Sam’s Crescent Café was a restaurant and supper club in business in Washington DC through the 1930s and into the 40s.

There was an orchestra and there was dancing at Sam’s, and we assume that the minstrels on the front cover also indicated comedians doing stand-up as part of the cabaret.

Advertisements boasted that the establishment was ‘scientifically air conditioned for your comfort’ and the telephone number was listed as National 2655.

Patrons could snack on a fried oyster sandwich for 40c or eat a T-bone steak dinner for $2.50.

We found old black and white photographs of smartly dressed couples in evening gowns and tuxedos at Sam’s. Decades before we all had cameras in our cellphones, commercial photographers with flashbulb cameras would circulate around tables in restaurants to take souvenir pictures that clients could buy for a dollar.

However, these couples had cups of coffee and glasses of water on their table – no booze. On this menu, no alcoholic drinks were offered. It could be that Sam’s was awaiting a liquor license at this time.

At some point, Sam’s became a burlesque club and remained open 24 hours a day.