{{Infobox venue | name = Wonder Gardens | image = Wonder Bar Atlantic City 1940.jpg | caption = Wonder Bar, 1940 | former_names = Wonder Bar | address = 1601 Arctic Avenue | city = Atlantic City, New Jersey | country = United States | type = Nightclub | opened = c. 1929 | closed = 2001 | owner = Charles Randall, B.B. King | capacity = | coordinates = {{coord|39|21|44|N|74|25|54|W|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = USA New Jersey Atlantic City | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Atlantic City }} '''Wonder Gardens''' (also known as '''Wonder Bar''') was a jazz and R&B nightclub at 1601 Arctic Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Established around 1929, it was one of four black-owned nightclubs in the black entertainment district on Kentucky Avenue. Between the Wonder Gardens, Club Harlem, the Paradise Club, and Grace's Little Belmont, the music played all night and into the morning in the district's heyday in the 1940s through 1960s. Presenting both popular jazz musicians and new talent, the Wonder Gardens provided early exposure for Dan Fogel, Harvey Mason, George Benson, and the Commodores. Over the years, the music changed from jazz to rock, soul, and pop music.<ref name=disco/> In 1979 the club was renovated, redecorated and renamed the Latin Wonder Gardens, featuring live Afro-Cuban musical entertainment. In 1991 it underwent a second renovation and name change to the New Wonder Gardens, featuring Latin, jazz, R&B, hiphop, and reggae acts. The club was sold in 2001 and was later demolished.
==History== Originally called Wonder Bar, the jazz nightspot opened around 1929 at 1601 Arctic Avenue, on the northwest corner of Kentucky Avenue and Arctic Avenue.<ref name=disco>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ciQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT78 |title=Atlantic City Opens 2 More Dance Clubs|magazine=Billboard|date=18 August 1979|access-date=19 August 2016 }}</ref><ref name=magic/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2205&dat=19530721&id=q_glAAAAIBAJ&pg=3779,7779212|title=Advertisement for the Wonder Bar Garden|publisher=Baltimore Afro American|date=July 21, 1953|access-date=August 26, 2016}}</ref> In the 1940s and 1950s it was owned by Charles Randall.<ref name=under/><ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2205&dat=19530721&id=q_glAAAAIBAJ&pg=3779,7779212|title=Wonder Bar Garden Ad|date=21 July 1953 |newspaper=The Afro-American |page=17}}</ref> At one point B.B. King, a frequent performer at Club Harlem, became a part-owner of the Wonder Gardens and began appearing here exclusively two weekends a year.
In July 1940 the Wonder Bar, Club Harlem, the Paradise Club, and Grace's Little Belmont were raided by police, led by the newly elected mayor, Tom Taggart, seeking proof of illegal gambling activities. The police confiscated "three truckloads of gambling paraphernalia" and arrested 32, then shut down the four clubs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19400729&id=jactAAAAIBAJ&pg=3696,2286807|title=Mayor Leads Atlantic City Raid Squads|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Day|date=29 July 1940 |page=12}}</ref>{{efn|Taggart began the action by calling 40 policemen into his office, strapping on a revolver and stating, "Come on, we're going places."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/profile/we-hope/clipnumber/75087/|title=Shore Mayor Conducts Raid|date=July 29, 1940|page=3|publisher=Chester Times|access-date=August 28, 2016}}{{open access}}</ref><!--Comment Publication renewals were checked for the years 1947 & 1948; The Chester Times was not renewed.-->}} The arrestees from the Wonder Bar included Randall, John Doyle, and Albert Leighton, who all pleaded not guilty and were released on bail.<ref name=under>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19400817&id=WuZfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3658,5761524|title=H. Daniels Under $5,000 Bail in Shore Vice War|newspaper=The Afro-American|date=17 August 1940|page=3}}</ref><ref name=usual/> The next day the clubs were open for business as usual.<ref name=usual>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6144884/atlantic_city_raidsa_day_later/|title=Business 'Going On As Usual' After Sepia Night Life Circle Raids in Atlantic City|newspaper=Pittsburgh Courier|author=Rowe, Billy|date=August 10, 1940|page=20|access-date=August 7, 2016|via=Newspapers.com}}{{openaccess}}</ref>{{efn|The mayor conducted a second raid two weeks later of the Wonder Bar, Little Belmont and Club Harlem. This raid found no gambling equipment or patrons at any of these clubs. Upon raiding the establishments and finding nothing, Taggart's comment was, "I heard these wise guys were going to try to open up again."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/profile/we-hope/clipnumber/74981/|title=Atlantic City Mayor Revisits Three Clubs|date=August 10, 1940|page=19|publisher=Hanover Evening Sun|access-date=August 28, 2016}}{{open access}}</ref>}} The raid followed a period of unease between the new mayor and black citizens of Atlantic City's north side; earlier, Taggart had filed a restraining order against a white dancer, who bathed in milk during her performance, from appearing at Randall's black club.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19400730&id=ZkxGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1123,2967509|title=Milk Dancer, White, Barred|date=30 July 1940|newspaper=The Afro-American|page=6}}</ref>
