Andrews Inn
Photo by Jeremy Youst. Collection of Andrews Inn Oral History Project.
Photo by Evie Lovett
We never had a deejay. We had a jukebox. And we had it set up so the lights would take to time with the jukebox, coordinate the time with the jukebox. So that way they had what they wanted, you know? And the evening would start slowly. People would come in and have dinner, sit around, have a few drinks for the most part. And it would start on a slow, easy wave. And people would visit with each other, you know? And it would really begin to pick up at around—started later, like nine thirty, ten o'clock. Then it'd be busy, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. It'd get a little loud, get a little smoky, and it would start taking off, you know? And then the ones that weren't really, weren't really so attractive to each other at the beginning of the evening, they became more attractive to each other as the evening ended, right? So they'd pair off and leave or go upstairs. (Laughter) It was almost like a little sideshow. And the same thing would happen basically night after night. But it was fun to watch, and it was fun to be part of it.
But the visiting and the chattiness would be early, and that would be out on the porch later because the porch was quiet. People would sit out there and visit, you know? Especially if they wanted to get to know each other. But it was a—Thursday was a quiet night. Wednesday was quiet. So there'd be more visiting then because the dancing would be early—the closing would be earlier, you know? But Friday and Saturday, forget it. They weren't visiting, too much, they were shopping for their their needs, for their fix for the week. But I would say—and then there was always—everyone was always hugging and giving a little peck on the cheek and saying good night. And I was like, the lamppost getting, getting smooshed as they all left. "Good luck, good night, we had a good time. Thank you you very much." By then I was so tired I'd crawl upstairs to my apartment, take a good shower because I couldn't stand the smell smoke because I never smoked, and throw the clothes on the floor, get a shower, get ready and go to bed and pass out until morning. There is a lot of 5th Amendment memories in that building, wait a minute here.
I would say probably a lot of the New Years were fun. Everybody had a good time, and it was, it was nice. And a lot of people would dress up, and my father would always do a great big buffet. He'd have Lobster Newburg and prime rib and beautiful food. I mean, it was just, really a good time was had by all. The good old, the good old days. I had a fellow that used to be a international airlines steward, and he'd be coming in from France and he'd bring wheat bread from Paris and wine from Paris and bringing beautiful things from faraway lands, you know? It's nice to know people like that that are nice, you know? Those days are gone, but at least we have a little look beyond the keyhole. — John Moisis