Billy Du Pont of San Jose was a bartender who called himself 'the last of the iron men in wooden ships.' He smoked unfiltered Lucky Strike cigarettes and drank Budweiser longnecks when he worked, and gin when he didn't. Other than a couple years in the army during World War II, Du Pont's only job was tending bar. It's all he ever did. According to Philp's profile, Du Pont refused to make blended foo-foo drinks and he never answered the bar's phone, no matter how long it rang.
The stretch of Highway 85 first opened 30 years ago, destroying houses, orchards, golf ranges, and indie businesses in the process. One of those joints was a legendary dive bar, Double Vision, which sat on Bascom in a janky strip exactly where 85 now plows across the landscape.
Despite his gruff exterior, Du Pont had a loyal clientele who appreciated his straightforward service and personality. The bar environment was shaped by a sense of authenticity, blending community and memory in a fast-changing urban landscape.
Collection
[
|
...
]