Jimmy Ryan's


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. It was a popular venue for Dixieland jazz.

History

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. The club was owned by partners Matthew C. Walsh and Jimmy Ryan. Walsh, Ryan's brother-in-law, continued ownership following the death of Ryan in July 1963 at the French Hospital. Gilbert J. Pincus — 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."

Jazz style

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.

Performing artists

Resident musicians from the 1940s
Sunday jam sessions, organized and managed by Milt Gabler