U Street Corridor in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
A Magic Place
City within a City
— Greater U Street Heritage Trail —
Louis Armstrong and Sarah Vaughn were two of the nationally famous entertainers who played in the brick building on this corner, once home to the popular Club Bali, also called the New Bali. In the memory of one former customer, it was a magic place, its rear garden lit with strings of lights in the summertime.
Club Bali was one of many nightclubs that made the U street area a mecca for music lovers from the jazz era of the 1920s to Motown sound of the 1960s. The magic often continued late into the night, as name entertainers, winding down after formal engagements, played to intimate gatherings int the wee hours of the morning in the many tucked-away, after-hours clubs located throughout the neighborhood.
Fourteenth Street was a place shared, uneasily, by Black and White Washingtonians in segregated Washington. Black and White people owned, managed, and patronized stores on this important commercial corridor, which, both connected and divided the mostly Black community on the east from the mostly white community on the west. While the White-owned People’s Drug Store at the corner of 14th and U refused to serve African Americans at the counter, most of the predominantly Black clubs such as the Bali welcomed Whites, making the nightclub scene in Washington one of the city’s few integrated social scenes.
Today both 14th Street and U Street are once again becoming venues for the arts and nightlife, as theaters, restaurants, and clubs begin to reuse this neighborhood’s historic buildings. Buildings that were once car showrooms, such as the one once occupied by the Bali, are proving to be well suited to the needs of Washington’s innovative and thriving small theaters.
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 9.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Greater U Street Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 38° 54.938′ N, 77° 1.907′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in U Street Corridor. Marker is at the intersection of 14th Street Northwest and T Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north on 14th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1901 14th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Wesley Cromwell Residence (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Courage • Caring • Compassion (about 500 feet away); Dedicated in Honor of Claven Wood
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 9, 2021
More about this marker.
[Illustration Captions]
Upper right:
Announcement of The Louis Armstrong Sextet’s appearance at the New Bali Restaurant, 1901 14th St. (Henry P. Whitehead Collection)
And photo of Louis Armstrong at the Bali with Jack Teagarden and Earl “Fatha” Hines on piano. (Photo by Tom Lodge. The Historical Society of Washington, DC)
Center right:
Announcement of Ella Fitzgerald performing at the New Bali and ad for the Casbah Supper Club at 1211 U St. (Henry P. Whitehead Collection)
Lower right:
Ads for the Club Madre at 2204 14th St. and the New Bali Restaurant featuring Lester Young (Henry P. Whitehead Collection)
Lower left:
Sarah Vaughn at the Club Bali in 1947. (Photo by Tom Lodge. The Historical Society of Washington, DC)
Lower middle:
Ad for the “Harlem Tropicana” show starring Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five at the Club Bali (Henry P. Whitehead Collection)
[Caption for Photo on Reverse:]
Louis Armstrong plays the Club Bali with (left to right) Barney Bigard, Jack Teagarden, and Earl “Fatha” Hines. (Photo by Tom Lodge. The Historical Society of Washington, D.C.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 29, 2017
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 873 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on March 7, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on May 7, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2. submitted on October 9, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 7, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 6. submitted on December 29, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.