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Vanished Venues: The Village Gate

Our series on concert halls and nightclubs from New York music history continues with a look at one of the city's great jazz temples: The Village Gate. We’ll talk with jazz historian and author Gary Giddins.

The Village Gate was a nightclub in Greenwich Village, located at the corner of Thompson and Bleecker Street
The Village Gate was a nightclub in Greenwich Village, located at the corner of Thompson and Bleecker Street (Courtesy Sharon Blythe/Remember The Village Gate Facebook Group.)
Art D'Lugoff (pictured on the right), opened the club in 1958, on the ground floor and basement of 158 Bleecker Street. With him in this photo is Albert Poland.
Art D'Lugoff (pictured on the right), opened the club in 1958, on the ground floor and basement of 158 Bleecker Street. With him in this photo is Albert Poland. (Courtesy Albert Poland/Remember The Village Gate Facebook Group.)
Over its 38 years, the club featured jazz greats, including Jon Faddis and Dizzy Gillespie, seen here in the 1970s.
Over its 38 years, the club featured jazz greats, including Jon Faddis and Dizzy Gillespie, seen here in the 1970s. (Courtesy Tom Marcello/ Remember The Village Gate Facebook Group)
Sarah Vaughn was one of the many jazz greats who performed at The Village Gate.
Sarah Vaughn was one of the many jazz greats who performed at The Village Gate. (Courtesy Sharon Blythe/Remember The Village Gate Facebook Group.)
Jay Leonhart and Herman Foster performing at the Gate.
Jay Leonhart and Herman Foster performing at the Gate. (Courtesy Raphael D'Lugoff/Remember The Village Gate Facebook Group.)
Avi D'Lugoff, Abie Nathan, Miriam Makeba and Art D'Lugoff at The Village Gate.
Avi D'Lugoff, Abie Nathan, Miriam Makeba and Art D'Lugoff at The Village Gate. (Courtesy Raphael D'Lugoff/Remember The Village Gate Facebook Group.)
The Village Gate even had punk rock shows. The Heartbreakers performed in the summer of 1977
The Village Gate even had punk rock shows. The Heartbreakers performed in the summer of 1977 (Courtesy Sharon Blythe/Remember The Village Gate Facebook Group.)
A 1984 performance of Second City’s Orwell That Ends Well
A 1984 performance of Second City’s Orwell That Ends Well (Courtesy Sharon Blythe/Remember The Village Gate Facebook Group.)
The Village Gate closed in 1993. The ground floor is now occupied by a CVS Pharmacy. In Spring 2008, part of the space was re-opened as a new performance venue - (Le) Poisson Rouge
The Village Gate closed in 1993. The ground floor is now occupied by a CVS Pharmacy. In Spring 2008, part of the space was re-opened as a new performance venue - (Le) Poisson Rouge (Photo by Tiffany Camhi.)
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