You recognize this section of Dorchester looking East from Guy, but you surely don't recognize 19 year old Robert Lozoff (aka Bobby Lozoff) who grew up at 5641 Waverly, but moved to San Francisco at 19 where he became the manager of the legendary 400 seat bar known as The Trident. In SF, Lozoff became close friends with such pacemakers as the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones.
He was mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine repeatedly and got a tattoo at a party at Janis Joplin's house in 1972.
Lozoff hired a bus boy named Robin Williams and he invented - along with his bartender - a drink known as the Tequila Sunrise. \
In 1975 he moved to Maui and opened a bar called the Blue Max which also became famous. In 1983 he got into computer technology and now, nearing sixty, spends much of his time sailing the Pacific, apparently not such a bad fate for a kid from Montreal.
Lozoff has only returned to Montreal twice, once in this photo, shot in the big downer year of 1970, and again in 1983 when he was given a rough ride by cops.
He tells Coolopolis: "I was arrested by police for jaywalking in Westmount. I wasn’t jaywalking. They were brutal and beat me until they realized I had on a real Rolex President and plenty of cash, but that was only back in station 10. Since I had Hawaiian flip flops and shorts on they assumed I was a vagrant."
For those curious about the photo, the building on the right sold cars and car parts and was demolished around 1980. The highly underrated Hotel Colonnade, designed by another FOC (friend of Coolopolis) Michael Fish, is the big-windowed joint behind it and it was demolished just before the millennium.
Lozoff assures Coolopolis readers that Hawaii is an amazing place to be. We're hoping he drops in again to see how the city has grown and changed.
Thanks for the very flattering write-up. As I said I am old now and fish the neighboring islands frequently. If weather is right when you visit not if you visit, you must come out and catch dinner.
ReplyDeleteBobby
Great story. Can't blame him for not coming back. I'd be pissed too for the shoddy treatment.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture. Not that much different today. You can also see the Laurentian Hotel, there on the right-hand side of the picture. Then there's a neon marquee between that and the hotel mentioned in the story. I thought that was the old bus station back then, before Berri. I also like the Adidas. Plus ca change... . Beard's cool. Imagine trying to board a plane with that these days. The Daniel Boone jacket's revival is some time off, yet. Bet he doesn't much need it in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteBobby, I wouldn't say late 50's is old.
ReplyDeleteBut like I said, can't blame you for not coming back.
Is there anything you miss about the city?
I miss the food. Nothing like it. Smoked Meat and steamed hot dogs. No equal to Montreal. Miss the intellectual community and some old friends. Miss spring after a long winter and Indian summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking.
I was a band mate of Bobby at Baron Byng high school and met him on the street in Sauselito in 1971. He was very kind and gave me a place to sleep and introduced me to some of his cool friends. I remember meeting David Crosby's housekeeper, Dana Africa, who was mentioned in Crosby's autobiography. I also remember having my one and only coke experience at a party he took me too.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what happened to him so thanks for posting his story.