Showmans is a jazz club located in Harlem.

History

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This soulful haunt of Harlem's old guard has been home to the greats (e.g. Sara Vaughan, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Pearl Bailey) since 1942, having moved to its current location in August, 1998. A Hammond B-3 organ graces the stage, and is put to good use by Danny Mixon, Seleno Clarke, Nathan Lucas and Preacher Robins among others.

Showman's has moved three times since 1942. Their original building, next to the Apollo, was destroyed by fire. "After playing at the Apollo," writes Butterworth, "the musicians used to go next door and play their own music, hence the name Showman's."

They were pushed out of their second location by the Harlem USA mega-development. And they've been in their current spot on 125th since 1998.

Partners

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Mona Lopez and Alfred Howard

Former names and addresses

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  • 1950–1980s?: Showman's Cafe
267 West 125th Street
  • 1986: 2221 Frederick Douglas Boulevard
  • 1990: Showman's Lounge
  • 1985-1997??: Showman's Cafe[1]
2321 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, between 124th and 125th Streets
Andre's old home

Address

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Showmans Jazz Club
375 West 125th Street
between Morningside and St. Nicholas Avenues
New York, New York 10027
212 864 8941 (phone)

Incorporation

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Showman's Realty Corp.
Initial DOS Filing Date: December 11, 1998
Alfred Howard, CEO
375 West 125th Street
New York, New York 10027
Principal Executive Office
115-66 194TH ST
St. Albans, Queens, New York 11412

Selected owners, operators, and staff

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  • 1956: Jim DePierro, owner of Showman's Cafe
  • Betty Kennedy, cook (died May 1973)
Showman's Cafe reopened around July 7, 1973, after being closed since May 20, 1973, when former operator Betty Kennedy died in her sleep.[2]
  • Ramona "Mona" Lopez[3] and Alfred Howard have owned and operated Showman's since about 1978. Howard was one of the NYPD detectives who took the call when Martin Luther King was stabbed by a woman with a letter opener. He was also a supervisor on the hunt for Son of Sam.

Notes and references

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General notes

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Showman’s Cafe is Back," Amsterdam News, September 27, 1986, p. 29
  2. ^ "Sara Speaking" (column), by Sara Slack (worked for the paper beginning 1957; managing editor 1974–1975), Amsterdam News, July 7, 1973, p. B3
  3. ^ "Saluting Harlem's Own Ramona "Mona" Lopez" (alternative link), sponsored by Charles B. Rangel, U.S. House of Representatives, April 30, 2009
    Congressional Record (bound edition), Vol. 155 (2009), Part 9, p. 11337, U.S. Government Publishing Office