3477 M St., NW
Opened 1963, sold in 1981 and renamed.
Formerly the location of The Shadows, which relocated to 3125 M St., NW. Both clubs existed in 1963-64.
Owned by Jack Boyle (1963, only three months); Tom Lyons (1964-1968); Charles Fichman (at first half interest, adding remainder in September 1968 – full owner through October 1970); Jack Boyle again (October 1970-1981) and Sam L’Hommedieu (1978) and Dave Williams (-1981). Bought by Paul Kurtz and Howard Bomstein, who, after six months, renamed it as The Door (1981-1982). Manager Ralph Camilli (-1973-).
Capacity 124 (had been 199 until D.C. Fire Department review in 1978)
Recordings by Oscar Brown, Jr. (1964), Miles Davis (1970), Danny Gatton (1978).
Artists
- Eddie Phyfe (1963)
- Oscar Brown, Jr. (1964)
- Stan Getz (1965)
- Joe Williams (1966)
- Milt Jackson (1967)
- Nina Simone (1967)
- Jimmy Smith (1967)
- Hugh Masekela (1968)
- Mose Allison (1968)
- Modern Jazz Quartet (1969)
- Miles Davis (1969)
- Charlie Byrd (1969)
- Thelonious Monk (1969)
- Oscar Brown, Jr. (1969)
- Art Blakey (1969)
- Count Basie (1969)
- Charlie Byrd (1969)
- B.B. King (1969)
- Buddy Rich (1970)
- Miles Davis (1970)
- Cannonball Adderley (1970)
- Herbie Mann (1970)
- Weather Report (1971)
- Stan Getz (1972)
- Return To Forever (1973)
- Freddie Hubbard (1973)
- Hugh Masekela (1974)
- Herbie Hancock (1974)
- Larry Young (1975)
- Larry Coryell (1975)
- Michal Urbaniak (1975)
- Larry Coryell (1976)
- Tony Williams (1976)
- Les McCann (1977)
- Lonnie Liston Smith (1977)
- Michael Franks (1977)
- John Handy (1977)
- Sam Rivers (1977)
- Bill Evans (1977)
- Noel Pointer (1977)
- Larry Coryell (1977)
- Norman Connors (1977)
- Jean Carn (1977)
- Charles Mingus (1977)
- Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee (1977)
- Danny Gatton (1978)
- Steve Kuhn (1980)
- Lyle Mays (1980)
Your list of notable performers is missing Sonny & Cher who performed there in 1969. I don’t recall the exact date, but it was definitely in late September. I’m positive about that, and the performers, because it was my wife’s and my first date — and a blind date at that.
I saw Richard Pryor at the Cellar Door as a solo act sometime in late 1972 or early 1973. He was previewing his new material and I laughed so hard, continuously, that he came by and shook my hand as he left the stage.