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View a database that includes artifacts, photographs, and documents in the History San José collection which relate to Lou’s Village Restaurant in San José, California.
Performers & Entertainment
From the beginning, Lou’s Village offered a full evening of dining and entertainment. Customers could enjoy cocktails, dancing, a quality dinner, and live entertainment. Performers included the house band, comedians, novelty acts, as well as nationally known performers like the King Sisters, Ink Spots, and Lenny and Honey Bruce. Evelyn Singley, a long-time customer, has fond memories, of the Muller family and seeing performers like Scat Man Crothers, and Polly Bergen at Lou’s.
During the late 1950s, television entered many homes and there was decreased interest in the floor shows. In 1961, a fire at Lou’s Village destroyed the kitchen and part of the dining room, which led to a redesign of the restaurant. The stage and dance floor were removed with a new layout including better accommodations for diners and a separate space for banquet customers. In homage to the days of live entertainment, the walls of Lou’s Village were lined with black and white photographs of performances at the restaurant and publicity photos of acts that performed there.
In recognition for the contributions to music on November 12, 1970 the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers’ (ASCAP) and Musicians Local 153 of San Jose presented plaques to Frank Muller and Alvina Santoro. The trophy presented by ASCAP was inscribed: “In recognition of 25 years for always providing the finest music for its customers.”