Club Triangle - Oakland

1935 ⁵

Club Triangle was a night club at 6031 Adeline at Stanford Avenue, on the west side of where Driver Plaza now sits. It was also referenced with 851 - 61st Street. It first opened in 1933. NB: the name was spelled Klub Triangle in a few references after it was sold in 1965.

Just 9 weeks after Prohibition ended in 1933, it opened as the Triangle Beer Garden, run by "Charley and Bill" who had previously run Alcatraz Eats. ⁹

With much fanfare, it re-opened as Charley Rush's in May 1934. A photo shows an elegant cabaret with white tablecloths, and it featured dancing to Charley Rush's 4-Piece Orchestra. Offerings included wines from Theodore Gier Wine Company.

1934 ad ¹⁰1934 ¹⁰

Charley's involvement seems to have been short-lived. The 1938 directory lists him as a meat cutter at J.M. Rush Meats, a business owned by his brother, Jack M. Rush.

In 1935, Franklin Lewis and Clarence Andrews filed for a cabaret permit for the location. ¹ Clarence "Babe" Andrews was involved with it until he sold his interest in 1965. ²

Boxing promoter Max Blum was also an owner from 1935 to 1965. According to his obituary, the club was a favorite meeting place for East Bay boxing enthusiasts. ³ His name appears along with Clarence Andrews in the 1938 directory. That directory also lists Richard Lewis as a musician at the club, and lists the club under "Restaurants and Lunch Rooms."

1940 ad ⁶

In 1965, the club was sold to Verlin E. Mattox. ⁷ Mattox already owned two bars in Oakland, the Til-Two on Shattuck Avenue, and the Leilani Cocktail Lounge (Where The Graduate was on Claremont until 2024.) According to a permit at the time, he called it Klub Triangle & Campus. ¹¹

Unfortunately, the club and the surrounding businesses were all but destroyed in a fire in November 1967. The cause was under investigation, but an OFD battalion chief noted that the blaze was fed by two 50-gallon drums of oil or solvent in one of the auto shops. ⁸ Mattox applied for permits to repair and refurbish the building, including removing the upper floor and re-framing the roof, the club reopened. Around this time, Mattox sold the club to Bill Burroughs. ¹¹

Bits and Pieces

Rustee Allen, former bass player with Sly and the Family Stone, performed at Club Triangle
Richard Diebenkorn, artist, used a "funky space" behind the bar as a studio from 1958 to 1963. The space was recognizable for its red and white checkered floor ⁴

1911 Sanborn excerpt 1950 Sanborn excerpt

The 1911 Sanborn shows a liquor store at 6029-6031 Adeline, and a connected saloon at 6033.

For much more about the club, the businesses that occupied the space, and the people involved, see the Summer 2024 issue of the Journal of the Emeryville Historical Society. ¹¹

Summer 2024