The Cattleman facts for kids
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| Industry | Steakhouse |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1959 |
| Defunct | c. 1989 |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City |
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Key people
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Larry Ellman (owner) |
The Cattleman was a famous steakhouse (a restaurant specializing in steaks) in New York City. It was started in 1959 by a restaurateur named Larry Ellman. The Cattleman was known for being one of the first "theme restaurants." It even inspired the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes.
Contents
History of The Cattleman Steakhouse
Larry Ellman, the founder, first made money by selling food-vending machines. This helped him open his very first restaurant, The Cattleman.
Opening and Growth
The Cattleman first opened in 1959 on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, New York City. In its first year, it made $450,000. By 1967, the restaurant moved to a bigger spot at 5 East 45th Street. This new location could seat 400 people and made over $4,000,000 a year!
Larry Ellman also opened a second restaurant called The Cattleman West by 1972. It was located on West 51st Street. Both Cattleman restaurants closed around 1989.
Fun Entertainment and Themes
Starting in 1961, The Cattleman became famous for its nightly sing-along sessions. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., a singer named Bill Farrell would play the piano and encourage customers to sing along. The restaurant was designed to look like a 19th-century San Francisco saloon. Waiters wore old-fashioned vests and string ties, and the walls were decorated with rifles and longhorns.
In 1964, a publisher named James Warren held a party at The Cattleman. This party was to launch Creepy, a new horror-comics magazine.
The restaurant also offered free stagecoach rides around the city on Saturdays and Sundays. These rides were available from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
What People Thought of The Cattleman
Many people loved The Cattleman. A book about New York dining called it a "riotously successful steakhouse." In 1961, The Theatre magazine said it was "one of the best dining emporiums in New York."
In 1997, Larry Ellman announced plans to open a new Cattleman restaurant in White Plains, New York.
The Cattleman in Media and Pop Culture
The Cattleman was featured in several books and even inspired a musical.
Cookbook and Musical Inspiration
In 1967, a cookbook called The Cattleman's Steak Book: Best Beef Recipes was published. It was a team effort by the restaurant staff and food writers. Larry Ellman wrote the introduction for the book.
The musical Pump Boys and Dinettes (1981) was created by two friends who used to work at The Cattleman. They wrote the show based on their experiences there. It started as a small act with just two people and then grew into a full musical. The creators said they played country songs for customers and eventually started adding their own funny songs. The restaurant management didn't like their new "gas station" characters, so the friends left and developed their show.
Famous Slogan and Film Tie-ins
The restaurant was well-known for its radio slogan: "Where you can get your steak rare and entertainment well done."
The 1966 remake of the Western film Stagecoach used The Cattleman for some of its publicity. Stars from the movie were photographed on top of a stagecoach right at the restaurant.
The Cattleman is also mentioned in Rupert Holmes' novel Where the Truth Lies. The book talks about how The Cattleman helped start the trend of fun, themed restaurants in Manhattan.
