This Is What Followed
Ava Gardner at El Morocco in the late 1950’s
By Megan McKinney
n.kchoptalk.com
An authentic 1920’s speakeasy
Officially, the speakeasy virtually disappeared after Prohibition ended, or rather it morphed into the nightclub. And the best clubs of the midcentury Manhattan nightclub heyday—such as the Stork Club and El Morocco—were former speakeasies.
The Rainbow Room, a quasi-nightclub on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Center opened in 1934, virtually an extension of the Prohibition era.
The Latin Quarter, a full-scale nightclub with a floor show, appeared in 1942. A perfect spot for out-of-towners, its founder, Lou Walters, was father of the late broadcast journalist Barbara Walters.
The other complete New York nightclub, with dancing and a floor show, that spanned the midcentury club era was Copacabana.
Inside the club in 1941, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with Copa band leader Darryl Harpa.
There was the Blue Angel Supper Club on East 55th Street between Park and Lex from 1943 to 1964. Nothing is left today, aside from the matchbooks.
Same with these upsidedown Harwyn Supper Club matchbooks, except for personal memories. A suitemate of ours, who had been Miss Vermont and Miss Congeniality in a recent Miss America Pageant, had caught the attention of the club owner, thus when a group of us visited The Harwyn with her, the band stopped playing as we all appeared in the doorway, switched to Moonlight in Vermont and it was Champagne and swizzle sticks all around—while Miss Congeniality. swirled around the dance floor with the club’s owner.
The great hotels had long-standing nightclubs within them. Remembering La Maisonette at the St. Regis . . .
. . . and the Persian Room at the Plaza.
The Village Vanguard jazz club opened in 1935 and has just kept going.
The Bon Soir was a great spot on 8th Street in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Wonderful young entertainers appeared there—some in their debuts. Most memorable was 18-year-old Brooklyn singer Barbra Streisand on September 9, 1959. After her gig, she was booked for two weeks, two shows a night at $125 per week—and went on from there.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
Author photo: Robert F. Carl
