Paul Dorpat, well-known Seattle historian and an entertaining speaker, will give a talk on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 7-9 p.m. during the general meeting of the Magnolia Historical Society at the Magnolia Recreation Center, 2550 34th Ave. W.
Dorpat will speak about the late Ivar "Keep Clam" Haglund, a former Magnolian. Also on tap is an exclusive discussion of Dorpat's manuscript-in-progress on Haglund, for whom Dorpat used to work; eventually the two struck up a friendship. Dorpat promises a personal and well-researched look at the man behind the guitar strumming, as well as Haglund's relentless promotion of clams, his restaurants and seagulls on the Seattle waterfront.
Ivar, as he is familiarly referred to by Seattle folk, was well known for his guitar strumming, which included somewhat melodic, promotional ditties that became a cornerstone of a whirlwind lifetime of promotional antics. Ivar was always looking to get the word out - both to locals and tourists - on his famous Waterfront Acres of Clams Restaurant, The Captain's Table, as well as his Salmon House on the shores of Lake Union. Ivar's Fish Bar, with that original and amazing "shout it out" ordering system, to this day plies a good business.
He was also a seagull fan and fought to keep his Pier 54 outdoor seating area a safe feeding zone for the birds. There isn't a customer alive who hasn't sat in the sunshine at Acres of Clams and donated a fistful of fries to the cause.
Dorpat will take his audience through Ivar's start as a bohemian landlord on Alki Beach (he inherited the property from his father), to his rise as an orchestrational restaurateur whose close-knit group kept him inspired with a chorus of ideas and follow-up initiative. Dorpat was one of the group.
Ivar became a Seattle folk hero with his corny - or perhaps we should say "clam chowdery" - antics. For instance, there were those deep sea diving masks with the rubber bands that one secured by wrapping around the ears. Kids of the '60s wanted the masks more than the meal.
The incident of the purchase of the Smith Tower, as well as the huge fish banner set atop and the ensuing controversy, is all familiar territory to Dorpat. The illustrations in a draft document of the his manuscript derive from Ivar's personal archive and attest to the promotional skill Ivar inspired in writers and graphics artists.
Dorpat was one of those inspired; he has done historic retrospectives at Acres of Clams as well as creating several handsome displays at the Salmon House - particularly the one of Native Americans, a clean, crisp photo show of sepia-toned, strong faces and in-depth descriptive history.
Dorpat has the talent to reveal the true personality of Ivar - the good, the bad and the not-very-ugly. The public will enjoy the stories Dorpat has to tell about the legendary Ivar, who remains one of Seattle's cultural heroes.
The second part of Dorpat's program will focus on his much-read column, "Now and Then," which appears weekly in the Sunday Seattle Times' Pacific Magazine insert. Just last year Dorpat wrote his 1,000th column. These are intriguing pictures (some as far back as the 1850s) of landmarks and great places that bring back memories of a Seattle of by-gone days. Dorpat's "Now" shots reveal what stood "Then" in their exact spots today. Whether the exercise proves fun or sobering, it is always revealing of our city's growth and respect (or not) for the historic as well as the new. Dorpat will share some of his favorite stories, some odd and some centered in Magnolia.
These columns have been collected in fun, Monty-Python style volumes (but with a great touch of class!), with photos and text that expands on their original publication in the newspaper. They make great Seattle-historical reading. Great for Holiday giving, too.
Dorpat will have the books on hand for sale and autographing. There will be a social hour with Dorpat immediately after the program.
Monica Wooten studied creative writing at the University of Washington. She lives in Magnolia and is a member of the Magnolia Historical Society.
[[In-content Ad]]
