Joseph Carville’s Elbow Room

May 2, 2024

Of the bars opened by the Carville brothers in the 1940s, only one retains its original name: The Elbow Room. Starting its life in 1946, it remains one of the most distinctive dive bars in the city.

Joseph Carville attended Creighton University before getting into the bar business with business partner John L. Coffey. The two operated Tower Cigar Store downtown at 1413 Harney Street and the Riviera Tavern in midtown at 4115 Leavenworth Street.

Of the other two Carville brothers, John opened his Carville’s Bar on Leavenworth Street in 1953 which went on to become Bud Olson’s Bar after his son-in-law, Marvin Olson, took it over and relocated it. Today it operates as Secret Park Lounge. James Carville, meanwhile, opened Clover Leaf Bar further east on Leavenworth. Today it operates as Omaha Mining Company, sometimes referred to as The Run.

1950 Durham Museum photo looking down on The Elbow Room at 36th and Farnam. The bar is at the bottom right.

As for Joe Carville, his bar career was interrupted by a stint during World War II. When he returned in 1946, he opened The Elbow Room in the Blackstone District at 3555 Farnam Street. Its original location was prominently located across from the popular Blackstone Hotel. The building was demolished after Kiewit announced plans to build its new headquarters at the intersection of 33rd and Farnam Street.

1955 Durham Museum photo of The Elbow Room at its original location on 36th and Farnam across from Blackstone Hotel.

As a result, Joe transferred his liquor license to a new location in 1958. The new home of The Elbow Room was located south at 4973 Center Street. It was housed in a building that was constructed in 1920 and served as a neighborhood grocery first called Hyman Goldenberg’s Standard Grocery and then Steve’s Market. Notably, in 1964, the bar was the site of a robbery when the Douglas County Attorney, Donald Knowles, was a patron. He was not among the nine people who either had their billfolds or cash stolen. Knowles’ office was in charge of the prosecution of such cases. Joe continued to operate the neighborhood bar until his death in 1973.

The Elbow Room was taken over by Fred Dettmer, an experienced bar owner who operated Fred Dettmer’s Lounge at 1515 Dodge Street in 1966. He earned the nickname ‘Filthy Fred’ due to the atmosphere inside his bar. Dettmer also made a name for himself as a sponsor and coach of multiple slow-pitch softball teams. He claimed those teams won eight straight league championships with a cumulative record of 107–5. He once showed up to manage the team in a tuxedo.

1969 Durham Museum photo of Fred Dettmer’s Bar before it moved to 50th and Center in the former and current site of The Elbow Room.

Dettmer was forced to relocate to 1415 Douglas Street in 1970 when Union Pacific constructed an office building on the same site. He was forced to move yet again five years later to make way for the W. Dale Clark Library. He first attempted to relocate to a former service station at 36th and Center Street. He ended up at 4973 Center Street in 1975 after residents of Field Club complained about a bar opening in the neighborhood and close to its school.

Accounts describe Dettmer’s bar as having a large projection screen, and one person recalled watching the entire first season of Saturday Night Live there. After taking bets from a police officer in 1977, Fred was charged with operating a bookmaking operation from the bar. That marked the end of Dettmer’s Lounge. The commercial corner, which included the bar along with two other brick buildings and an apartment, was listed as a package deal for $130,000 in 1980. It briefly operated as Rich Ruffcorn’s Ruff’s Lounge before Larry Morrow restored the Elbow Room name.

Recent photo of The Elbow Room at 50th and Center.

Like its counterpart to the west, the Fan Tan Club at 5915 Center Street, street-widening projects have left the front door perilously close to traffic rushing by on Center Street. As a result, the main entrance was moved to the back of the building, where there is a small parking lot. In recent years, Eric Gates has turned it into a fun, clean, and comfortable neighborhood dive considered among the best in town. Often referred to as “The Bow,” the building looks small from the outside but surprisingly has a fair amount of elbow room inside which allows for a number of entertainment options including TV’s, pool table, shuffleboard, dartboards, a pinball machine and jukebox. It also has a reputation for serving some of the best Bloody Marys in Omaha.

Looking behind the bar. Photo courtesy of The Elbow Room.

Dive bar expert and author of Hit That Dive, Steve Gates, put it best in his 2014 Omaha World-Herald review, describing the Elbow Room as a “classic American dive bar.” Today that bar stands as a testament to the impact that the Carville brothers had on Omaha’s bar scene.

Content written by Omaha Exploration. If you enjoy my content, you can follow or subscribe on my Facebook page, sign up to receive emails or make a donation on my website. Thank you and keep exploring!