Depicted in the featured picture by Bacon is the Green Door, known by Cryptologists for years as the door that leads into the SSES or other Cryptologic work spaces. But where did the term originate from? Some speculate it came from a 1956 popular song composed by Bob “Hutch” Davie and lyrics written by Marvin Moore. The song was first recorded by Jim Lowe, whose version reached number one on the US pop chart.
The lyrics describe the allure of a mysterious private club with a green door, behind which “a happy crowd” play piano, smoke and “laugh a lot,” and inside which the singer is not allowed.
If you read the lyrics the connection to the song it seems plausible.
Below are the lyrics:
Midnight, one more night without sleeping
Watching till the morning comes creeping
Green door, what’s that secret you’re keeping?
There’s an old piano
And they play it hot behind the green door
Don’t know what they’re doing
But they laugh a lot behind the green door
Wish they’d let me in so I could find out
What’s behind the green door
Knocked once, tried to tell them I’d been there
Door slammed, hospitality’s thin there
Wonder just what’s going on in there
Saw an eyeball peeping through a smoky cloud behind the green door
When I said “Joe sent me”
Someone laughed out loud behind the green door
All I want to do is join the happy crowd behind the green door
Midnight, one more night without sleeping
Watching till the morning comes creeping
Green door, what’s that secret you’re keeping?
Green door, what’s that secret you’re keeping?
Green door
A special thanks to CWO2 David Vest, USN for the tip.
Station HYPO 
22 December 2019 at 12:01
I always liked that song, now I know why. Thanks.
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22 December 2019 at 16:34
Brought back many memories particularly since I had to wait in OCU (Outgoing Unit) from July to October ’56 for clearance to go from Teleman school to IB for ‘O’ branch training.
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22 December 2019 at 21:22
The green door that I remember was an entrance to a restaurant in Taipei where Van Buren Collie, Bob Earle and a few others took me to shortly after my arriva at Shu Lin Kao (plankowner). The next time I went there the mice were crawling among the shrimp. How could one forget that green door!!!
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22 December 2019 at 22:02
I was a CTM2 and worked in a number of locals in the late 60’s early 70’s. I was always interested in what was hot for the day and sometimes asked, but I almost always got no info and the evil eye that I was even in their spaces, but it was necessary to be their to repair or calibrate equipment. Even talking to fellow M branchers was sometimes difficult if the were working in special equipment, It’s the way it’s gotta be I guess. Carry on Brothers and Sisters in the windowless rooms and confidential spaces or places on land air or sea.
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