• Business
  • California
  • Climate & Environment
  • Entertainment & Arts
  • En Español
  • Food
  • Housing & Homelessness
  • Image
  • Lifestyle
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Travel & Experiences
  • World & Nation
  • All Sections
  • _________________
  • Newsletters
  • Photography
  • Podcasts
  • Video
  • _________________
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Archives
    • Company News
    • eNewspaper
    • For the Record
    • Got a Tip?
    • L.A. Times Careers
    • L.A. Times Store
    • L. A. Times Studios
    • News App: Apple IOS
    • News App: Google Play
    • Newsroom Directory
    • Public Affairs
    • Rights, Clearance & Permissions
    • Short Docs
    • About Us
    • Archives
    • Company News
    • eNewspaper
    • For the Record
    • Got a Tip?
    • L.A. Times Careers
    • L.A. Times Store
    • L. A. Times Studios
    • News App: Apple IOS
    • News App: Google Play
    • Newsroom Directory
    • Public Affairs
    • Rights, Clearance & Permissions
    • Short Docs
  • Advertising
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Coupons
    • People on the Move
    • Find/Post Jobs
    • Local Ads Marketplace
    • Media Kit: Why the L.A. Times?
    • Hot Property Sections
    • Place an Open House
    • Sotheby’s International Realty
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Coupons
    • People on the Move
    • Find/Post Jobs
    • Local Ads Marketplace
    • Media Kit: Why the L.A. Times?
    • Hot Property Sections
    • Place an Open House
    • Sotheby’s International Realty
  • Bestcovery
  • B2B Publishing
  • Business Visionaries
  • Hot Property
  • Crossword & Games
  • L.A. Times Events
  • L.A. Times Store
  • Subscriptions
    • Manage Subscription
    • EZPAY
    • Delivery Issue
    • eNewspaper
    • Students & Educators
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Terms
    • Gift Subscription Terms
    • Manage Subscription
    • EZPAY
    • Delivery Issue
    • eNewspaper
    • Students & Educators
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Terms
    • Gift Subscription Terms
  • Special Supplements
    • Best of the Southland
    • Healthy Living
    • Las Vegas Guide
    • Philanthropy
    • Best of the Southland
    • Healthy Living
    • Las Vegas Guide
    • Philanthropy
Copyright © 2023, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • California
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Food
  • Climate
  • Image
  • Opinion
  • |
  • Bestcovery
  • Coupons
  • Crossword
  • eNewspaper
In its heyday, the Dunbar Hotel was among the Central Avenue hot spots that featured some of the world’s best musicians.
21 Images

Looking back at historic Central Avenue, L.A.’s jazz oasis

From the 1920s to the 1950s, jazz clubs along Central Avenue in Los Angeles featured some of the world’s best musicians.

Dunbar Hotel

In its heyday, the Dunbar Hotel was among the Central Avenue hot spots, featuring some of the world’s best musicians. The hotel also served as a vital center for the African American community in South Los Angeles.  (File photo)

Dorothy Dandridge

Actress and chanteuse Dorothy Dandridge performs with the Count Basie Orchestra in Los Angeles, circa 1943.  (Shades of L.A. Collection )

Duke Ellington and Alice Key

Duke Ellington is joined by Alice Key as he performs at the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles in 1941.  (Herald-Examiner Photo Collection)

Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole, shown in an undated photo, was among the performers on Central Avenue.  (Los Angeles Public Library )

A photo hanging on a wall at the former Dunbar Hotel shows Billie Holiday performing there in the 1940s.

A photo hanging on a wall at the former Dunbar Hotel shows Billie Holiday performing there in the 1940s.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Jack Basket Room in Los Angeles

Performers at the Jack Basket Room in Los Angeles in 1949.   (CSUN collection)

Jelly Roll Morton

Early jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton played to full houses between 1917 and 1922 at the Cadillac Cafe on Central Avenue.  (File photo)

Charlie Parker and Miles Davis

Charlie Parker, left, shown performing with Miles Davis at an unspecified location, also was among the greats to appear on Central Avenue.  (Courtesy of Theatre Projects)

The Downbeat

Patrons at the Downbeat, circa 1941.  (Los Angeles Public Library )

Hotel Somerville

The Dunbar Hotel was called the Hotel Somerville when it opened in 1928.  (Los Angeles Public Library)

Club Alabam

An undated photo of a crowd at Club Alabam.  (Los Angeles Public Library)

Lincoln Theater

The Lincoln Theater, built around 1926, was one of the most elegant buildings on the Central Avenue corridor. Because it featured many of the same artists who performed at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, it became known as the “West Coast Apollo.”  (CSUN collection)

Lionel Hampton

Lionel Hampton and others outside Club Alabam.  (Shades of L.A. Collection)

Last Word

Patrons at the Last Word on Central Avenue in an undated photo.  (CSUN collection)

Gordon Sheppard

An undated photo of Gordon Sheppard, left, at his playhouse in Little Tokyo.  (Los Angeles Public Library)

Charlotta Bass

Charlotta Bass, center, former publisher and editor of the California Eagle, with staff members in an undated photo. The Eagle was California’s largest and most influential Black newspaper.   (Security Pacific National Bank Photo Collection)

Hattie McDaniel, Louise Beavers and others

Entertainers and their friends in Los Angeles, including actresses Louise Beavers, third from left, and Hattie McDaniel, second from right, circa 1948.  (Shades of L.A. Collection )

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Thelonious Monk

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then 19, with jazz legend Thelonious Monk.   (Courtesy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Gil Scott-Heron

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the wedding of jazz artist Gil Scott-Heron in 1978.   (Courtesy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

Dunbar Hotel in 2013

The Dunbar Hotel in 2013.  (Los Angeles Times)

Gerald Wilson and his orchestra

Gerald Wilson leads his orchestra at the Central Avenue Jazz Festival in 2009.  (Los Angeles Times)

1/21

Looking back at historic Central Avenue, L.A.’s jazz oasis

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print
Advertisement