In 1979 the Wonder Gardens was renovated and redecorated as a Latin disco, with a new sound system, and renamed the Latin Wonder Gardens. Featuring Afro-Cuban musical entertainment, the club announced that Joe Cuba would be the house band; opening acts included Típica 73, Vitín Avilés, and Mayro & Silvio's Cuban Rumba Dancers.<ref name=disco/> In 1991 the club underwent a second renovation and name change to the New Wonder Gardens, now offering Latin, jazz, R&B, hip hop, and reggae music.<ref name=soko>{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/1992-06-27/news/26030692_1_club-harlem-hammond-organ-commodores|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101003748/http://articles.philly.com/1992-06-27/news/26030692_1_club-harlem-hammond-organ-commodores|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 1, 2016|title=A Rebirth-day Party: Kentucky Avenue Once Was The Place To Be – Its Joint Serving Up Atlantic City's Best Ribs And Rhythm And Blues. It Will Be All That Again This Weekend|first=William H.|last=Sokolic|date=27 June 1992|access-date=22 August 2016|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> The 2000 edition of ''Lonely Planet''{{`s}} ''New York City'' listed the Wonder Gardens as a jazz club in its Atlantic City excursions section.{{sfn|Ellis|2000|p=244}} Dancer LeRoy Myers purchased the club in the 1970s and sold it in 2001.{{sfn|Willis|Hodges|2006|p=233}}
==Performers== Throughout its history, the Wonder Gardens presented both popular musicians and new talent.<ref name=soko/> In the late 1950s Dan Fogel began hanging around the Kentucky Avenue clubs regularly at the age of 10, shining shoes and listening in on top jazz organists like Groove Holmes, Larry Young, Jimmy Smith, and Jimmy McGriff playing the Hammond B3 organ at the Wonder Gardens and Club Harlem. With his shoeshine earnings, Fogel bought a Hammond organ at age 11 and at age 13 debuted at the Wonder Gardens.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danfogel.org/bio.shtml|title=Bio|publisher=danfogel.org|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> At age 16 Fogel was leading the Wonder Gardens house band, which included his Atlantic City High School classmate Harvey Mason on drums.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danfogel.org/images/press/acweekly.shtml|title=The Swing King of Marven Gardens|first=Jeff|last=Schwachter| access-date=22 August 2016|work=Atlantic City Weekly}}</ref> Mason recalled that the band regularly played the "breakfast show" at the Wonder Gardens from 4 AM to 10 AM in the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2014/08/influences-harvey-mason-interview/|title=Influences: Harvey Mason|date=19 August 2014|access-date=22 August 2016|work=Modern Drummer}}</ref>
In the 1960s, the Wonder Gardens booked jazz organists Brother Jack McDuff and Gene Ludwig,<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2sIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32|title=Organ-ized Antics|journal=Jet|date=10 September 1964|page=32}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6328831/the_pittsburgh_courier/|title=Trio Opens in Newark|date=17 October 1964|newspaper=Pittsburgh Courier|page=13}}</ref> drummers Art Blakey and J. C. Heard,<ref name=trio>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6328893/the_indexjournal/|title=John Banks Trio to Provide Musical Education|first=Joseph|last=Sitarz|date=13 June 2004|newspaper=The Index-Journal|page=32}}</ref> the John Banks Trio,<ref name=trio/> Damita Jo,{{sfn|Lyons|2009|p=37}} Kenny Barron and Dizzy Gillespie,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://philadelphiaweekly.com/2009/oct/22/A-Jazz-Original-65590347/#.V7sPZvl94ud|title=A Jazz Original|first=Jeff|last=Schwachter|date=22 October 2009|access-date=22 August 2016|work=Philadelphia Weekly}}</ref> tenor saxophonist Bootsie Barnes,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cannonballmusic.com/bbarnes.php|title=Bootsie Barnes|publisher=Cannonball Musical Instruments|year=2016|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> R&B/soul group The Delfonics,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/atlantic-city-nj-180949579/?no-ist|title=Atlantic City, N.J.|first=Turiya S. A.|last=Raheem|date=16 November 2009|access-date=22 August 2016|work=Smithsonian}}</ref> and singers Marvin Gaye,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acbiz.org/News%20and%20Events/pdf/10-30-2015/Former-WMID-DJ-inducted-into-Philly-Music-Walk.pdf|title=Former WMID DJ inducted into Philly Music Walk of Fame|first=Vincent|last=Jackson|date=30 October 2015|access-date=22 August 2016|work=Press of Atlantic City}}</ref> Russell Thompkins Jr.,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-148232932.