Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Erie's First Integrated Stage Show in 1936?

-ad in Erie Dispatch-Herald, August 1, 1936.
Is it possible that the first integrated floor show in Erie took place at Cogan's Grill during the first week of August in 1936?

The advertisement claims, "Erie's most popular grill is celebrating its third anniversary this week and as a special treat to its patrons and friends it is featuring something new in Erie in the line of floor shows. Black and Tan Entertainers. For the first time in the history of Erie you will see a floor show of white and colored entertainers. There's nothing like it between here and Chicago."

It is possible that the headliner, Mellise, was a member of the "Streets of Paris" revue that performed at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The other performers are not mentioned in the ad. I checked but did not find a review of the Cogan's show.

Joseph Cogan owned Cogan's Grill at 1711 State Street in Erie, PA. He was born in Balto, Russia around 1910. His older brother, Meyer Cogan, was the bartender. The family lived at 1709 State Street.

Ember's Steak House and Cocktail Lounge was located at 1711 State Street in the Sixties.

1 comment:

  1. Somewhere between 1998 and 2000,The Embers was sold and became The Zone. The Zone operated there until Feb. 2005.

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