Bris Collins’ first tavern, at 405 N. Washington burned down in 1949. He was able to rebuild and would eventually give Pryor a much needed regular gig at the same site.
Peoria
A digital companion to the biography Becoming Richard Pryor
Fire Gutted Tavern To Be Replaced by Modern Structure
Date: 11/24/1949
Citation:
"Fire-Gutted Tavern To Be Replaced by Modern Structure," The Peoria Journal Star, Nov. 24, 1949.
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1. Before Marie Pryor Came to Town (1874-1934)
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Adaline Cole, Colored Queen of Peoria’s Underworld
–1870s-1890s–Ad Cole, 19th-century madam, brought glamour and audacity to North Washington St.
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Eaton Street, home of Diamond Lil’s resort
–1930s–The street in the red-light district where Marie Pryor settled — and where Peoria's most famous 20th-century madam plied her trade
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“Diamond Lil” Found In Cell; Keeps Silence
–12/27/1931–Diamond Lil, a black madam in Peoria, was squeezed by the DA but refused to name names
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Miss Diamond Lil’
–2/2011–An account of the rise and fall of Diamond Lil', a well-connected black madam in 1920s and 1930s Peoria
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2. Red Light District in the Spotlight (1935-1945)
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North Washington Street
–1938–The block, in the red-light district, where Pryor was raised
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U.S. Plans To Close City to Men On Leave
–01/28/1942–A spike in VD in Peoria led the US public health board to take action
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Attention Citizens!
–3/5/1942–The Jaycees led the attack against the red-light district
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Peoria Vice Hit By Government
–3/18/1942–The Christian Century editorialized against Peoria as “the sinkhole of midwestern vice”
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Carson Orders Resorts Closed
–5/8/1942–Illinois's State Attorney stepped in where Peoria's mayor did not, attacking the red-light district
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Vice Termed As Sabotage
–12/07/1943–Ministers called vice “sabotage” and accused Peoria's citizens of thwarting the war effort
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The Pryor Family at the Famous Door
–c. 1945–The Pryor family diversified its operations, becoming proud owners of a tavern in the mid-40s
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Ellis Sergeant Slugged, Robbed
–2/13/1945–A black sergeant, flush with cash, was robbed on N. Washington Street — and Richard's father seems to have been the culprit
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‘China Bee’s’ No-Jail Record Remains Intact
–12/24/1969–China Bee Parker, wife of Harold, ran a N. Washington St. brothel for thirty years without spending a night in jail
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3. Living with the Law and the Bulldozers (1946-1957)
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Fire Gutted Tavern To Be Replaced by Modern Structure
–11/24/1949–Collins lost his first tavern to fire, but rebuilt the building and business
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Ad Club Joins Fight on ‘Red Lights’
–6/5/1951–A new partner in the coalition against vice: the Advertising and Selling Club
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Bris Collins Held on Bogus Money Count
–7/10/1951–Arrest was nothing new for Collins
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Fayette-Jackson Is Area for New Span
–7/26/1951–The Murray Baker Bridge was over fifteen years in the making
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John Clark Discovers Negroes Now Talking
–10/11/1952–A reporter dropped into Bris Collins's tavern to take black America's pulse — and met Richard's “Uncle Dickie”
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Bris Collins’ Tap Raided, Closed; Baseball Pool Czar Fined $1,000
–5/23/1953–“Cleaning up Peoria” meant more raids on Bris Collins' place
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State to Clear 14 Buildings Here
–7/9/1953–Richard Pryor's childhood home was demolished to make way for the Murray Baker Bridge
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Joe Eagle Indicted on Lie Charges
–7/2/1954–Joe Eagle, a fellow N. Washington St. brothel owner, was charged with perjury and tax evasion
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Is it True What They Say About Peoria?
–mid-1950s–Whisper Magazine punctured Peoria's reputation as an All-American city
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4. Hanging On, After Urban Renewal (1958-1963)
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Waitress Says Parker ‘Sapped’ Her
–7/21/1957–Parker and his bouncer beat waitresses over $1 mistake
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Harold Parker Resolves His “Cop Trouble”
–9/22/1959–Harold Parker fought the law in Chicago — and won
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Harold Parker, Boy Wonder of Peoria
–9/26/1959–A columnist for Black Chicago took note of stylish Harold Parker and his “interracial night club”
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Harold’s Club
–c. 1960–Harold Parker, proud proprietor of “Harold's Club”
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Cop in Closet Sees Bribe
–6/26/1961–Parker tried to “set things right,” but instead he lost his liquor license
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Day v. Illinois Liquor Commission
–1/24/1963–Mayor Day did everything in his power to shut down Harold Parker's club
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