There are few things in life I could imagine that would be as good as having a lobster with the Skipper.
Perhaps shaving with Abe Lincoln or splitting a box of Ho Ho’s with The Golden Girls would measure up to the magnitude of eating with Skipper, but I doubt it (unless Abe lets you wear his hat, then all bets are off.)
Alan Hale was the son of a very successful movie actor also named Alan Hale. And, as Ken mentioned on the podcast, they were almost identical:
The elder Hale was born Rufus Edward MacKahan when he entered the movie business he went by the name Alan Hale. When his son was born he named him Alan Hale MacKahan.
The younger Hale then followed in his fathers footsteps under the name Alan Hale Jr. After his father passed away he dropped the “Jr.”
TRIVIA: Dropping the “Jr.” is street slang drinking a small bottle of liquor concealed in a sandwich.
Anyway, the restaurant was located smack dab in the middle of the tourist area of Hollywood. Skipper Alan Hale’s lobster barrel offered patrons steak and seafood served by tuxedo-clad waiters for moderate prices. It was only open for dinner (5pm to 10:30pm, 1am on the weekends.)
But the big attraction was Hale himself who made the rounds at the eatery to the delight of the customers. At the restaurant (and most other places) he would wear his signature captain’s hat.
Eventually, the Lobster Barrel closed its doors and Hale started a new business venture, a travel company. I am sure the “three hour tour” jokes eventually turned the receptionist into a raging alcoholic.
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