West Village in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Café Society

Photographed By Larry Gertner, November 23, 2019

1. Café Society Marker

Inscription.
The first non-segregated music club in American history, was located in this building. Founder Barney Josephson, a courageous shoe salesman, started the club in 1938.

Famous people like Eleanor Roosevelt, Charlie Chaplin and Piet Mondrian visited “The Wrong Place for the Right People”. Billy Holiday made her debut at the club in 1944 with her song “Strange Fruit” about lynchings in the South.

The Dutch artist Mondrian was inspired by the jazz club when he created the most famous modern painting about New York: ‘Victory Boogie Woogie’ (Gemeentemuseum The Hague). This painting and Café Society stand for freedom.

Presented by the city of The Hague
The Netherland Club of New York (2017)

Erected 2017 by The Netherland Club of New York.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1938.

Location. 40° 43.974′ N, 74° 0.111′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in West Village. Marker is at the intersection of Washington Place and Barrow Street, on the right when traveling east on Washington Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Sheridan Square, New York NY 10014, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

this marker. Edwin Arlington Robinson (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sheridan Square Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Alex Haley (1921-1992) (within shouting distance of this marker); Stonewall Forever (within shouting distance of this marker); Lambert Suydam House & Suydam Row (within shouting distance of this marker); General Philip Henry Sheridan (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ephraim Ellsworth and the New York Fire Zouaves (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Stonewall Forever (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Also see . . .
1. Café Society. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Barney Josephson. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. Victory Boogie Woogie. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

1 Sheridan Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 29, 2020

2. 1 Sheridan Square

The marker is visible just to the left of the fence.

Barney Josephson image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Wikipedia, 1939

3. Barney Josephson

Billie Holiday image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Wikipedia, Unknown

4. Billie Holiday

Piet Mondrian's "Victory Boogie Woogie" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Wikipedia, Unknown

5. Piet Mondrian's "Victory Boogie Woogie"

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 268 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 23, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.