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Bucket of Blood Saloon

 
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stan_allen



Joined: 19 Dec 2005
Posts: 1129

PostPosted: May Tue 30, 2006 8:12 am    Post subject: Bucket of Blood Saloon Reply with quote

First of all, I demand to know why I wasn't informed of this earlier.

However, I must confess to substantial ignorance when it comes to this whole "Virginia City" thing, as I never quite saw the need to look beyond the perimeter of glorious downtown Reno when becoming acquainted with the area. After all, with abundant table games, machines, and flowing beer taps surrounding you within a six-block radius, it's easy to be blinded to nearby points of interest.

With this as a backdrop, I made a startling discovery over the weekend. In Monterey, California, nestled among the super-touristy array of boutique shops, tarted-up-but-mediocre restaurants, and kitschy curio emporiums is a great record store, the "Viny Revolution", and as the name implies, it's packed with vinyl - there's CDs and even cassettes, but the focus is on the records.

So nestled in among the zillions of fascinating albums was this item by a duet known as "The 49'ers", consisting of a pianist and a percussionist. The pianist plays the standards of the late 19th century, and the percussionist has one of those absurd contraptions that integrates a washboard, cowbells, horns, and all sorts of crazy sounds - the guy literally uses bells and whistles, and these fellows apparently were regulars at the above-referenced "Bucket of Blood" saloon in Virginia City - from what I can piece together from the album's liner notes, these performances took place well into the '70's.

Never having heard of the "Bucket of Blood" saloon, I dashed off to the Internet with the hope of learning more. A cursory look at the entire web revealed only a handful of references to this amazing act; just one vendor on e-bay had this same record for sale, so I was at least able to get a picture of it:


It's a little hard to spot, but on the left, you can see the percussion contraption, which is unlike nearly everything you've ever encountered before. This is quite possibly the best record I've ever heard in my life, and I have officially declared it better than the Beatles and The Stones combined.

As for the Bucket of Blood saloon, it's apparently a well-known haunt for Virginia City fans; e-bay features vendors who have cocktail napkins and such from this fine establishment, and travel info as well as anecdotes have appeared in various places, such as Yahoo travel and such.

The role which Reno and its environs play in our lives never ceases to surprise, amaze, and delight. Next time I get up to the area, I have an official mission to pursue, which is to go hoist one at the Bucket of Blood saloon, and imagine what it was like to be there when "The 49'ers" were playing.

One other interesting note about this album: It's probably fake, but it bears what appears to be the autographs of the performers. While I think it's unlikely that I possess an autographed copy of this masterpiece, a strong case can be made that it's authentic, as the signatures are distinctively handwritten. Again: probably not genuine, but who knows?

Oh, I almost forgot: The price for this fantastic acquisition? One dollar and ninety-eight cents, plus tax. Also scored some other nice items, but this was the creme de la creme.

Happy trails, y'all.


Last edited by stan_allen on Aug Thu 02, 2007 4:11 pm; edited 1 time in total
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misterd51



Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 57

PostPosted: Jun Sat 03, 2006 12:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you enjoy V.C. and the Bucket of Blood Saloon, you might also enjoy Genoa and the Old Genoa Bar, it is Nevada's oldest thirst parlor, and contains many interesting and historical items.

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nv/genoa.html

Including a bra left there by Raquel Welch when she visited. To reach the old town take 395 south toward Carson City the turn right on Jack's Valley Road and it will take you to the town The Genoa Bar is on the right in the middle of town.
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jerry



Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 759

PostPosted: Jun Sat 03, 2006 7:53 pm    Post subject: 'ol jenn-0-wah Reply with quote

I've always been intrigued by the idea of visiting the Old Genoa Bar but didn't know how to find it -- still don't know, for that matter.

Is Jack's Valley Road well-marked-easy to find?
Is it far out of Reno?
Landmarks, etc?

Thanks,
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misterd51



Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 57

PostPosted: Jun Sun 04, 2006 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes Jack Valley Road is well marked and easy to find. It is also State Route 260, and if I remember correctly it is marked with both 260 and Jack Valley Road as well as a exit sign saying Genoa. You can take Business 395 out of Reno, going past the Pepper Mill and Atlantis and Virgina will turn into Business 395 stay on that through Carson City then when you go past Hwy 50 it will be the next main road to your right. I would guess it to be around 35 miles from downtown Reno's main Casino area. We only went into the Genoa Bar, but there are a lot of old building and a tribute to the old Mormon Station that was first settled there as well as a old well maintained cemetary. There are not the shops as you find in V.C. and it is a lot less touristy. I found a visit to the bar and reading the brouchere they have which is written with the bar telling its own history well worth the trip.
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JD



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 956

PostPosted: Jun Sun 04, 2006 8:33 am    Post subject: Genoa..AND the Bar Reply with quote

OK Jerry, now you've hit on one of MY favorite subjects... and is as far away from the top shelf or Lexie's of Siena as you can get.

