Flamingo Club
There were lots of places in the Twin Cities that were called the Flamingo, so it seems. I’ll put them all on this page.
665 UNIVERSITY AVE., ST. PAUL
A search for this address reveals that it was the home of Fredrick J. McGhee. At the turn of the last century, McGhee was one of Minnesota’s most prominent trial lawyers.
McGhee was born in Mississippi slaves’ quarters in 1861, just months after the Civil War broke out. He and his family made their way to Knoxville, Tennessee, after the war, where Fredrick graduated from college. He then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a waiter to pay his way through law school. In 1889 he settled in St. Paul, where he became the first African American admitted to practice law in Minnesota.
In St. Paul he became involved in national politics, first as a Republican and then as a Democrat. In 1905 he was one of a group of 32 men, led by W. E. B. Du Bois, who founded the Niagara Movement, which called for full civil liberties and an end to racial discrimination. The Niagara Movement was the catalyst for the 1909 founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). McGhee founded Minnesota’s first NAACP chapter.
Mrs. McGhee was also a force in St. Paul. The Adelphai, a black women’s organization, formed in October 1900 with the goal of uplifting of the colored race. In March 1901 the group met at the McGhee house to form the St. Paul Chapter of the National Association of Colored Women.
665 University Ave. in 1918. Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
THE RED FEATHER
The building – or at least the address – became the Red Feather Buffet – evidence appears from September 1941 to November 1960.
December 30, 1947
January 20, 1959
THE FLAMINGO
The Flamingo was at this address in about 1962 to 1965. In 1963 the proprietor was Frank Fabio. Ads for waitresses at this private club (all the rage then) in August 1962 required that applicants had to “be able to wear short costumes.” In April 1965 the owner was listed as Joseph Arrigoni, Jr. In September 1965, John J. Anzevino, Jr. was listed as a former owner.
April 1, 1964
Bo Diddley (and the Dutchess) were also entertainers at the Flamingo.
THE HAREM CLUB
In the basement was the Harem Club, according to an article in April 1963.
This apparently morphed into the Black Bottom Club, a private club (Facebook Fact).
ANOKA
A different Flamingo Club was located on Highway 8 and Woodland Road in Anoka County. It opened at the beginning of February 1954. Thomas Zielen was named as the owner in March 1954.
FLAMINGOS NIGHT CLUB
This was a club in the Airport Hilton, located at 3800 E. 80th Street in Bloomington.