Young ladies who were first timers at Mike's Place were encouraged to climb upon the table and sign their name on one of the many pictures in lipstick or ink pen. The ceiling was covered with names in lipstick of the many ladies who had the honor to stand on the table at Mike Padlua's Place.
Mike ruled his saloon with a hard hand and was tough as they came. Mike Pudula was the proud owner of a four door Rolls Royce that always parked out side the bar.
One of many of Mike's favor pass times was to let the young girls from the town of Castella drive him a round in his big shiny Rolls Royce. The excitement of driving Mike Padula around town was overwelling, let alone having Mike Padula dressed in his smoking jacket sitting in the back seat and always with a cold drink in his hand. As the young ladies drove Mr. Padula down though the city of Castella people on the street always waved.
Mike's Place was the favor hangout for the San Francisco newspaper mogul, William Randolph Hearst. Hearst would bring many famous movie stars and friends up from Hollywood and the bay area. Hearst would book Mike's Place for the night and hire the local band the " Hottentots". The saloon would come alive with excitement from the music and drinking Padula Brew. The party with music and dancing would go on until sunrise. Before going William Randolph Hearst made sure everyone at Mike's Place received a large tip by leaving a twenty-dollar bill under each ashtray in the saloon.
During the second world war when every thing was rationed and it was hard to get almost anything without a government ration stamp, Mike always seem to have what ever you may need. Marian Head Anderson who grow up in Castella. Marian tells the story of the time when her sister would knock on the back door of the bar. Mike would come to the door and hand them a chocolate candy bar and they in return would hand him a nickel. Somehow he always had chocolate candy bars.
The United States Army troop trains during World War II would stop at the Castella Depot and the soldiers would seem to find their way to Mike's Bar. Mike being an enterprising person would have many Ladies of the Night available for their entertainment. The Shasta View Hotel would always recommend the Crag View Resort across the bridge if their rooms were full, which in most cases happen almost every time the train stopped.
A wonderful lady by the name of Emilie A. Frank now deceased, was a staff writer most of life for the Dunsmuir News, she wrote an article for the Dunsmuir News Paper August 22, 1973.
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