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S. alibhoy

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1. The weather is still strangely monsoonish here, the sea looks rough, bolts of thunder, the water continues to run over at Apollo Bunder.

 

2. Salehbhai Alibhoy had set the season, using his skills as a Lakdawalla to etch a thunder-bolt through his new initials.

 

 3. And as his father Gabriel (Gable) Fernandes grew older, his trademark changed from a pipe to a cycle.

 
 

4. The other Goan restaurateurs in Colaba were not so cautious. Mr. Barreto was a very nice man but died young an alcoholic. And Mr. Lopes would come walking from Cusrow Baug, measuring the footpath. He went the same way.

 
 

5. Salehbhai Alibhoy had set the season, using his skills as a Lakdawalla to etch a thunder-bolt through his new initials.

6. Valerian Cardinal Gracias, a terrific orator, had inaugurated Gable’s in 1956. He arrived in his Buick Roadmaster, which he used for even short distances.

 

7. Above Gable’s, on the first floor of Glamour House, was another trail blazer. Ruby Aaron ran a dancing school with her husband, Sam, and thrice a year she converted their hall into a movie theatre. For Salome, Edwin and Richard’s birthdays, there were cold drinks and cake and an 8mm movie, too much for kiddies in the 1960s. All three kids turned out to be real fantastic dancers and Ruby’s grandchildren are now leading actors.

 

8. To the fourth floor of Glamour House, all of Bollywood came — Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Johnny Walker, Sanjay Khan and his girlfriend Zarine — to listen to the qawwalis hosted by the Shahnawaz family. Mr. Shahnawaz was the captain of a ship.

 

9. Gable Fernandes was just keeping up with his neighbours, by keeping fit.

 
 
 

MR. WALES & GABLE GABLE GABLE

 
 
 

ESTABLISHED 1938

East & West Court, 103B Colaba Causeway, Apollo Reclamation

8th August, 2025

Supported by:

 
 

Photo & Video by Philippe Calia.