Entertaining a predominantly white clientele, it was known for its raucous floor shows featuring gyrating black dancers accompanied by high-energy jazz bands led by the likes of Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, and Lucky Millinder.

While it was fine for them to frequent the all-black shows at the Paradise Club, none of the black performers could use the whites-only beach at the Traymore.

[5][6] Like other nightclubs in the district, the Paradise Club succumbed to a drop-off in business from the advent of legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City.

[9] The interior was designed like "a Prohibition-era roadhouse" with darkened rooms, low ceilings, and small tables arranged around the dance floor and stage.

[2] The stage shows opened with singers warming up the crowd with "risqué vaudeville tunes" and comedians dressed in "overalls and straw hats [who] told raunchy jokes".

Alternate shows featured "light-skinned" dancers in feather boas and bikinis performing in front of "a trio of African American drummers dressed like the natives in a Tarzan movie".

[11] The gyrating, hip-thrusting dancers were considered a bigger draw for the white audience than the musicians, who included future jazz greats Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, and Lucky Millinder.

[14] Popular acts at the Paradise Club included Salt and Pepper, a black female tap dancing duo,[2] Dorcyee Bradley, an exotic dancer,[15] and comedy team Stump and Stumpy.

[23] The Paradise Club was one of four Atlantic City nightclubs raided by police in July 1940 on suspicion of illegal gambling activities.