Some of Calgary's oldest bars and the people who ran them - Action News
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Calgary

Some of Calgary's oldest bars and the people who ran them

From the favourite watering hole of a former Alberta premier to a club that hosted Nirvana and the Tragically Hip, we dig through the Glenbow Museum photo archives for a (blurry) trip down memory lane.

From a favourite watering hole of a former Alberta Premier to a club visited by Nirvana and The Tragically Hip

The bar at the Palace Hotel in Calgary in 1903, with owner Carl Wieting behind the bar. The hotel was located at 104, 9th Avenue West.

This story was originally published Jan. 17.


As part of our Calgary at a Crossroads series,we explored what yourfavourite localwatering holerevealsabout you, your friendsand how you create your very own community.

Now it's time for a trip down memory lane for a glimpse at some of Calgary's oldest barsand the people who ran them, courtesy of theGlenbowMuseum photo archives.

Some of these barsstill stand today, whileothers only live on in our (sometimes blurry) memories. Feel free to reminisce and share yours below.

1. King Edward Hotel

Better known as the King Eddy, this bar was part of "whisky row," a strip of hotels along Ninth Avenue.In the '70s and '80s it became a blues bar where many musical legends performed including B.B. King and Buddy Guy.

The National Music Centre is undertaking a project tocarefully reconstructthe King Eddy brick by brick to look exactly as it did in 1905.

King Edward Hotel bartenders photographed in 1909. Alfred Boucher is in the back row on the left. The other three men are Georges Lalonde, Victor Despins and Leon Baudry. (Glenbow)

2. Bar of Alberta Hotel

The photo probably doesn't do it justice, but this was known as the longest bar in Alberta. Here are bartenders George Claire, left,and Fred Adams posing circa 1900.

John Matthew McCloy in the bar of the Alberta Hotel circa 1907. (Glenbow)

3. Wainwright Hotel

The hotel burned down in 1929, but areconstruction is in Heritage Park and includes an authentic saloon and elegant dining room.

4.New Noble Motor Hotel

Here's one you can still find in the city, located at 119 12th Ave. S.W. It was renamed a couple of times the Westward Inn andthen the Holiday Inn before finally becomingthe Hotel Arts in 2008. Through the'80s and '90s, it was a hub for touring bandsincluding Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Tragically Hip.

5.King George Hotel Bar

Located at 124 Ninth Ave. S.W., the hotel was later renamed the Carleton Hotel before it was demolished in 1978.In 1939, the basement of the hotel housed Boys Town, which became the Boys and Girls Club.

6.St. Louis Hotel

It was no secret that the St. Louis was former Alberta premier and Calgary mayor Ralph Klein's favourite bar. It'snow undergoing major renovations to bring it in line with modernbuilding codes.


Calgary at a Crossroads is CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series atCalgary at a Crossroads.