Gaslight Square, St. Louis
This article possibly contains original research. (March 2011) |
Gaslight Square in
History
Gaslight Square was the name given to the entertainment district built in the mid-1950s. The district was known for its
Brothers Dick and Paul Mutrux are considered by many to be the pioneers of Gaslight Square, being proprietors of one of the first
The district was greatly affected by the dramatic change in
Many entertainers such as
Traditional jazz clubs in Gaslight Square included Peacock Alley and Opera House.[6] Modern jazz clubs included the Dark Side.[6] Rosalie Lovett's Left Bank featured barrelhouse bluesman James Crutchfield.[7]
By the late 1960s, Gaslight Square had lost its luster, falling victim to the rapid growth of
" of that era.Gaslight Square was the location of the studios of KDNA, an early community radio station with a countercultural ethos which played music, poetry and spoken word, interviewed musicians, poets, and artists, and ran anti-war and leftist political content. It was a predecessor to the community radio music station KDHX.
Today
Many of Gaslight Square's gas lamps were sold to Six Flags during the construction of Six Flags St. Louis in the late 1960s, for use in the park's Missouri section (now 1904 World's Fair). Most of them are still in use.
By the late 1990s, most of the buildings were long gone; those that remained stood open and rapidly deteriorating.[1] For the 20–30 years, the district was almost completely vacant, with many empty lots and the remaining building dilapidated and empty.
In 2005, many properties within Gaslight Square were bought by the development company RJK Inc. 150 units were planned, mostly
Some of the significant architectural elements from Gaslight Square were preserved by the National Building Arts Center in the Metro East area of Greater St. Louis.
William Roth, actor and entrepreneur, keeps Gaslight Square alive with his Gaslight Theater (gaslighttheater.net - home of his St. Louis Actors' Studio (stlas.org)) and adjacent eatery, The West End Grill and Pub just down the street on Boyle. Just down the street at 364 North Boyle, entrepreneur Jim Dolan operates the Blue Strawberry Showroom and Lounge,[12] which features live music, comedy, magic, and other entertainment, including open mic nights for singers.
There is a small memorial at the intersection of Olive and Boyle, featuring some decorative columns like those that used to be on the street and a wall with a stone plaque with names of people and establishments from Gaslight Square's past, topped with a few sections of modest cornices of former buildings from the district.
Media
During the area's heyday, a 1962 episode of the American TV drama Route 66 was set and filmed inside The Darkside jazz club in Gaslight Square. The episode was entitled "Hey Moth, Come Eat the Flame".
Two documentaries were produced about Gaslight Square in the early 2000s. Gaslight Square: The Forgotten Landmark (Bruce Marren/2002) explores the history by the people who developed the area. It includes interviews with the Smothers Brothers, Jay Landesman,[13] Bob Kuban, and many others.
Gaslight Square: The Legend Lives On (Bruce Marren/2005) looks at the influence it had on the city, uncovers relics, and what has happened to it today. It includes interviews with Phyllis Diller, Billy Peek, Jonnie King, and many others.
See also
- Laclede Gas Company, the local utility company, founded as a provider of gas light
- Streetcars in St. Louis, streetcar service ran through Gaslight Square
References
- ^ a b Powers, Rob. "The North Side: Fountain Park/Gaslight Square". Built St. Louis. Retrieved May 23, 2008.
- ^ a b "Central West End - Neighborhoods - Gaslight Square". City of St. Louis. Retrieved May 23, 2008.
- ^ "The City: No Squares on the Square". Time. May 18, 1962. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ^ a b "Intro2". Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
- ^ Gregg Allman, My Cross the Bear, William Morrow and Company, 2012,
- ^ a b Owsley, Dennis (2006). City of Gabriels.
- The Riverfront Times. April 3, 2002.
- ^ "Vanishing STL: Gaslight Square - Part One". Vanishingstl.blogspot.com. November 24, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ Terry, John (May 1, 2005). "150 residential units in the works at Gaslight Square". Stlouis.bizjournals.com.
- ^ "Gaslight Square East-Rolwes Homes | New Single Family Homes in Saint Louis MO from $280,000". Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Blue Strawberry". Bluestrawberrystl.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ "Jay Landesman Papers, 1937-1997". University of Missouri–St. Louis. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
External links
- Gaslight Square.Org
- Central West End Landmark
- "Gaslight Square photographs". University of Missouri–St. Louis.
- KETC Living St. Louis Gaslight Square a video piece about Gaslight Square assembled by local PBS station KETC