The Rosebud Bar was billed as the "Headquarters for Colored Professionals and Sports," and located in the heart of St. Louis's "Chestnut Valley," an early 20th century red-light district. Black Businessman and musician, Tom Turpin, opened the Rosebud, and for six years it was "the spot" for classic ragtime. The Rosebud was actually a sprawling entertainment complex, taking up much of a city block. There were two barrooms, a large room for gambling, and a hotel for gentlemen upstairs. In addition, the Rosebud had a connecting pool room, two dining rooms, and a wine room. One room was designated "The Hunting and Shooting Club," for those who liked outdoor, as well as indoor, sports. As a sort of annex to the Rosebud, in an alley about a block away, Turpin transformed a small shack into something called the Hurrah Sporting Club. The Hurrah membership had a piano, but no bar. Turpin advertised that he could "dress you up with all that makes a man lively--good beer and whiskey." All sorts of enjoyments were to be had in Chestnut Valley, and the Valley's center was the Rosebud Bar.
The Rosebud also played host to many traveling musicians and was the sight of cutting contests between pianists from various locales. Turpin sponsored piano playing contests in the Rosebud bar and was mentor to many young ragtimers, particularly Louis Chauvin, Joe Jordan, and Sam Patterson.
Tom Turpin, proprietor of the Rosebud Bar, is considered the
father of Ragtime and the first African-American to publish a rag. Turpin was
born November 18, 1871 in Savannah, Georgia to John T. and Lulu Waters Turpin.
The Turpin family moved to St. Louis. Turpin’s father, known as Honest John
Turpin, ran the Silver Dollar Saloon in St. Louis. Turpin played piano at
several establishments besides the Silver Dollar Saloon, most notably, the
Castle for Madam Connors.
Turpin was a large man, six feet tall and 300 pounds. He raised his piano on blocks so he could play standing up. Turpin wrote his first rag, Harlem Rag (1892) prior to the introduction of ragtime at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. By the summer of 1906 Tom Turpin had closed his Rosebud Saloon but Turpin and his brother Charles continued to manage the Dandy Coon Company-a vaudeville troop, a theater, gambling houses, dance halls, and sporting houses. Turpin owned other saloons including the Eureka club and The Jazzland Cafe. Turpin was a deputy constable before he died on August 13, 1922 in St. Louis.
References
African American Registry, http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/rosebud-bar-spot-ragtime
Berlin, Edward A.,King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era. Oxford
University Press.