Bessie Smith

Where I Went

[bessiesmithharlem-blog]

Mintons Playhouse 

This was also a fun place to perform at. This was a place where many jazz musicians came and performed. This jazz bar was a really electric place to perform at and I loved listening to the jazz legend here. 

[bessiesmithharlem-blog]

Sugar Cane Club 

This was also a really fun place to perform and many of my famous musician friends stopped by here as well. The crowd was a bit different but still just as fun. The energy in this club was great and performing here always left me happy. The crowd enjoyed it and so did I.

[bessiesmithharlem-blog]

The Cotton Club

This was my favorite place in Harlem to perform. I loved it here, and there were so many fantastic musicians and performers. I loved it every time i was here and it had a huge impact on me. I loved listening to the good music here and dancing with all the famous people that dropped in. I loved the crowd and they loved me, this was so much fun!

[bessiesmithharlem-blog]

My Beloved Custom Railroad Car!!!!

I love this train car so much!!! I had it custom built just to my taste and I can do anything I want in it. It smells so nice and the food is so good. I have all my lovers inside it and my husband too! I loved traveling and performing in the car and in all the cities I went to. I learned so much about the people I performed for and it was so much fun(: This train car had a huge impact on my life because I was able to go to different places and perform many times. (I was the highest paid black entertainer) 

[bessiesmithharlem-blog]

81 Theatre in Atlanta

I was in a chorus line here and I was able to perform with #Ma Rainey. It was so much fun but I missed singing. Anyway, the 81 was a really fun place to sing in especially with such talented people!! 

[bessiesmithharlem-blog]

White Elephant Saloon - 13th and Elm Street, Chattanooga, TN 

I started preforming here so I could help support my family. My brother accompanied me. It smelled like alcohol and it looked like a typical saloon in the South. I really learned how to preform in front of people here and this knowledge helped me in the future when I performed in front of large groups.