The Hole & Happy Trails
and Ratshole, Joe Anthony, Tessie's Typhoon,
Gay Boy International

109 Tuam
1980

I had not intended to do a page on The Hole, but then I acquired the Pride Coin, 1 1/4" diameter,
for 1982, put out by The Hole and Happy Trails. It was Very unusual for a bar to make the coins,
they were usually when done at all, put out by the Pride Committees. So I wanted to show it off and
also the history.....BUT I had no idea how complicated it was....
It's been several bars, with colorful owners.

Some History...

First it was Typhoon Tessies, 1977

At least in the Star it was listed as a Women's Bar

Last Guide mention for Typhoon Tessie's, then called Tessie's Villa

Next, it was...ever so briefly...Dizzy's
for just a few months

and soon, The Ratshole, 1980

Next, The Hole

Note that it was owned by Joe Anthony, and his son Mike
The Anthony's were the first owners of Mary's Naturally, 1971,
along with other businesses

Here's where I got major side-tracked, as the Anthonys have their own colorful history...

Anthony's been in the news before...

Yes, I'm sidetracking but here is an
excellent essay on the guys who first opened Mary's,
Joe Anthony and his son Michael
and their associated ventures, PDF
and, at the publication's site

And they also during 1970-72 they were editor's of Houston's first semi-porn mag, Gayboy
Lots more on Michael, aka Troy McDonald...LOTS...at this link

Anthony opened the bar GayBoy International in May 1971, quickly shortened its name to GB International in June,
(note the July show ad gives a 1840 Westheimer address, while in June it was at 2151 Richmond).
Neither were listed in the Nuntius by October.

Below, oddly....Gay Boy International shows up again in the TWT Guide Listings
in October 1981 ("coming soon")...until the last time in January 1983,
at 1419 Richmond (for recent years the location of Michael's Outpost).
No ads were run for the club, so it may not have opened, though for
TWT to list it for over a year with no activity is strange

The Hole Opens, April 1981

Gay media ads for the two bars often appeared together

But it was back in business in a few months
The top floor was the domain of entertainer Keoki Kona

Joe & Michael Anthony were the owners of the Hole (109 Tuam) and Happy Trails, 715 Fairview...
and new owners bought Happy Trails in late 1982, and it became the Ripcord

More Trivia: I think part of the Happy Trails building that became the Ripcord was a
bar/restaurant called Grand Slam, 717 Fairview, which became The Cabaret;
though it's listings ended in October 1977

Back to The Hole

1984

New Owner, Miss Alabama

Below, last TWT listing for The Hole, 8/21/86

The Outlaws was already in business and Miss Alabama moved over there

Below, 109 Tuam today

In October 1982 The Hole ran this wonderful full-page article on Houston bar history