was another café, restaurant, bar, or tavern.

Per the Vector Magazine from San Francisco November 1969 [page 22], “If dancing is your scene, the PIED PIPER at 1217 S.W. Stark is where you should go. They feature “GO GO” boys every night of the week.”

Tim Bealer-Casias email, “became gay probably 71-72, ran by a “straight” man, probably Greek or Italian is about what I remember, could have been 70, but I think the other is more right, I remember Tina Sandell getting me a job there, Might ask Norm? can’t think of last name, works at Nordstrom in the Mac cosmetics, we danced together( norm was a gogo dancer with me), the only two of us left…. was always packed to the max, probably didn’t make it as a straight strip club would be my guess, so headed gay  Tim

Left: Ad,February 9, 1968 ad in Oregon Journal

Right: Ad in The Oregonian, February 23, 1968: