"Shoeshine Charley" Miller
Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge
The Big Top is the local extension of the Continental Club. It came to life when vintage circus paintings were found preserved on the walls and soon discovered that the building had housed Playhouse Toys, a Houston institution for many years beginning in the 1940’s. A perfect starting point for the new neighborhood lounge.
Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top Lounge is the proper name and is a tribute to The Master of Ceremonies "Shoeshine Charley" Miller. Charley moved down to Houston as soon as the new Continental Club was up and running to lend a hand to Pete Gordon and give him hell, as well as keep all the musicians in line. Everyone who knew Charley loved and adored him (unless you stood too close to his shine stand "pitiful" without gettin a shine) His band introductions were legendary and a true honor when Charley would bring them up onstage and butcher their names (just ask "Ali-hondo Escalator" if you don't believe me). Charley’s shoeshine stand watches over the Big Top with pride nightly, and you can always find top-flight entertainment, Peter and James, The Ugly Beats, The Light Rock Express, Nick Gaitan and the Umbrellamen, Allison Fisher and many more.