London House (Chicago)
The London House was a jazz club and restaurant in Chicago located at the corner of Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue, in the London Guaranty and Accident Company Building.[1]
History
It gained notoriety from the jazz artists who made commercial recordings at the club. It hosted artists such as Oscar Peterson, Ramsey Lewis, Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland, Dinah Washington, Cannonball Adderley, Erroll Garner, Ahmad Jamal, Nancy Wilson, Barbara Carroll and Bobby Short. On its 20th anniversary in November 1966, Frank Sinatra Jr. headlined (his Chicago debut).[2]
Renovated in 1946 by George and Oscar Marienthal, the London House club was crafted from the building's original 1920s Fort Dearborn Grill. Known as a dining spot, the club was revamped in 1955 to become a club featuring jazz and staying open until 4.[2] The club was purchased in 1969 by Art's and Leisure Co. and sold to Paul Wimmer in 1971. After jazz' popularity waned London House closed in January, 1975. Jerry Dambra, managing partner from 1971-1975 famously said ,"I was a lucky man to close the two greatest clubs in the world." (He was also the managing partner at Mister Kelly's) Ramsey Lewis was the last headliner at London House, on 1/12/1975. The London House became a Burger King in the 1970s.
LondonHouse Hotel opened in the building in 2016.
Recorded at London House
The following albums were recorded at the London House.[3][4]
- 1956 – Billy Taylor at the London House
- 1958 – Marian McPartland, Marian McPartland Trio: At the London House
- 1958 – Sarah Vaughan, After Hours at the London House
- 1959 – Gene Krupa, Big Noise From Winnetka, Gene Krupa At The London House
- 1959 – Bobby Hackett, Live from London House
- 1959 – Johnny Pate, A Date With Johnny Pate
- 1960s- Teddy Wilson and Earl Hines, Live at London House
- 1961 – Tyree Glenn, Tyree Glenn at the London House in Chicago
- 1961 – Oscar Peterson, The Sound of the Trio
- 1961 – Oscar Peterson, Something Warm
- 1961 - The Many Faces of Dorothy Donegan
- 1961 - Henry Red Allen Quartet Live at the London House Chicago
- 1962 – Charlie Shavers Live at the London House
- 1963 – Coleman Hawkins at the London House
- 1966 – The Three Sounds - Today's Sounds
- 1969 – The Soulful Strings - Back By Demand, In Concert
- 1969 – Jack McDuff, Gin and Orange
- 1973 – Jo Jones, Jo Jones And Guest Stars
References
- ^ Demlinger, Sandor; Steiner, John (August 11, 2003). Destination Chicago jazz. Arcadia Publishing. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-7385-2305-7. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ a b "Show to Mark Marienthal's London House's 20th Year". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 5, 1966. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Happy Medium Ventures Archive, Chicago, www.happymediumventures.com
- ^ Discogs, www.discogs.com/label/347535-London-House-Chicago?sort=year&sort_order=asc