Historic Denver Nightlife – Charles Cousins’ 715 Club
We have been researching the photography of Burnis McCloud in the Denver Public Library’s vast collection of his work. Many images do not have adequate subject information, so we have been working to identify the musicians and locations captured in these photographs. We are excited to be able to share these and more with you in the coming months.
This series showcases the luxurious Art-Deco interior of the 715 Club on its opening night. The 715 Club at 715 E. 26th Street, just off Welton, was the first club opened by Five Points legend, the charitable Charles Cousins. It remained open for almost 50 years until its closing in the ’90s. A new incarnation of the 715 Club opened at this location last year.
Ornate ceiling details and scenic etched mirrors decorated the space. The sound was provided by an incredible Buckley Music System which had a centralized 1948 Wurlitzer Model 1100 78 RPM jukebox (shown with cover closed in above photo) serviced by auxiliary Buckley wall boxes and bar boxes. One nickel per song.
I haven’t found the exact date of the bar opening. The company Buckley Music System, Inc. lasted until 1950, and I am fairly certain I can see the date “1948” etched into the glass along with the owners’ names “Charles and Elvin” under the “Thanks A Million,” so let’s say 1948.
(Here you can see that the cover for the Wurlitzer 1100 has been removed and you can even see the stack of 78 RPM records)
(Wurlitzer 1100 Jukebox in color)
(Here is a great late-night photo of the opening night of the 715 Club)
(And here is a celebratory meal of 715 Club employees, assumed to be at Charlie Cousin’s home)
Tune into the Historic Modern Denver‘s Facebook page and we will post some some close-ups of the etched glass!
(Remind us to post photos of the inside of Otha Rice‘s place!)
Source: Burnis McCloud Photographs And Papers, Denver Public Library
Hello I am not sure, who I can contact in reference to finding someone who can share photos with be as my mother used to work with the 715, this is a place where my father walked and and saw her and they started dating… I most likely was in the late 1950s or early 1960. My mother was such a gorgeous human being in her day I would be nice to catch a photo of her. also would be cool to see or captivate my father in a photo as well..