My husband took me to Svoboda's Tavern at the tender age of 20
and I still to this day can see the rooms in my mind and the huge
contraption in the large hall that virtually came to life when you
put the money in.  It was so loud and animated.  The place thrilled
me so much I remember it well.

I was married in 1974 but dated my husband in 1973 so it was about
that time.  I seem to remember a return visit to the newer place but
as you said it lacked the charm and "old" feeling of the place so
clearly in my memory.

That was 36 years ago, and I am sad to hear of it's demise as well as
my husband's but I hold those memories of a very magical place in my
mind and remember the fun times my man and I had.

Susan Bourne

 [ Susan,  My mother took me there for my first "legal" beer when I was
 [ home from college on spring break in 1969.  My interest in mechanical
 [ musical instruments was sparked by that visit, and otherwise there
 [ would probably have not been a Mechanical Music Digest.  Funny how
 [ things happen...
 [
 [ More memories of Svoboda's Tavern are in the MMD articles indexed
 [ at http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/S/svoboda_s.html 
 [
 [ Jody