Category: Recreation and Popular Culture

HALTNORTH'S GARDENS, located at the corner of Woodland and Willson (E. 55th St.) avenues (1001 Woodland), was a popular German beer garden in which Clevelanders could enjoy a picnic or an evening of beer and opera. A rustic bridge crossed a pond on the grounds, which were surrounded by "a high whitewashed wooden fence" that enclosed the garden. From June through September, a stock company managed by Chas. L.

The HANNA THEATER has served as the mecca of legitimate THEATER in Cleveland for roughly a century, providing Clevelanders with a source of quality theatrical entertainment rivaling Broadway. Located in the Hanna Bldg. at E. 14th St.

HAPPY DOG is a restaurant and live entertainment venue that has been owned and operated by Sean Kilbane and Sean Watterson since 2008. The business has gained fame for serving hot dogs that can be paired with a wide variety of toppings and sauces.

Hardman, Anson Franklin (24 Sep. 1883 – 7 Dec. 1966) was the first General Advertising Manager of the OHIO BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY (now Ameritech), where he ran the department for 27 years (1924 to 1951).

HAWKINS, JALACY "SCREAMIN JAY" (18 July1929 - 12 February 2000), was born  in Cleveland Ohio. Being one of eight children, Hawkins was orphaned as an infant. He was adopted at 18 months old by a Blackfoot Indian couple who raised him. He learned how to play the piano as well as to read and write music by the time he turned four years old.

The HERMIT CLUB, 1629 Dodge Ct., is a meeting place for professionals and business people with talent in and appreciation of the performing arts. Organized by Cleveland architect FRANK BELL MEADE, it was patterned after the Lambs Club in New York. The Hermits' first "abbey," or headquarters, designed by Meade, was built on Hickox Pl.

The HIPPODROME THEATER was located in an 11-story office building at 720 EUCLID AVE. Designed by Cleveland architect John Elliot, the "Hipp" featured exceptionally good acoustics, a lavish interior, grandiose spaciousness, and a second entrance on Prospect Ave. Considered to be among the world's great playhouses, it attracted performers such as Enrico Caruso, Sarah Bernhardt, W. C.

PROVIDENCE HOLLANDER (9 May 1926 – 10 September 2010) was an actress and singer best known for her emotional solo performances of “Marieke” and “Old Folks.”

HOPE, LESLIE TOWNES (BOB) (May 29, 1903-July 27, 2003) was a popular actor and comedian who appeared in vaudeville, radio, film, and television, and was also known for the prominent role he undertook in United Service Organization (USO) tours to entertain American troops.

HUMPHREY, DUDLEY SHERMAN II (19 May 1852-7 Sept. 1933) was owner and operator (with his family) of EUCLID BEACH PARK. One of 5 children, Dudley Sherman II was born on the family farm in Wakeman Township, Huron County, the son of Dudley Sherman I and Mabel Fay Humphrey. After completing his education at local schools, he attended Buchtel University in Akron.

The INTOWN CLUB, 1375 Euclid Ave., a private invitational ladies' luncheon club that meets for relaxation, fellowship, and enjoyment of the arts, was incorporated on 1 Nov. 1927. Mrs. John S. Sherwin was the president when the club officially opened on 20 Jan. 1928 in clubrooms located at 3400 Euclid Ave.

ITALIAN HALL was one of the first buildings in Cleveland to house a theater. Built in the early 1830s on Water (now W. 9th) St., it was one of the few brick buildings in Cleveland, with 3 stories and a theater on the top floor. During the 1830s Italian Hall was the most fashionable theater in Cleveland, the stopping place for famous stars. It was the first theater in Cleveland to feature raked seats.

JACKSON JR, BENJAMIN CLARENCE BULL MOOSE (22 April 1919 - 31 July 1989), was a prominent African-American blues singer and saxophone player whose musical career boomed in the 1940’s. 

JASPER,  AUSTIN LEONARD "JACK" (15 March 1906 – 6 July 1996) was a schoolteacher and one of the first African American volunteers for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in Anniston, Alabama, and later a BSA professional serving Black scouts in Cleveland, Ohio. Born in Woodlawn, Virginia, to Daniel W. and Martha E. (Thomas) Jasper, Jasper had eight siblings and attended high school in Washington, DC.

The JAZZ TEMPLE was an influential establishment in the Cleveland JAZZ scene. Founded in 1962 by Winston Willis, the Jazz Temple’s existence was cut short due to several threats and acts of violence in 1965.

JOC-O-SOT, or WALKING BEAR (1810-3 Sept. 1844) was a chief of the Fox (or Mesquakie) tribe which resided in the Iowa area. During 1831, Joc-O-Sot fought in the Black Hawk War against the United States when the Fox allied themselves with the Sauk.

The JOLLY SET was an informal name for an informal group that constituted a Cleveland version of cafe society in the late 1940s and early 1950s.  It consisted largely of sports figures and journalists, including BILL VEECK,

KATZ, MEYER MYRON "MlCKEY" (15 June 1909-30 April 1985) was a well-known American-Yiddish parodist and dialect performer who brought bilingual humor to English-speaking Jewish communities throughout the United States.

KAYE, SAMMY (13 March 1910-2 June 1987), well-known local and national bandleader, was born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr. in Lakewood, the son of Samuel and Mary Sukenik Zarnocay. He attended local schools, graduating from Rocky River High School in 1928. While in high school, he organized a band known as Sammy's Hot Peppers and played semi-profession baseball to earn extra money.

KEITH'S EAST 105TH ST. THEATER, which opened in Nov. 1921 as a vaudeville house, was built near UNIV. CIRCLE to cater to the growing number of "suburban" residents who wanted entertainment closer to home.

LA CAVE grew from its humble beginnings as a coffeehouse folk club on Euclid Avenue to become one of Cleveland's most memorable and influential ROCK 'N' ROLL clubs.

LEO'S CASINO was a premier showcase in Cleveland for R&B and Motown artists. The co-owner of Leo's Casino, Leo Frank, got his first taste of the entertainment business while serving in the Navy in 1945. He was in charge of a theater on a base near San Francisco that featured Bob Hope, Harry James and other prominent entertainers. In 1952 Leo Frank opened his first club, called Leo's, at E. 49th St. and Central Ave.

LEVERT, GERALD (13 July 1966 – 10 November 2006), was a significant African-American vocalist, songwriter and producer. 

LEVERT, SEAN (28 September 1968 – 30 March  2008), was a famous African-American singer.