Esquire Show Bar
The Esquire Show Bar is an old rhythm and blues nightclub in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, popular during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, located in the city's downtown district at 1224 Rue Stanley. Esquire Show Bar was owned & run by Norman Silver.
Numerous international artists have performed there, including James Brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Otis Redding, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jackie Shane, Fats Domino, Wilson Pickett, B.B. King, Chubby Checker, Etta James, Joe Tex, Percy Sledge, Jackie Wilson, George Benson and The Avalons, James Cotton, Larry Coryell, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee In the 60s, bands like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and others would play 2-week gigs. As part of the deal, they would play dry matinees on Sunday afternoons. This enabled people under 21 to hear them live and up close.
