INTOWN EXTRA, FEBRUARYzyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaYWVUTSRPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA 7, 1985

The Royal Peacock was given birth in 1949 when a black businesswoman, Carrie "Mama" Cunningham, shown here, Neon signs tsrlifebaWSstill bill the Royal Peacock on Au- purchased what waa then the Top Hat Club from thtee black burn Avenue ae "Atlanta's Club Beautiful." businessmen and gave the club its present name. The current managers are trying to revive the Group tries to revive once-popular Royal Peacock club Blayton, 60, who also served as Bland, Jimmy Reed, Brook Benton, Ambassadors, Riggins "Red " McAl- when programs at the club will be lister and his band, Levi Mann and By Pete Scott held to support youth programs in bookkeeper for the club. Arthur Prysock, Chuck Willis, the Staff Writer "We had a regular chorus line Isley Brothers, Temptations, Su- his band, Lawrence Walker, Chick the nearby Grady Homes public Webb and his band, and Tiny Brad- housing complex. with several local bands. Most of premes, Spinners, Dells, Four Tops, The Royal Peacock, billed as the girls in the chorus line had the Miracles, Gladys Knight and the shaw and his band. "Atlanta's club beautiful," once was Braswell added that with the The Peacock, at 185% Auburn, help of promoter Smith, his group high yellow or mulatto appearance." Pips and many others, the Peacock the show place of Auburn Avenue. With performing artists such as helped bolster Auburn Avenue's just off Piedmont Avenue, is a far Before that, when it was known as hopes to bring in live entertainment cry from the glitter of days gone and have talent shows and dances to Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Oscar glamour. the Top Hat Club, it was Atlanta's Peterson, Harry Belafonte, Dinah In addition to artists who have by. In fact, its appeal is more in version of New York's famed Cotton bring night entertainment back to nostalgia now than in appearance, Auburn Avenue. Washington, , Bill Dog- since gained national fame, the club Club. gett, The Platters, Ella Fitzgerald, was a major showplace for such tal- although it still has its colorful silk "It was one of the most beauti- "In my teenage days, during the paneling and walls filled with late 50s and early 60s, Jackie Wil- Sarah Vaughn, , Jackie ented big bands as Ralph Mays and ful clubs in. the United States for Wilson, , Bobby Blue the Troubadors, Levi Mann and the mirrors. blacks during its time," said Benny son, Solomon Burke, Smith, the club's present show pro- and all the top entertainers were at moter . the Peacock," noted Braswell. But with the end of segregation Already, the club has seen some and the acceptance of blacks at oth- success. Some 1,000 fans of the Pea- er establishments, the club began to cock showed up for three shows last decline about the same time that October during a fall special event. Auburn Avenue began to lose its Then, 1,200 people came to three status as one of the two most pros- days of entertainment last April perous black business districts during a Parade of Georgia Stars Now, the Peacock's newest man- tribute. , agers are trying to revive the once- On Feb. 10, the Peacock will popular night spot. The Men of host a pre-V-'entine Sweetheart Style, an eight year old private so- Ball featuring The Tarns, who were cial club composed of cabbies, Na- all born and raised in the Auburn than Watley, Robert Jack, James Avenue area of Atlanta. With tick- Lindsey, Bob Grier, James Terrell, ets at $7 each, the show has almost Charlie Greshman, Plad Wallace been sold out, according to Smith. and George Braswell, hope to re- The Royal Peacock was given store the club to its original birth in the 1949 when a black busi- prominence. nesswoman, Carrie "Mama" Cun- "Most of our members are from ningham purchased what was then the Old Fourth Ward and they want the Top Hat Club from three black to see the club survive," said Bras- businessmen - L. D. Milton, well, a spokesman for the group. Creighton R. Yates, J. D. Blayton "The main thing is we're trying to Sr. - and gave the club its present bring Auburn Avenue back to life. name. Five of us were raised in the area When the Royal Peacock was and know all about the Peacock for called the Top Hat, the idea for it night entertainment." was to be the Atlanta version of the Braswell said when his club ac- Cotton Club in New York, according quired i three-year lease on the to Jesse Blayton Jr., son of one of club, the idea behind the move was the late owners. to make a place available for the "We had all black entertainers and on certain nights blacks came club to have its functions at a rea- James Terrell and Charles Gresham restock P«nellng and wane tinea w.«n m.rrur.. to,.n sonable price. Braswell said his and certain nights white came. We the bar In the club which has colorful eilk photo — Steve Deal) group also plans to have nights never had mixed audiences," said