{"id":35651,"date":"2016-11-11T12:54:39","date_gmt":"2016-11-11T19:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soulofamerica.com\/?page_id=35651"},"modified":"2020-10-27T20:26:15","modified_gmt":"2020-10-28T03:26:15","slug":"paradise-valley","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.soulofamerica.com\/us-cities\/detroit\/paradise-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Paradise Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Historic

Historic Paradise Theater, now Orchestra Hall<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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Paradise Valley<\/h2>\n
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Before the Civil War, Second Baptist Church in Detroit, now the Midwest\u2019s oldest African American church, served as the Underground Railroad Station for more than 5,000 people escaping slavery in route to freedom across the Detroit River in Canada. However, many of these African Americans remained in Detroit, eventually transforming the community known as Paradise Valley into what has been referred to as one of the most prominent and dynamic African American neighborhoods in U.S. history.<\/p>\n

Bounded by Gratiot, Vernor, Brush and Hastings Streets became Paradise Valley offered African Americans a social and cultural mecca from the 1920s – 1950s. Black Bottom, as it was also known, personified self-sufficiency in every aspect of life. Like Harlem in New York and Bronzeville in Chicago prior to 1968, Paradise Valley teemed with an estimated 360 Black businesses. Located principally along Hastings and Saint Antoine Streets, these establishments encompassed hotels, barber shops, speakeasies, restaurants, banks, churches, drugstores, The Michigan Chronicle newspaper, bowling alleys, apartment buildings, service stations, taxi cabs, an Urban League chapter, funeral parlors, smoke shops, and business clubs.<\/p>\n

Opportunities for economic growth seemed endless. Numerous successful and wealthy African-Americas emerged in a variety of industries. Once Ford Motor Company opened its doors to Blacks, scores more arrived from the South in search of a better life, to work in Ford\u2019s factories as autoworkers, and other blue-collar professions such as porters and drivers.<\/p>\n

Despite much of the prosperity, at this particular time in history prohibition was in full swing and illegal gambling prevailed, particularly among those lacking education and job skills. As a result, Paradise Valley also had its fair share of large numbers of the working poor and unemployed. Nevertheless, the community continued to grow and thrive.<\/p>\n

One of the focal points here was the Gotham Hotel, built in 1925. Owned, managed and staff by African Americans, the Gotham was known by Blacks all over the country for its elegance and social significance. Everything from the fixtures to the furniture, hand-painted portraits, carvings and other accoutrement used from the lobby, to the guest rooms, to their renowned dining room–the Ebony Room\u2014were first rate. Thus, the Gotham was the place to lodge, dine and socialize for countless celebrities, Civil Rights Activists, entertainers, athletes, government figures, Black millionaires and others. Some of the regulars who lodged and dined here over the years included Louis Jordan, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, B.B. King, The Harlem Globetrotters, Langston Hughes, Louie Armstrong, Thurgood Marshall, Sammy Davis Jr., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Sarah Vaughn, Joe Louis, Adam Clayton Powell and Marla Gibbs, who was once employed as a switchboard operator at the Gotham.<\/p>\n

In addition to the hotel, numerous prestigious theaters, restaurants and nightclubs shared center stage in Paradise Valley. Among them was the Paradise Theatre, Detroit\u2019s main venue on the Chitlin’ Circuit that also included the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia, Royal Theatre in Baltimore, Howard Theatre in Washington and Regal Theatre in Chicago. Back-in-the-day, this circuit attracted folks from all over the country to hear the world\u2019s greatest Jazz performers, including Nat King Cole, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and numerous others.<\/p>\n

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