When Ralph Edward “Doc” Daugherty opened the doors to Club Hangover in 1949, San Francisco gained more than just another nightlife venue- it gained a shrine to jazz. Daugherty, himself a seasoned clarinetist and saxophonist, had enjoyed a vibrant career leading hot dance bands, a swing orchestra, and even co-composing the popular hit “I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You).”
But upon retiring from active performing, his vision turned toward creating a space where the music he loved could thrive. That vision came alive at 729 Bush Street in San Francisco, where Club Hangover quickly earned a reputation as the West Coast’s top destination for Traditional, Dixieland, and New Orleans jazz. Jazz historian Dave Radlauer called Club Hangover “the ‘Premier Dixieland’ venue on the West Coast because there was nothing comparable, even in Los Angeles.”
The first regular house group to hold the stage was trombonist Jack Sheedy’s Jazz Band, whose energetic, foot-tapping performances set the tone for what the club would become. Soon after, Los Angeles cornetist Pete Daily brought his Chicagoans to the Hangover, while Sunday nights featured the soulful clarinet of Albert Nicholas, a New Orleans great who had made his way to San Francisco.
Always on the lookout for top talent, Daugherty reached across the country in 1950 and booked cornetist Muggsy Spanier from the Midwest. Spanier, already a beloved figure in the jazz world, became a recurring star at the club, returning again and again in the years that followed. His appearances, filled with punchy horn work and spirited ensemble playing, were highlights for local fans and visiting jazz aficionados alike.
The word spread quickly. With the help of live broadcasts on local radio, Club Hangover wasn’t just a club anymore- it was a cultural beacon. Listeners throughout the San Francisco Bay Area tuned in to hear the same magic that patrons experienced in person. The broadcasts cemented the Hangover’s reputation and made its performers household names among jazz enthusiasts.
Over the years, the club’s small stage welcomed some of the biggest names in traditional jazz. Louis Armstrong (pictured above), the undisputed King of Jazz, brought his joyful presence to Bush Street, thrilling crowds with his unmatched trumpet sound and charismatic vocals. Trombonist Kid Ory, one of the great architects of New Orleans jazz, led his band at the Hangover and kept the spirit of early jazz alive for West Coast audiences. Pianist Earl “Fatha” Hines, known for his dazzling technique and innovations that helped shape modern jazz, also graced the club’s stage. And Jack Teagarden, with his buttery trombone and warm, folksy singing voice, brought both virtuosity and charm to the intimate venue.
For more than a decade, Club Hangover stood as a meeting place for jazz royalty and their fans. It was more than a nightclub- it was a hub where history was made nightly, where the echoes of New Orleans blended with the energy of postwar San Francisco.
Now, the story and the sound of Club Hangover return in a new way. Swing Street Radio (in cooperation with Radio Sausalito) has launched Club Hangover Revisited, a traditional jazz program featuring rare live recordings from the venue’s golden years. Hosted by award-winning producer and respected jazz historian Dave Radlauer (longtime popular host of Jazz Rhythm), the series offers listeners a front-row seat to the performances that defined an era.
Club Hangover Revisited airs Fridays at 11PM Pacific & Sundays at 10AM Pacific, on Swing Street Radio. Tune in and relive the fog-kissed San Francisco nights when cocktails were fifty cents, the cover charge just five dollars, and the entertainment was truly- priceless.
Craig Roberts writes the “Hot Big Band News” column for Swing Street Radio, and on occasion claims to have been Jess Stacy’s piano tuner.
