Esther’s Orbit Room was a popular jazz club and hub during the cultural scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The club transitioned from a hotspot destination and talent showcase as jazz culture faded from the Seventh Street district.
Esther Mabry and her husband, William, opened the club together. Esther had previously worked as a waitress for the Slim Jenkins Supper Club on Seventh Street before opening her first hospitality service, Esther’s Breakfast Room. The owner, “Slim” Jenkins, was another integral player in the development of the nightlife scene of West Oakland, aiding the growth of West Coast blues along with Esther.
Seventh Street was a cultural hub hosting the African-American community. Due to the reach of segregation into the world of entertainment, musicians were not able to perform in downtown Oakland. This segregation led to the development of Seventh Street as Oakland’s “Harlem of the West.” Esther’s Orbit Room was another key contributor to this cultural scene. The club hosted a variety of jazz musicians, such as B. B. King, Al Green, and Etta James.
Seventh Street experienced a radical shift after WWII. The once vibrant and upcoming neighborhood found itself overwhelmed with community displacement. The loss of jobs left Seventh Street vulnerable to crime and violence. This was the turning point for the downfall of the burgeoning renaissance and the decline of the once famous Orbit Room.
Esther’s Orbit Room lost Esther, but it kept the club open until 2009. She passed in 2010.
Haunts:
- Esther’s Orbit Room, 1724 7th Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
- Slim Jenkins Supper Club, 1748 7th Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
~ by Azali Powers ~
