Historical Note: Stanley's Tavern(s), Pittsburgh, PA

New Stanley's Lounge, Pittsburgh, PA

The New Stanley's Lounge, still operating at 7403 Frankstown Ave, in Pittsburgh's North Homewood neighborhood, was established by Stanley McDonald Williams in the mid 1950s. Sorting out the history of Williams and his bars presented some initial confusion, as not only were there mutiple concurrent Stanley's Taverns in the city, and not only were there both multiple William Stanleys and multiple Stanley Williams in the city, but city guides often listed him as "Wm. Stanley" or "Stanley McWilliams. His name was often listed as "Stanley McD Williams," perhaps as a necessary distinction. Nevertheless, after sorting out the mistakes in these primary sources, it quickly becomes clear that Williams was a remarkable businessman, and while they may not be as large or famous as clubs like the Crawford Grills, for some time his places were some of the most happening joints in the city. 

Stanley's Tavern, Pittsburgh, PA - 1941
Teenie Harris photo via Carnegie Museum

Before he started opening nightclubs soon after the repeal of prohibition, while just in his 20s, Stanley Williams was already a big success in business, and widely respected in the community for his business acumen. He described his background briefly in a 1950 letter to the editor in the Pittsburgh Courier: ""I myself am a native of Barbados, came here for economic advancement and have become a fairly successful businessman in the city of Pittsburgh." A 1926 article in the same paper described the "Patterson and Williams" department store in which he partnered as an immediate success. By 1930, he is hosting an elaborate birthday party for his wife Syvella, whom local papers referred to with terms like "beauteous" and "charming but aggressive," and gifting her a "straight 8 Packard sedan in two-tone brown," while an orchestra played for a large number of guests in their much admired house. 

The original Stanley's Tavern
Teenie Harris photo via the Carnegie Museum

Williams was very involved in a wide range of social events and organizations promoting black businsesses. Among these he was a member of Pittsburgh's "Frog Club," a group with which I am unfamiliar, but which had enough clout to attract Duke Ellington and his orchestra to their annual "Frog Week" activities in 1953. 

 In early 1933 he would open his first nightclub, and his and Syvella's activities would be regularly featured in the news and nightclub gossip columns of the Pittsburgh Courier for the next couple decades (although with a wide variety of spellings of Syvella's name, at least when they strayed from the conventional "Mrs. Stanley Williams"). On April 17th of that year he would open the doors of "Stanley's Inn" to considerable excitement. The Courier called it a "real hotcha spot" with a "floor show, hot and peppery!" and noting "the proprietor is young progressive Stanley Williams whose business acumen is not news to patrons of local race enterprises." 

The 2nd Stanley's Tavern
Teenie Harris photo via Carnegie Museum

For whatever reason, a year and a half later the space would be taken over by Arthur Brown's Ambassador Club. Williams does not seem to appear on the nightlife scene again until May of 1939, when he would host another Grand Opening in the same location, this time with Jesse Owens in attendance. This would become Williams' most renowned club, even while he opened a second location on the opposite end of the same block, managed by his brother Charlie. 

Williams repeatedly closed for remodeling and upgrades of the facility. E.g. in 1941 he added the latest air conditioning system, making it "the only race beer garden in this area with an air-conditioning system."

Stanley's was packed even when there was no music playing, but there's no question the music was an attraction. This was especially true on Wednesday nights, when DJ Mary Dee was in the house. "Mary Dudley (born Mary Elizabeth Goode; April 8, 1912 – March 17, 1964), known as Mary Dee, was an American disc jockey who is widely considered the first African-American woman disc jockey in the United States" and (wikipedia)  The Nov 4, 1950 Pittsburgh Courier reported that "Station WHOD's queen of the platter pushers has kept entertainment moving for two years at Stanley's Lounge on Wednesday celebrity nights.... In two short years Mary Dee has made Wednesday the big night in town, with headquarters at Stanley's. Mary Dee has become a top goodwill ambassador and she's a real gone girl in every way."

Pittsburgh Courier, Oct 27, 1945

In 1952 the Courier would add, "Stanley's Lounge is one of the few places in Pittsburgh featuring live talent nightly in the underground bistro at Fullerton and Wylie. Cozy Harris presides over the piano, while Little Bea and Dannie Cobb take care of the vocal department. Mary Dee of Station WHOD pulls the mob with her talent shows on Wednesdays. Stanley Williams, the genial proprietor of the lounge, is making efforts to keep live talent going in the spot. There is no cover or minimum in the lounge at any time." Cozy Harris, playing piano and solovox, with Billy Climes on guitar would build a reputation for their unusual arrangements and "new sound" sessions. In 1954 columnist George F. Brown would ask "Is Stanley Williams planning something big for his lounge in Pittsburgh? Nice place that is a good showcase for trios and organs and singers. Right in the heart of things, too, and the place features three bars. Honest."

By 1953 Williams would have three clubs, a pool parlor, and a barber shop -- in addition to other business interests -- and employ 27 people. But there were some tragedies along the way. On April 3, 1949, a man named James Cannon, after arguing with Charles Williams in the 61 Fullerton Street club, shot Stanley's brother three times. Charles would die in the hospital on April 22, and the killer remained on the lam for two years before being identified after an arrest in Cleveland. Then in November 1952, another Stanley's night manager named Mario Squire, collapesed after being stuck in the chest with a beer bottle while trying to stop a fight. Finally, Syvella and Stanley would go through what appears to be a rancorous divorce, with Stanley repeatedly going to court to try and reduce his alimony payments as his business profits purportedly declined.

They Wylie block locations would eventually face inevitable extinction via a large, imminent urban redevelopment project, one that would widen streets and add a Civic Arena that would attract an NHL team, but that would also wipe out multiple churches, jazz clubs, restaurants and neighborhoods, ultimately displacing over 8,000 residents and 400 businesses. Williams was rumored to be negotiating a new location in 1954, but when asked about it elided the issue by responding, "The only thing I am interested in is building up my five-cent deal from seven until five every day and introducing Pennsylvania Dutch Beer for five cents less than popular brews. Other than that, you can tell the world, I am not negotiating."

The New Stanley's Lounge, 1958
Teenie Harris photo 

Williams sold the old clubs to the city in 1957 and opened the "New Stanley's Lounge" in its current location in July 1958. He still featured music, such as "The Fabulous Four." He operated the bar until he passed away in 1977. In April 1980 his estate sold the bar to Fred C. Johnson.

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