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Study Guide: The Tube Bar Prank Calls: History and Legacy

Cheat Sheet:
The Tube Bar Prank Calls: History and Legacy Study Guide

Origins and Nature of the Prank Calls

The primary period during which the Tube Bar prank calls originated is identified as the early 1990s.

Answer: False

Explanation: The available information indicates that the Tube Bar prank calls were primarily made between 1975 and approximately 1977 or 1978. The early 1990s may refer to a period of increased circulation or specific media attention, rather than the origin of the calls themselves.

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It is asserted that Jim Davidson and John Elmo were the exclusive individuals responsible for initiating the Tube Bar prank calls.

Answer: True

Explanation: The historical record identifies Jim Davidson and John Elmo as the individuals who made the prank calls. They later adopted the collective alias 'Bum Bar Bastards' (BBB).

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The central prank involved requesting the bar's proprietor to connect with patrons identified by names that were commonplace and universally recognizable.

Answer: False

Explanation: The core of the prank calls involved asking the proprietor to speak with non-existent customers whose names were actually puns and homophones for offensive phrases, rather than common, everyday names.

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The pranksters employed names such as "Bob Smith" and "Jane Doe" when requesting customers at the Tube Bar.

Answer: False

Explanation: The pranksters utilized fictitious names that were puns and homophones for offensive phrases, such as "Al Coholic" or "Mike Hunt," rather than common names like "Bob Smith" or "Jane Doe."

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The prank calls were made over a period of roughly ten years, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

Answer: False

Explanation: The prank calls were conducted over a much shorter duration, approximately two to three years, from 1975 to around 1977 or 1978, not a decade.

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The gag names utilized by the pranksters were designed to sound like innocent, everyday phrases.

Answer: False

Explanation: The names employed by the pranksters were intentionally constructed as puns and homophones for offensive phrases, carrying double meanings rather than sounding innocent.

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Who were the primary individuals responsible for making the Tube Bar prank calls?

Answer: Jim Davidson and John Elmo

Explanation: The prank calls were initiated by Jim Davidson and John Elmo, who later became known collectively as the Bum Bar Bastards (BBB).

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What was the approximate timeframe during which the Tube Bar prank calls were made?

Answer: 1975-1977/1978

Explanation: The Tube Bar prank calls were primarily conducted over a period of approximately two to three years, from 1975 until around 1977 or 1978.

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What was the central element of the prank calls made to the Tube Bar?

Answer: Requesting to speak to non-existent customers with offensive-sounding names.

Explanation: The core prank involved asking the proprietor to connect with fictitious customers whose names were puns or homophones for offensive phrases, designed to elicit a hostile reaction.

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Which of the following is an example of a name used by the pranksters?

Answer: Al Coholic

Explanation: "Al Coholic" is cited as an example of a fictitious name used by the pranksters, which functions as a pun for "alcoholic."

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The Proprietor: Louis "Red" Deutsch

Louis "Red" Deutsch, the proprietor of the Tube Bar, was known for his background as a professional boxer.

Answer: True

Explanation: Louis "Red" Deutsch, the owner of the Tube Bar, had a professional background as a heavyweight boxer.

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"Red," the bar's proprietor, typically reacted with equanimity and politeness upon realizing he was the target of a prank.

Answer: False

Explanation: Contrary to a calm demeanor, "Red" typically responded with extreme hostility, profanity, and threats when he realized he was being pranked.

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"Red" issued threats to break the prank callers' legs and perform abdominal surgery.

Answer: True

Explanation: The proprietor, "Red," made explicit threats of physical violence, including statements like "I'll break dem bones on you" and "I'll cut your belly open."

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"Red" never offered the pranksters any monetary incentive to meet him at the bar.

Answer: False

Explanation: On occasion, "Red" did offer financial incentives, such as $100 or $500, to the prank callers, proposing they meet him at the bar.

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The pranksters accepted "Red's" offers to meet him and even proposed offering him money in return.

Answer: False

Explanation: The pranksters consistently declined "Red's" invitations to meet in person. In one documented instance, they counter-offered him $5.

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"Red" Deutsch was known to occasionally offer the pranksters money to meet him.

Answer: True

Explanation: Evidence suggests that "Red" Deutsch occasionally offered monetary incentives, such as $100 or $500, to the prank callers with the intention of meeting them in person.

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How did "Red," the bar owner, typically react upon realizing he was the target of a prank?

Answer: He responded with extreme hostility, profanity, and threats.

Explanation: Upon realizing he was being pranked, "Red" characteristically responded with intense hostility, employing profanity and issuing threats of physical violence.

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What incentives did "Red" sometimes offer the prank callers?

