Florida music hall that hosted Louis Armstrong, closed in 1968, reopens after renovation

A new mural by artist Egypt Hagan has been added to the property. St Petersburg’s historic Manhattan Casino reopened on Saturday, 58 years after it closed, following a four-year renovation of the 101-year-old building. According to St Pete Catalyst, the city has spent $4.8 million on the two-storey property, which will now operate as a rentable event space in the Deuces neighbourhood.Built in 1925 by Black businessman Elder Jordan, the venue was originally known as the Jordan Dance Hall and served as a major entertainment centre for the city’s African American community. It hosted live dance music on weekends and gospel performances on Sundays. The building also became a venue for proms, graduations, pageants, parties and conferences.Its upstairs music hall later became known for performances by some of the biggest names in American music. Louis Armstrong and his band performed there three times. Other musicians who appeared at the venue included the Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, B B King, Little Richard, Etta James, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and Otis Redding.The venue’s Black legacyThe Manhattan Casino was part of The Deuces, a business district th...