Product Information

New York NY 1940s advertising postcard for Monte Proser's Copacabana nightclub, often referred to as The Copa. The club opened November 10, 1940 at 10 East 60th Street in New York City. Although Monte Proser's name was on the lease, he had a powerful partner: mob boss Frank Costello. Costello put Jules Podell on the scene to look after his interests, and within a few years Proser was out and Podell was the official owner. One evening in 1957, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Hank Bauer, Yori Berra, Johnny Kucks and Billy Martin of the Yankees, along with their wives, arrived at the nightclub to celebrate Martin's birthday. Sammy Davis, Jr. happened to be the headliner. During the performance, a group of bowlers who had too much to drink started to interfere with Davis' act, even making racial remaks at him. This behavior incensed the Yankees, especially Martin, since his club roommate was catcher Elston Howard, the first African American to join the Yankees. Tensions erupted between the two factions, and the resulting fracas made newspaper headlines. Several of the Yankees were fined. Unused vintage postcard in very good condition with average wear and a small stain in the lower left corner.

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Price: $25.00

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