Answer: Money, such as $100 or $500, to meet them in person.

Explanation: "Red" occasionally offered monetary rewards, ranging from $100 to $500, to the prank callers, proposing they meet him at the Tube Bar.

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How did the pranksters respond to "Red's" offers to meet him at the bar?

Answer: They never accepted his offers and once counter-offered him $5.

Explanation: The pranksters consistently declined "Red's" invitations to meet. In one notable instance, they proposed offering him $5 instead.

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Distribution and Cultural Spread

Initial widespread circulation of the Tube Bar prank calls was facilitated by digital downloads from early internet forums.

Answer: False

Explanation: The initial widespread distribution of the Tube Bar prank calls was primarily achieved through duplicated cassette tapes, predating the common use of digital downloads from internet forums.

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By the 1980s, the Tube Bar tapes were being shared among staff of major league sports teams.

Answer: True

Explanation: During the 1980s, dubbed cassette tapes of the Tube Bar prank calls circulated widely among personnel within various major league sports teams.

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The popularity of the prank calls spread from the music industry into sports reporting.

Answer: False

Explanation: The dissemination of the prank calls' popularity occurred in the reverse direction: originating within sports leagues, then spreading to sports reporters, and subsequently entering the broader media landscape.

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The *Red Tapes* or *Tube Bar Tapes* gained popularity among major league sports teams during the 1970s.

Answer: False

Explanation: While the tapes circulated among major league sports teams, this widespread popularity occurred during the 1980s, not the 1970s.

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How did recordings of the Tube Bar prank calls initially achieve widespread distribution?

Answer: Through duplicated cassette tapes.

Explanation: The initial widespread circulation of the Tube Bar prank calls was primarily facilitated by the duplication and sharing of cassette tapes.

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What were the common unofficial names for the circulated copies of the Tube Bar prank calls?

Answer: The Red Tapes or The Tube Bar Tapes

Explanation: Dubbed copies of the prank calls were widely known by the informal titles "The Red Tapes" or "The Tube Bar Tapes."

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How did the popularity of the prank calls spread beyond the sports world?

Answer: To sports reporters and then the broader media world.

Explanation: Following their circulation within sports leagues, the prank calls gained wider recognition as sports reporters began covering them, leading to broader media attention.

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Media Influence and Legacy

The animated series *The Simpsons* is confirmed to have been directly commissioned based on the Tube Bar prank calls.

Answer: False

Explanation: While *The Simpsons* featured prank call gags that bore similarities to the Tube Bar calls, and creators acknowledged them as 'creative synchronicity,' the series was not directly commissioned based on them.

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Matt Groening, creator of *The Simpsons*, considered the Tube Bar tapes a minor influence on his work.

Answer: False

Explanation: Matt Groening described the similarity between the Tube Bar calls and *The Simpsons*' prank calls as "creative synchronicity" and cited the "Garden Grove calls" as a favorite part, indicating a significant connection rather than a minor influence.

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Sam Simon stated that the prank call jokes on *The Simpsons* were intended as an homage to the classic Red tapes.

Answer: True

Explanation: Sam Simon, a co-developer of *The Simpsons*, explicitly stated in 2007 that the show's prank call jokes were conceived as an "homage to or parody of the classic Red tapes."

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Billy West frequently imitated "Red" on *The Howard Stern Show* during the 1990s.

Answer: True

Explanation: During the 1990s, comedian and voice actor Billy West was known to frequently impersonate "Red," the proprietor of the Tube Bar, on *The Howard Stern Show*.

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The 'See also' section lists related topics such as The Jerky Boys and Longmont Potion Castle.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 'See also' section of the source material does indeed list related prank call artists and phenomena, including The Jerky Boys and Longmont Potion Castle, contextualizing the Tube Bar calls within a broader genre.

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Matt Groening specifically mentioned the "Garden Grove calls" as a favorite part of the Tube Bar recordings.

Answer: True

Explanation: Matt Groening, the creator of *The Simpsons*, explicitly stated that the "Garden Grove calls" were a favored segment of the Tube Bar recordings.

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Matt Groening referred to the similarity between *The Simpsons* prank calls and the Tube Bar tapes as "direct inspiration."

Answer: False

Explanation: Matt Groening characterized the connection as "creative synchronicity," suggesting an organic parallel rather than direct inspiration or imitation.

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Sam Simon stated the prank call jokes on *The Simpsons* were intended as a parody of the classic Red tapes.

Answer: True

Explanation: Sam Simon indicated that the prank call jokes featured in *The Simpsons* were conceived as either an homage to or a parody of the classic Tube Bar recordings, commonly known as the Red tapes.

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How did Matt Groening, creator of *The Simpsons*, describe the relationship between his show's prank calls and the Tube Bar tapes?

