The Crawford Grill: The Epicenter of Jazz Music in the Hill District of Pittsburgh

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The Crawford Grill was a popular jazz club that also functioned as an important social spot for Pittsburgh’s racially diverse population. This was the place to be during the 1930-50s for African-The Crawford Grill was a popular jazz club that also functioned as an important social spot for Pittsburgh’s racially diverse population. This was the place to be during the 1930-50s for African-American communities to come together. The Crawford Grill hosted local and nationally known jazz legends and operated in three locations in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, PA. Serving as the epicenter for jazz music during the 20th century, the first Crawford Grill was located on the corner of Crawford Street and Wylie Avenue where the Grill found great success. With the overwhelmingly amount of popularity and success, the addition of two more Crawford Grills in the Hill District took place. The Crawford Grill No. 1 was founded in 1930 by William Greenlee. William "Gus" Greenlee was not only the founder and owner of Hill District's Crawford Grill, but he was also a leader in Pittsburgh's African American community. Gus Greenlee also later owned the Pittsburgh Crawfords Negro League baseball team. Regardless of any racial segregation and prejudice during this era in Pittsburgh’s history, the Crawford Grill was a place where individuals could go to escape any weight of social injustice.

Images

Men and women depicted enjoying their night at the Crawford Grill No. 1, c 1938-1945. "The Grill" continued to attract large crowds and jazz legends to its revolving stage and continental bar.

Historical marker depicted outside of the Crawford Grill No. 2 location.

William "Gus" Greenlee was not only the founder and owner of Hill District's Crawford Grill, he was also a leader in Pittsburgh's African American community. Gus Greenlee also later owned the Pittsburgh Crawfords Negro League baseball team.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The Crawford Grill was best understood as a club that served its community in the outgrowth of racial injustice and prejudice. Gus Greenlee entered the entertainment industry in the pursuit of creating a place where people can escape these social and societal standards. Gus Greenlee acquired the business in 1932 where he dedicated his time to remodeling and staffing the Grill. Greenlee held a grand opening for the Crawford Grill on Christmas Eve of 1933.

The Crawford Grill No. 1 was located at 1401 Wylie Ave. within a hotel known as the Leader House. The first Crawford Grill was three-story, and the third floor was specifically reserved for VIP members. The audience that populated the establishment was racially and socially mixed, which provided people a comfortable and freeing atmosphere. "The Grill" continued to soar in admiration by attracting famous jazz musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Billy Eckstine, and Stanley Turrentine. However, the Crawford Grill No. 1 remained in business until 1951 when the building was destroyed in a fire then the remains were demolished in 1959 as a part of the development of the Civic Arena.

With so much success, Greenlee partnered with Joseph Robinson in 1943 to open a second Crawford Grill on Wylie Avenue and Elmore Street in the Hill District where Robinson’s son, William “Buzzy” Robinson, ran the club for nearly 60 years. The Crawford Grill No. 3 opened in 1948 on Bidwell Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. After Greenlee's death in 1952, Robinson received ownership of the remaining two Crawford Grills. The third Crawford Grill closed its doors in 1955 due to the lack of popularity and crowds it produced. The Golden Age of Jazz had started and ended with the Crawford Grills.

After Robinson's death in 1982, the ownership of the remaining Crawford Grill No. 2 was passed onto William "Buzzy" Robinson. Buzzy had sold the business in 1992 but still retained ownership of the building. The Crawford Grill was honored by the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission on April 7, 2001, and dedicated a state historical marker at the second Crawford Grill location. This memorable establishment closed two years later in 2003. After the closing of Crawford Grill No. 2, Buzzy sold the site in 2006. In 2010, local sources claimed that several investment groups and private individuals purchased the building in hopes of preserving the legacy with the future establishment of a new restaurant/nightclub.

Sources

Arnold, Karen. “Showing the Love for Crawford Grill No. 2, a Once Swinging Hot Spot in Pittsburgh.” Pennsylvania Historic Preservation, 11 Feb. 2019, pahistoricpreservation.com/showing-love-crawford-grill-2/.

“Crawford Grill.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Mar. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_Grill.

O'Neill, Annie. “Long-Dormant Center of Hill Jazz Scene Seeks a New Life.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 28 June 2007, www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2007/06/28/Long-dormant-center-of-Hill-jazz-scene-seeks-a-new-life/stories/200706280377.

Reporter, Daily Mail. “Black and White Images Capture the Rise and Fall of Great American Jazz Bar The Crawford Grill.”

Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 30 Apr. 2012, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2137151/Black-white-images-capture-rise-fall-great-American-jazz-bar-The-Crawford-Grill.html.

Smith, Brady. “Let's Learn from the Past: The Crawford Grill William ‘Gus’ Greenlee Pittsburgh Crawfords.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7 June 2017, www.post-gazette.com/life/my-generation/2017/06/08/Let-s-Learn-from-the-Past-The-Crawford-Grill-2/stories/201706080058.

Smith, Brady. “The Crawford Grill: Heinz History Center.” History Center, 2 Feb. 2021,www.heinzhistorycenter.org/blog/western-pennsylvania-history/the-crawford-grill.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Image credits to the Teenie Harris Archive Collection.

https://pahistoricpreservation.com/showing-love-crawford-grill-2/

https://www.post-gazette.com/life/my-generation/2017/06/08/Let-s-Learn-from-the-Past-The-Crawford-Grill-2/stories/201706080058