Photo courtesy of Boone County Historical Society
Central Dairy
Located in downtown Columbia, Central Dairy quickly became a local hotspot for ice cream and milkshakes. University of Missouri men would often meet up with women of Stephens College here, and it quickly became one of the mainstays for dates during its time. The building itself was built in 1927, and housed the Central Dairy ice cream shop until 1959. The building still stands today, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
The Shack
The Shack is easily the most iconic University of Missouri hangout. This local watering hole entertained students for many years. Being located on campus, the bar was highly successful up until the late 1970s. After a fire destroyed the building, remnants of the carved walls, tables, and chairs were donated to the University of Missouri to open up a new Shack in the student center.
Central Dairy building in Columbia, MO
Gaebler's Black and Gold Inn
Mort Walker/Beetle Bailey
Mort Walker and The Shack go hand in hand. Mort, a frequent visitor often spent his time at The Shack with his buddies. Mort's contribution to The Shack came through his comic strips featuring Beetle Bailey. These comics featured the University of Missouri, and Beetle Bailey quickly became a hit throughout the campus. Many examples of his works can be seen in the new Shack in the University of Missouri Student Center.
Mort Walker (right) and his comic character Beetle Bailey (left)
Students walking in front of The Shack prior to the building burning down. (top)
Students in front of The Shack (above, below) Savitar (1979), Missouri Alumnus (1989)
The Shack burning on Nov, 1 1988. (right) Savitar 1989
Photos courtesy of MU Archives
The Stable
Gaebler's was a central attraction throughout the 1930s and 1940 until it was sold. The establishment was known for its food, entertainment, and dancing. A popular spot for dates at the time, Gaebler's brought in live high energy jazz music to entertain students. The dance floor of this building, known as the "poop deck" was on the second floor due to legal issues of the time that prohibited dancing on a restaurant floor.
A homecoming parade passing by Gaebler's Black and Gold Inn. Photo courtesy of VOX archives
The Stable was a live music venue in Columbia during the 1950s. The venue was able to host large audiences during the warmer months due to its ability to fold its walls in half. Jazz music was typically the music of choice, and The Stable quickly became one of the most popular hangouts in all of Columbia.
Students gather in front of The Stable in anticipation for the nights festivities. Photo from 1949 Missouri Showme.
Gaebler's was located on Conley Avenue right in Campustowne, which was just across the street from current day Jesse Hall. Some of their popular menu items included a three course T-Bone steak dinner for just 75 cents, their black bottom pie, and their 20 cent jelly dates.
The Shack originally started as a food cart in the 1920's, and its success eventually led to the development of the Davis Tea Room in 1921 which was later sold and renamed Jack's Shack in 1932. The location on Conley Avenue was right in the heart of Campustowne, and provided The Shack with a healthy flow of customers until its closure in 1984. The building was memorialized by Mort Walker's comic Beetle Bailey, and the famous shackburger is still available today in the MU Student Center's version of "The Shack."
