“The Arab and the Summer of ’56”
Part Two — The Arab

In last week’s edition of the Surf Coast Times, I introduced the readers of the Committee for Lorne Page to Part 1 of a three-part series reviving the memory of two legendary Lorne institutions of the late 50’s, the incomparable 60s, and early 70s… The Arab and The Wild Colonial Club.

The original article … “The Arab and the Summer of ’56: An exercise in myth-making”, from which this series has been directly copied, was first published in The National Times [15.02,1981] and has been arbitrarily segmented into three parts. The author of this insightful article is Kristin Williamson, married to Australian playwright, David Williamson.

I apologise to those who missed Part 1 last week, though Foodworks may still have some back copies.

For those who are already into the story, read on …

“The Arab and the Summer of ’56” – Part Two — The Arab

Before they opened The Arab, Alistair had been a carpenter, Robin worked in a bank, and Graham was a principal dancer with the Munich Opera House. When he was away on tour, the plans for colour schemes, music, menus and lighting were discussed in 20-page letters from London, New York and Peking.

“Graham was the visionary. He put the magic into the building and what went on in there,” said Robin, 25 years later. “Alistair provided the dynamism. He was a perfectionist. Sometimes he threw tantrums and did his block, which the customers loved.” And Robin? Today he looks more tired than the others who, like Dorian Gray, don’t seem to have changed at all. “Robin pulled the threads together, negotiated with the banks and the police. He was the diplomat. He did the late shift and worked the longest hours”, said Helen, his wife, who’d worked there, too.

The Arab never closed in the summer, except for an hour or so at dawn when the chairs, tables and cushions would be taken out into the street while the whole place was hosed. Even then, some people wouldn’t leave.

 

“When it was completely bare and covered in an inch of water, they’d come in and order toasted raisin bread,” said Robin. “Then, as the sun came up, the ground would start to move like a slow volcano as they came crawling up from sleeping on the beach for their breakfast of Brubeck ham rolls and tomato juice.”

You couldn’t keep them out of The Arab. It was about the size of two buses, but it served two thousand people a day and went through 70 gallons of milk daily.

“Jaguars and Citroens pile up outside The Arab while fond mamas try to coax their student waitress daughters back to a life of orthodoxy,” claimed one breathless magazine in 1961. “Life at The Arab is never, ever dull … The Arab seems to ‘send’ even the squares.” Soon, not only magazine people but also models, sportsmen, foreign journalists, and TV crew girls came to The Arab. It had become a “trendy” place before the word had even been invented.

It was the days before big jets, when anything other than Fletcher Jones trousers, Smokey Dawson and meat pies was considered exotic. Here was a place that offered a smattering of styles. Italian cafe society mixed with the American beat scene and a novel bit of Australiana, perving on near-naked and unattainable beach girls.

The Smiths had hit a fashion nerve. They were trapped in their own myth, and it would take almost two decades for them to extricate themselves. But at that stage, they were still refreshingly
naive.

In the first years, thousands of people left The Arab without paying. “We’d find this confetti on each table … torn-up bills,” said Alistair. Many people ripped them off as part of the beat culture. Materialism was stupid. But they still managed to make a profit. Wages were low. “The girls worked for six shillings an hour, sometimes for sixteen hours at a stretch,” said Robin. “It was a total commitment if you worked at The Arab. You felt guilty sitting on the beach.”

The girls admitted they’d rather work an extra shift than go out with some boy. They weren’t very interested in some grazier’s sons and first-year university students and surf lifesavers after the sophisticated men they worked with.

There was Georgie, the Greek dishwasher who comforted them when Alistair shouted. Radu, the suave waiter, who’d been a Captain in the Romanian Army and Reno, who was a philosopher as well as a cook and a charmer. “No man should have one woman to himself,” he would say. “He should have three. Anything can happen to one”.

And, of course, there were the musicians who played at The Arab. Hairy folksingers like Paul Marks and Brian Mooney, Jazz singers like Frank Traynor … and, once, the whole American cast of West Side Story, some of whom were black. It was heady stuff. Occasionally, the surf lifesavers got mad about being displaced in the affection of good-looking girls by pimply white folksingers in duffel coats and would come into The Arab in large, aggressive groups, bending chair legs and crushing sugar bowls. Still, somehow Alistair always managed to defuse the situation with good humour, and eventually the trouble stopped.

If The Arab made the mistake of alienating some people, it was quick to try and win back their affection. Everyone stole Arab menus. They were supposed to. Ten thousand were pinched in one six-week season. It was a good advertisement for the place and a good excuse to put out different menus the following year. There was hardly any food on them, just spaghetti, coffee, sandwiches and sundaes, but it was described in “beat” poetry, so it sounded irresistible.

