Cotton Club (Portland)

For the nightclub of the same name in New York City, see Cotton Club.

Sammy Davis Jr. in 1966- the era in which he performed at The Cotton Club[1]

The Cotton Club was a nightclub located in North Portland, Oregon. Located at 2125 N. Vancouver Avenue (and N. Tillamook Street), the club gained attention during the 1960s as the "only nightclub on the West Coast with wall-to-wall soul."[2] Celebrities such as Cab Calloway, Sammy Davis, Jr., Cass Elliot, the Kingston Trio, Joe Louis, and Archie Moore would visit the nightclub when they were in town.[3]

Background Information

The Cotton Club, located within the Albina area of North Portland, was a jazz nightclub that rose to fame in the 1960s after being purchased and renovated by Paul Knauls[4]. Paul Knauls moved to Portland, Oregon in 1963 in order to purchase the club.[5]

The jazz club was one of many black owned businesses that occupied the area at the time. It was located in a neighborhood where African-Americans settled after Vanport was destroyed by flooding in 1948 and Interstate 5 and the Memorial Coliseum uprooted a number of black-owned business. By the 1960s, it was part of a thriving area that include the Blue Ribbon Barbecue, Lew's Men's Shop, and the House of Fortune Cafe.[6]

History

The Cotton Club was named after a famous nightclub located in Harlem, New York. The Cotton Club was initially an unpopular and rundown location under the ownership of a man named Mr. Thompson, who owned the nightclub leading up to 1963 when it was purchased by Paul Knauls.[5]

The Cotton Club was part of the Chitiln’ Circuit, which was a network of venues on the West Coast that were safe for African American performers to play their music.[7] Many of the celebrities that came to the Portland area to perform would finish their evening at the Cotton Club.[5] In addition to being a popular spot for celebrities on the Chitlin's Circuit, the club gained traction among white community after being featured in the column “Baker’s Dozen” written by Doug Baker of the Oregon Journal[5]. The club was successful for about seven years until its doors closed in 1970.[5]

Paul Knauls

Paul Knauls was born in Huntington, Arkansas in 1931. Knauls joined the Air Force in 1949 just 17 days after graduating from high school.[5] Knauls was the first African-American to be stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington[8]. Knauls worked up to three jobs at a time in order to save up enough money to fulfill his goal of owning a business. In addition to working as a typewriter repairman Knauls also worked as a dishwasher in a hotel and ski instructor on weekends.[9]

Knauls decided to pursue his dream of owning a nightclub in the Portland area due to the city's proximity to the skiing areas at Mt. Hood.[10] He discovered The Cotton Club while visiting the Portland area, and found that the owner of the nightclub was willing to sell the establishment. After 12 years of saving Knauls had $17,000, which was enough to begin the process of purchasing a nightclub in the Portland area. After securing a loan of $50,000 Knauls purchased the Cotton Club in 1963.[5]

Notable Performers
Duke Ellington in 1965, the era in which he performed at The Cotton Club.[11]
Renn Woods, a member of the singing group Sunday's Child who initially began their career playing in the Cotton Club. Woods went on to play in films such as The Wiz.[12]
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See also

References
  1. Rand, Jessica. "Paul Knauls". www.opb.org. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  2. "Boise Voices". boisevoices.com. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  3. "Angler Draws Strength from the Willamette River". web.archive.org. 2005-04-04. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  4. "PortlandTribune.com | Albina stop has a storied history". web.archive.org. 2005-05-23. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  5. Gies, Martha. "Paul and Geneva Knauls".
  6. "PortlandTribune.com | Albina stop has a storied history". web.archive.org. 2005-05-23. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  7. "Night School #200: Paul Knauls, Sr". 20 July 2018.
  8. Libby, Brian (11 March 2001). "N.E.'s Hometown Barber". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  9. "Paul Knauls". web.archive.org. 2001-01-19. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  10. Eggers, Kerry (6 July 2017). "IN CITY OF CHANGE, KNAULS REMAINS CONSTANT". Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  11. Singer, Matthew (2 June 2018). "WATCH: A Short Documentary On North Portland's Lost Jazz Scene". Willamette Week. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  12. "Night School #200: Paul Knauls, Sr. - Night School /// XRAY.fm". xray.fm. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  13. "Paul Knauls". opb. 24 August 2016.
  14. Silvis, Helen (23 February 2012). "From the Archives: NE Portland's 'Mayor' Ran Hot Night Spot". The Skanner.
  15. Singer, Matthew (2 June 2015). "WATCH: A Short Documentary On North Portland's Lost Jazz Scene". Willamette Weekly.

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