Ebony Club (6th Street Edition)

For approximately one year during 1954-1955, a night club operated on 6th Street in Shreveport. During its brief tenure, nationally recognized performers were booked to entertain its patrons; and it was also used to host community events.

Google Maps

The Night Club

Note: Different street numbers along the 400 block of 6th Street appear in various sources used.  It begins where Edwards Street intersects 6th from the southeast. At that point is a driveway for an existing building, some portion of which is currently designated "408 6th Street." While it can't be verified with absolute certainty from resources currently available, this building takes virtually all of the block and is obviously very old. In this writer's opinion, the night club was highly likely to have been located within the structure, either taking in a part of, or possibly the entire building.

An aerial view of the area today:

The red pin denotes the beginning of the 400 block of 6th, that continues southwest toward Marshall St. 

Google Maps

In September 1946, 408 6th Street was the advertised location of Military Laundry & Cleaners, while in October 1947, an unidentified party at 406 6th was seeking an experienced typist. A January 1949 classified advertisement identified 408 6th as then being an automobile painting shop.

Shreveport Times 04-Jan-1949, Page 15

Immediately before the club's  opening, it was the site of operations for Charlie Bruce Brock, who ran a trucking company. The earliest found mention of the club itself was a public notice of application by operator Sherman Lewis to sell beer appearing in March 1954.

Times 10-Mar-1954, Page 8-C

Saxophonist Illinois Jacquet  and orchestra, featuring singer Roy Hamilton were scheduled to appear at the club in June.

Times 09-Jun-1954, Page 3-D


Below is a portion of an ad for an appearance a few days earlier at the Cotton Club in Longview, TX.

Longview (TX) News-Journal 06-Jun-1954, Page 12


Just seven months earlier, Jacquet had performed on the bill with Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughn, and others at the Municipal Auditorium.

Times 03-Nov-1953, Page 4-B.


Illinois Jacquet performing "Harlem Nocturne."

Hamilton returned to the area several years later, appearing for a week-long stand at the Stork Supper Club in Bossier City in 1968.

Times 02-Feb-1968, Page 5-B

Roy Hamilton's version of "Ebb Tide" was recorded around the time he appeared at the club..

The club was used to show a film about Shreveport's black community at the time. As an aside, it would be interesting to know if that film still exists.

Times 15-Oct-1954, Page 1-C


Bandleader Roy Milton and entourage were to perform for New Year's Eve 1954.

Times 30-Dec-1954, Page 7-B

Also advertised were R&B singer/pianist Camille Howard and "doo-wop" group Shirley Gunter and the Queens.

Camille Howard

Shirley Gunter and the Queens

Milton would make a return visit to Shreveport and appear at Club 66 in the Allendale section of  the city in June 1955.

Times 09-Jun-1955, Page 14-A

Milton's recording R. M. Blues:

Alas, the enterprise was short-lived as by April 1955, the club's fixtures were up for sale. Given the number of chairs (500) and tables (175) for sale, it was apparently a large operation, giving further support to it likely having taken in the entire building now standing.

Times 02-Apr-1955, Page 4-B

By the end of April 1955, 400 6th Street was the  address of American Van and Storage. Just one month earlier, and days before the fixture sale at the Ebony, that business was located at 521 4th Street. In 1958 it was the site of  New York Furniture's warehouse (listed as 408).

Times 15-Jun--1958, Page 16-A

Per the Caddo Parish Tax Assessor's free property search, the 400 block of 6th is currently listed as belonging to descendants of the furniture store's founder. Out of respect for privacy, their names are not disclosed, but are public information if one chooses to explore on their own.

About The Proprietor

Sherman William Lewis was born 01-Dec-1908 in Natchitoches, LA. The 1940 U. S. Census recorded him living at 1509 Hollywood Avenue, with wife Frankie and children Margie and Sherman.

Several times over the years he was identified to have been a cook in the employ of prominent Shreveport oilman Charlton H. Lyons, Sr.; including before (1942 WWII draft registration) and after (1956 Shreveport city directory) the time of the Ebony Club's existence.

A few months before it opened, Lewis advertised a catering business operating out of his home.

Shreveport Times 25-Oct-1953, Page 9-A

His baking prowess was once cited in a comment appearing on a 22-Jan-1967 Times society page where a reader stated they would put his popovers (said of a brioche-like texture) against any in the country. 

Mr. Lewis passed away in August 1967.

Site Today

Looking southwest from the corner of Edwards and 6th:

Google Street View


408 6th Street:

Google Street  View

A Later Ebony Club

Despite having the same last name, no connection could be established between Sherman Lewis  and Eula Mae Lewis, proprietor of another club by that name that later operated at 902-1/2 (R.) Baker Street. Whereas the former establishment apparently sought to be a more dignified operation (and given Sherman's culinary background, perhaps even provided fine dining), the latter appeared to be less formal so-to-speak, more of a neighborhood "juke joint." Little is known about this club, other than it was reported  to have been burglarized in November 1961. In November 1963, Eula Mae was arrested for violating liquor laws for operating on a Sunday night.

At approximately the same time Sherman's Ebony Club was in business, Eula Mae applied for a permit to sell beer at the Golden Slippers at 912 Taylor Street. That address no longer exists, as the street was merged into Southern Avenue during the construction of Interstate 20.

Times 10-Feb-1955, Page 10-B

Many years later, Eula Mae was again noted applying for a license to sell "beverages of a high & low alcoholic content," this time at the Silver Slipper Bar & Cafe at 1103 Snow Street. (Apparently the price of gold became too high.) There was an even later Ebony Club at that location, on the corner of Snow and Pickett in the 1990s, perhaps having some connection to her.