George's Spaghetti House
George's Spaghetti House was a jazz club located at 290 Dundas Street East in Toronto.
History
In 1956 entrepreneur Doug Cole (1925-2012) bought the restaurant, keeping the existing name. Cole began to feature jazz at the restaurant on weekend evenings, and starting on 5 September 1960 booked music six night per week. Saxophonist Moe Koffman served as the booking agent for the club. Many of Canada's most famous jazz musicians played at the club, including Don Thompson, Ed Bickert, Guido Basso, Doug Riley, Terry Clarke, and Rob McConnell.
Cole later opened a restaurant called Castle George on the second floor of the building. He also operated two other clubs in Toronto: Bourbon Street and Basin Street, which occupied the upstairs and downstairs portions of 180 Queen Street West. Cole sold George's in 1983.
Live albums
- Ed Bickert - Ed Bickert (1975)
References
- "George's Jazz Room." In The Canadian Encyclopedia Online. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/georges-jazz-room-emc/
- Winsa, Patty. "Doug Cole, founder of Toronto’s first jazz club, has died." Toronto Star, 17 June 2012.
