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La Scala Closes
My mother, Anne Scarborough, owned a jazz nightclub at this location immediately before it became a strip club. The name of her place was the Club Mardi Gras, and it was in business from 1965-1968. Some major jazz stars performed at the Mardi Gras: Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Anita O'Day, June Christy, Cal Tjader, to name a few. Unfortunately, my mother was forced to sell the club after prolonged pressure from a local organized crime syndicate. It was this group that installed the Booby Trap in that location. Just a bit of local history. Maybe some readers will remember the Mardi Gras.— September 13, 2011 10:38 a.m.