Third Place Books welcomes local historians Peter Blecha and Brad Holden to our Ravenna store! The co-authors will be discussing their book Lost Roadhouses of Seattle, a deep dive into the forbidden nightclubs of bygone Seattle. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required in advance.
Copies of Lost Roadhouses of Seattle will be available for purchase at the store. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book!
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Prohibition went national in 1920 and a network of roadside inns, taverns and dancehalls just outside of Seattle's city limits thrived well into the rockin' 1950s, providing illicit entertainment for those seeking a good time. Spurred on by early car culture and strict liquor laws, places like the Spanish Castle, The Jungle and The Black Cat sprang into being. Commonly called roadhouses, many of these remote outposts existed along two newly-built and parallel stretches of county highways—far from the prying eyes of city police. Fabled speakeasy operator, Doc Hamilton founded some of the earliest of these hideaways.
Join authors Peter Blecha and Brad Holden as they uncover the fascinating era of forbidden nightclubs.
Peter Blecha is a Staff Historian with HistoryLink.org, the Director of the Northwest Music Archives, and an award-winning author. A member of the Pacific Northwest Historians Guild, and former longtime Senior Curator at Seattle’s EMP music museum, Blecha has been acknowledged as: “the premier expert in his chosen field of research” (Seattle Weekly, 1988); “Seattle’s best-known collector” (Scram Magazine, 2006); the “Indiana Jones of Rock ‘n’ Roll” (The Rocket, 2000); and a writer who “deserves a place in Northwest music history for his important role in preserving its history and promoting its legacy” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2005).
Author. Historian. Finder of old things. When not out searching for local historical artifacts, Brad Holden enjoys writing about Seattle’s past. He is a columnist for Seattle Magazine, writes for HistoryLink.org (an online encyclopedia of Washington state history) and is also the co-host of the popular podcast, Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks: The Dive Bars of Seattle. Holden has been profiled on KIRO, Seattle Refined, NPR and King 5 Evening. Lost Roadhouses of Seattle is his third book. He lives in Edmonds, WA.
Want a signed edition of the featured book, but can't make it to the event? Order through our website or over the phone, and write your request for a signature or personalization in the comments field at checkout. Please call the hosting store if you're placing your order within 24 hours of the event.
Third Place Books Events Code of Conduct: Third Place Books is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of event attendees and guest authors, during both online and in-store events. By registering for this event, you are agreeing to refrain from engaging in inappropriate behavior and harassment of any kind throughout the course of this event (i.e. racial slurs, profanity, hate speech, spam comments, etc.). Please note that any participants who engage in inappropriate behavior or harassment of any kind will be immediately ejected from the event.
For media inquiries, access inquiries, or questions about our Covid-19 policies, please email events@thirdplacebooks.com or call our Lake Forest Park store at (206) 366-3311.
