773
ST. NICHOLAS AVE. {Frederick P. Dinkelberg, 1895} The ground floor from 1935-40
served as the Poosepahtuck Night Club, which around 1940 became stride pianist
and Sugar Hill resident, Mr. Roberts, "Lucky's Rendevous", which in turn was succeeded
by The Pink Angel in 1950, and the St. Nick's Pub, still going strong, since 1960.
Noted as the oldest Harlem nightspot in continuous operation, this space has played
host to such greats as: Clifton Webb, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Duke Ellington,
and his collaborator Billy Strayhorn. Billy Strayhorn, who wrote Duke Ellington's
signature song," Take the A Train".
A great feature of the place under the management of Roberts and his singer wife
were classically trained music students who sang operatic arias while delivering
cocktails. Some of this group went on to be well-known performers including singer
and pianist David Wilson, and singer Freddie Hamilton. Before 1960, known as the
gay-friendly gathering place, it was described in a 1940s Ebony article as a sophisticated
environment in which only the uninitiated give a second glance to same-sex couples
staring into each other's eyes."
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466
W. 152nd ST. DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM was co-founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell
and the late Karel Shook. Arthur Mitchell undertook the endeavor as his personal
commitment to the people of Harlem following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Now 32 years later, Dance Theatre of Harlem is widely acclaimed as a
major cultural institution encompassing a world-class ballet company, an accredited
school of dance, the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, and a national and international
arts education and community outreach program, Dancing Through Barriers®. Each
component is committed to enriching the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds
through the art of dance.
www.dancetheatreofharlem.org
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287-291
EDGECOMBE AVE.{George Frederick Pelham, 1909} James Lipton, Host of Inside
The Actors Studio Program and former Dean of The Actors Studio MFA program once
called these buildings the "Actor Studio MFA program uptown residences." More
than (20) graduates of the program have resided at No. 287 & 291 Edgecombe since
1998.
In 1998, Stephen Charles Nicholson, Derek Agile Jones & Edward Bartley Mallard,
were the first pioneers from the program to take up residence at No. 291. In an
effort to make their block more than just a place to live, an evening of brainstorming
gave birth to the Home Sweet Edgecombe Flag.
A project designed to stimulate the creative energy of the children and manifest
a greater sense of community. A yearly event in which the children of the neighborhood
design and paint a flag (in one day). Each year the flag becomes more magnificent
and a greater symbol of the genius that pervades here. The Home Sweet Edgecombe Flag celebrated it's 10th Anniversary in 2010 www.newschool.edu
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10
ST. NICHOLAS PLACE {Samuel Burrage Reed, 1888} As fantastical as it's showman
builder this late 19th century Romanesque Revival was once owned by, "King of
Circus man" James A. Bailey the partner of Phineas T. Barnum. Once apartment buildings
began to appear in the neighborhood, Bailey withdrew to Yonkers.
He and his wife retained ownership until 1950 when it was purchased by Warren and Marguerite Blake.
After which its new owner, in the 1950s, sold it to Warren and Marguerite Blake.
As a schoolgirl in the 1930s, the future Mrs. Blake, admiring the mansion, inquired
as to whether she might buy it, and eventually did. House is now M. Marshall Blake
Funeral Home. www.barnum&bailey.com
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