[Dixielandjazz] North Beach memories Vanessi's restaurant & Gomans Gay 90's & Red Garter

[Artwoo at aol.com]

Hi: John's post about the El Greco reminded me of my favorite North Beach  
restaurant (now gone) Vanessis's. 
 
Anyone remember Frank Gassis (sp?) who played the cymbalon at  Vanessi's? 
 
He was a musical genius and played the cymbalon with taste and fervor.  I can 
still picture his hammering out beautiful music such as The Fifth Man  theme 
and Smoke gets in your eyes. 
 
Another favorite spot, also long gone, was "Goman's Gay 90's" which was a  
recreation of the Barbary Coast. They featured a vaudeville style show with  
various acts and Ray Goman as the comic emcee. They had a house band reminiscent  
of the Pepsi Cola Disneyland Golden Horseshoe review. As I recall, the Gay  
90's band had a super trumpet player...does anyone remember his name? Was it  
Frank Snow or Johnny Cappola?
 
Also not to be forgotten is the Red Garter! Those cats were  powerhouses!
Sorry to ramble, but North Beach was important to me in my wilder  days. I 
even saw the shows at Finocchios and the President Follies!
AW