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EastDCite
EastDCite commented about Casino Royale Theatre on Jun 18, 2016 at 6:21 am

Great site. Just to add a bit more perspective, before the venue’s life as a rock venue, and then burlesque (which coincided with the decline of DC’s downtown core in the mid ‘60’s). The Casino Royale opened in 1953, and operated as one of DC’s first-rank nightclubs for about a decade. A friend of mine has a photo of his parents celebrating an anniversary there in the mid-1950’s, everyone in white dinner jackets and gowns. The opening act was Ella Fitzgerald(!). Other headlining performers included: Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Joyce Bryant, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Mae West and many more. Fascinating story. There’s a great article in Washingtonian magazine from 2007. Here’s a link: https://www.washingtonian.com/2007/10/01/the-celebrity-filled-past-of-h-street/