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Published on 11/17/1999 All articles from this issue

Mac's called a 'Tea Room,' a joke for firefigher hangout

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Voice of the Past

Georgina Blach was very concerned about the education of her 12 children, and became an active member of the Los Altos School Board, serving from 1941 for nearly 18 years. Meanwhile, her son, Jim learned to supplement his good education with some "field trips" to town.

Glen Taylor and I were volunteer firefighters in the '40s. We went to Mac's Saloon after drills because Mac's was the only place in town to shoot pool. The bar was just 18 feet away from the pool table. When the public phone rang, we answered, "Mac's Tea Room," as a joke. In those days, Mac's was just a saloon and poolroom. We didn't want anyone - especially our parents - to know where we really were.

Los Altos was a very small town, and talk got around. Everyone knew it was a put-on. Mother would call me there and say, "Come home for dinner, Jim," and I'd say, "I'll be home in a minute, Mother."

If someone else answered, they would say, "Oh, Jim? Jim just left." I would take about three more shots in the pool game, then leave and get home just in time for dinner - after my tea.

They finally incorporated "Tea Room" into the name of the place in the '60s. It's funny to remember that Glen and I just made that up.

Mac's was owned by Mac McMahon. Glen's dad owned Taylor's Bake Shop, which was right below Dr. Billingsley's office on Main Street. Pappy Taylor, Glen's dad - we called him Pappy - got up very early to bake. We would go in to see him after we went out on dates when he was just starting his baking for the next day.

We thought we were such big shots - going out on dates, browsing around, dropping into Mac's for a beer and all - because we knew all the people who stayed up "after hours."

When I got back from the service, Glen and I went into Mac's often. We had fun kidding Mac in a friendly way, like, "Hey, Mac! The beer's not cold enough," or, "The floor's dirty."

We interrupted him and to call something to his attention, jokingly. Mac got so riled up. Maybe it was an act, but he seemed to get pretty steamed. That just egged us on.

One day we rode our horses in there. Mac was infuriated. He really went after us. We just rode up to the bar and ordered beers. He finally did let us in again, and we all laughed about it later - much later. Mac was really such a nice guy.

- Adapted by Donna Shoemaker for History House of Los Altos. E-mail: LAHistoryHouse@aol.com