MY NIGHT AT THE ROXY BAR AND GRILL

Older Clevelanders will remember that downtown at the corner of E. 9th and Chester stood the Roxy Burlesque House and next to it the Roxy Bar and Grill. I have never been in the Burlesque House, but one night I had to go into the Bar and Grill to claim my car keys.

That evening I had to attend a meeting at Saint John College on Cathedral Square, so I parked at a cinder parking lot close to the college at the corner of E. 9th and Rockwell. In the middle of the lot was a shack where one was given a ticket with the time of day or night on it. Dressed in my black hat and coat and Roman collar, I drove into the lot, got my ticket, parked the car, and walked the short distance to Hagan Hall for the meeting, which lasted much longer than anyone anticipated.

When I returned to the parking lot, a sign on my windshield directed me to go to the Roxy Bar and Grill to retrieve my keys. I was really ticked. I had to walk about a half mile and then go into the Roxy Bar and Grill – and hope that no one would notice me. So I took off the Roman collar, wrapped my scarf around my neck and proceeded to the bar. The place reeked of smoke and booze. I was careful not to make eye contact with guys seated on the bar stools.

As I approached the cash register, a guy behind me said in a loud voice, “Father George! What are you doing in a joint like this?” I turned around to see who had blown my cover. It was a police captain in his uniform. And his name was Leonard Gorris, my first cousin.

“Hi, Leonard,” I said, as I shook hands with him. “You want to know why I am in this bar? Well, I am not going to tell you because you wouldn’t believe me anyway.” I paid at the cash register, retrieved my keys, and grinning saluted the Captain as I left the bar.

That’s the last time I saw him. He retired and moved out to California with his wife, a lovely lady who always slipped me a five or ten. A widower for a number of years, Leonard’s remains were returned to Cleveland for burial. I was there to pay my respects to a great officer and gentleman.

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