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Karl R. Josker | all galleries >> Buffalo >> The Bars Of Buffalo > The Masthead
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31-MAR-2004 Karl R. Josker

The Masthead

Grant & Letchworth, Buffalo

Well, at least this was where the Masthead used to be; I don't know when it was demolished, seems like it was there just last week. The Masthead was on Grant at Letchworth, right at the entrance to Buff State. It was a popular college bar for awhile, I can remember being in there, but I don't remember too much about it; one of the dangers of going to these places I guess.

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sherman burroughs 24-May-2020 15:29
I would play foosball there every Thursday night. 4 splits for a buck. The foosball table a a old Italian design . Glass surface and when you score it would sound like hitting a tuna can .
Paul Dufficy 31-Dec-2019 18:12
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2020 enjoy !
PAUL DUFFICY 17-Sep-2019 21:08
Chuck Hired me to bar tend and clean up around March or April of 1968. I think he just bought the place that year . I remember the St Bernard dog he and his wife had , the dog was huge . I worked there for about a year until early 1969.
Guest 02-Jun-2019 17:55
Tom A
To all, Chuck sold the Masthead in the 1990's to Forge a Canadian. He had it for a few years called Fat Cats as stated below. Forge received a "offer he couldn't refuse" from Buffalo State and sold later in the 90's. I tended bar there from 1975-1984 with Adolph, Dino, Cliff, Tom Strodel, Jack Bielmeier, Tom Hiller, Marty Lesch, Mike Bracco, Bobby Page & Gordy Reece. Also at time Debbie Shanihan. May all those memories live on forever.....
Paul Dufficy 25-Dec-2018 17:36
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2019 ! Enjoy
Sonia kelly 12-Sep-2018 00:41
I loved the masthead! One night they had the futuremothers of America party ! It was in 1973 I believe. Well they had a contest for the females. The first one to finish a pitcher of beer through a straw won. I won! Lol. So much fun ! Especially Beatles night ! To be young and crazy again...
Terry 15-Feb-2018 20:55
Remember going there a couple of times in mid-70's. Crazy crowded. Saw Dirty John Valby play the piano there in his bathrobe sittin' proud on his toilet. He used to get some old senior citizen whom he called "The General" from the Buff State High Rise up on stage with him (after they turned it into some type of senior's residence). Old guy is singin', everybody's screaming/singing "Waltz Me Around By My Wooly" complete with Irish limericks. Remember like it was yesterday. Good times...
Paul Dufficy 24-Dec-2017 16:50
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy 2018 !
Guest 18-Nov-2017 23:13
I remember Thursday nights, beatle night. 3 beer for a dollar 7 shots for a dollar. A lot of Canadians went
Joe Biondo 10-Apr-2017 03:34
Sooo many stories... pretty much of the foundation for my Novels. "Retribution - dead men tell no lies" & "HIT SQUAD VENGEANCE" www.joebiondoauthor.webs.com ..... BUFFALO ROCKED IN THE 70's and 80's !!!!!
Paul Dufficy 25-Dec-2016 14:31
Wishing all former Masthead patrons a Merry Christmas and Happy 2017 !
Jeff Smith 31-Aug-2016 20:48
Thursday nights with my hand stuck in the handle of a plastic bar pitcher of tequila sunrise while I waded through the crowd to get to the pool table in the back. Was in there a lot of nights when I was a Canisius.
Paul Dufficy 03-Jul-2016 17:47
Wishing everyone in Buffalo a great July 4th 2016. Enjoy
Darlene Carlo 05-Mar-2016 01:44
Beatles night Thursday nights! I went there almost every night for a year around 1978-79. Loved the two bartenders, Tommy and Randy! Great times!