“Porgy and Bess”
… chocolate and coffee, set like Belafonte to Gershwin with nuts, ice cream, cream, and rum … 3 shillings and 6 pence

But if the Porgy and Bess was a racist sundae, the “Harem Girl” was certainly sexist.

“Harem Girl”
… this lady is all strawberries and cream and ice-cream, maybe your tongue is a leopard skin rug today, no lady is better on leopard … 4 shillings

But things did begin to change at The Arab. The Health Department banned bikini-clad waitresses. They were unhygienic. One of their fathers, a professor of microbiology, suggested they should all be sprayed.

“Join our crazy hygienically-misted staff next year”, the menu bulletin suggested. But it was no use. They had to wear uniforms. The Arab dressed its staff in striped butcher’s aprons, and a decade later, most trendy Australian restaurants followed suit.

[… to be continued next week]

Article by Kristin Williamson

Editing by John Agar, Feature Writer

 

A word from the chairman

Hello

Happy King’s Birthday long weekend and there is plenty happening in Lorne. The weekend starts with the very welcoming ladies’ Snappers drinks at the Aquatic Club from 5pm Friday. On Saturday morning the Lorne Foreshore Market comes alive from 9am with many stalls providing a great range of craft and food. The market is run by volunteers from Lorne P-12 College and all funds raised go to the College. Also, on Saturday, our netballers and footballers take on Colac Imperials at Stribling Reserve. Come along to support our local teams and enjoy the barbecue and refreshments. On Sunday, the Aquatic Club will be holding a Major Fishing Competition. Weigh-in closes at 12.30pm, with prizes for seniors and juniors, followed by a roast lunch. Head down to the Anglers again later in the day for the World Sausage Roll Championship. It’s free to enter for members, and with highly credentialed judges and lucrative prizes, it’s a keenly contested event. Competitors are required to bake extras for the crowd. Come along, enjoy the occasion and taste the creations of our local “artisan” bakers.
There is absolutely no reason to stay at home this weekend, but pack your raincoat and beanie, just in case!
*****
As we navigate the maze that is the Point Grey project, we are told that the redevelopment must comply not only with the 2022 VCAT ruling, but with a myriad of legislation, policies and guidelines.
It is important to remember two things:
• The 2022 VCAT hearing was about a restaurant building designed by GORCC and its consultants without consultation with the Lorne community, that no-one in the Lorne community wanted. Prior to the VCAT decision, GORCAPA convened the Community Co-Design Group (CCDG) which created, with architectural input, an alternative design which was overwhelmingly supported by the community (and GORCAPA!). That design is no longer being considered, and we are being told a much smaller “kiosk” is being planned. Why is the community not being listened to?
• We all accept that in a civilised and democratic society we need laws (or legislation) and that we as citizens need to comply with those laws (whether we agree with them or not) or wear the consequences. Policies and guidelines are very different. They are an interpretation of the intent of legislation. The policies and guidelines we are being told must be complied with at Point Grey are in many respects new and untested and have been written by nameless people who now seek to impose them on our community. We need to question any decisions based on policy.
Disclaimer, I am not a lawyer.
This week GORCAPA has been meeting, and will continue to meet, with community groups, locals and visitors regarding the draft Urban Design Framework (UDF) for the Point Grey precinct. Our community appreciates the opportunity to provide input to the draft UDF and we look forward to seeing a revised UDF which reflects and respects the views of the people who give their time to participate in this community consultation. We must be listened to!

Cheers

John

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

June

7 – Lorne Market, 9am-3pm www.lornemarkets.com/

7 – Lorne Dolphins Football and Netball V Colac Imperials, at Stribling Reserve, juniors match from 8:45am, seniors at 2pm

7 – Author Christine Keighery Reading, Q & A and Book Signing at Lorne Books Tix $40 (drinks, nibbles and copy of book) @4pm

8 – Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club – Major Fishing Competition No 4, Weigh cut off 12.30pm. Free roast lunch for competitors, $10 non-fishing members.

21 – Lorne Dolphins Football and Netball V Birregurra, at Stribling Reserve, juniors match from 8:45am, seniors at 2pm

July

6 – LAAC Winter Comp No 2. lines down after 6am, weigh in at the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club at 12:30 followed by BBQ lunch.

19 – Lorne Dolphins Football and Netball V Otway Districts at Stribling Reserve, juniors match from 8:45am, seniors at 2pm