“David Marienthal, the son and nephew of the late George and Oscar Marienthal, respectively, will be talking about his father and uncle and their powerhouse establishment, Mr. Kelly’s, an integral part of Chicago’s entertainment industry in the middle part of the 20th century.
“From 1953 to 1975, Mr. Kelly’s was the place to be: The Rush Street nightclub launched the careers of many a Hollywood luminary, featuring emerging talent that broke the color and gender barriers and controversial voices that challenged the status quo. Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, and Freddie Prinze all graced its stage, along with scores of other entertainers who would go on to fame and fortune.
“George and Oscar Marienthal, products of Chicago’s Hyde Park and South Shore neighborhoods, also established two other important venues in the city: London House, an upscale jazz supper club, and the Happy Medium Theater, a jazz nightclub.
“David Marienthal will show a short clip of his documentary, ‘Live at Mr. Kelly’s,’ and speak about the factors that led to his father’s and uncle’s career choices, including their Jewish identities and heritage, along with the outsize influence of the matriarch of the family, Mayme Marienthal, David’s paternal grandmother, who guided many of the business decisions.”