The Champagne Bowl opened May 28, 1957. It was located on the ground floor of the Flamingo Apartments. Pianist and composer Johnny Houston, who later joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, began a two-week gig at the “Bowl” in December 1957.

Hundreds attended a star-studded salute to R&B legend Little Willie John at the Bowl in December 1959. The singer’s 1956 hit, “Fever,” was later covered by Peggy Lee.

Singer and saxophonist Bull Moose Jackson was among the performers at the Little Willie John gala. In the 1960s, the bandleader lived in Ivy Hall Apartments (formerly Flamingo Apartments) and was a “mixologist” at the Champagne Bowl.

Opened in the 1960s, the Starlite Supper Club was one of several nightspots owned by serial jazz club owner Benjamin Bynum Sr. Kenny Gamble and the Romeos, Ben E. King, Lou “Philly Dog” Lawton, Nina Simone, Jimmy Smith, Kim Weston and Randy Weston were among the up and coming and established artists who performed here.

Fittingly, the purveyor of soul food played host to Latin jazz percussionist Willie Bobo.

Prince Artis Gilliard Jr., a former investigator with the Philadelphia Police Department, opened Prince’s Total Experience in the 1970s.

In the mid-70s, Sun Ra and the Arkestra had a weekly engagement at the North Philly jazz spot.

Prince’s Total Experienced played host to soul and jazz legends, including Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Billy Paul, Bootsie Barnes, Sonny Fortune, Arthur Prysock and the Delfonics.

Prince’s Total Experience closed in the 1980s. It’s now the site of a beer distributor.

Architectural engineer William Mann opened Mr. Mann’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge in West Philly in 1972. The Philadelphia Tribune reported: Although there are other locations in the city where it might have been easier to establish Mr. Mann’s, the corner of 48th and Market was chosen.

Mann told the Tribune:

Not because it was the best place; but because I would like to see it here. I believe that if Black people don’t put their businesses (in Black communities), no one else will.

National performers who appeared in the 200-seat lounge included Betty Carter, Norman Connors featuring Jean Carne, Bill Doggett, Billy Eckstein, Hazel Scott, Shirley Scott Trio, and the Ramsey Lewis Trio.

Mr. Mann’s closed in 1976. The building was demolished in 2020.

Dino’s opened in 1973. The upstairs stage of this West Philly disco inaugurated “Just Jazz Nite” in 1976. Performers included Art Blakey, Shirley Scott, Bootsie Barnes, Sonny Fortune, Hank Mobley, Milt Jackson, Eddie Jefferson, Philly Joe Jones, Yusef Lateef, Gloria Lynne, Arthur Prysock, Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach, and Hank Mobley.

Located in North Philly, the Starlite Supper Club was owned by jazz impresario Benjamin “Ben” Bynum Sr. Musicians who performed here included Kenny Gamble and the Romeos, Nina Simone, Jimmy Smith, Kim Weston, bagpiper Rufus Harley, and percussionists Babatunde Olatunji and Willie Bobo.

Philadelphia native Cullen Knight recorded a live album, A Knight at the Starlite, in 1965.

For roughly 10 years, the property was home to Club Upscale. The nightspot closed circa 2019.

Opened in 1948, the 820 Club was located on the first floor of North Philly’s Hotel La Reve. The Black-owned hotel was listed in the Green Book travel guide.

Musicians who performed here included the Art Ray Trio, Sally and Stella, aka the Rhythm Girls, blues singer Tiny Williams, pianist Tom “Mr. 88” Kennedy, and saxophonist Jimmy Hinsley and his Quartet.

Gray Manor Apartments, named in honor of Rev. William H. Gray Jr., former senior pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church, is located in the footprint of the 820 Club.

Opened in 1936, the Ubangi Klub was modeled after Harlem’s famed Ubangi Club where Philadelphia native Gladys Bentley held court.

The Ubangi Klub orchestra was led by Black musicians Union Local 274 organizer Frank Thurman “Frankie” Fairfax.

The first president of Union Local 274, George “Doc” Hyder, also performed here.