August 23, 1858

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Joel Byers

On August 23, 1858, the play “Ten Nights in a Barroom” opened at the National Theater in New York City. It told the story of Sam, an ex-cricket player from Ireland who bought the bar and renamed it “What’s It To Ya”. He hired his old coach “Coach” to tend the bar and dispose nuggets of wisdom to the sad people who came to drink. He was always refereeing the fights between his two barmaids, Carla and Diane while the bar’s regulars, Norm and Cliff tried to weasel free drinks from Coach. This is a story that has resonated throughout the ages. It was a story about the evils of drinking.

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About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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