The Red Rooster, the legendary Harlem speakeasy establishment was nicknamed the Stork Club of Harlem because it was the hangout for the younger collegiate set as well as the elite. Hearing about The Red Rooster revival as a restaurant by chef Marcus Samuelsson had us digging for more information on the space. We found out that the fabulous little club at I 38th Street and Seventh Avenue at the southwest corner of 138th Street was established in the early 1900′s by proprietor George Edwin Woods (no kin to Silvia). The top photo (from Harlem + Bespoke) shows the corner of 138th Street at 2354 Adam Clayton Powell and Seventh Avenue and the roll-down gated doorway to the far right would have been the entrance to the original The Red Rooster. Many residents in Harlem used to frequent the spot and among them, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., was a particularly well-known patron. In channeling the Stork Club’s Mr. Billingsley, Mr. Woods would bar anyone from his club whom he didn’t like. In the 1960′s the space was used by writers and photographers during “riot duty” for discourse over drinks before heading to Wells for down-home chicken. The space that was one step down in the ground floor commercial storefront on the outskirts of the Striver’s Row nabe was apparently open until the 1980′s.
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I turnt 52 as of this past March. and i grew up in 138th st between 7th and Lenox. I recall many summer evenings watching black couples enjoy a night out at the Rein’s ballroom and the Red rooster. It sadden me to see my beloved Harlem get turned into what it is today. I am working on a atuo of my life and a large part of it in details will be of Harlem enjoied by this Harlem night. Thank you.
Tell us more?
HW
In 1979 and 1980, I had a three- and four-night a week gig at the Red Rooster, which continued more than six months. The band incuded leader and trumpeter Bucky Thorpe; Don Pullen, who played Hammond B-3 on the gig but was best known for his years on piano with Charles Mingus; drummer Bobby Battle; and guitar phenomenon Roland Prince, who left to tour Europe with drummer Elvin Jones and was replaced by the late Ted Dunbar, who was also teaching at Rutgers. Some great saxophone players also came by. Bucky finally had to quit due to complications from diabetes, which ended in his death due to both legs being amputated. After his first amputation, he continued to play with his stump propped up on a bar stool.
I was the only white face in the club most nights. People thought I was nuts to take the subway there dressed in my gig clothes. I got off at 135th and walked the rest of the way. Nobody messed with me because they knew I was working for Buster, the club owner, who was also a numbers banker. I usually came home by gypsy cab, or Bucky and the guys would drive me home through Central Park, which was magical in the late night fresh air. Buster was putting his daughter Pat, who acted as the club manager, through law school, I believe at Yale. One of the regulars was John, who had been part of the scene there for many decades. The food was excellent, especially the crab cakes and fried chicken. There was another club next door, an organ room that often featured such talents as Jack McDuff, and there was another jazz club across the street. We would often drop by to listen on our breaks. I remember a little bakery a block or so up the street that had awesome little sweet potato pies. Many people don’t know that even in those days, Harlem had pockets of elegance and middle class values. A friend of mine, the late pianist John Hicks, lived on the top floor of his family’s Stanford White brownstone on Striver’s Row, right up the street. Bucky, a retired postal employee, lived in a beautiful apartment building near Riverside Drive with a grand entryway. There were other blocks that weren’t so great. Spike Lee’s dad, the bass player Bill Lee, was ‘homesteading’ in a brownstone near 125th that he purchased for very little after it had been abandoned. There were still holes in the floor on the upper levels, and the stairs had to be rebuilt. Several other musician friends lived in the high rise projects, including the singer Leon Thomas and bassist Herman Wright, with whom I had a standing weekly Scrabble game. He always won. I also came up to 125th Street on Saturdays to attend Jazzmobile classes in a local school. I was fortunate enough to take an arranging class with Frank Foster, whose charts for Count Basie and others are legendary. I live on the opposite coast now, but I will always remember music in Harlem, especially those amazing nights at the Red Rooster (I still have some cassette tapes).
Joanna,
What a great story, you should write something for us with photos?
Thank you,
HW
There were also two bars on ST Nicholas AVE ONE AT 146TH ST and the other at 148th st all jazz – always had a interesting group coming in and out.. not nosiey and had some slamming cars all sports cars two seaters. I lived at 770 (also the office location of Myra Logan MD._
Sybil,
The two seater sports cars on 146th St., sounds like Harlem style!
Thanks,
HW
i was too young to go in the red rooster in its hayday have always been sorry i was not old enough to go in ‘ my future husband was in the navy and use to frequent there, in 1943. i know i missed the fun. wish someone had some photos.
I really appreciate this remembrance of The Red Rooster. I have many fond memories of my Dad taking me there for lunch in the ’50′s when I went with him to his jewelry store on 7th Avenue.
Re: the photo.
My VERY strong recollection is that the entrance to the Rooster was actually on 138th St, not 7th Avenue.
Inside the entrance was a huge photo (or painting) of the dashing co-owner George Woods dressed up in “riding gear” and walking two very large dogs – presumably down a Harlem avenue. Seach Google for “Red Rooster George Woods” and you’ll find some references to him in Jet Magazine.
Damani