HAVANA
Nightlife Guide
1956
[REF: CABARET magazine Dec 1956 pp 51-52]
HAVANA
BIG FOUR
TROPICANA, Truffin and
Batista (B-4544). This is the largest and most beautiful night
club in the world. Located on what was once a s
36,000-square-meter estate, Tropicana has ample room for two complete
sets of stages, table areas and dance floors, in addition to
well-tended grounds extending beyond the night club proper. Tall
trees rising over the tables and through the roof in some spots lend
the proper tropical atmosphere which blends well with the ultra-modern
architecture of the night club. Shows include a chorus line of 50
and the dancers often perform on catwalks among the trees.
Rhythms and costumes are colorfully native, with voodooism a frequent
theme. Top talent is imported from abroad. Minimum at
tables is $4.50 per person, but this can be avoided by sitting at
central bar which has a good view of both stages.
CASINO PARISIEN (Hotel
Nacional), 21st and 0 (U-8981). This is the newest of Havana's
night clubs, having opened its doors in January of 1956. Located
in the city's largest hotel, the cabaret actually consists of the
Casino Parisien, where there is dining, dancing and shows (usually a
name singer or dance couple); the Casino Internacional with a gambling
layout; and the Starlight Terrace, a bar connecting the other two
sections. The casino is managed by Wilbur Clark, who also runs
Las Vegas' Desert Inn. The minimum is $3.50 at the tables.
SANS SOUCI, Arroyo Arenas
Hwy. (BO-7979). Sans Souci is located in a Spanish-style villa,
but this year has undergone a major program of renovation and
expansion. Shows, like those of the other major clubs, are
production numbers including name acts, usually imported.
Good-looking U.S. showgirls are an added attraction. There is the
same gambling layout as at the other big cabarets, including roulette,
craps, chemin de fer, and slots. In addition, Sans Souci recently
instituted an innovation at night clubs: bingo, with prizes ranging up
to $1,500.
MONTMARTRE, 23rd and P
(U-5207). Housed in a onetime indoor dog track, Montmartre is
eminently successful in concealing its past beneath a lavish overlay of
Gallic fittings and atmosphere. It is the only major Havana club
which is entirely indoors, and is conveniently located in Vedado, near
the center of the city. The entertainment leans toward top
continental as well as American show names backed by lush song and
dance production numbers masterminded by mercurial Joe Carlyle.
Expensive, and a favorite with native Cubans as well as tourists.
The casino is open from 4 pm daily.
SPANISH ATMOSPHERE
TABERNA SAN ROMAN, San
Pedro and Oficios (M-4460). Cured meats hang from the ceiling,
bullfight posters decorate the walls and wine jugs sit on long
shelves. A band provides dance music (Cuban and Spanish), and on
Saturday nights the Spanish equivalent of a jam session gets under way:
customers make impromptu music and someone plays a bagpipe (Spanish,
not Scottish). Located on the water-front, the Taberna is well off the
tourist track.
EL COLMAO, Aramburu No.
366. (U-9729). This place provides Spanish music, singing and
dancing in its shows. Customers try to drink wine by pouring it
in a thin stream from Andalusian jugs directly into their mouth (a
hazardous endeavor). Enough wine, and soon the customers, join in
the informal shows.
TASCA ESPANOLA, Carcel and
Prado (W-9452). The Tasca is decorated to resemble a Spanish
bandit's cave. Guitarists, singers, pianists and dancers do
double duty providing the show and also providing music for dancing by
customers.
BURLESQUE
SHANGHAI, Zanja No. 205
(W-9497). The girls in the line at the long-established Shanghai
have never heard of G-string and get along very nicely in the buff,
thank you. Their uninhibited if some what inexpert prancing is
only one part of a unique mixture that is burlesque, Havana
style. Blackout skits, unintelligible to the visitor who doesn't
speak Spanish, are alternated with dance numbers by leading performers,
and snappy movies, both of which are easily understood in any
language. The theater, once a Chinese playhouse, is in Chinatown
in Old Havana, near the main shopping district. It's cramped and
stuffy, but at $1.25 you could hardly expect more.
SMALL, BUT...
BAMBU, Rancho Boyeros Rd.
(I-5072). About 15 minutes from Havana, the Bambu is located in
rustic surroundings. Shows consist of local talent.
PANCHIN, Fifth and C
(B-7794). This is located in Havana's Coney Island area.
Genuine native rhythms (rhumba, mambo, cha cha cha) are played by small
orchestras who know their stuff. Customers on the dance floor
often provide the best show in the place when they really let
themselves go.
PENNSYLVANIA. Fifth and C
(B-7807). It is but a few steps from the Panchin to the
Pennsylvania, and the "atmosphere" in both places is much the
same. Teachers from U.S. dancing schools come to these places to
get the real lowdown on Cuban dances.
SOUTHLAND CLUB, San Rafael
and Prado (M-9296). A cozy place off tourist-traveled Prado
Boulevard, with dance music and a show, consisting of the usual singers
and mambo dancers.
SIERRA, Concha and Cristina (X-2928). A small place providing good local shows and music.
EL DORADO, Prado No. 521
(M-4888). This is an outdoor café a la Paris, with an
all-girl orchestra providing the music. Customers sip their
drinks and watch the crowds go by.
DAIQUIRI DENS
FLORIDITA, Obispo and
Monserrate (M-5031). The Floridita (formally known as La Florida)
proudly calls itself "the cradle of the daiquiri" (named after a Cuban
river). It has developed daiquiri-making into an art, and
provides daiquiris with different flavors to suit the customers'
tastes. The Floridita's best customer is also its most famous:
Cuban resident Ernest Hemingway, who uses a special outsized glass
named "the Papa." The place has fine food and good music from
singers and small musical groups.
MONSEIGNEUR, 21ST AND 0
(F-7684). Primarily a restaurant (a la Monseigneur of Paris),
this place has one of the best bars in town. Pleasant music is
provided by a string ensemble, with the musicians separating and going
to the different tables to play.
MES AMIS, Seventh and La
Copa. This is a haunt for local Americans. Singers and
pianists provide listening music, but some people like to dance too.
SLOOPY JOE'S, Agramonte No.
252 (M-4178). This is an old-time mecca for tourists, but few
locals (Cubans or Americans ) go here. Sandwiches are excellent,
and a "conjunto" (small musical group) provides music.
CARNIVAL ROOM (Hotel
Sevilla-Biltmore), Prado No. 255 (M-9961). A tiny bar with
shows-usually a guitar and castanet combo with a singer-to match, and
all the daiquiri you can drink.
OFFBEAT BOITES
COLONIAL, Oficios No. 164
(A-7324). A local-talent show designed to confirm the wildest
tourist rumors about Havana as the city of sin and cigars is the
standard offering here, with prices and promotion leveled at the
dollar-heavy pocketbooks of the gullible Americanos. Worth a
look-see.
PALETTE CLUB, Central
Highway (X-3019). Better call before coming out here,
because the attractions of this out-of-town spot (risque shows, private
rooms, stag movies) make it the first target of any government cleanup
campaign. If operating, it will top anything your cab driver can
suggest–but at a price.
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