The Bitter End is a 230-person capacitynightclub,coffeehouse andfolk music venue inNew York City'sGreenwich Village. It opened in 1961 at147 Bleecker Street under the auspices of ownerFred Weintraub. The club changed its name toThe Other End in June 1975. However, after a few years the owners changed the club's name back to the more recognizable The Bitter End. It remains open under new ownership.
An earlier club, The Cock and Bull, operated on the same premises with the same format, in the late 1950s. The poet and comedianHugh Romney, who later became known asWavy Gravy, read there.
The Bitter End was originally a coffeeshop.[1] According toThe New York Times, "The Bitter End, which opened in 1961, considers itself to be New York’s oldest rock club and built a legendary reputation after showcasing young performers likeJoni Mitchell andJames Taylor and comedians likeWoody Allen andBilly Crystal." At the club,Bob Dylan played pool, watched performances, and occasionally performed[2] circa 1961.[3]
During the early 1960s, the club hostedfolk music "hootenannies" every Tuesday night, featuring many performers who have since become legendary. During its heyday The Bitter End showcased a wide range of talented and legendary musicians, comedians, and theatrical performers.[4][5]
In 1968, Paul Colby (1917–2014), who began his career as asong plugger forBenny Goodman’s publishing company, and went on to work forFrank Sinatra,Duke Ellington, andGuy Lombardo, became the manager and booking agent at The Bitter End, and in 1974 he purchased it.[6][7] Owner Paul Colby died in 2014. He had two partners in the club, Paul Rizzo and Ken Gorka.[8] A tribute concert was held for Colby after his death.[9] Kenny Gorka died in 2015.[10] Gorka was an original member of New Jersey bandThe Critters.
According to Colby,James Taylor bombed when he played the club in 1969, andNeil Young also bombed at the club.[11] In the mid 1970s, the club became known as the birthplace ofBob Dylan'sRolling Thunder Revue, which featured such names asJoni Mitchell,Roger McGuinn,Ramblin' Jack Elliot,Joan Baez,T-Bone Burnett,Ronee Blakely,Mick Ronson, and many other guest stars.
The Bitter End was granted landmark status by the city of New York in 1992. Also in 1992, the venue's landlord tried to evict the bar, with the venue saved by benefit performances byPeter, Paul, and Mary,Kris Kristofferson,George Carlin and others.[1]
Lady Gaga performed at the bar in October 2016, after previously performing there as an unsigned act, before the release of her debut album. The performance was part of Gaga'sDive Bar Tour.[12]
Numerous musical albums have been recorded at The Bitter End/The Other End, including albums byBiff Rose ("Half-live at the Bitter End"),Peter, Paul and Mary,Randy Newman,Curtis Mayfield,Donny Hathaway,Arlo Guthrie,Pete Seeger,Tom Paxton,The Isley Brothers andTommy James & the Shondells,The Chad Mitchell Trio,Country Joe McDonald andBill Haley & His Comets. Comedy albums recorded there includeBill Cosby's first album,Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right!, and comedianChris Rush's second album,Beaming In.[13]
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40°43′42″N73°59′57″W / 40.7283°N 73.9992°W /40.7283; -73.9992