S2 Ep814: HISTORICALLY St. Pete w/Rui Farias: A Look Back at the Tampa Bay Jazz Scene & Manhattan Casino

Radio St. Pete Podcast Archive

In this episode of HISTORICALLY St. Pete, St. Petersburg Museum of History Executive Director Rui Farias talks with Nanette Wiser about the history of the Tampa Bay Jazz Scene and St. Pete's Manhattan Casino. The historic Manhattan Casino, located on 22nd Street South—once a thriving “main street” in St. Petersburg’s African American community—served as a vibrant showcase for local Black artists and a welcoming stop for traveling African American entertainers. As part of the famed Chitlin’ Circuit—a network of venues that provided safe spaces for Black performers during the Jim Crow era—the Manhattan Casino played a vital role in supporting musicians who brought their talent to St. Petersburg. The legendary Manhattan Casino in the Deuces hosted some of the biggest names in music.
Notable Musicians:

• James Brown: A major force in soul and funk music.
• Ella Fitzgerald: A legendary jazz vocalist.
• Louis Armstrong: A jazz icon and trumpet player.
• Ray Charles: A pioneering soul and blues singer.
• Nat King Cole: A jazz and popular music singer and pianist.
• B.B. King: A blues guitar legend.
• Little Richard: A rock and roll pioneer.
• Otis Redding: A soul singer.
• Fats Waller: A jazz pianist and composer.
• Count Basie: A jazz bandleader.
• Duke Ellington: A jazz composer and bandleader.
• Lionel Hampton: A jazz vibraphonist.
• Cab Calloway: A jazz bandleader and singer.
• Sarah Vaughan: A jazz singer.
• Fats Domino: A rock and roll singer and pianist.
• The Ink Spots: A vocal group.
• The Soul Stirrers: A gospel group, including a young Sam Cooke.
• The Dixie Hummingbirds: A gospel group.
• The Five Blind Boys of Alabama: A gospel group.

Breaking News 6/16/2025 The State of Florida has appropriated $1,050,000 — Historic Manhattan Casino. " All appropriately submitted appropriations were awarded — and every dollar is coming home. From preserving our cultural legacy to expanding youth opportunity and community care, we fought for the people and we won. This year, $1.4 million is headed to grassroots programs doing real work on the ground: Other awardees are: $ 125,000 — Bay Area Direct Care; $100,000 — Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association $75,000 — R.I.S.E. Youth Program $62,500 — Market to Mainstream
You Tube Video Manhattan Casino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qET6QGwn_p4
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times
PHOTO: Great Performers of the Historic Manhattan Casino: Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella. She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. Newspaper Article: 12/03/1939 Courtesy of The Tampa Bay Times.
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