Seville Quarter
Turns 50
VOL. I
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA • AUGUST 6, 2017
NO. 1
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT ICON
THROWS BIG
ANNIVERSARY BASH
Pensacola Landmark Plans Festive Golden Jubilee WILMER MITCHELL
President, Rosie O’Grady’s, Inc. It all began in the summer of 1967. With $1,100, his horn and his heart a young trumpet player, fresh out of the Navy, named Bob Snow started the revitalization of Downtown Pensacola. With a dream of opening a saloon in downtown Pensacola he put together a band of accomplished Dixieland musicians and leased the Old Pensacola Cigar and Tobacco Warehouse at 130 East Government Street. That building, like most in the neighborhood, was unoccupied and dilapidated. This energetic entrepreneur assembled a team of workers and with hard work and sweat equity “Rosie O’Grady’s Warehouse” was born. Thankfully local merchants sold equipment at very low prices and the Citizens & Peoples Bank provided the only bank financing available.
1967-2017
Against all odds the building was ready to open for business by August 1967. There was no real advertising, but the people of Pensacola were eager to see if this dream would succeed. On opening night the room was packed with over 300 people while 300 or more were waiting outside. Then Rosie O’Grady’s was christened. The house lights were fully dimmed. Virtuoso Banjo player, Tutie Lockhart sat on a stool illuminated by a single spot light. Smoothly and softly he began to strum: “Dear One, the World is waiting for the Sunrise”. The audience was transfixed by his melodic expertise. Tutie followed with two more beautifully rendered numbers which the quiet patrons fully enjoyed. Then the magic began! A trumpet blared a loud alert. The spotlights turned to the north end of the room where Bob Snow stood on the stair landing backed by his Dixieland band. They marched down the stairs and into the room blasting out “The Bourbon Street Parade”.
The crowd stood up cheering. Snow led a fast march around the room and many excited fans joined the march for a second circle. The band took the stage and played Dixieland tunes without stopping. Bob and other vocalists sang out other great hits. And “When the Saints Go Marching In” was belted out everybody sang along and marched along snake dancing round the room with the band. The show went on until closing time. If anybody left, their place was immediately taken by others who had waited to get in. I was there all evening and I have never seen a crowd so enthusiastic and happy. They would not sit down or stop singing and dancing – in the aisles and on the tables. It was a pleasurable night I’ll never forget. The popcorn and peanut emporium that would evolve into Seville Quarter was such a success that Bob Snow went to the C&P Bank the following Monday and paid off his loan in full.
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