B’way in the Heart of Harlem
June 5, 1943
p. 26
Do you remember when 132 st and 7th ave was the B’way of Harlem? There was Connie’s Inn run by the Immerman Bros., the night club which not only preceded and bid for the top hat downtown trade, but which never discouraged uptown trade. Here in this downstairs spot many careers took form and reached fame. For instance, there was Fats Waller, he had been writing tunes for a long time but it was not until the late Leonard took his “Honeysuckle Rose” and staged a bang-up show number of it, that he came to the serious attention of the tunesmiths. And there was Maude Russel who introduced the number in song and dance. Now she is enjoying a successful B’way run in “Dark Eyes.”
And who could ever forget Meers and Meers, two of the most beautiful ballroom dancers that ever graced a stage. I can remember the women coming night after night just to watch the rhythmic movement of Paul’s body beautiful. He later danced in the music halls of Europe with Josephine Baker. Now he’s running his own cafe in Nassau.
Then there was Louis Armstrong. It was at Connie’s that the musicians used to crown around the band-stand to see if they could understand better the power behind his famous top notes. Louis’ present activities are well known to all.
HARLEM'S MEETING PLACE
The drug store on the corner wa sthe [sic] meeting place for all the show folks and the police department at that time did not allow loitering on the corner; so you never heard the vile language you are apt to hear now. There was a policeman, Tom Brown, who made the boys respect the girls even if [he] had to konk a head now and then. The Tree of Hope was ch[r]istened on this corner with Bill Robinson doing the honors and Mayor Jimmy Walker lending support. The idea was, if you rubbed this tree stump and made a wish, it would come true. It since has been transplanted on 7th ave near the Harlem Project.
Frank Schiffman ran the Lafayette and booked every big name in the business, many times paying larger salaries than were being received in the downtown theatres. He brought the B’way production, Singing the Blues, uptown after it closed on B’way and believe me, it was a large and expensive production.
Almost every Negro artist who amounted to anything has played the Lafayette Theatre. For sentimental reasons if for no other, this theatre should not be allowed to stand unattended and remain the eye sore it is now is.
Won’t someone do something about it?
—Fredi