The Cotton Club might be Harlem’s most famous surviving jazz venue, but during the Harlem Renaissance that started after World War I and ended sometime during the Great Depression, it was also the neighborhood’s most notorious. It had been opened by Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion, as the Club Deluxe (or Club De Luxe) in 1920. White gangster and bootlegger Owney “The Killer” Madden bought and took over the club in 1923–the same year he was released on parole from what would have been a twenty year-long imprisonment at Sing Sing. He would use the venue, which he had renamed the Cotton Club, primarily as a means to sell bootlegged alcohol. The club was closed in 1925 for selling alcohol, but quickly re-opened. After prohibition, the club continued to feature some of America’s best jazz musicians, and attracted New York’s celebrities and socialites.
Cab Calloway and dancers at the Cotton Club in 1937. Source: Tumblr.
3 Comments
Superb site you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics talked about here?
I’d really like to be a part of community where I can get suggestions
from other experienced people that share the same interest.
If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Cheers!
Have you ever considered about including a little bit
more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and everything.
Nevertheless think of if you added some great visuals or videos to give your posts more,
“pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and clips, this website could undeniably
be one of the best in its field. Fantastic blog!
Good day very cool site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing ..
I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally?
I’m happy to search out so many helpful info right here in the put up, we want
work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.
. . . . .