Nightclubs

Title (Dublin Core): Club Valley/Club 666
Description (Dublin Core): City: Detroit
Address: 666 E. Adams Street
Appears in the 1951 and 1952 Green Boooks
Opened in 1942 but closing year is unknown; "Andrew Sneed’s Club Three 666 (or Club 666 or “Three Sixes”) opened in January 1942 (The Billboard) on 666 East Adams Ave., between Hastings and St. Antoine. The name of the club was originally “Dance Paradise” and was only open on weekends. Sneed applied for a beer-and-wine license, opened the establishment for seven days a week, and his manager Richard L. King, who had just finished working at the YMCA, suggested the new name after their address (Moon, 162)."

"Before Club Three 666 was sold to a syndicate in 1949, its aluminum walls, glass-brick bar, and beautifully-lit stage (Moon, 165) was host to figures such as conductor Claude Trenier (The Pittsburgh Courier) and pantomimist Johnny Hudgins (Baltimore Afro-American), with an eight-girl chorus led by Betty Taylor (Moon, 164). It could hold upwards of 750 people (Moon, 164) and once catered to the Tuskegee Airmen for a show (Moon, 167)." (digital.blackbottomarchives.com); More information about Club Valley/Club 666; Link to archival photos; Explore the current location area

Title (Dublin Core): Congo Club; City: Detroit
Address: 2337 Gratiot Street
Appears in the 1950-1955 Green Books
Exact opening and closing year unknown
Description (Dublin Core): "Pendennies and the Congo Room in the basement of the Norwood Hotel spread across America, reeling in both gig-seeking musicians and tourists. Before long, Paradise Valley joined the ranks of Harlem and New Orleans in terms of cultural impact on music." (daily.redbullmusicacademy.com); Link to more Congo Club archival photos and their photo credits; Explore the current area on Google Maps

Title (Dublin Core): Sportree's Nightclub
Description (Dublin Core): City: Detroit
Address: 2014 Hastings St
Appears in the 1951 Green Book
Exact opening and closing year unknown; "Like other Hastings nightspots, Sportree's offered revue-style entertainment and female impersonators. These drag shows offered work to musicians like blues pianist Floyd Taylor, who during the early 1950s featured jazz multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef in his revue." (Detroitmetrotimes.com); More information about Sportree's Nightclub; Explore the current area on Google Maps

Media: Three women seated at Sportree's; Article about Sportree's; Flyer about Sportree's; Current location photo Note: Hastings Street no longer goes below the 6000s so the exact location of Sportree's is unknown.

Title (Dublin Core): Broad’s Tavern/Zombie Club
Description (Dublin Core): City: Detroit
Address: 8825 Oakland
Appears in the 1951-1955 Green Books
Exact opening and closing dates are unknown; Although Club Zombie was included in the at least 5 yearly editions of the Green Book, not much is known about the establishment. Information about it refers to it by Zombie Club, but in the Green Books we reviewed it was known as the Broad's Tavern.

"Billie Holiday was a frequent performer at what is now 8825 Oakland Street in Detroit’s North End neighborhood. Most historical records found were announcements for performances at the club." (detroitisit.com); Explore the current area on Google Maps

Media: Former location photo; Performance Open Call Flyer for the Broad Tavern; Current location photo