Answer: As "creative synchronicity."

Explanation: Matt Groening characterized the parallels between *The Simpsons*' prank calls and the Tube Bar tapes as "creative synchronicity," implying an organic convergence of ideas rather than direct copying.

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According to Sam Simon, what was the intention behind the prank call jokes featured on *The Simpsons*?

Answer: As an homage to or parody of the classic Red tapes.

Explanation: Sam Simon stated that the prank call jokes on *The Simpsons* were intended as either an homage to or a parody of the classic Tube Bar recordings, commonly referred to as the Red tapes.

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The Tube Bar prank calls are cited as a potential inspiration for a gag in which animated television series?

Answer: The Simpsons

Explanation: The Tube Bar prank calls are frequently cited as a potential source of inspiration for the prank call segments involving the character Moe Szyslak in the animated television series *The Simpsons*.

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Discography and Commercial Releases

Edited versions of the Tube Bar tapes began appearing on vinyl LPs in the late 1970s.

Answer: False

Explanation: The discography indicates that edited versions of the Tube Bar tapes first appeared on formats such as LP and CD during the 1980s, not the late 1970s.

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The Bum Bar Bastards officially claimed copyright and released their own version of the tapes in the 1980s.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Bum Bar Bastards claimed copyright and released their official version of the tapes in the 1990s, not the 1980s.

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The first listed release of the Tube Bar recordings was titled *The Red Tapes* and issued in 1985.

Answer: False

Explanation: The first listed release was titled *The Tube Bar*, issued on Cassette Tape in 1988 by TeenBeat Records, not *The Red Tapes* in 1985.

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TeenBeat Records released *The Tube Bar* on CD in 1990.

Answer: False

Explanation: TeenBeat Records released *The Tube Bar* on CD in 1991, not 1990. They released it on LP in 1990.

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The catalog number for the 1991 CD release of *The Tube Bar* by TeenBeat Records is Teen-Beat 81.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 1991 CD release of *The Tube Bar* by TeenBeat Records is indeed cataloged under the number Teen-Beat 81.

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Detonator Records released a CD version of *Tube Bar* in 1993 with catalog number 30414-2.

Answer: True

Explanation: Detonator Records issued a CD edition of *Tube Bar* in 1993, identified by the catalog number 30414-2.

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The album *Tavern Tour*, released in 1997, was exclusively available on Cassette Tape.

Answer: False

Explanation: The album *Tavern Tour*, released in 1997, was available in both Cassette Tape and CD formats, not exclusively on cassette.

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The *Tube Bar Collector's Edition* was released in 2006 by Padded Cell Productions.

Answer: False

Explanation: The *Tube Bar Collector's Edition* was released in 2006, but it was issued by T.A. Productions, not Padded Cell Productions.

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"Drunk, Dirty And Disgraceful" was released by T.A. Productions on October 30, 2006.

Answer: True

Explanation: The album *Drunk, Dirty And Disgraceful* was indeed released by T.A. Productions on October 30, 2006.

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The CD release *Tube Bar Red's Bootleg Tape [Remastered]* was issued in September 2007 with catalog number 883629285993.

Answer: True

Explanation: The remastered CD *Tube Bar Red's Bootleg Tape [Remastered]* was released in September 2007 and carries the catalog number 883629285993.

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The *Tube Bar Legendary Prank / Crank Calls [The Ultimate Collection]* CD, released in 2008, is described as a definitive compilation.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 2008 release *Tube Bar Legendary Prank / Crank Calls [The Ultimate Collection]* is indeed characterized as a definitive compilation of the prank calls.

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The *Tube Bar Prank Calls 35th Anniversary Complete Collection* was released in 2010 by Detonator Records.

Answer: False

Explanation: The *Tube Bar Prank Calls 35th Anniversary Complete Collection* was released in 2010, but it was issued by T.A. Productions, not Detonator Records.

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The 2013 CD release *Tube Bar Vol. 4: Rummies, Bums & Dummies* has the catalog number 887936261862.

Answer: True

Explanation: The catalog number for the 2013 CD release *Tube Bar Vol. 4: Rummies, Bums & Dummies* is correctly identified as 887936261862.

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The discography suggests the Tube Bar recordings had a brief commercial life, with releases only in the late 1980s.

Answer: False

Explanation: The discography, which spans releases from 1988 to 2013, indicates a sustained commercial presence for the Tube Bar prank call recordings over more than two decades, contradicting the notion of a brief commercial life limited to the late 1980s.

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The catalog number for the 1997 release *Tavern Tour* is bbb1111.

Answer: True

Explanation: The catalog number associated with the 1997 release *Tavern Tour* is indeed bbb1111.

