Billy Goat Tavern
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The Billy Goat Tavern is a chain of taverns located in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1937[1] by Billy Sianis, a Greek immigrant. It achieved fame primarily through newspaper columns by Mike Royko, a supposed curse on the Chicago Cubs and the Olympia Cafe sketch on Saturday Night Live.
It now has several locations in the Chicago area, including Navy Pier, the Merchandise Mart, O'Hare Airport, and the West Loop, and expanded to Washington, D.C., in 2005. The D.C. location is the first outside of the Chicago area and is intended to appeal primarily to politicians, lobbyists, and other D.C. workers who are originally from Chicago.
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[edit] History
The first location was opened in 1937 when William "Billy Goat" Sianis bought the Lincoln Tavern, near Chicago Stadium, for $205 with a bounced check (he made good on it with the proceeds from the first weekend they were open). When the 1944 Republican Convention came to town, he posted a sign saying "No Republicans allowed" causing the place to be packed with Republicans demanding to be served. Of course, a great deal of publicity followed and Sianis took advantage of that fact.[2]
In 1964, they moved to the current location under Michigan Avenue.[2] Being situated between the offices of the Chicago Tribune and the old Chicago Sun-Times building led to the tavern's being mentioned in any number of newspaper columns, particularly those of Mike Royko.
In the 1970s, Sianis petitioned the mayor of Chicago, Richard J. Daley, to issue him the first liquor license for the moon. His hope, according to the letter that currently adorns the establishment's wall, was to best serve his country by serving delicious cheeseburgers to wayfaring astronauts as well as raising moon-goats.
On New Year's Eve 2005, the tavern fittingly held the farewell party for the famed City News Bureau of Chicago, whose reporters were a fixture at the Billy Goat for decades. A small sign commemorating America's first news service still hangs near the northwest wall. [3]
[edit] Cubs curse
The tavern is also known for its involvement in the Curse of the Billy Goat (also known as the "Cubs Curse"). Owner Sianis brought a pet goat, a tavern mascot, to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series, a home game at Wrigley Field against the Detroit Tigers. Despite paid-for box seat tickets, Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley allegedly ejected Sianis and goat due to the latter's odor. Supposedly, Sianis placed a curse on the team that they would not win another pennant or play in a World Series again.
[edit] Olympia Cafe
Another sign reads "Cheezborger Cheezborger Cheezborger No Pepsi. Coke". These words, with Pepsi and Coke in reverse order, were originally spoken by John Belushi in "Olympia Cafe", an early Saturday Night Live sketch that was inspired by the tavern. [4]
Belushi said, in an interview with Chicago radio icon Steve Dahl, that he'd never set foot inside the Billy Goat.[5] It was Bill Murray and sketch writer (and bit player) Don Novello who were the regulars at the Billy Goat.
[edit] References
- ^ Some sources say 1934.
- ^ a b Our History: Birth of a legend
- ^ Chicago Tribune
- ^ Saturday Night Live transcripts
- ^ Steve Dahl podcast
[edit] Further reading
- Rick Kogan (2006). A Chicago Tavern: A Goat, A curse, and the American Dream. Lake Claremont Press. ISBN 9781893121492.
[edit] External links
- Billy Goat Tavern is at coordinates Coordinates:
