Small’s Paradise, Harlem, 1925

January 6, 2014

smalls paradise earlyOpened in 1925 by Ed Small during a time of Prohibition, Small’s was a sort of hot and heavy speakeasy that downtowners in the know would come to for a night of Jazz, dancing and drink and played host to poets, artists, athletes, and entertainers from the. Small’s was widely known as one of Harlem’s famous nightclubs — one with elaborate floor shows and waiters who danced the Charleston while balancing trays of whiskey.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBJ8x15BcWQ&w=480&h=360]

The video from 1933 at Small’s showcases the talent of a young Roy Eldridge is seen on the trumpet and Elmer Snowden on Banjo.

The club was one of the first to have an open door policy so the crowd also included Harlem’s brightest luminaries and faithful locals. The 1940’s image above is outside of Harlemites reviewing the upcoming talent performing at Small’s like Jimmy Smith.

wilt chamberlain

Small’s stayed open until 1986 with a brief ownership by basketball great Wilt Chamberlain. Today, the Thurgood Marshall Academy has taken over the structure in which the Charleston was once famous. Instead of dancing feet, pancakes are being flipped at a house of pancakes that has moved into the street level space of the building. The Small’s Building is at 2294 Seventh Avenue/Adam Clayton Powell at 135th Street.

What do you know about Smalls?


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2 Comments

  1. Hello, I am writing the biography of the Four Step Brothers, tap dance act started out around 1925 and played the Cotton Club with Ellington from 1927 -1930. The show was called Rhythmania. I am researching what the group was called when there was only 3. Al Williams, Maceo Anderson and Red walker. I can’t find anything on Red Walker. they added Sherman Roberton sometime in 1927 and became the 4 step Brothers. Haven.t found anything on Sherman yet. You can see all 4 in the 1933 Short Barbershop . Blues. I knew Maceo for 20 years and as the story goes Red died of Alcoholism And Sherman died of Strep Throat. Once I get the early Step Brothers researched the rest 1938 – 1978 is a piece of cake. I heard all the stories but many are not true. If you know anything of the early Step Brothers 1925 – circa 1935 I would be appreciative.

    1. Michael,

      We do not have anything in our archives and we made a point not to reach out to you until we did some research.

      If we find anything we’ll circle back to you.

      Thank you,
      HW

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