Cafe Au Go Go facts for kids

The Cafe Au Go Go was a famous Greenwich Village night club in New York City. It was located at 152 Bleecker Street in Manhattan. The club was in the basement of the New Andy Warhol Garrick Theatre building. It opened in February 1964 and closed in December 1970. Many different musical groups, folk singers, and comedy acts performed there. Howard Solomon first owned the club. He sold it to Moses Baruch in June 1969.

A Hub for Music and Comedy

The Cafe Au Go Go was a very important place for music and comedy in New York City. It was the first New York venue where the Grateful Dead played. Many famous artists performed there.

Legendary Musicians at the Cafe Au Go Go

• Richie Havens and the Blues Project played there every week.
• The Stone Poneys, with Linda Ronstadt, often performed.
• The Grateful Dead played many times in 1967 and 1969.
• Jimi Hendrix even joined blues harp player James Cotton on stage in 1968.
• Other big names included Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, and The Doors.
• Famous blues artists like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker also played at the club.
• Before rock music took over, the Cafe Au Go Go was known for jazz (like Bill Evans and Stan Getz) and folk music.

Comedy Stars and Controversy

The club also hosted top comedians. Lenny Bruce and George Carlin often performed there. Their acts were sometimes controversial.

Lenny Bruce's Legal Challenges

In 1964, comedian Lenny Bruce and the club's owner, Howard Solomon, faced legal issues. This happened after Bruce's performances. Undercover police officers were in the audience. Bruce and Solomon were arrested because of the content of his act.

A group of three judges oversaw Bruce's trial. Both Bruce and Solomon were found responsible for the charges in November 1964. Many famous artists and writers supported them. These included Woody Allen, Bob Dylan, and James Baldwin. Bruce was sentenced to four months, but he was released on bail while he appealed. He passed away before his appeal was decided.

Later, Solomon's conviction was overturned. Bruce's conviction was also reversed after his death. In 2003, 37 years after he died, New York Governor George Pataki officially pardoned Lenny Bruce. This was the first time a pardon was given after someone had passed away in New York state. Governor Pataki said it showed New York's support for free speech.

George Carlin's Impact

Even after Lenny Bruce faced legal troubles, George Carlin continued to perform his unique comedy. Carlin also had his own legal issues later on. Both Lenny Bruce and George Carlin were very important stand-up comedians. They influenced many others and helped shape modern comedy.

The Au Go Go Singers

In 1964, Howard Solomon created a group called the Au Go Go Singers. He wanted them to be popular like another group across the street. Solomon managed them until they broke up in 1965.

The Au Go Go Singers included talented people like Kathy King, Jean Gurney, and Michael Scott. Two members, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, later became very famous.

The Company and Buffalo Springfield

After the Au Go Go Singers, a new folk/rock group called The Company was formed. It included some former Au Go Go Singers members and Stephen Stills. The group went on a tour in Canada. There, they met a local musician named Neil Young.

Less than a year later, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Richie Furay, and others formed the legendary band Buffalo Springfield. This shows how the Cafe Au Go Go was a place where future music stars met and started their careers.

When the Cafe Au Go Go finally closed, Stephen Stills, who was by then very famous, was a featured performer at the closing event.

What's There Now?

The Cafe Au Go Go building and the New Andy Warhol Garrick Theatre were torn down in the 1970s. Today, at 152 Bleecker Street, there is an apartment building. A Capital One Bank branch is on the ground floor.