Darlene
Guest 27-Jan-2016 20:53
This was one of the first bars I ever went to in the 70’s. I still remember three ice cold buds in a garbage can for a buck at the door. We had to wait to get in and stand packed in like sardines.
Paul Dufficy 31-Dec-2015 20:03
Making my annual wish to all the former patrons of the Masthead to have a Happy and Prosperous 2016
Rossuziers (Formerly: 'UZ'pShoot'ERS')11-Apr-2015 19:31
I hauled it away & brought the fill to it...
Paul D 18-Feb-2015 22:39
Just checking to see if old customers of the Masthead have posted. Wishing everyone a great 2015 !
wes brauer 07-Jul-2013 04:57
i remember buying pitchers of kamikazes with mike casey and the crew from barracinnies restaurant in cheektowaga
guest 06-Jun-2013 16:57
best bar in Buffalo....the floor would be covered in beer....music was great...I remember J Giles and "you're breaking my heart, you're tearing it apart so fu" and they would blast it...
Paul D 31-Dec-2012 02:53
Just a Happy New Year 2013 to all the friends of Buffalo and the Masthead.
Guest 15-Jul-2012 05:10
it became Fat Cats for a while back in the late 90's very early 200's the Buff State bought it and knocked it down
DJ 12-Jul-2012 22:21
Had not been to Buffalo in years and went searching for the Masthead. Learned that it burned down approx. 1988. It was a great place to party!
CHARLIE 10-Jul-2012 01:35
I SPENT MANY FRIDAY AFTERNOONS IN THE MASTHEAD IN THE LATE 60S WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN CLASS. LIVED TWO HOUSES DOWN ON LETCHWORTH ST. THAT I SEE IS NO LONGER EXISTS. I DID MANAGE TO GRADUATE. DONT KNOW HOW.
Paul D. 03-Jul-2012 01:54
I missed the 1970 tear gas incident but the BCM Beer Blasts were a trip. I think every one ended in brawl pouring out into the street. I left Buffalo in mid 1969 but the memories will always be there.
Guest 18-May-2012 01:10
If anyone remember's Mary Lou and Cyndy we were basically macsots of the BCM's who would be part of the gang of guys at the Masthead: Kenny Link, Wayne, Neal, Dick the diver, Bruce Carlson and of course Paul Goodlander. I also remeber Matt Cullen, Larry Hurd, "Rookie", Andy and Tom Mayday. 1970 was the Spring of Protests ( we got tear gassed by Rockwell Hall) there was always great music being played by JC and one particular drunken night, I vaguely remember dancing on the bar and skipping over the bottles. Does anyone remember 1969-1970 at the Masthead? Mike O'Neill and the Bennett's were ever present. I sometimes think we were the only two girls there but with the crush of people who could really tell
Gary C 23-Apr-2012 03:50
Thursday night was Beatles night for years about 20 of us would meet there looking back can't believe some of us survived it
Alexander Throckmorton 17-Apr-2012 12:54
Spent several afternoons there, between physics and 20th century literature. The words on the lit textbook were often blurry in class. But hell, I aced it! Down the street a few blocks was the Beef and Ale. More upscale!
dino 13-Dec-2011 00:22
worked the masthead from 71 to 86 great times
Paul D 16-Sep-2011 01:13
I can remember sitting in the Masthead with other BCM's watching the famous Heidi Game between the Jets and Raiders. When the network cut to Heidi the place erupted to a near riot. Great memories!
J.Brown 22-Aug-2011 21:24
Great bar in its day. Friday and Saturday night we'd leave the bars in Fort Erie and pile over the Peace Bridge for our Meccas, the Mast Head or the Locker Room and sometimes Crawdaddy's. Place was full of Canadians most weekends. Buffalo was a great place to party in those days.
Guest 19-Jul-2011 18:12
I wonder, does anyone know why or when the Masthead was torn down?
Dave 17-Feb-2011 21:41
Chris, Paul Goodlander is alive and well living in Florida where he runs a series of physical theorpy practices. And yes, he was a lot like Blutto, he is my uncle and he was always a blast to hang out with.
Brent 19-Jan-2011 21:01
Met my wife in Masthead but then it was called Annies. Spent a lot of time between there and Backstreet bar a block west. Back in early 80's it seemed like every bar had a special theme night. Mondays was always down to the Brick bar.
Paul D. 10-Dec-2010 03:40
Just had to look the old place up. Spent many a night and day there from 1965-69 during my stay at Buff. State. Sorry its gone. Always packed after a home basketball game., actually bar tended there briefly.
Guest 01-Oct-2010 03:05
All I remember was that the place got so crowded that you could pick your feet up off the floor and you wouldn't fall down. It was shoulder to shoulder people. I remember partying so many nights there to music like Jeff Beck "Going Down" and so much more. Great times.
Tom c 16-Aug-2010 21:04
I remember every night before Thanksgiving in early 70s, they use to raffle off a live turkey in the bar. The poor turkey. Graet bar
Noel 08-Feb-2010 16:39
The Masthead home of the BCM's Cliff Arnold, Paul Goodlander, Mike and John Bennett, Neil Merkley, Mayday, Pat Abalone, Craig Always, Ken Link, Wyne Steppis, and a host of others.
Craig 05-Dec-2009 23:23
Dam, best bar I ever been in & I've been in a lot. Went to Buff State, '70 - '72. Was on the soccer team. The team lived there. Anyone out there remember Paul Goodlander? Speilberg must have used him as his inspiration for Bluto in Animal House. Thursday night was Beatle's Night. Never missed one when I was home. Sad to see it's gone. It shoulda been added to the national registry of landmarks. Is the Gamma Chi house still there?
Guest 06-Jan-2009 21:17
I was at Buff State from 1983-87. Every Friday classes ended at noon and The Masthead had a happy hour all afternoon until 5 pm. Everyone would stumble to the Union or back to their dorm, get dinner, sleep until 10 pm or so, then get up and go back out until 4 am and then sleep all day and do it again on Saturday. The saying was, "Isn't it strange how the sun never rises during the weekends."