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The Bum Bar Bastards released their official version of the tapes in the 1990s after claiming copyright.

Answer: True

Explanation: The group known as the Bum Bar Bastards formally asserted copyright over the recordings and issued their own official version of the tapes during the 1990s.

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In which decade did record labels begin releasing edited versions of the Tube Bar tapes on formats like CD and LP?

Answer: During the 1980s

Explanation: Edited versions of the Tube Bar tapes started appearing on various formats, including CD and LP, during the 1980s.

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In which decade did the Bum Bar Bastards officially claim copyright and release their own version of the tapes?

Answer: 1990s

Explanation: The Bum Bar Bastards asserted copyright and released their official version of the Tube Bar tapes during the 1990s.

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What was the first listed release of the Tube Bar recordings, and what format was it initially issued on?

Answer: The Tube Bar on Cassette Tape

Explanation: The first officially listed release was titled *The Tube Bar*, which was issued on Cassette Tape by TeenBeat Records in 1988.

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Which record label was responsible for multiple early releases of *The Tube Bar* in different formats?

Answer: TeenBeat Records

Explanation: TeenBeat Records was instrumental in the early commercialization of the recordings, releasing *The Tube Bar* on Cassette Tape (1988), LP (1990), and CD (1991).

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What is the catalog number for the 1991 CD release of *The Tube Bar* by TeenBeat Records?

Answer: Teen-Beat 81

Explanation: The 1991 CD release of *The Tube Bar* by TeenBeat Records is identified by the catalog number Teen-Beat 81.

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Which release is identified as the *Tube Bar Collector's Edition* and was issued in 2006?

Answer: The *Tube Bar Collector's Edition* by T.A. Productions

Explanation: The release identified as the *Tube Bar Collector's Edition* was issued in 2006 by T.A. Productions.

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What is the catalog number for the 2006 release *Drunk, Dirty And Disgraceful*?

Answer: 634479416163

Explanation: The catalog number for the 2006 release *Drunk, Dirty And Disgraceful* by T.A. Productions is 634479416163.

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The CD release *Tube Bar Red's Bootleg Tape [Remastered]* was issued in September 2007. What is its catalog number?

Answer: 883629285993

Explanation: The catalog number for the September 2007 CD release *Tube Bar Red's Bootleg Tape [Remastered]* is 883629285993.

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What anniversary edition of the Tube Bar prank calls was released in September 2010?

Answer: 35th Anniversary Complete Collection

Explanation: In September 2010, T.A. Productions released the *Tube Bar Prank Calls 35th Anniversary Complete Collection*.

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What does the discography, spanning releases from 1988 to 2013, suggest about the commercial appeal of the Tube Bar prank call recordings?

Answer: They maintained a sustained commercial presence over more than two decades.

Explanation: The extensive discography, with releases spanning from 1988 to 2013, indicates that the Tube Bar prank call recordings possessed enduring commercial appeal and maintained a presence in the market for over two decades.

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The Tube Bar Location and Demise

The Tube Bar was located at 12 Tube Concourse in Newark, New Jersey.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Tube Bar was situated at 12 Tube Concourse, but its location was in Jersey City, New Jersey, not Newark.

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The Tube Bar was situated near the entrance of the Hoboken PATH station.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Tube Bar was located adjacent to the Journal Square PATH station, not the Hoboken PATH station.

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A significant entertainment venue, the Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre, was located across the street from the Tube Bar.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre was indeed situated across the street from the Tube Bar, providing a notable landmark in the vicinity.

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The Tube Bar was located near the Journal Square PATH station.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Tube Bar's location at 12 Tube Concourse in Jersey City, New Jersey, was indeed adjacent to the entrance of the Journal Square PATH station.

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The building complex containing the Tube Bar was demolished in 2009 for a new residential development.

Answer: True

Explanation: The commercial complex that housed the Tube Bar was demolished in early 2009 to facilitate the development project known as 1 Journal Square.

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The Tube Bar was located in which city and state?

Answer: Jersey City, New Jersey

Explanation: The Tube Bar was situated at 12 Tube Concourse in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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What major transportation hub was the Tube Bar situated near?

Answer: Journal Square PATH station

Explanation: The Tube Bar was located adjacent to the entrance of the Journal Square PATH station, a significant transportation nexus.

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What significant entertainment venue was located directly across the street from the Tube Bar?

Answer: The Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre

Explanation: The Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre stood directly across the street from the Tube Bar, serving as a prominent nearby establishment.

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What was the specific street address of the Tube Bar?

Answer: 12 Tube Concourse

Explanation: The Tube Bar was located at the specific street address of 12 Tube Concourse in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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