Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill takes place at a seedy bar in South Philadelphia that would have been listed in the “Green Book,” a travel guide that told Black travelers about safe places to visit and stay. Philadelphia held unique significance for Black performers and the broader African American community, and was featured prominently in the Green Book. As one of the nation’s largest northern cities during the Great Migration, Philadelphia became a hub for Black culture, intellect, and activism.

On a smaller scale, Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, often called the “Harlem of the West, became a thriving Black cultural district in the 1940s and 1950s. By 1920, more than 90% of the Black population of Denver resided in Five Points. While outright segregation was against the law in Colorado, it was understood that Black people would not be served at certain institutions. Similarly, Black musicians found themselves able to play at certain hotels, but they couldn’t stay there. 

Venues and hotels started popping up on Welton Street, earning it the nickname “The Welton Strip.” Places like the Rice Confectionary and Ice Cream Parlour were some of the first to offer live jazz music. 

Built in 1912 and located in the heart of Five Points, the Rossonian Hotel welcomed Black entertainers who were barred from downtown Denver hotels due to segregation. Because of the neighborhood’s more inclusive attitude, jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, and even Billie Holiday herself came to the area to perform. 

After watching these musicians perform, it was popular for audiences to go across the street afterward to dance at the Casino Ballroom on their beautiful wooden dance floor. This building still sees people dancing in it every night under its current name Ceravantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom.

More in this series:

• The United States vs. Billie Holiday
• Billie Holiday's Legacy