The Atlantic City: Club Harlem

About the Book

Club Harlem is an exciting anecdote about the historic night club of the same name, once a mid-20th century epicenter of African-American entertainment in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Founded in 1935 by brothers Leroy “Pop” and Cliff Williams, Club Harlem was a retreat from racial discrimination and segregation in the city, a home for African-American musicians, artists, and comedians to display their craft in front of an inclusive community. Its most elaborate production was a revue called Smart Affairs by Larry Steele, which brought dozens of the greatest performers from around the country to the premiere stage of black nightlife that was Club Harlem. This book details the context in which the Club was established, the community it influenced, and the many talented artists it fostered. It also highlights the many other African-American businesses, clubs, and services that thrived in the city before Club Harlem’s eventual downfall.

About the Author

After a tumultuous juvenile life, Professor Palmer graduated from high school and was hired by the University of Pennsylvania hospital as a surgical attendant and eventually was recruited into the University of Pennsylvania School of Inhalation and Respiratory (Oxygen) Therapy. After his certification as an inhalation and respiratory therapist, he was hired by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as the Director of the Department of Inhalation and Respiratory (Oxygen) Therapy, where he spent ten years helping to develop the national field of cardio-pulmonary therapy. Professor Palmer has also pursued further education at Temple University for Business Administration and Communications, Cheyney State University for a Teacher’s Degree in History and Secondary Education. And at age 40, acquired his juris doctorate in law from Howard University. In 2006, he was inducted into the Philadelphia College of Physicians as a Fellow for the body of work he had done over the past 70 years. During that entire period, Professor Palmer led the Civil Rights, Black Power and Afrocentric movements in Philadelphia, around the country as well as Caribbean and West Indies. In the 1980s to 2015, he led the school choice movement and in 2000 had the Walter D. Palmer School named after him. In 1962, he created a school without walls on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus and became a visiting lecturer in the Schools of Medicine, Law, Education, Wharton, History, Africana Studies, Engineering, and he currently is a lecturer in the Schools of Medicine, Social Work, and Urban Studies, where he teaches courses on American racism. In 1969, he helped the Graduate School of Social Work create required courses on American racism, making the University of Pennsylvania, the first school in American academia to have such courses. Over his many years of teaching, he has received the title of Teacher Par Excellence and has amassed several hundred medals, trophies, plaques, certificates, and awards for his active participation in multiple disciplines.