They performed a show in which Powell sang dramatic renditions of songs by Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, George Gershwin, Bart Howard and others accompanied by Morton.

Holbrook’s act, Mark Twain Tonight!, later moved to Broadway in 1966, earning a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play and an Emmy nomination for its CBS TV special.

[2] Within months, Upstairs-at-the-Duplex had gained notoriety as a popular hotspot, including reviews in the New Yorker and Variety magazines, the latter often mentioning celebrities spotted enjoying shows there.

[2] According to TV-Radio Mirror, “It is a quiet intimate little place, so delightful that following the premiere of Guys and Dolls, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Wally Cox, and a group of friends came in for ‘a few minutes, and stayed for hours.’” Powell and Morton also released an album of songs they performed there titled ‘’Lovelady: Upstairs at the Duplex with Lovey Powell and Brooks Morton.’’ Noticing the success of his upstairs bar, owner di Martino wished to be more involved.

Though little information is available about performances in the three years that followed, listings in The Village Voice suggest that di Martino continued booking acts or leasing the space as he had done previously until 1959, when Jan Wallman took over as manager of the venue.