Jolly Frog (Restaurant)

Date: 11 August 1994

From: Cappuccino Oral History Project

By: Klap, Boudewijn Huibrecht, 1927-

Reference: OHInt-0281/8

Description: Boyd Klap born in the Netherlands. Gives a little family background - Calvinistic, middle class, loving and comfortable. Recalls the small contribution to `underground' and the excitement of `espionage' for the underground. Spent two years in army in Java. Recalls arrival in New Zealand 1951. Gives his impressions of New Zealand at that time. Outlines his career with T and G Insurance Company ; Prudential; Chief Executive Life Office Association (Superannuation); Development Manager Assoc of Price Waterhouse, as well as other positions held which included: Chairman Greater Wellington Promotion Council; Wellington Civic Trust and New Zealand Netherlands Foundation. Details many of the coffee houses in Wellington in the 1950s including `The Tulip' which he established in Herbert St as a social centre for lonely Dutch people. Refers to patrons, Dame Hilda Ross, Frank Kitts and Percy Dowse. Talks in depth about Bart Cox who ran the Boulevard and owned the Mexicali. Describes the atmosphere of the Wellington Coffee house scene and mentions `the big raid' by police and the hilarious trial. Other restaurants and coffee bars mentioned include: Orsinis (St Johns); Mrs Boess coffee bar in Dunedin and Otto Groen in Auckland. Interviewer(s) - Dinah Priestley Venue - Price Waterhouse Building, Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007150; OHLC-003485 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB-1823. Search dates: 1994

Date: 1964

From: [Menus and restaurant ephemera of quarto size]

Reference: Eph-B-DINING-1964-01

Description: Menu from a Wellington restaurant shows prices in pounds sterling. Front cover states that consumption of alcoholic liquor was not permitted on the premises. The Jolly Frog is said to have been the first licensed restaurant in Wellington (it is advertised as licensed in Victoria '65 Supplement to Salient, 1. 1965), but this menu predates the introduction of a licence. Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Letterpress on yellow card, folded to 310 x 235 mm.