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Showboat Lounge

April 28, 2019 By Michael Fitzgerald 2 Comments

2477 18th St., NW

(-1957-1967)

Property purchased by Harry Lambros in 1925 (formerly Riggs National Bank). In the 1940s there was also a Showboat Cafe owned by Lambros at 1303 H St., NW.

Jazz music policy began in 1957 under owner Pete Lambros (son of Harry) who booked Charlie Byrd for two weeks. By 1962, Byrd was scheduled at the Showboat for eight months each year.

Owned by Pete Lambros, who had previously been part owner of Jazz Central, U.S.A. Later Lambros owned Byrd's Nest and Villa Rosa Showboat, both at the same location in Silver Spring, MD. Manager Mike Thorton (-1967).

Original room capacity of 40, expanded to 90, then expanded again for a final room capacity of 148.

Byrd and Lambros moved their base of operations to Byrd's Nest in Silver Spring, MD in November 1967, but jazz continued at the Showboat through the end of the year. In 1968, Lambros sold it to “two Virginia restaurauteurs, Harry Harris and Doug Riner, who will continue to operate the first-floor restaurant and are toying with the idea of putting in Dixieland music in the downstairs show room.” (WES 4/11/68 p.B7)

In August 1968, the Left Bank Jazz Society of DC presented a concert at the old Showboat featuring the Jay Dennis Sextet. (WES 8/22/68 p.A15) In December 1968, LBJS-DC presented Jackie McLean. (WES 12/8/68 p.B4) In January 1969, LBJS-DC presented The New Thing Quintet. (WES 1/25/69 p.12)

Bill Morgan and the TCB Trio appeared at the Showboat in September 1968.

In 1969 it was announced that the Showboat would become a showcase for local rock talent. (WES 6/21/69 p.9)

Recordings by Charlie Byrd (1958), Dick Morgan (1960), Charlie Byrd (1965), Charlie Byrd (1966).

Artists

  • Bill Evans
  • Jimmy Giuffre
  • Teddy Wilson
  • Zoot Sims
  • Matt Dennis
  • Sam Most
  • Mose Allison (1964)
  • John Handy (1967)
  • Ahmad Jamal (1967)
  • Gene Krupa (1967)
  • Earl Hines (1967)
  • Dizzy Gillespie (1967)
  • Howard Roberts (1967)
  • Shirley Horn (1967)
Guitar Recital at the Showboat Lounge
WP 11/6/59 p.D9
Charlie Byrd at the Showboat Lounge
WP 2/10/60 p.C6
Dick Morgan at Showboat Lounge
WP 9/18/60 p.D5
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 2/12/61 p.G5
Mose Allison at Showboat Lounge
WP 3/26/61 p.G5
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 7/30/61 p.G6
Shirley Horn at Showboat Lounge
WP 3/8/63 p.C8
Tommy Gwaltney at Showboat Lounge
WP 9/22/63 p.G4
Tommy Gwaltney at Showboat Lounge
WP 11/24/63 p.G6
Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan at Showboat Lounge
WP 2/16/64 p.G4
Coleman Hawkins and Jimmy Witherspoon at Showboat Lounge
WP 3/29/64 p.G5
Joe Mooney at Showboat Lounge
WP 4/19/64 p.G4
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 5/3/64 p.G5
Mose Allison at Showboat Lounge
WP 6/19/64 p.B13
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 6/5/64 p.D8
Mike Sullivan at Showboat Lounge
WP 10/18/64 p.G6
Wes Montgomery at Showboat Lounge
WP 11/8/64 p.G5
Roland Kirk at Showboat Lounge
WP 11/20/64 p.D9
Oscar Peterson at Showboat Lounge
WP 11/27/64 p.C10
Kenny Duca at the Showboat
WP 12/13/64 p.G5
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 12/18/64 p.B15
Charlie Byrd at the Showboat Lounge
WP 1/15/65 p.D11
Don Hearn at Showboat Lounge
WP 1/24/65 p.G5
Jazz Discotheque at the Showboat Lounge
WP 3/14/65 p.G6
Bola Seta at the Showboat Lounge
WP 3/28/65 p.G7
Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis at Showboat Lounge
WP 5/28/65 p.D15
Charlie Byrd at the Showboat
WP 6/6/65 p.G6
Vince Guaraldi at the Showboat Lounge
WP 8/29/65 p.G5
Charlie Byrd at the Showboat
WP 3/25/66 p.B17
Dizzy Gillespie at the Showboat Lounge
WP 9/4/66 p.G4
Earl Hines at Showboat Lounge
WP 10/23/66 p.G7
Earl Hines at Showboat Lounge
WP 10/30/66 p.G8
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 11/13/66 p.G6
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 11/18/66 p.B15
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 11/27/66 p.G6
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 12/2/66 p.D14
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 12/18/66 p.G7
Charlie Byrd at Showboat Lounge
WP 12/25/66 p.G8
Charlie Byrd at the Showboat
WP 4/21/67 p.D15
Ahmad Jamal at Showboat Lounge
WP 7/9/67 p.H5
Marshall Hawkins at Showboat Lounge
WP 2/14/69 p.D11

Bibliography

7756 {40596:PL9G97WX},{40596:74MP4Y5B} items 1 chicago-fullnote-bibliography author asc https://jazzmf.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/zotpress/
Pagones, John. “Showboat Just Keeps Rollin’ Along.” Washington Post, April 15, 1962.
Segraves, John. “Suburbia Gets ‘The Byrd.’” Washington Star, September 21, 1967.

Wiki Tags:
1950s, 1960s

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Frank Simmons says

    October 22, 2020 at 8:31 pm

    Many times I went there from Virgina to
    hear Byrd …. also his brother played bass.
    It had a unique atmosphere that added to the essence of the place. It was my
    favorite place as I was an avid jazz fan – including when Dizzy played it was a mad
    house in a way. Times change.

    Reply
  2. Dale Abrams says

    January 7, 2023 at 10:03 pm

    I saw Gene Krupa at5 the Showboat Lounge in 1972, a year before Gene passed away. I was a budding Jazz Drummer and Gene was still an amazing musician and drummer. I miss the Showboat.

    Reply

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