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195631/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-148232932.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 8 October 2016|title=The Sound of Philly Travels|first=David J.|last=Spatz|date=18 January 2008|access-date=22 August 2016|work=The Record|url-access=}}</ref> and Florence Ballard, formerly of The Supremes.{{sfn|Benjaminson|2008|p=114}} In the mid-1960s, a young George Benson, then known as "Little Georgie", played guitar in McDuff's trio at the Wonder Gardens.<ref name=georgie/> After his set ended at 3 AM Benson would walk over to Grace's Little Belmont to talk music with future jazz composer Charles Earland.<ref name=georgie>{{cite web |url=http://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/arts_and_entertainment/they-called-him-little-georgie/article_cdd27f98-b947-583b-bdbb-02356f9da9c3.html|title=They Called Him 'Little Georgie'|first=David|last=Spatz|date=22 October 2014|access-date=22 August 2016|work=Atlantic City Weekly}}</ref>
In the 1970s the club began presenting rock, soul, and pop musicians. Performers included Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Aretha Franklin,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/kentucky-avenue-festival-remembers-days-long-past/article_90c20bbd-f244-5a80-90b8-72b80917662c.html|title= Kentucky Avenue festival remembers days long past|first=Derek|last=Harper|date=10 August 2013|access-date=22 August 2016|publisher=Press of Atlantic City}}</ref> Kool and the Gang,<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08w7AQAAIAAJ&q=wonder+garden+atlantic+city|title=Playdates|page=51|journal=Amusement Business|publisher=Billboard Publications|year=1970}}</ref> and Blue Magic.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18|title=Who/Where/When|magazine=Billboard|date=16 June 1973|page=18}}</ref> The aspiring Commodores played as the house band one summer.<ref name=soko/> Joseph Smith, a black Baltimore high school student, was also given some time on stage with his magic and ventriloquist act.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17036844.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195932/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17036844.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 8 October 2016|title=Joe Elbert's American Shots|date=18 August 2008|access-date=22 August 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-access=}}</ref>
In the early 1990s, the club featured jazz keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith and drummer Ralph Peterson, Jr. on its weekly jazz night from 5 PM to 2 AM.<ref name=magic>{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/1992-06-25/news/26033523_1_street-festival-jazz-entertainment-district|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018140213/http://articles.philly.com/1992-06-25/news/26033523_1_street-festival-jazz-entertainment-district|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2015|title=Kentucky Ave. Longs To Regain A Share Of Its Old-time Magic: Community leaders want a street that hosted legends to make a comeback|first=Alissa|last=Wolf|date=25 June 1992|access-date=19 August 2016|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> The club also gave the stage to up-and-coming singer Sybil and Boyz II Men,<ref name=soko/> while aspiring DJ Ahmed Kahn spun R&B and rap music.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.djahmedkhan.com/pages/biography.htm|title=Biography|publisher=DJ Ahmed Kahn|year=2015|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==See also== * Kentucky Avenue Renaissance Festival
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Sources== * {{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=iU6FmX0Dc2YC&pg=PA114|title= The Lost Supreme: The Life of Dreamgirl Florence Ballard|first=Peter|last=Benjaminson|year=2008|publisher= Chicago Review Press|isbn=978-1556527050}} * {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DxoqAQAAMAAJ&q=wonder+gardens|title=New York City|first=David|last=Ellis|year=2000|publisher=Lonely Planet|edition=2nd|isbn= 1864501804}} * {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y64oYCEMVEAC&pg=PA37 |title=Take It From The Top|first=Terri|last=Lyons|year=2009|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|isbn=978-1462820528}} * {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g_wrTydssB4C&pg=PA322|title=Theatre World, Volume 60|last1=Willis|first1=John|last2=Hodges|first2=Ben|year=2006|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-1-5578-3650-2}}
Category:Jazz clubs in Atlantic City, New Jersey Category:Nightclubs in Atlantic City, New Jersey Category:Defunct jazz clubs in New Jersey Category:1920s establishments in New Jersey