| Jimmy Ryan's | |
| City: | New York City, New York State |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | Jazz club |
Jimmy Ryan's was a jazz club in New York City, USA, located at 53 West 52nd Street from 1934 to 1962 and 154 West 54th Street from 1962–1983.[1] It was a venue for performances of Dixieland jazz.[2]
The location at 52nd Street was one of a row of brownstones with clubs operating in basements. As the last surviving jazz club on 52nd Street, its brownstone - along with all the other brownstones on the north side of the street - were demolished in 1962 to make way for construction of the new CBS Building. CBS had given Jimmy Ryan $9,000 to relocate.[3] [4] The club was owned by partners Matthew C. (Matty) Walsh (1914–2006) and Jimmy Ryan (1911–1963). Walsh, Ryan's brother-in-law, continued ownership following Ryan's death in July 1963 at the French Hospital. Gilbert J. Pincus (1907–1980) - who served as doorman from 1942 to 1962 at the original location and from about 1963 until his death in 1980 - became known as the "Mayor of 52nd Street."[5] [6] [7]
During the 1940s, three New York nightclubs stood out as centers for traditional style jazz: Jimmy Ryan's, Nick's in Greenwich Village, and Eddie Condon's just a few blocks away.[8]
Resident musicians from the 1940s
Sunday jam sessions, organized and managed by Milt Gabler
Max Kaminsky, Conrad Janis, Davis Quinn, Joe Henshaw, Zutty Singleton