Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Finale Club

230½ East First Street

— Little Tokyo/Bronzeville —

The Finale Club Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, October 15, 2023

1. The Finale Club Marker

Inscription.
Where jazz greats Charlie Parker and Miles Davis performed together in 1946.

Erected 2019 by City of Los Angeles.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Asian Americans • Entertainment • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1946.

Location. 34° 3.048′ N, 118° 14.498′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. Marker is on 1st Street east of Los Angeles Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 230 1st St, Los Angeles CA 90012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Colonel Ellison Onizuka (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Little Tokyo (about 300 feet away); Union Church (about 400 feet away); Fugetsu-Do (about 400 feet away); "Go For Broke" (about 800 feet away); Aoyama Tree (about 800 feet away); Honor Award Story (about 800 feet away); Sei Fujii (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding The Finale Club. During World War II, the forced removal of Japanese Americans turned Little Tokyo into a shuttered ghost town. At this time, African Americans were moving to

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the West Coast seeking jobs during the war effort. Little Tokyo was one of the few neighborhoods in Los Angeles without discriminatory housing covenants. Many African Americans moved into the newly vacant buildings and began operating businesses in the empty storefronts. During the war years, Little Tokyo became known as ‘Bronzeville.’ In 1946, an historic performance at The Finale Club included two jazz greats – saxophone virtuoso Charlie Parker and trumpeter extraordinaire Miles Davis.

Also see . . . Little Tokyo Historical Society. — The QR code on the marker links to this website. (Submitted on October 16, 2023.)

Photographed By Craig Baker, October 15, 2023

2. The Finale Club Marker

The small two-story building is at far left.

Charlie Parker and Miles Davis image. Click for full size.

William P. Gottlieb/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress

3. Charlie Parker and Miles Davis

Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 16, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.