Five Minute Histories: The Marble Bar at the Congress Hotel

[@chris...9497]

Back in the late 1970's I was doing a radio show at Towson State University called "212-Live". It was a single student operation (I was the student) who went around recording local bands on a Teac reel-to-reel live in concert, then packaging the performance with interviews at the halfway point & end as a 60min broadcast. Anyway, I recorded Root Boy Slim there at the Marble Bar, as well as a later appearance by Original Fetish. I credit Root Boy's appearance as what damaged my hearing a little. My recording method was running a feed off the soundman's setup, which was center about 20ft from the stage. I had to listen in to the recording to correct volume & feedback while there was tremendous bleed-through of loud music from the stage & bouncing off the Bar's stone walls. My ears rang for days afterwards.

[@paulahubble]

Hi, thanks for this. It's the Slickee Boys not the Scary Boys. I've seen Slickee Boys multiple times. great local band.

[@stangondzar120]

In late 80s I worked at Congress hotel what a wild place . I spent most my time just shaking my head !!

[@jeffreynichols6367]

I have some memorabilia from the old marble bar. Two spare Ampex gauges from the sound board and a chunk of marble that was in the back of the bar apparently removed from the bar years before. I gave the marble piece to my mother years ago she now uses it to roll out pie crust, although she knows where it came from and likes to tell the story that Fred Astaire may have danced on her piece of Baltimore history.

[@ToxiCom-777]

All marble has a life of its own, a destiny all its own

[@follydude]

One of my favorite bands was called 4 out of 5 Doctors. Best of times in 79. H&H Camping across the street sold a bunch of punk rock gear and clothing. Sindy Heidel who worked there was a teenage crush.

[@brucewilliams2106]

I remember them!

[@marceldepontbriand1731]

The first floor is about to have new tenants come late October this year (2022), and I hear the owners are also looking to make a plan for the Marble Bar. About ~$250k is needed to get it up to code. Would love to see it occupied again!

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

Us too!

[@tombodensick4437]

Marble Bar...legendary!

[@riknewton-treadway1011]

the underground was so cool Roger and Leslie xoxoxox Renatta Hale love this place had pleasure of hanging and working here in the restaraunt and bar

[@ginsbergspancreas1361]

Was used in the Terry Gilliam Movie 12 Monkeys back in the 90's us was the nearby Engineers Club , and sadly the site of the recent Pava Marie Lapaore murder

[@mellissadalby1402]

In my opinion, the greatest band in that list is NRBQ.

[@sammyvh11]

I spent a New Years Eve there in the late 70s. There was a fight or two. Memorable night. Lots of non binary types.

[@terrizseleczky9794]

To true Baltimoreans - it is pronounced “Kir nan” like the hospital.

[@googoo-gjoob]

hmmmm, i thought it was Kernan....not Kiernin

[@scallopohare9431]

Put it this way, in 1971, the desk clerk didn't care if you had any luggage. 🫣💋🫣