My buddy John once won a goldfish eating contest at The Masthead. Prize went to whoever ate his goldfish most creatively. I was chewing my goldfish when John told me to spit it out on the bar, which I did, and John slurped up the orange gooey mess. That's the kind of place The Masthead was.
C 28-Sep-2008 04:08
Great Palce, use to go there from 1970-1972, served screwdrivers by the pitcher. Was a Police Science Major at Buff State, first time a group of us went there almost had brawl with a bunch of locals, one of our group open trhe front door into a bouncer, saved by the Buffalo PD
JEFF 02-Jan-2008 03:15
I Remember the HUGE BOUNCERS That worked the doors (thursday nights it was like sardines in the place, we would finish our beers (rolling rocks) couldn't find any surface area to leave the empties,you couldn't move in the place,so we smashed our bottles on the floor !! Rumor had it the bouncers worked for the RAILROADS..!!! if it got to crazy we would head -out to EDGEWATER BAR on GRAND ISLAND $1.00 cover 25cent Schmitts beer with stamp...always had my fake proof MIKE AMICO SHERIFFS CARD with me.
Bob 05-Oct-2007 01:17
Use to go there alot after got out of the service. Lots of great times, crawled out many anight Think back now, how the heck did I ever drive all the way back to Cheektowaga. Was in the backroom one night heard popping in bar area thought it was fireworks. Found out some guy got plugged at the bar.Pow everybody out the back door before cops came, never went back again.
Capt. Bob 11-Sep-2007 00:50
To JW of Omaha, The competing bar's name was the Pastime Lounge farther up Grant Street (towards downtown)in the late 60's.
Guest 01-Sep-2007 18:33
I went there a few times. It was distressing to see it gone after being such a fixture for so many years.
Guest 14-Feb-2007 08:12
It's Sep 1970 and I'm an 18 year old freshman at Buff State who never drank in a bar before. I remember Clay and JC the DJ. And who could forget Cliffy and his smelly end of the bar. I had my first 7 shots of tequila at the Masthead one night and my first off the barstool and onto the floor experience. I had fund fending off many a suitor who couldn't believe I had made it to 18 and was still a ... well you know.
Mike Fessenden 02-Aug-2006 02:49
I met my future wife at the Masthead in May of '74 on a Thursday-Beatles Night!! We left Buffalo in '75, but we both have some pretty fond memories of the Masthead. The smell down at bartender Cliff's end of the bar is a memory, not necessarily a fond one. Bummer that they've torn it down. Looking at the picture-was it really that small?

Mike-Boise, Idaho
clay pasternack 17-Sep-2005 21:09
I was a regular at the Masthead from 1968 until I moved to Cleveland in 1973. I was there every Tuesday night as it was Buffalo State fraternity night meetings that night. They had a live DJ named JC who could have doubled for a heavy Mick Jagger. The bar was the hangout of the Buffalo State's BCM's which was the Boosters of College Morale, and other names not fit for the website. It was the jock bar and may of my fraternity brothers were on the rowing team, hence it became my hangout.