Genoa is maybe 40-45 miles South of Reno and is the oldest settlement in Nevada. Jack's Valley Road parallels 395 South of Carson City. When you get near Washoe Lake, I'd either go around the lake on the East side (new developments surrounding some old early structures) or take "Old 395" until it merges back into the 395 freeway.

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nv/genoa.html

Maybe 13 or 14 miles South of Carson, Jack's Valley Road angles West but runs parallel to 395 and maybe 2 miles West. You cannot get lost since you'll hit the mountains holding Lake Tahoe in place. Jack's Valley Road passes the remnants of old HUGE ranches that served as the model for the real Ponderosa. They are being sold off one by one to build golf courses and condos.

Dan Dorcort wrote most of the scripts for Bonanza but got many of his early plot ideas from Dan DeQuille's " The Big Bonanza" written in the 1870's. If you ever see reruns, it opens with a man reading DeQuille's book. Note: DeQuille was Mark Twain's boss at the VC newspaper and Twain adopted many of DeQuille's writing styles.

There's a quaint museum (and the required gift shop) in the old court house run by elderly locals that are thrilled if you ask any questions (buy a book here) of the history of the town. Be sure to cross the street to the park/stockade as well. THEN you can go to the Old Genoa Bar. If Miss Riskey is tending bar, tell her the $ 2 bill guy (Ernest's pal) will be visiting the 4th of July. Don't expect some fancy imported beer and don't complain about the pool table or the restrooms. The building is over 150 years old, been ridin hard and put away wet.

http://www.genoanevada.org/page3.html

My favorite story (from DeQuille's book) is of Henry Van Sickle. Van Sickle Station (Pony Express stop) is just outside of town. But his story is most famous because this blacksmith (later large landowner, rancher, timber baron, builder of Kingbury Grade to Tahoe and a model for Ben Cartwright) was nearly killed by Sam Brown, a real Old West bad man and cold blooded killer of dozens.

http://www.xphomestation.com/nvsta-vansickles.html

Henry jumped on his mule with his double barreled shotgun and chased down the fleeing coward and ended Sam Brown's murderous ways for good.

Google search: Sam Brown, Henry Van Sickle, Mormon Station, Genoa Nevada, Dan DeQuille

(Too much information???)



JD
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jerry



Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 759

PostPosted: Jun Sun 04, 2006 9:32 pm    Post subject: to D51 and JD Reply with quote

I enjoyed both informative posts. No, JD, not too much info. I like the old places. In the 60s, we went regularly to seek out the old ghost towns in Rockies (CO) before they were vandalized and destroyed.
Alas, now only memories and my old pictures but it was great fun in those days.

Now, for directions:
D51 seems to have me turning west right in Carson.
JD has me driving south of Carson for 13 miles before turning west. That sounds like it's below Minden. This would be WAY below the turnoff to Lake Tahoe.

Can you guys please clarify?
Sounds like maybe both ways get you there.
And after I get off of 395, how many more miles?

Thanks guys. I may never get there but who knows. Right now, I am finding it very difficult to even return to Reno.

For 40 years, I have had a mental block on the name of the grade (from around Minden area) that goes to Tahoe. JD, is your route even below this?
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misterd51



Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 57

PostPosted: Jun Thu 08, 2006 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

JD I enjoyed your more detailed report of Genoa. Jerry I know what you mean about the demise of the old ghost and mining towns, some I visited here in California in the early seventies when buildings still remained I have returned to, to fine nothing but a few ruins or a forest service sign marking it as a historic site, though it seems the old cemetaries remain. I understand in some cases the forest service themselve removed the old buildings, and the same with the BLM in the desert, though I know vandelism took its toll.
As for directions to Genoa I apoligize if I led you to beleive you turned west in C.C. you go through C.C. then past Hwy 50. Jacks Valley road (hwy 206) turns west south of the Hwy 50 turnoff. If you miss that or want Hwy 208 to the west also goes into Genoa. We were actually coming up 395 from the south and turned west on 757 then turned north on 206 into Genoa. All of these are north of Minden. The grade you ask about going to Tahoe is the Kingsbury grade. I wish I could have explored the ghost town back in their better conditions but still enjoy poking around finding what we find.
Best of luck to all and I will still be going to Shooters.

Mr. D
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Slapdad



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Jun Thu 08, 2006 10:57 pm    Post subject: Yes....interesting. Reply with quote

"D51 seems to have me turning west right in Carson.
JD has me driving south of Carson for 13 miles before turning west. That sounds like it's below Minden. This would be WAY below the turnoff to Lake Tahoe. "

What may have thrown you is that Hwy 50 comes into Carson from the East right into the middle of town, then follows 395 south before heading west toward Lake Tahoe, leaving a gap of several miles between hwy 50 east and hwy 50 west.

13 miles south of Carson is too far for the turn-off to Jack's Valley Road (5 miles is probably closer from Williams Street/Hwy 50), but it will get you to 758, which takes you from 395 to Genoa further south.
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