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- Jack Johnson opens Cafe Deluxe in 1920
- Jack Johnson gets the cafe taken from him by mob boss Owney Madden
- This establishment is no place for a negro, Ill be taking it
- The cotton club becomes the best entertainment spit, given its reputation for putting everyone's work out there.
- Jack Johnson opened this cafe to be a known spot for relaxation, and for live entertainment. The name would soon be changed to The cotton club
- Club was decorated according to a plantation theme
- The Cotton Club was opened under the name Cafe DeLuxe in 1920 by Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight boxing champion in American history. Three years later, however, it was taken over by mob boss Owney Madden
- Duke Ellington on the come-up
- Our first gig, lets not mess this up!
- played a significant role in launching the careers of many Black performers. It also put new people who nobody every heard of on the map.
- The cotton club gave black musicians exposure to other industries
- Duke ellington and his band wins their first award!
- The Cotton Club was decorated according to a plantation theme, and performers were expected to play music that evoked a jungle. It was a whites-only venue, with a roster of Black musicians, comedians, dancers, and other artists performing every evening.
- Duke ellington performs with his band. This was initially the blow up of the club, as many took a liking. People were coming from all over to support his music. This also led to many other musicians to be put on the map.
- The Cotton Club and Ellington’s Orchestra gained national notoriety through weekly broadcasts on radio station when some of which were recorded and released on albums.
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