During the Easter Break in 1972, there was a shooting in the parking lot on Easter Sunday and someone died that night. I have very fond memories of things that occured in the back seat of my car in that parking lot during my collegge days.
Guest 24-Jun-2005 01:58
Sad, sad, sad! The Masthead was part of that "holy trinity" of Grant Street bars that Buff State kids could afford to go to vs. the Elmwood Strip. I remember the beach parties there where they would haul in all this sand and pray it wouldn't cave in the floor! The support beam that was in the middle of the place became a perfect dividing line between the bar and dance floor/pool table area. Yes, that was Regan's Backstreet Bar on Letchworth that previously was "Gaslight West". My band played at The Masthead and Regan's in the late seventies. Great crowds for live music back then. It didn't hurt that both "The Pub" on campus and the Elmwood bars played a lot of disco and these places offered rock and roll as an alternative. Many nights we were fortunate to not have to stumble home too far!! I think "Binky Brown's" was the name of the place that became the Night Gallery. I also think it was painted a horrible shade of pink?
Guest 21-Jun-2005 17:32
The Masthead has special memories for me as my first apartment was on the second floor. It's a good thing I love the Beatles, because Thursday nights that's all you could hear through the floor! I worked for a while as a "floorman" at Masthead... which mainly meant breaking up fights until the bouncer got there!! I also worked as a porter when the bar closed at 4 a.m., but hey, I couldn't beat the commute (just roll down the stairs. I think the "Ryan's Backstreet Bar" mentioned in other postings should be "REGAN'S" Backstreet Pub... or at least that's what it was from the late 70's to the mid-90's. I recall a bar named the Gaslight also, but it may have been the same as Regans. And the Night Gallery later became Squeezer Floyds. Our Buff. State rugby team and fraternities shared these places with the "west-siders" and spent most of our time in these three places, rather than fight the crowds at the on-campus "Pub" or mix with the "Elmwood" crowd.
Dave 09-May-2005 15:23
JW may be right about Ryan's Backstreet Bar, but the bar I thought Joanne was referring to may be The Gaslight. You likely carted away the remains of a few of my brain cells in that truck.
Rossuziers (Formerly: 'UZ'pShoot'ERS')24-Apr-2005 17:37
Well Karl,
It was a sad day a few years ago when I had to be one of the dump trucks that hauled away the remains & brought in the fill in this:

Sorry I can't nail down the exact time that was but this might be a shot taken the following spring, for I remember it being sunny & warm when I hauled it away & I've never hauled in march so it had to be raised the prior summer of '03'..
PS: That would be 'Ryans BackStreet Bar', a block west on Letchworth, referred to below &/or in the late 70's/early 80's, one block south on grant, 'The Night Gallery', across from Rees St. pool. Which now might stil be a laundrymat.
JW in Omaha 26-Mar-2005 05:25
Joanne was right on Mar 05-2005. Thursday night was Beatles night, with 50-cent Labatt's splits. And if that wasn't enough, Seven Shots of Schnapps for $1 after midnight. No wonder it's demolished! The Masthead was just two blocks from another Buff State bar that competed head-to-head for the college crowd. We lived in that place, and I can't remember the name any more! (Maybe that's why.)
JoAnne 06-Mar-2005 04:43
I've long since moved from the area but if memory serves there was a Beatles night on Thurs in the 70s??
Nate 11-Oct-2004 18:08
Had a friend who lived around the corner. I remember this place as "Fatcats" and then it was sold and renamed "Millenium" but never actually opened under that name. It seemed like it was undergoing some renovation and was to be opened for "Y2K." But, again, never happened.

Heard that some Bills hung out there (Reed, Thurman) but, don't know how true that was considering the neighborhood.
Abe Simon 10-Apr-2004 08:38
Thanks Karl, this brings a memory for me. I don't remember the Masthead but I worked at the Buffalo Scale Company while going to school at UB in the early 50's. I'm pretty sure that the BSC was at 46 Letchworth.
Abe Simon 10-Apr-2004 08:37
Thanks Karl, this brings a memory for me. I don't remember the Masthead but I worked at the Buffalo Scale Company while going to school at UB in the early 50's. I'm pretty sure that the BSC was at 46 Letchworth.