The Gaslight Tavern was located at 1241 Oread (as in 13th & Oread on The Hill), just off the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, Kansas, and was right next (west) to the Abington Book Shop (the "City Lights" of the midwest[1]) that was owned by the beat poet, John E. Fowler (publisher of GRIST[2] [3]) and wife Sara.[4] The Gaslight was a popular hangout for students and non-students alike over several decades, from the peaceful times of the Silent Generation to the more turbulent times of the Counter Culture.[5]
The Gaslight has been featured in poetry and fiction.[6] During the era of Folk music, the Gaslight opened the stage to local artists.[7] Later, beat poet George Edward Kimball held 'court' at the Gaslight. [8] George was noted for running for Douglas County sheriff in 1970 and losing the race; however, Phillip Hill was voted in, and removed from his office, as justice of the peace.[9]
KU student Nick Rice [10] was shot to death in front of the Gaslight [11] by local police during an anti-war riot in summer 1970. On the night of July 16, 1970, KU freshman, Rick "Tiger" Dowdell was shot in downtown Lawrence.[10]
The building burned in the '70s, under suspicious conditions.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] The original location of the Gaslight is now a parking area for the KU Student Union which was burned in the 1970 riots.
In its heyday, the Gaslight, as a bar and grill, offered varieties of 3.2% American lager and adequate hamburgers. Entertainment consisted of juke-box music, pinball machines, and a pool table (and conversation). Live entertainment was not a regular event.
The establishment was known as Oread Cafe in 1918.[17] It was Brick's Cafe in the 1940s and 1950s. In April 1948, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) had a sit-in at the Cafe. The protestors included black and white students. Counter protestors "physically removed the protestors from the restaurant."[18]
From 1963 to 1969, the Gaslight Tavern was owned by Donald L. Ebeling who was known as Cueball. He died in Topeka in 2008.[19] Reginald Scarborough bought the tavern in 1969.[20]
The Gaslight Gardens reopened on March 17, 2012[21] and uses a "European beer garden motif."
Earlier, the establishment was known as Gaslight Tavern for several years,[22] operated in north Lawrence, Kansas as a bar and coffeehouse [23] and offered live entertainment on a regular basis. While the interior only offered a capacity of 39, there was an unusually large patio area.
The Gaslight did not renew their lease for 2009 and was closed temporarily.[24] It reopened on July 3, 2009.[25] [26]