Michael Salter or Saulter (1868 – December 15, 1922) was an American saloon keeper, ward heeler and underworld figure in New York City. He was of Russian-Jewish descent.
New York saloon keeper and underworld figure in New York City at the start of the 20th century.
Biographyedit
He was born in 1868. He was a prominent figure in Chinatown, opening the first cabaret and dance hall in the district in 1904, and was popular among sportsmen at the turn of the 20th century.[1] It was at his establishment that Irving Berlin started his early musical career as a singing waiter prior to becoming a professional ragtime musician.[2][3] While working for Salter, Irving composed his first song for the club owner entitled "Marie from Sunny Italy" in 1907.[4][5][6][7]The Pelham was also reportedly the birthplace of the fox trot.[8]
His Pell Street resort, the Pelham, was considered part the boundary separating the territory of the Eastman and Five Points Gang, although Five Pointers leader Paul Kelly did not recognize the Eastmans' claim. His club, a popular Lower East Side underworld hangout, was also where James "Biff" Ellison and Pat "Razor" Riley planned the failed murder of Kelly at the New Brighton in November 1908.[2] Salter eventually sold the club prior to Prohibition and opened a restaurant in Coney Island around 1919. He also bought a residence on East Fourth Street in Brighton Beach. On December 14, 1922, Salter suffered a heart attack while at Surf Avenue and Seaside Walk shortly before midnight. He was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day.[1][8] At Salter's funeral, according to the New York Herald, "of the legions of notables who once found it pleasant to boast of Mike's friendship and familiarity with his notorious dive" only Berlin attended his funeral.[7]
Referencesedit
^ ab"'Nigger Mike' Saulter Dies. Old-Time New York Figure Is Victim of Heart Trouble at Coney". New York Times. December 16, 1922. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
^ abAsbury, Herbert. The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the New York Underworld. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928. (pg. 234, 269, 293-294) ISBN1-56025-275-8
^Batterberry, Michael. On the Town in New York: The Landmark History of Eating, Drinking, and Entertainments from the American Revolution to the Food Revolution. New York: Routledge, 1998. (pg. 217-218) ISBN0-415-92020-5
^Jasen, David A. Tin Pan Alley: The Composers, the Songs, the Performers, and Their Times. New York: Donald I. Fine, 1988. (pg. 70) ISBN1-55611-099-5
^Taylor, William Robert. Inventing Times Square: Commerce and Culture at the Crossroads of the World. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1991. (pg. 104) ISBN0-87154-843-7
^Furia, Philip. The Poets of Tin Pan Alley: A History of America's Great Lyricists. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. (pg. 48) ISBN0-19-507473-4
^ abNorwood, Stephen Harlan and Eunice G. Pollack, ed. "Irving Berlin". Encyclopedia of American Jewish History. Vol. 2. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2007. (pg. 684) ISBN1-85109-638-8
^ abMelnick, Jeffrey Paul. A Right to Sing the Blues: African Americans, Jews, and American Popular Song. London: Harvard University Press, 2001. (pg. 87, 101) ISBN0-674-00566-X
Further readingedit
Gong, Eng Ying and Bruce Grant. Tong War!: The First Complete History of the Tongs in America, Details of the Tong Wars and Their Causes, Lives of Famous Hatchetmen and Gunmen, and Inside Information as to the Workings of the Tongs, Their Aims and Achievements. New York: Nicholas L. Brown, 1930.
Harlow, Alvin F. Old Bowery Days: The Chronicles of a Famous Street. New York and London: D. Appleton & Company, 1931.
May 12, 2024
mike, salter, michael, salter, saulter, 1868, december, 1922, american, saloon, keeper, ward, heeler, underworld, figure, york, city, russian, jewish, descent, michael, salterborn1868dieddecember, 1922, 1922, aged, coney, island, york, united, statesnationalit. Michael Salter or Saulter 1868 December 15 1922 was an American saloon keeper ward heeler and underworld figure in New York City He was of Russian Jewish descent Michael SalterBorn1868DiedDecember 15 1922 1922 12 15 aged 54 Coney Island New York United StatesNationalityAmericanOther names Nigger Mike OccupationBusinessmanKnown forNew York saloon keeper and underworld figure in New York City at the start of the 20th century Biography editHe was born in 1868 He was a prominent figure in Chinatown opening the first cabaret and dance hall in the district in 1904 and was popular among sportsmen at the turn of the 20th century 1 It was at his establishment that Irving Berlin started his early musical career as a singing waiter prior to becoming a professional ragtime musician 2 3 While working for Salter Irving composed his first song for the club owner entitled Marie from Sunny Italy in 1907 4 5 6 7 The Pelham was also reportedly the birthplace of the fox trot 8 His Pell Street resort the Pelham was considered part the boundary separating the territory of the Eastman and Five Points Gang although Five Pointers leader Paul Kelly did not recognize the Eastmans claim His club a popular Lower East Side underworld hangout was also where James Biff Ellison and Pat Razor Riley planned the failed murder of Kelly at the New Brighton in November 1908 2 Salter eventually sold the club prior to Prohibition and opened a restaurant in Coney Island around 1919 He also bought a residence on East Fourth Street in Brighton Beach On December 14 1922 Salter suffered a heart attack while at Surf Avenue and Seaside Walk shortly before midnight He was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day 1 8 At Salter s funeral according to the New York Herald of the legions of notables who once found it pleasant to boast of Mike s friendship and familiarity with his notorious dive only Berlin attended his funeral 7 References edit a b Nigger Mike Saulter Dies Old Time New York Figure Is Victim of Heart Trouble at Coney New York Times December 16 1922 Retrieved 31 August 2009 a b Asbury Herbert The Gangs of New York An Informal History of the New York Underworld New York Alfred A Knopf 1928 pg 234 269 293 294 ISBN 1 56025 275 8 Batterberry Michael On the Town in New York The Landmark History of Eating Drinking and Entertainments from the American Revolution to the Food Revolution New York Routledge 1998 pg 217 218 ISBN 0 415 92020 5 Jasen David A Tin Pan Alley The Composers the Songs the Performers and Their Times New York Donald I Fine 1988 pg 70 ISBN 1 55611 099 5 Taylor William Robert Inventing Times Square Commerce and Culture at the Crossroads of the World New York Russell Sage Foundation 1991 pg 104 ISBN 0 87154 843 7 Furia Philip The Poets of Tin Pan Alley A History of America s Great Lyricists New York Oxford University Press 1992 pg 48 ISBN 0 19 507473 4 a b Norwood Stephen Harlan and Eunice G Pollack ed Irving Berlin Encyclopedia of American Jewish History Vol 2 Santa Barbara California ABC CLIO 2007 pg 684 ISBN 1 85109 638 8 a b Melnick Jeffrey Paul A Right to Sing the Blues African Americans Jews and American Popular Song London Harvard University Press 2001 pg 87 101 ISBN 0 674 00566 XFurther reading editGong Eng Ying and Bruce Grant Tong War The First Complete History of the Tongs in America Details of the Tong Wars and Their Causes Lives of Famous Hatchetmen and Gunmen and Inside Information as to the Workings of the Tongs Their Aims and Achievements New York Nicholas L Brown 1930 Harlow Alvin F Old Bowery Days The Chronicles of a Famous Street New York and London D Appleton amp Company 1931 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mike Salter amp oldid 1112189569, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
