The Shim Sham Club was a short-lived jazz and swing club located at 37 Wardour Street in
Soho, London
SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall (SoHo), and ha ...
, United Kingdom. Established in March 1935 by the Black American singer
Ike Hatch and the Jewish businessman Jack Isow. The club quickly became known as a vibrant and inclusive venue, particularly famous for its diverse clientele that included Black, Jewish and
LGBTQ+
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The group i ...
patrons. This atmosphere made it a significant part of London's multicultural and artistic community during the 1930s.
History
The Shim Sham Club was named after the "
Shim Sham
The Shim Sham Shimmy, Shim Sham or just Sham originally is a particular tap dance routine and is regarded as tap dance's national anthem. For today's swing (dance), swing dancers, it is a line dance.
History
In the late 1920s, when Leonard Reed ...
", a popular dance routine originating from Harlem, which underscored its cultural roots in African-American traditions. It hosted performances by notable jazz musicians of the era, contributing significantly to
London's jazz scene. Operating as a
bottle club to avoid licensing restrictions on drinking and dancing, the Shim Sham was described as "London's miniature Harlem", highlighting its influence and the lively,
speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a beer flat or blind pig or blind tiger, was an illicit establishment that sold alcoholic beverages. The term may also refer to a retro style bar that replicates aspects of historical speakeasies.
In the United State ...
-style atmosphere it provided.
It was, says Dave Haslam, "noisy, tough and interracial".
[Dave Haslam. ]
Life After Dark: A History of British Nightclubs and Music Venues
' (2015)
Jazz musicians who appeared at the club included
George 'Happy' Blake,
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...
,
Nat Gonella
Nathaniel Charles Gonella (7 March 1908 – 6 August 1998) was an English jazz trumpeter, bandleader, vocalist, and mellophone, mellophonist. He founded the big band The Georgians (Nat Gonella), The Georgians, during the British dance band era ...
,
Ivor Mairants
Ivor Mairants (18 July 1908 – 20 February 1998) was a Polish jazz and classical guitarist, teacher and composer. With his wife Lily Schneider in 1958 he created the Ivor Mairants Musicentre, a specialist guitar store in London.
Early years
...
,
Fats Waller
Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and singer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz piano. A widely popular star ...
and
Garland Wilson, who was leader of the resident band by late 1936.
['African Stories in Hull and East Yorkshire Project: Laureen Sylvestre']
in ''Black Chick Media'', 16 October 2018
Among those who frequented the club were
Edwina Mountbatten, Italian boxer
Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera (; 26 October 1906 – 29 June 1967) was an Italian professional boxer and wrestler who achieved international fame during the 1930s. He reigned as the boxing World Heavyweight Champion from 29 June 1933 to 14 June 1934. He won ...
, journalist and politician
Tom Driberg
Thomas Edward Neil Driberg, Baron Bradwell (22 May 1905 – 12 August 1976) was a British journalist, politician, High Anglican churchman and possible Soviet spy, who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1942 to 1955, and again from 1 ...
and composer
Constant Lambert
Leonard Constant Lambert (23 August 190521 August 1951) was a British composer, conductor, and author. He was the founding music director of the Royal Ballet, and (alongside Dame Ninette de Valois and Sir Frederick Ashton) he was a major figu ...
.
[ Lambert met Laureen Sylvestre there while she was working as a dancer and cigarette girl, and in 1945 became godfather to her daughter, Cleo Sylvestre.
]
Cultural Impact
The Shim Sham Club was more than just a music venue. Along with other black clubs that gained popularity in 1930's Soho - such as the Nest, Smokey Joe's and the Jig's Club - it acted as a social hub, helping to break down racial and social barriers. By attracting a mixed-race audience and allowing for an open and relaxed atmosphere where Black, Jewish and LGBTQ+ patrons could socialise freely, these clubs stood out in an era of racial and social segregation.[
This inclusivity also made it a target for police raids due to its unlicensed status and the presence of marginalised groups.][Amy Helen Bell]
''Under Cover of Darkness: Murders in Blackout London''
(2024), p.80-90
Legacy
Although the exact date of the Shim Sham Club's closure is unknown, its legacy in London's cultural history was considerable. The club played a crucial role in establishing Soho as a centre for artistic and cultural diversity, paving the way for the future generations of jazz clubs and music venues in the area, such as Frisco's (off Piccadilly) and Bouillabaisse (in New Compton Street).
See also
* LGBT history in the United Kingdom
* List of jazz venues
References
Jazz clubs in London
Music venues in London
1935 establishments in England
Soho, London
LGBTQ history in the United Kingdom
{{coord missing, London