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)
Stan Getz at The Cellar Door
WP 1/3/65 p.G4
Joe Williams at The Cellar Door
WP 10/23/66 p.G7
Milt Jackson Quintet at The Cellar Door
WP 4/21/67 p.D15
Modern Jazz Quartet at The Cellar Door
WES 2/6/69 p.A17
Modern Jazz Quartet at The Cellar Door
WES 2/1/69 p.WK12
Miles Davis at The Cellar Door
WES 3/8/69 p.WK16
Young-Holt Unlimited at The Cellar Door
WES 3/1/69 p.WK16
Dick Gregory at The Cellar Door
WES 9/11/69 p.A16
Thelonious Monk at The Cellar Door
WES 10/4/69 p.WK12
Art Blakey at The Cellar Door
WES 10/30/69 p.D8
Buddy Rich at The Cellar Door
WES 1/3/70 p.WK16
Buddy Rich at The Cellar Door
WES 1/8/70 p.C10
Miles Davis at The Cellar Door
WES 1/10/70 p.WK12
Miles Davis at The Cellar Door
WES 1/15/70 p.D8
Cannonball Adderley at The Cellar Door
WES 1/17/70 p.WK12
Gary Burton at The Cellar Door
WES 2/12/70 p.B11
Buddy Rich at The Cellar Door
WES 7/2/70 p.C5
Richard Pryor and Herbie Hancock at The Cellar Door
WES 10/10/70 p.WK16
Miles Davis at The Cellar Door
WES 12/17/70 p.D5
Miles Davis at The Cellar Door
WP 3/19/72 p.G8
Herbie Hancock at The Cellar Door
WP 7/23/72 p.H4
Michal Urbaniak at The Cellar Door
WP 12/2/75 p.C7
Lonnie Liston Smith at The Cellar Door
WP 3/3/77 p.B17
John Handy at The Cellar Door
WP 4/12/77 p.B8
Sam Rivers at The Cellar Door
WP 5/19/77 p.C16
Larry Coryell & Alphonse Mouzon at The Cellar Door
WP 8/16/77 p.B7
Jean Carn at The Cellar Door
WP 8/23/77 p.B9
Charles Mingus at The Cellar Door
WP 8/30/77 p.B6
Bibliography
Dreyfuss, Joel. “Mangione: Good Sounds.” Washington Post, November 6, 1974.
Gilmore, Martha Sanders. “Capital Caper: Buddy Rich in Washington.” Down Beat, March 19, 1970.
Harrington, Richard. “Eddie Harris.” Washington Post, October 28, 1978.
Harrington, Richard. “The Door Closes in Georgetown.” Washington Post, January 9, 1982.
Harrington, Richard. “Two from D.C. Buy The Cellar Door.” Washington Post, January 31, 1981.
Kernis, Mark. “Pat Metheny’s Melodies.” Washington Post, October 5, 1978.
Pagones, John. “Cellar Door Opens to Jazz.” Washington Post. January 3, 1965.
Pagones, John. “Cellar Door Swings with Oscar Brown Jr.” Washington Post. February 12, 1965.
Pagones, John. “M Street Is No ‘Strip,’ Yet.” Washington Post, February 14, 1965.
Rice, William. “On the Town: Year That Was Faltered.” Washington Post, December 24, 1967.
Rohter, Larry. “Curson and Gillespie.” Washington Post, February 22, 1977.
Segraves, John. “Owners Change at Cellar Door.” Washington Star. October 10, 1970, sec. Weekend.
Segraves, John. “A New Owner Looks Ahead.” Washington Star, September 21, 1968.
Segraves, John. “After Dark: The Real Miles Finally Stands Up.” Washington Star, January 15, 1970.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Steve Kuhn Trio.” Washington Post, June 10, 1980.
Sumrall, Harry. “Miroslav Vitous.” Washington Post, April 30, 1980.
Sumrall, Harry. “The Gil Goldstein Trio at Cellar Door.” Washington Post, September 11, 1979.
Weintraub, Boris. “Washington Gig Scene Sizzles.” Billboard, October 22, 1977.
Weintraub, Boris, and Rosalie Weintraub. “The Cellar Door. It Was a Good Club. Born 1963, Died --?” Washington Star. September 7, 1969, sec. Magazine.
West, Hollie I. “Dizzy: Jazz Without Drums.” Washington Post, September 9, 1970.
West, Hollie I. “Jazz with Art and Appeal.” Washington Post, October 14, 1970.
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