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Showmans is a jazz club located in Harlem.

History
This soulful haunt of Harlem's old guard has been home to the greats (e.g. Sara Vaughan, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Pearl Bailey) since 1942, having moved to its current location in August, 1998. A Hammond B-3 organ graces the stage, and is put to good use by Danny Mixon, Seleno Clarke, Nathan Lucas and Preacher Robins among others.

Showman's has moved three times since 1942. Their original building, next to the Apollo, was destroyed by fire. "After playing at the Apollo," writes Butterworth, "the musicians used to go next door and play their own music, hence the name Showman's."

They were pushed out of their second location by the Harlem USA mega-development. And they've been in their current spot on 125th since 1998.

Partners
Mona Lopez and Alfred Howard

Former names and addresses

 * 1950–1980s?: Showman's Cafe
 * 267 West 125th Street


 * 1986: 2221 Frederick Douglas Boulevard


 * 1990: Showman's Lounge


 * 1985-1997??: Showman's Cafe
 * 2321 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, between 124th and 125th Streets
 * Andre's old home

Address

 * Showmans Jazz Club
 * 375 West 125th Street
 * between Morningside and St. Nicholas Avenues
 * New York, New York 10027
 * 212 864 8941 (phone)

Incorporation

 * Showman's Realty Corp.
 * Initial DOS Filing Date: December 11, 1998


 * Alfred Howard, CEO
 * 375 West 125th Street
 * New York, New York 10027


 * Principal Executive Office
 * 115-66 194TH ST
 * St. Albans, Queens, New York 11412

Selected owners, operators, and staff

 * 1956: Jim DePierro, owner of Showman's Cafe


 * Betty Kennedy, cook (died May 1973)
 * Showman's Cafe reopened around July 7, 1973, after being closed since May 20, 1973, when former operator Betty Kennedy died in her sleep.


 * Ramona "Mona" Lopez and Alfred Howard have owned and operated Showman's since about 1978. Howard was one of the NYPD detectives who took the call when Martin Luther King was stabbed by a woman with a letter opener. He was also a supervisor on the hunt for Son of Sam.

General notes

 * Congressional Record
 * "Showman's: Family First," by Simon E. Fuchs, Sennheiser, photos by Lillian Santos, (website), no date (©2019) (retrieved May 8, 2019)