Back in the 1970s there was a short-lived nightspot in Oly known as "The Castle." It had a real moat. The big front door doubled as the bridge after it was lowered.

But it had strange hours of operation. A sign on the entry said "Open for Weeknights only."

One time I tried to get in on a Tuesday evening, but the bouncer wouldn't let me pass. "Sorry sir, open for weeknights only." But, I reminded him, it was Tuesday. What's the problem?

At that moment a little guy about 4 and half feet tall wearing a Medieval suit of armor rode up on a Shetland pony, dismounted, and was allowed to enter the place.

Then the bouncer looked at me said, "See? Open for wee knights only."

Ah, The Castle: Oly's Forgotten Knightspot.

12 mini-reviews for the short attention span, taken from the dark corners of stevenl's video vault:

Nothing But Trouble / directed by Dan Aykroyd (1991, VHS). Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Demi Moore, Valri Bromfield, Taylor Negron, Brian Doyle-Murray, Tupac Shakur. It is always sad to see so many talented people in such a bad film. The story of city slickers caught in the rustic horror of a rural New Jersey one-man principality court system deservedly earned six, count them, six Razzie nominations. Aykroyd actually won the Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor. John Candy, who played multiple roles, was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress for his in-drag portrayal of "Eldona." That cracks me up. Oddly, although the motion picture was generally awful, Chevy Chase's comic timing was pretty good. Candy was also great as a straight man in his local cop role. Another positive I can manage to eke out is the fact this is as visually packed with bizarre stuff as visiting some wacky restaurant with all sorts of crap hanging on the walls and off the ceiling. The food might not be all that good, but you hardly notice since you're distracted by all that eccentric decor. Then after you go home you feel ill. This movie is like that.

Rep. Williams has apparently just announced he will not be a candidate for U.S. Congress in 2010.

There are 8 announced potentials, with 8 more additional names being bandied about. Here they are (so far), with related websites. Announced candidates are noted with a "*" after party affiliation. No word yet from the Libertarians, Greens or Constitution Party on this race.

It's falling in big fat flakes in McCleary right now,

but wait, as I type, it has stopped.

Actually this off and on stuff has been going on all afternoon.

What's going on your neighborhood?

[From the Sunday Olympian, Aug. 20, 1933. Anyone know where this chair might be today?]

Old Chair of Torture Now Revered for Its Antiquity

By Dave Adams

A low chair in which some of Olympia's early citizens spent some of the most uncomfortable moments of their lives is on display in a show window of the Chambers building at 110 Fourth avenue east.

Yet, paradoxical as it may appear, the low chair represented the zenith in comfort of the period, what with its plush cushions, adjustable features here and new gadgets there.

It was the dentist chair of Dr. A.B. Woodard, pioneer dentist who served the public from the Columbia to Seattle.

Although manufactured more than half a century ago, the chair embodies virtually all the principles of the modern dental chair. There are some differences, of course. For instance, Dr. Woodard stooped over and cranked up the chair to set more height, instead of pressing his foot on an hydraulic oil pump as dentists are wont to do in 1933. And the other adjustable features, while all there are a bit cruder than the silver plated swinging and sliding gadgets of the modern throne of agony.

Believe it or not, this aged chair, which sets on four legs, has the following adjustable features:

Height of chair adjustable by means of hand crank on ratchet.
Back rest movable up or down
Head rest movable up or down to back of chair or forward or backward.
Seat can be tipped at any angle, permitting dentist to get well over patient. Fine for extractions. From the dentist's standpoint, that is.
Footboard can be shortened or lengthened.
Arm rest that can be lowered so patient can be slid over side.
Lastly, swinging cuspidor.

[From The Daily Olympian, Sept. 28, 1929]:

GOVERNOR HARTLEY HAS A FELINE GUEST HE WANTS RECLAIMED

Like a child, like a connoisseur of painting, like a cat at home, a lost cat frolics and sits and purrs around the offices of Governor Hartley.

The cat made herself at home in the executive offices Thursday when the governor opened a window on his balcony to see what was creating a disturbance outside. The cat paraded in, introduced herself rather informally, and proceeded to sit in all the chairs in the office-- and there were plenty. Tiring of this, she sat before portraits of McKinley and Lincoln, seemingly studying them.

She ate the lunch the governor brought her, left when put out at night, but returned promptly at eight o'clock Friday morning.

A cat is a nice thing to have around, Governor Hartley admits, but rather disturbing when she slides across his glass covered desk, papers and all, or jumps into his lap as he is signing a document.

The cat-- presumably either a Persian or Angora-- is unquestionably somebody's pet, and the governor wants to return her. She is pure white with pale blue eyes. If it's yours, call the Associated press at 2000 and reclaim the governor's feline guest.

[From The Sunday Olympian, Sept. 29, 1929]:

OWNER OF HARTLEY'S CAT GUEST IS FOUND: NOW WHERE'S KITTY?

The missing owner of the "governor's cat" has been found. Now all that remains to be done is to find the cat.

The feline, white with blue eyes, appeared mysteriously at the offices of Governor Hartley and made herslef at home for two and half-days. Her owner, Charles E. Fullerton, 1614 Water street, reading of the governor's visitor in The Daily Olympian, appeared at the executive office to claim her as the office closed Saturday and the elusive feline had again vanished.

12 mini-reviews for the short attention span, taken from the dark corners of stevenl's video vault:

[From the Oct. 31, 1935 Daily Olympian. From what I can glean, it would appear the Bordeaux Garage was in the area of the current Heritage Park Fountain. An interesting bit of Oly horse stable and downtown livestock history is included here. In reading the recollections I find myself trying to imagine what sorts of sounds and smells one would pick up downtown in the 1890s]:

FIRE DESTROYS BORDEAUX GARAGE

Entire Building Is Razed As Flames Spread Rapidly Over Structure, 12 Cars And Trucks Lost

DAMAGES ESTIMATED

To Reach Near $9,000 Mark, Only Partially Insured

A spectacular fire swept the huge frame structure which housed the Bordeaux garage at 329 Fourth avenue west early Wednesday evening, destroying eight automobiles and four trucks and two trailers stored within the structure.

The entire building was a mass of flames almost simutaneously with the first outbreak and firemen were hard pressed to avert spreading of the blaze to the adjacent structures.

Loss to building and equipment exclusive of the automobiles destroyed, was estimated at $3,000 partly covered by insurance, Fire Chief R.E. Holcomb said. It was roughly estimated the automobile loss would aggregate $6,000.

The fire originated in the office but the definite source was still undetermined Thursday morning, although Chief Holcomb was of the opinion it likely started from the oil stove. Several persons nearby at the time told Holcomb they heard an explosion but the owner, Leo Bordeaux, who was at the grease hoist, said there was no blast.

Starts in Office

Bordeaux told the fire chief he had gone from the office to the hoist, and on hearing a crackling noise a few minutes later and saw the office in flames. He could not even get to the office to telephone a fire alarm, so ran to a nearby building to put in the call.

Emotions are understandably running hot over the murder of four law enforcement officers and the subsequent events.

Even so, please remember to refrain from personal attacks. It serves no useful purpose. It hurts others, it hurts you, it hurts the OlyBlog community.

This might be a good time to reacquaint ourselves with the comment policy.