The Cotton Club

This black and white photograph captures the exterior of the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City. The bright neon sign illuminates the bustling street below, where rows of vintage cars line the curb and patrons gather outside. The glowing marquee, reading “Dinner $1.50 – Never a Cover Charge,” evokes the height of the Jazz Age, when the club was a hub of glamour, music, and nightlife.

The Cotton Club was one of the most famous nightclubs of the Prohibition era, known for its lavish shows and legendary jazz performances. Operating primarily during the 1920s and 1930s, it featured groundbreaking artists such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Louis Armstrong. Though its audience was largely white, the club played a vital role in showcasing Black talent and shaping the cultural legacy of the Harlem Renaissance.