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Avenue Haig
Shanghai, China
Type: Land Based
Status: Closed
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| Del Monte was one of the famous nightclub and casino in Shanghai, situated on Avenue Haig at the western border of the French Concession. The club hired White Russian to serve as hostesses and entertainers. Del Monte only came to life between 3 and 4 a.m. The Del Monte, one of the earliest establishments, lasted until late 1930s.
Al Israel was a British national came from California. Al bought the Del Monte and pioneered the Shanghai night life .He became known as the “Ziegfield of Shangai” for his activity in the city´s entertainment industry.
The Del Monte went from the streets on the fringes of the city in 1900 to the heart of the Badlands of the Japanese occupied city in 1930´s.
Al was shot dead at his desk above the casino floor of the Del Monte in 1937.
Here a transcription of a scene in 1935- “ Later, at 2:00 a.m. they traveled by automobile to Avenue Haig ( now Huashan Road) … There they attended Del Mont´s , an American-run dance hall and gambling joint, with a long wooden bar and a ballroom that was gaudily decorated in gold and white. As she entered the club, she noticed an orchestra playing on a small stage while people danced in the center of the room. On one side there were small tables for two where the pay dance girls sat, all of them Russian ou Eurasians…she notes the pervasive influence of American culture… including jazz music and associated dances, taxi-dancers , etc ( from Shangai Nightscapes, James Farrer, Andrew David Field)
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CG153296 Obsolete
Denom: $20
Added: 2015-11-23
Last Update: 2016-01-07
Contributed by: Conrad Frost
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