Tyler Stovall: Whereas Josephine Baker makes her reputation on the main stages in Paris – the Theatre de Champs Elysees, for example – Bricktop remains for this entire period a fixture of the Montmartre clubs. She first establishes one club named Bricktop’s and then she moves to another one, which she also names Bricktop’s. But if you want to go to a club in Montmartre, hers is ultimately the place to go.
Bricktop’s was a place where you could go and experience the confluence of many different worlds. All sitting around drinking champagne and listening to jazz music and eating American style cuisine. It was very expensive. It was not a place for people who were not flush with money or not willing to spend it, but once you got in the door, you could pay the ticket, you were welcome no matter who you were.
By 1931, 1932 however, the scene in the Montmartre jazz club industry was definitely hurting. Times were not as good as they had been. Even Bricktop, who had been tremendously prosperous during the 1920s is now beginning to feel the pressure.



how can i get a dvd of this great piece of history
I tuned in late in the program. Read Paris Noir and was transported. Want to see program in entirety….will this be presented again, and if so, when so that I may tune in?
will there be a dvd of this program? Caught part of this program over the weekend, but did not see it in its entirety. Will it be on the air again?
Jim McGann
Saw this today (late to the party) and I have to ask PBS: this excellent documentary is STILL not available on DVD???
Really???
I’m ready to buy NOW, and can’t!