1206 E. 11TH ST.

FORMER LOCATION OF: CHARLIE’S PLAYHOUSE

HEYDAY: THE ’60S

“All the great blues players of the era played Charlie’s — Bobby Blue Bland, B.B. King, Albert Collins — it was steady. When they didn’t have any big-name bands from out of town, they’d have someone good locally, like Blues Boy Hubbard. This was where it was happening, because you not only had Charlie’s, but you had the I.L. Lounge right next door, then across the street was the Derby Lounge and next to that was the Elk’s Club. Then there was the Victory Grill a block away. Man, it was always jumpin.

“The thing that was different about Charlie’s was Charlie. He ran a tight ship. You never saw a fight, because if things looked like they might get out of hand, Charlie would take care of it. He always welcomed white people, too. At some places back then, some white folks might’ve been a little hesitant to go inside, but Charlie would be at the door saying, `Come on in!’ If you were coming to hear some blues or some jazz, you were all right by Charlie.”

TESTIMONY FROM: Oscar Fresh Jr., who owns an auto cleaning business across the street from the site of Charlie’s.