Roadhouses

The roadhouse, as it is popularly conceived in “B movies” and country ballads, is a rustic saloon where trouble eternally brews. Whether it is a honky-tonk with sawdust on the floor, a seedy neighborhood dive, or even a brothel, and whether the colorful characters within are cowboys, showgirls, or Hell’s Angels, one thing is certain: the roadhouse is a transgressive space—quite literally, in fact, in that such establishments are often found on the lawless outskirts of town. Technically, however, the term “roadhouse” is rather more prosaic, referring simply to an establishment located on the side of the road to provide some combination of refreshment, lodging, and entertainment; in that sense, it may apply equally well to a colonial tavern, Gold Rush–era boardinghouse, touristy clam shack, or desolate motel café.