Club Paradise (nightclub)
{{Short description|Nightclub in Memphis, Tennessee}}
The Club Paradise was a nightclub at 645 E. Georgia Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. It was a stop on the "Chitlin' Circuit," a selection of venues considered safe and acceptable for African-American entertainers in the era of racial segregation in the United States.
The Club Paradise was owned and operated by Sunbeam Mitchell from 1965 until 1985. In 1985, Mitchell retired and the nightclub opened under new ownership as the New Club Paradise. The New Club Paradise closed in 1999.
History
In 1965, Sunbeam Mitchell took out a six-year lease for a 42,000-square-foot building at 645 E. Georgia Avenue in Memphis.{{Cite news |date=March 23, 1966 |title=City Andy Operator Disagree On Future Of Club Paradise |pages=21 |work=The Commercial Appeal}} The 2,500-seat capacity venue had originally been built as a bowling alley but it was never used. Mitchell said he "just felt Memphis had grown so much it was time for 'a fabulous club with big seating.'" At the time, Mitchell was already operating the Club Handy and had previously owned the Mitchell Hotel in Memphis.
The Club Paradise was one of the few establishments in the city for which the authorities approved a public dance hall license. The nightclub had valet parking, a private room for special parties, a dining room that could be rented, and a club room with oak paneling and wall-to-wall carpeting. The dance floor could fit approximately 250 people. Mitchell's wife Ernestine Mitchell worked as a hostess, and Bryant T. Williams Sr. of the Tri-State Defender handled the public relations.
Bobby "Blue" Bland's revue with Joe Scott's orchestra performed at the opening of the Club Paradise on March 21, 1965.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Robert |date=March 18, 1965 |title=Good Evening! |pages=21 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
The Intercollegiate Chapter of NAACP—with members from MSU, CBC, LeMoyne, Owens, Southwestern, Henderson and Griggs Business—sponsored a benefit at the Club Paradise on April 15, 1965. The performers included Rufus Thomas, David Porter, Wendy Rene, Charles James, Sam & Dave and the Club Handy Band.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Robert |date=March 31, 1965 |title=Good Evening! |pages=33 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
In 1966, the Memphis City Commission attempted to purchase the club with federal funds and convert it into a recreation center.{{Cite news |date=March 23, 1966 |title=City's Move Rocks Boat Of Paradise |pages=8 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}} Mitchell entered a lease-to-own agreement and eventually purchased the venue.{{Cite web |last=Lauterbach |first=Preston |date=2006-07-01 |title=Chitlin' Circuit |url=https://memphismagazine.com/July-2006/Chitlin-Circuit/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=Memphis magazine |language=en-us}}
From its heyday until its closure, soul, blues, and funk musicians performed at the Club Paradise. Singer Merk Harris was a regular headliner along with R&B singer Big Ella and Irvin Reason's Big Band in the 1960s.{{Cite news |date=October 20, 1967 |title=Memphis After Dark: Merk Harris Has Sunbeam Mitchell Beaming |pages=17 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
Mitchell also rented the club out to fraternities such as Kingsmen, Social Gents, Gay Cavaliers, and Ebonett Social club.
The Club Paradise sponsored a Ray Charles concert at Ellis Auditorium on June 5, 1966.{{Cite news |last=Burk |first=Bill E. |date=June 2, 1966 |title=Memphis After Dark |pages=27 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}} Although the show was highly anticipated, Mitchell took a loss.{{Cite news |date=June 4, 1966 |title=Ray Charles' Likely Selloue |pages=12 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}} "It cost me $8,000 to bring him in, and I only took in $6,000, so I lose $2,000. I should have had him at the paradise instead of the Auditorium, and I'd have made money," he said.{{Cite news |date=June 9, 1966 |title=Lost—But No Regrets |pages=21 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
In 1985, Mitchell sold the nightclub to Willie Moore and Paul Jordan.{{Cite news |last=Buser |first=Lawrence |date=July 3, 1985 |title=Nightclub sales pushes boss into early retirement at 78 |pages=D12 |work=The Commercial Appeal}} They renamed the club the New Club Paradise, which remained in operation until 1999.
In 2016, the New Club Paradise reopened as a community center, the Paradise Entertainment Center.{{Cite web |last=Donahue |first=Michael |date=January 22, 2016 |title=Memphis’ Club Paradise to reopen as community center |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/life/2016/01/22/memphis-club-paradise-to-reopen-as-community-center/90383492/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=The Commercial Appeal |language=en}}
Notable performers
Notable performers who performed at Club Paradise include:
- Bobby "Blue Bland
- Bill Doggett
- Rufus Thomas
- B.B. King{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Robert |date=May 19, 1965 |title=Good Evening! |pages=33 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
- Howlin' Wolf{{Cite news |last=Burk |first=Bill E. |date=August 26, 1965 |title=Memphis After Dark |pages=19 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
- Arthur Prysock
- Jimmy Dorsey
- Lloyd Price{{Cite news |last=Burk |first=Bill E. |date=February 24, 1966 |title=Memphis After Dark |pages=19 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
- Red Prysock
- Big Ella{{Cite news |last=Burk |first=Bill E. |date=March 10, 1966 |title=Big Ella: 'I Like to Sing, Period!' |pages=16 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
- Count Basie{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Bill |date=April 12, 1966 |title=Count Basie's Artistry Weaves Its Spell: 1,500 Were One O'Clock Jumping |pages=23 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
- Ike & Tina Turner
- Cannonball Adderley
- Ray Charles
- Lou Rawls{{Cite news |date=October 2, 1966 |title=Lou Rawls Scores Carnegie Sellouts |pages=2 |work=The Commercial Appeal}}
- Aretha Franklin{{Cite news |date=November 27, 1966 |title=Club Paradise Brings You ... Aretha Franklin, Sunday - Nov. 27 (Advertisement) |pages=172 |work=The Commercial Appeal}}
- Sam & Dave{{Cite news |date=September 26, 1969 |title=Sam and Dave and their 1969 All Star Review, Sunday Nite - Sept. 28 (Advertisement) |pages=Showtime 14 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar}}
- O.V. Wright
- The Delfonics
- Funkadelics
- Phineas Newborn.{{Cite news |last=Dawson |first=Walter |date=July 27, 1975 |title=34 Years of Music- From Beale Street To Club Paradise |pages=3 |work=The Commercial Appeal}}
References
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Category:Music venues in Tennessee
Category:1965 establishments in Tennessee
Category:1999 disestablishments in Tennessee
Category:Historically African-American theaters and music venues