Comments on: Bill’s Place, Speakeasies and Billie Holiday on Swing Street

By: K. Hunt

K. Hunt — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:36:57 +0000

This was a great article. I remember when I was very young my great grand father literally walked me down that street. If I’m not mistaken at onetime one of the addresses mentioned there was a Laundry, a basement laundry. And in 1979, the Hot Cha sign was still up weather beaten as heck. It’s finally gone but writers such as this give a great moment of pause and history that is slowly escaping as those that remember die.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 02:36:46 +0000

Was “Bill’s Place” known by another name in 1920? What did they do specifically during prohibition to avoid detection? Was or is there anything special about the layout of the building that helped patrons avoid detection during prohibition?

Thank you in advance for any response you can provide.

By: Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber

Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 22:04:40 +0000

As a historian I am always looking for places that have meaning and purpose. Bill’s Place is housed in a historic site and it is preserving the high quality of jazz that is its legacy. This article provides greater insight for those who knew some of the history. It opens the door of jazz history for those unfamiliar with Billie Holiday, “Swing Street” and the uniqueness of a jazz musician owning his own club.. Dr. Saxton has gifted readers with an informative, entertaining and personal view of the history of 133rd street and the efforts of Bill Saxton, jazz musician extraordinaire to keep the place swinging. This excellent article offers the history of an establishment allows you to hear current and contemporary jazz while sitting amidst the memories of Eleanor Fagin’s birth into Billie Holiday.

By: Thomas Clark

Thomas Clark — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 03:18:30 +0000

In reply to Thomas Clark. Bill’s place is keeping live jazz alive.

By: shira levin

shira levin — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 03:08:48 +0000

Wonderful article. So interesting to know all this history and that Bill’s Place continues the jazz legacy. Love the story of Eleanora Fagan a.k.a. Billie Holiday. Of course it should be a landmark… why not? It’s a treasure.

By: Thomas Clark

Thomas Clark — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 01:47:01 +0000

Linda and I have to Bill’s Place a numbers of times. Theda makes the case for the area designated for all Historic designations on all levels.
Bill’s Place patrons are worldwide sophisticated.

By: Joyce Mitchell

Joyce Mitchell — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 17:49:51 +0000

Thank you so very much for this article. I have been to Bill’s place around the time it first opened…And I am so glad that it has expanded it’s horizons to be able to share to the world the wonderful and amazing history of jazz formulated in Harlem, NYC…I am extremely proud to have been born and raised here and have been able to’ve participated in part to and in the nightlife and specifically, the amazing musicality in the after-hours experience of and the blends of jazz, representing the African American invention and experiences, thus, the storytelling in original classical music formation. Thank you…