As part of the Festival d’histoire de Montréal 2023, ARCMTL and Afromusée present:

Montreal Nightlife from the 1950s to the 1980s

Invited guest: Charles Burke, Black Bottom Club

Free, Saturday May 13 13h – 17h

Afromusée, 533 Ontario E. métro Berri

For the Montreal History Festival, come and discover the history of Montreal’s nightlife from the 1950s to the 1980s with the legendary manager of the Black Bottom nightclub, Charles Burke!

During the interactive afternoon organized by the Afro-Canadian Museum (Afromusée) and ARCMTL, Charles Burke will share his memories of this era of Montreal nightlife, offering participants a unique insight into the city’s cultural history and the importance of these venues to the Afro-descendant communities. This is a unique opportunity to learn about Montreal’s nightlife from the 1950s to the 1980s and to meet an important figure in the city’s cultural history.

Members of the ARCMTL team and the Afromusée will be on hand to present documentary and audio-visual material, as well as an interactive web map to discover the history of the cultural sites of these communities.

Who is Charles Burke?

Charles Burke was the manager of the famous Black Bottom nightclub in Montreal from its inception in the 1950s until its closure in the 1980s. The Black Bottom was an important gathering place for Montreal’s Afro-descendant communities, offering live music, dancing and various performances.

As manager of the club, Charles Burke witnessed many memorable moments in Montreal’s nightlife history, including performances by such great artists as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk. He has also been involved in organizing special events for Montreal’s Afro-descendant communities, including holiday parties, charity events and anti-discrimination events.

Find out more about this cultural history on this interactive map, Nights of Montreal.

A co-production between ARCMTL, and the Afromusée for the Festival d’histoire de Montréal.