3333-A Connecticut Ave., NW
1937-1947-1952-1953-
Owned by Allen Simmonds, who was a comedian and worked the intermissions there with pianist George Berg.
Although the club was listed for public auction on May 14, 1947 and again on January 30, 1951, it does not appear to have changed ownership.
1953 house band led by Bobby Conway (p), with Max McCurdy (t); Wally Garner (cl), Larry Eanet (tb), Norman Williams (b), Walt Gifford (d).
Artists
- Erskine Butterfield (1942)
- Art Tatum (1943)
- Dizzy Gillespie (1945)
- Trummy Young (1945)
- John Kirby (1946)
- Sidney Bechet (1946)
- Wild Bill Whelan (1953)
- Pee Wee Russell (1953)
- Hot Lips Page (1953)
Wild Bill Whelan at Brown Derby
WP 1/19/53 p.24
Bibliography
Down Beat. “Small Units Improve Capitol Jazz Scene,” December 15, 1945.
Billboard. “Three Spots Back to Life in Capital,” August 28, 1943.
Billboard. “D.C. Loaded with Names and Spending Out-of-Town Crown,” May 22, 1943.
Billboard. “Sepia Names Score Big in Washington,” July 3, 1943.
Down Beat. “Dixie Stars Inked for Brown Derby,” March 11, 1953.
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