Buzz
If we've learned anything from Hollywood, it's that those ever-present watering holes along the dusty paths frequented by cowboys driving cattle in the Old West were often outfitted with the iconic 'batwing' doors (more properly known as 'café doors') at the entrance. But how could a bartender protect his prized stock of liquor with such a modest barrier separating him from the outside world after hours?
The café doors were actually quite practical for a variety of reasons. They allowed fresh air to circulate in a cramped space filled with people smoking cigars and hand-rolled cigarettes. The dual-action hinges were particularly useful for cowboys entering and leaving with heavy saddlebags (since horses, unlike cars, lacked locking trunks, and there was always the risk of a thief making off with your belongings while you were inside enjoying your drink). Additionally, those half-sized doors helped shield passersby with more conservative sensibilities from witnessing the gambling, drinking, and spitting (spittoons were as commonplace back then as ashtrays would later be).
As Ronald M. James notes in his book *Virginia City: Secrets of a Western Past*, the majority of saloons didn’t actually feature these doors. In fact, outside of certain regions, they were impractical because of harsh winter cold and summer winds. For those saloons that did have them, the café doors served as a secondary measure; the buildings were typically fitted with a standard set of solid outer doors. These would be swung open during business hours and rest flat against the sides of the building, but they could be shut and padlocked when necessary—either during bad weather or when the saloon was left unattended. Though some mines, like those in Virginia City, Nevada, remained open 24 hours, periodicals from the time suggest that saloons did indeed close in the early hours, making the locks crucial.
In Hollywood's portrayal of saloon doors, Western set designers intentionally made the batwing doors smaller than would be typical in reality—likely to exaggerate the size of heroes like John Wayne or Gary Cooper, making them appear even more formidable as they stormed into the room, seeking the cowardly villain who shot their father.
