The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-02-28
Two BiI|ys
 In New York
 Fanlous0nes
Both Operate Ealing Estab- Iishments Dating from
 Way Back
By GEORGE TUCKER

NEW YORK, Feb. 26.-There are two Billys in New York whose es- tablishments go back long way, back to that little old New York of the mellow, sentimental days that your grandfather remembers, per hapS with 6 Iiostalgic sigh. One is Billy Condcn, whose Grandpappy, Michael, built the famous old Cas- light Saloon back in 1870 The other is Billy the Oysterman, who for 55 years has been dictator to Manhattan epicures- hi<n ard low.
 The old GashgnG Saloon, which is really restaurant is still on 56th Street at First Avenue, just a wave of the hand from the East River wharves It was set up TO years ago by Grandpap Condon, whose design for success was based on the premise that no res taurant could fail if the victuals were tasty and cheap Consequent ly, moderns rub their eyes when rerusing the old menus of those early days. Steaks were 25 cents. Liquor was a dime a throw. You gave your order and you drank your ale by the flare of the old gas lights.
 Well, it isn't much changed to- day, except as to prices, You can't get a good steak for a quarter any longer, but $3 will get you first rate dinner, for two, with all the trimmings The fare is still served across the original rough boards. There is the same massive, black walnut bar, with its far-flung mir TOT and it's reflected whisky bot ties. The present Billy still uses his grandpap's big old eyesore of an icebox, and the only light you get still comes from the original gas-jets.
 Now for Billy No. 2.
 In the old days his dad, the original Billy, had a little slip of a place down close to the water front where he sold all the oysters you could eat for a dime. The Tammany boys used to drop by, and the impresarios of the day came too. And the fame of Billy the Oysterman began to grow.
 Billy was Duff, big-hearted Englishman with walrus mus caches and an abiding faith in the future of the oyster industry. He wanted his son, the present Billy, to take up the oyster knife, but young Billy had ideas about real estate until the panic of 1907 caught him up and flung him back on his old mans doorstep.
 He hasn't strayed since. He has served something like 64,000,000 of the things since taking over shop. Billy has fine pig place uptown now, where almost everybody who craves edibles of the sea goes soon CT or later. In the years that he has bossed the joint, presidential candidates, governors, stars, and diplomats of all nations have con- suited him on questions of sea- food.
 He likes to recall a strange trio old days, fellow named William that frequented his place in the Fox, clothes sponger, and two companions, who were mostly broke but who dreamed of the fortune they would some day win in the movies. One night Fox's shop burned, and he never went pack to it. He went on from there to his adventures in the films.
 Billy today is thoughtful, somewhat stout about the middle, proprietor. You see him strolling about his restaurant, puffing big brown stogies. having a bite now and then But he never touches oysters. Not that he doesn't like them; he does. But. being contin-