Paul's Mall

Two clubs, side by side, provided Boston, MA, with some of the best jazz and blues available in the U.S., Paul's Mall and the Jazz Workshop, Boston. One set of stairs on Boylston Street led down to both clubs. Cannonball Adderly, Mose Allison, Elvin Jones, The Fabulous Thunderbirds -- they all played there. Groove Holmes and Jimmy McGriff recorded a live album there. One evening after his outdoor show at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, B.B. King went to hear James Cotton, who was at Paul's Mall. Paul Butterfield showed up, too. B.B. and Butterfield joined Cotton on the stage of Paul's Mall. When these clubs prepared to shut their doors (1978) it was B.B. King who played the last date at Paul's Mall. Also billed was Dee D Bridgewater. Next door Milt Jackson and The Ray Santisi Trio headlined the last shows at The Jazz Workshop. Now the the third door went to Cinema 733, a cinema which last showed Looking For Mr. Goodbar starring Diane Keaton and Richard Gere. (The film showing at the time the photo in this profile was shot was "Murders in the Rue Morgue" which premiered in September 1971).