The Bitter End facts for kids

The Bitter End, a famous music club

The awning of The Bitter End

The Bitter End became a New York City landmark in 1992

The Bitter End is a famous music club in New York City. It's located in an area called Greenwich Village. This club can hold about 230 people. It started in 1961 as a place for folk music and a coffeehouse. Over the years, it became known for rock music too. Many famous musicians and comedians performed here when they were just starting out. The club was briefly called The Other End in the 1970s, but its original name, The Bitter End, was brought back. It's still open today!

History of The Bitter End

Before The Bitter End opened, another club called The Cock and Bull was in the same spot. It had a similar style in the late 1950s. A poet and comedian named Hugh Romney (who later became known as Wavy Gravy) even performed there.

The Bitter End first opened its doors in 1961. It is thought to be New York's oldest rock club. It became very famous for showing young performers. Stars like Joni Mitchell and James Taylor played there. Famous comedians such as Woody Allen and Billy Crystal also got their start at the club. Around 1961, music legend Bob Dylan would visit The Bitter End. He would play pool, watch shows, and sometimes even perform.

Famous Performers and Events

In the early 1960s, the club held "hootenannies" every Tuesday night. A hootenanny is a casual gathering where folk musicians play and sing together. Many performers who are now legends played at these events. The Bitter End became a place where many talented musicians, comedians, and actors performed.

Paul Colby became the manager and booking agent for The Bitter End in 1968. He had worked with many big names like Frank Sinatra before. In 1974, Paul Colby bought the club. He had two partners, Paul Rizzo and Ken Gorka. Paul Colby passed away in 2014, and Kenny Gorka passed away in 2015.

Some famous musicians had tough nights at the club. Paul Colby said that James Taylor and Neil Young didn't do well when they played there in the late 1960s. In the mid-1970s, The Bitter End was known as the starting point for Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. This was a big tour with many famous musicians like Joni Mitchell, Roger McGuinn, and Joan Baez.

Landmark Status

The city of New York recognized The Bitter End as a landmark in 1992. This means it's a special place with historical importance. Also in 1992, the club faced a problem when its landlord tried to make them leave. But famous artists like Peter, Paul and Mary, Kris Kristofferson, and George Carlin held special concerts to help save the club.

More recently, Lady Gaga performed at The Bitter End in October 2016. She had performed there before she became famous. Her 2016 show was part of her Dive Bar Tour.

Live Albums Recorded

Many musical albums have been recorded live at The Bitter End. This shows how important the club has been in music history. Some of the artists who recorded albums there include:

• Biff Rose
• Peter, Paul and Mary
• Randy Newman
• Curtis Mayfield
• Donny Hathaway
• Arlo Guthrie
• Pete Seeger
• Tom Paxton
• The Isley Brothers
• Tommy James & the Shondells
• The Chad Mitchell Trio
• Bill Haley & His Comets

Comedy albums were also recorded there. These include Bill Cosby's first album, Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right!, and comedian Chris Rush's album, Beaming In.

Comedians Who Performed

These comedians appeared at The Bitter End early in their careers, before they became widely famous:

Musicians Who Performed

Many famous musicians played at The Bitter End, often when they were just starting their careers. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: The Bitter End para niños

• Cafe Wha?
• Cafe Au Go Go
• The Gaslight Cafe
• Gerde's Folk City
• Filmore East