Black Entertainment: Chicago's Historic Palm Tavern Eating Seat Together With Music Club

Photo: The Palm Tavern inwards Chicago's Black metropolis-Bronzeville, cir. 1941

The Palm Tavern was a "must do" functioning halt for the Who's Who of Jazz performers. It was located inwards Chicago Landmark Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District at 446 East 47th Street inwards Chicago, Illinois from 1931 to 2006.  

THE HISTORY OF THE PALM TAVERN

Established inwards either 1931 or 1933, the master possessor of Palm Tavern was James Knight. Gerri Oliver purchased the Palm Tavern from the master owners inwards either 1951 or 1956, the later on appointment is reported yesteryear the Chicago Sun-Times. Nearby the Palm Tavern was the Regal Theater, the mid-south mecca for Black music performers who passed the give-and-take that when playing a Chicago gig at the Regal Theater, Oliver's cherry beans together with rice were non to survive missed.

An unbelievable number of musicians performed at this Bronzeville community institution for to a greater extent than than 75 years. The many names together with stories of which are inwards someone photograph together with memorabilia collections, such equally the Gerri Oliver Collection, Abbott Sengstacke Collection, together with Getty Images Collection.

THE BLACK CHICAGO RENAISSANCE AND THE PALM TAVERN 

Historians volition oftentimes disagree on when a Renaissance begins together with ends. The Black Chicago Renaissance occurred roughly the same times equally the Harlem Renaissance, namely inwards the 1920s together with 1930s. Most commentators grade the beginning of the Black Chicago Renaissance equally the early 1930s, fueled yesteryear the Great Migration of African American Americans from the South.

The Palm Tavern attracted artists from music to writers. The Palm Tavern was abode away from abode for the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, the Ink Spots, Josephine Baker, together with other notable musicians. It was frequented yesteryear Richard Wright together with Langston Hughes. The famous belatedly poet together with author Gwendolyn Brooks resided inwards this South Side community.

Photo: Early Palm Tavern postcard

The Palm Tavern was likewise remainder together with rest house of selection for Chicago's Black middle class. Its era during the Chicago Renaissance is preserved inwards the priceless collection of sepia photographs together with memorabilia enshrined along the walls, equally a will to the history of its service to the community. Gerri Oliver volition cheerfully indulge curious customers amongst aging chip books. Before purchasing the establishment she served equally a waitress for many years at the Palm Tavern.

Photo: Palm Tavern patrons put for the camera

This historic photograph notes the patrons are at the Palm Tavern on Apr 12, 1939. The nighttime of the inauguration of members of the City Council of Chicago. Beginning left to right: Alderman Earl B. Dickerson, sec Ward; Alderman Benjamin A. Grant, tertiary Ward; Kathryn Dickerson together with Erma Grant.

THE PALM TAVERN IN RECENT HISTORY

In 1983, Chicago's Palm Tavern hosted the grassroots fundraiser that would termination inwards the election of Chicago's firstly Black Mayor, Harold Washington. The history of the Palm Tavern did non alive on equally this blogger notes that the legendary institution was demolished. According to some other blogger, the film below was the country of the Palm Tavern inwards the jump of 2006.

Photo: Palm Tavern, cir. jump 2006 amongst blogger noting that

Gerri Oliver was withal operating the concern a few years

before this film was taken.

Photo: Palm Tavern grounds photograph cir. Oct 2006