Happy Hollow
This legendary roadhouse, located at 1691 Rice Street at Wheelock Parkway, was just beyond the St. Paul city limits. It had at least three interesting iterations. The last two in the list below were either in the building or nearby.
HAPPY HOLLOW
The Happy Hollow Cafe was a jazz joint, with musicians like Lester Young, Percy Hughes, and Rook Ganz performing there. Although there is some doubt that Kid Cann had a presence outside of Minneapolis, others city Happy Hollow as one of his hangouts. In the 1930s it was owned by the Netto Sisters, and Marjorie Netto was said to be a “paramour” of Kid Cann. In November 1945 Proprietor Robert Wesley was arrested for selling liquor without a license. He pleaded guilty to two charges and was fined $100 and court costs. He was also fined $50 for selling cigarettes without a license. At the time of the raid (2 am) there were 35 patrons in the place.
THE ROCHESTER
This may not have lasted very long, but was called this in September 1946.
TREASURE INN
Lost Twin Cities II has a segment on the Treasure Inn jazz club. It opened on November 2, 1946, and existed for two and a half years. It was owned by three African-American entrepreneurs: Richard Mann, Claude Mason, and Howard Brown. A matchbook advertised its “Hot Sepia Dance Music.” It featured black musicians such as Lester Young, Oscar Pettiford, Percy Hughes, and Prince Rogers, and drew white college kids as well blacks.
A great ad reads “Whamp! Dig this Nervous Opening! Percy Hughes and his great dance band. Let’s Rock! Rock! Rock! Let’s Dance! Dance! Dance! Let’s Go! Go! Go! Real Cool and Crazy!” The dancing got so cool and crazy that the “nervous” owners had to shore up the floor to keep it from falling into the basement.
Leigh Kamman broadcast live shows from the Treasure Inn on his “We Call it Jazz” show, Sundays at 9pm on WLOL.
A contributor to its demise was a fatal shooting on February 13, 1949. Two men were arguing over a $2 debt when one pulled a gun. A third man tried to get the gun away, and ended up with five bullets. During his trial, Inman Nealie pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years in the St. Cloud Reformatory. This was the last listing for the Treasure Inn.
Minnesota Daily. Ad courtesy Robb Henry
There were other St. Paul clubs that were described to be in the same general vicinity:
FLYING DUTCHMAN
The Flying Dutchman was described in November 1935 as being “Out Rice Street Near Wheelock Parkway, One Block Outside City Limits.”
PEARL INN
In November 1935 there was an ad for a dance at the Pearl Inn, “One block off Wheelock Parkway.”
Note that Swing City was across the street at 1682 Rice Street.