The Pink Cricket – what a great name for a supper club – was located in Santa Barbara, California, from the late 1940s and appears to have done business for a decade or more.

The menu cover, showing a lavishly eye-lashed cricket holding a welcome scroll, was probably from the 1960s judging by the prices.

Located on 944 East Coast Highway (US 101) in a one-level building painted a rosy hue, the restaurant offered cocktails, dinner and dancing. There was a large neon sign on the roof, featuring the Pink Cricket.

There was also extensive entertainment – a pianist called Fred Scholl played popular classics and requests during the dinner hours from 6.30 to 8.30pm and band leader Danny Oliver and his orchestra played for ‘patrons’ dancing pleasure’ until 11.45pm.

The owner – so far, we’ve only been able to find out that her last name was Murray – also owned the Montecito Inn, built in 1928 by the British comic and film star Charlie Chaplin who rose to fame in Hollywood during the silent film era.

The Pink Cricket was cleverly branded with the chirpy little fellow emblazoned on the supper club’s glassware and china. We’ve also found some Pink Cricket matchbooks – this was the era where most people smoked cigarettes.

The restaurant, which was formerly called The Lido, closed in the late 1950s or early 60s but we don’t have an exact date yet. Anyone who can fill in our information gaps, please let us know.

Courtesy Private Collection.