The truth is stranger than fiction…
Title: Refused beer, he breaks up tavern
Creation Date: 9/7/1949
Media Type: Photographic Prints
Source: Automobile Reference Collection
Notes:
Info Attached to Photo:
REFUSED BEER, HE BREAKS UP TAVERN
Cleveland, Ohio... Mike "Ickey" Mesko wasn't fooling when he told the bartender at Rolfe's Tavern that he would close him up after being refused a beer. According to proprietor Jack Rolfe, Mesko came in near closing time and asked for a beer -- even though he had no money. Mesko got the beer, but when he asked for a re-fill, was refused. Mesko said: "if the police don't close you up, I will.....I'm going right through your front window." He did. He went to his home, go the truck, and returned. Taking careful aim, he backed his one-ton vehicle through the front window of the tavern.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS PHOTO
1435 East 12th St.
Cleveland 14, OHIO
Running a bar is not an easy business.
@alsancle But they made it look so easy on Cheers. I’m guessing this wasn’t the first bar he visited that night.
I like the neon sign above the bar.
The article sets the scene like a movie script......"walked into the bar at 1 am and asked for a beer on credit"............. Thank goodness I've never been involved in ownership of a bar. The restaurant/bar business adventures I had as part time jobs in college cured me of any aspirations along those lines. Cheering for Mike Mesko.....hopefully he got home, his wife gave him a good beating, he turned his life around, and passed away at age 99.
@JohnBloom I love the sign too!
Damage to the front bumper was from the night before.
Was it a $200 truck before or after he backed it into the building?
NewOldWood: Ran When Parked
@NewOldWood I was going to make a crack about 200 being a lot of money in 48 and then I remembered it was very hard to buy a car in the first couple of years after WWII. Although that truck would not make a great daily drivrer.
It is a funny picture but would not be as funny if someone was sitting by the door when he did that.
Considering the gearing that truck would’ve had, he must have had it wound right out in reverse to have enough momentum to get the entire bed inside.