Gaslight Square Illuminated

About this book

Gaslight Square Illuminated brings back to life the culturally fresh block that vitalized the urban night scene in St. Louis from the 1950s through the 1960s. Written by local authors Rich Fuegner and David Roth the book details the L-shaped intersection of Olive and Boyle that created enough hype and draw to reach an international stage. Tina Turner Barbra Streisand and the Smothers Brothers all got their feet wet in the area that became the original St. Louis hotspot. People from all over the United States flocked to spots like the Golden Eagle and the Crystal Palace hoping to catch the next musical sensation before they made it big or to enjoy a night out on the town. Unfortunately Gaslight Square s brilliance was only a flash as it disappeared in the late 60s. A combination of racial tensions media misrepresentation wildly reported crimes and a few less-than-reputable establishments snuffed out its light. Featuring more than 100 photos Gaslight comprehensively tells the tale of this long-lost era. Authors Fuegner and Roth are both St. Louis natives and have remained life-long friends after spending their undergraduate years together at St. Louis University. After spending many a night during that timeframe in Gaslight Square Fuegner and Roth find this book to be a fitting tribute to its brilliance.