Ada "Bricktop" Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ada "Bricktop" Smith
Smith in 1934
Born	August 14, 1894 Alderson, West Virginia, U.S.
Died	February 1, 1984(1984-02-01) (aged 89) New York City, New York, U.S.
Other names	Ada DuCongé
Known for	Dancer, singer, vaudeville performer, nightclub owner

Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith (born August 14, 1894 – died February 1, 1984) was an amazing American performer. Everyone knew her as Bricktop because of her bright red hair. She was a talented dancer, a jazz singer, and a vaudeville star. She also owned famous nightclubs, including "Chez Bricktop" in Paris, France, from 1924 to 1961. She also had clubs in Mexico City and Rome. Many people say she was one of the most important and lasting figures in American culture during the 1900s.

Early Life and Her Famous Nickname

Ada Smith was born in Alderson, West Virginia. She was the youngest of four children. Her family moved to Chicago after her father passed away. This is where she spent most of her younger years.

It was in Chicago that she became interested in the exciting world of saloons and clubs. She got her famous nickname, "Bricktop," because of her fiery red hair and freckles. These features were inherited from her Irish-American grandfather.

Her Final Years

Bricktop passed away peacefully in her sleep in her Manhattan apartment in 1984. She was 89 years old. Even in her old age, she remained very active and loved talking to her friends. She is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York.

A Star on Stage

Starting Her Performance Career

Bricktop started performing when she was very young. By the time she was 16, she was already touring with big performance groups like TOBA and the Pantages vaudeville circuit. When she was 20, her tours brought her to New York City.

She was performing at Barron's Exclusive Club in Harlem. She helped a band called Elmer Snowden's Washingtonians get a booking there. One of the band members was the legendary Duke Ellington.

Bricktop was an excellent dancer. A famous story tells about her first meeting with the composer Cole Porter. He asked her if she could do the Charleston dance. When she showed him, he was amazed and said, "What legs! What legs!"

Nightlife in Paris

By 1924, Bricktop had moved to Paris, France. Cole Porter often hired her to entertain at his parties. She would teach his guests the newest dance crazes, like the Charleston and the Black Bottom.

When she was 28, she was invited to sing at a club in Montmartre called Le Grand Duc. This club was owned by Eugene Bullard. While working there, she became good friends with Langston Hughes. He was a poet who worked as a dishwasher and busboy at the time.

Bricktop was known for her signature cigars and was a central figure in Paris nightlife. Many famous people visited her club. These included Cole Porter, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald even mentioned her club in his short story "Babylon Revisited."

She also helped many talented artists become famous. These included Duke Ellington, Mabel Mercer, and Josephine Baker. Cole Porter wrote the song "Miss Otis Regrets" especially for her to perform. The famous musicians Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli even wrote a song called "Brick Top." They recorded it in Paris in 1937 and in Rome in 1949.

Bricktop continued to perform as a cabaret entertainer even when she was in her eighties. At 84, she had shows in London. She was still as professional and lively as ever. Her performances often included Cole Porter's song "Love for Sale."

Running Her Own Clubs

In Paris, Bricktop started managing the clubs where she performed. These included The Music Box and Le Grand Duc. Her next club was called "Chez Bricktop." In 1929, she moved it to a new location on rue Pigalle. A young Mabel Mercer, who later became a cabaret legend, was a main performer there.

During World War II, she closed Chez Bricktop and moved to Mexico City. She opened a new nightclub there in 1944.

In 1949, she returned to Europe and opened a club in Rome. It was called "Roman Chez Bricktop" and was on the Via Veneto. Many famous guests visited her club, including Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Shortly after moving to Rome, Bricktop became friends with King Farouk of Egypt. He would bring her gifts from his travels, like perfumes and cigars. Their friendship lasted for many years.

The writer John Steinbeck was once asked to leave her club for "ungentlemanly behavior." He later won her over by sending a taxi full of roses!

On Screen and Radio

Bricktop made a short appearance as herself in Woody Allen's 1983 film Zelig. She also appeared in the 1974 film Honeybaby, Honeybaby, playing herself running a club in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1972, she recorded the song "So Long Baby" with Cy Coleman.

She also recorded a few Cole Porter songs in New York City in the late 1970s. She preferred to be called a performer, not just a singer or dancer.

From 1938 to 1939, Bricktop had her own radio program in Paris. It was broadcast for the French government.

Giving Back

Bricktop was a dedicated member of the NAACP. This organization works for the rights of African Americans. She even traveled to their main office to give a large donation to support their work.

Her Own Story

Bricktop wrote her autobiography, Bricktop by Bricktop. She wrote it with the help of James Haskins, a writer who also wrote biographies of important figures like Thurgood Marshall and Rosa Parks. Her book was published in 1983.

Important Friendships

Bricktop had a professional relationship with the famous writer and poet Maya Angelou. Angelou wrote about working as a singer at Bricktop's club in her book Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas.

While in Rome, Bricktop became good friends with The Duke of Windsor. He had been a fan of hers since the 1930s. He visited her in Rome and they shared stories.

Bricktop closed her club and retired in 1961 when she was 67 years old. She said, "I'm tired, honey. Tired of staying up all night." After that, she moved back to the United States.

Her Lasting Impact

Bricktop had plans to create a movie about her life. Actresses like Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge were considered to play her. However, Bricktop preferred Pearl Bailey for the role. She felt Bailey "is more familiar with my life."

Bricktop's grave

Images for kids

• 

  Smith in 1934

• 

  Bricktop's grave