The Clarke Cooke House, built around 1780 for merchant shipper Clarke Cooke, originally stood at 285-289 Thames Street, at the foot of Green Street in Newport. In the 1960s and 70s, the historic building was transformed into Dorian’s, a candy store and nightclub. Dorian’s quickly became a hotspot for yachting crews, celebrities, and live music, hosting acts like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, The Cowsills, and Gary US Bonds, according to bapresley.com. Owned originally by James Tsagaris, the club attracted stars such as Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra. They write:
Based on a statement by Biggy Korn, I believe Dorian’s may have opened as early as 1963, but it was July 22, 1965, when The Newport Daily News sported an ad announcing ‘A New Tavern Comes to Newport.’ Its name was Dorian’s at 285 Thames Street. The building was listed on the Historic District Commission’s historic preservation list, listed as the Clark Cook House. […]
Dorian’s was a widely known establishment, well-liked by the yachting crews involved in America’s Cup competition. It hosted not only celebrity musicians, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Vanilla Fudge, and The Cowsills, but also was the place to be for noted celebrities, including Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra, who appeared there on their honeymoon. The first band to perform here was The Invaders.
Ads show The Cowsills began performing here in September 1966. Bill, Bob and Barbara had a regular Sunday night gig singing folk sounds as ‘A Family Scene.’ […]
In the mid-1960s, The Cowsills, a local band, launched their musical career at Dorian’s, playing as a four-piece group while still in high school. Despite their youth, they performed by setting up their younger brothers’ instruments upstairs and piping the sound into the main room, writes Mark Gorman of Newport This Week. Their time at Dorian’s allowed them to hone their skills, transitioning from folk to live rock performances, with support from club owner David Ray and manager Richard “Biggie” Korn. Gorman writes:
In the 1960s, one Newport band, The Cowsills, rose to the top of the charts and reigned supreme for around five years, even inspiring the 1970s hit television show, “The Partridge Family.” And they credit the musical opportunities they had in Newport as vital to launching their storied career. […]
“We started at Dorian’s (now the site of the Clarke Cooke House on Bannister’s Wharf) in my junior and senior years at Middletown High School in 1966 and 1967,” he said. “By that time, The Cowsills had been signed to two record labels and dropped from both. We had our four-piece band, with me and my brothers, Bill, Barry (who had moved from drums to bass) and John [on drums].
“Barry [age 9] and John [11] were too young to play at a club like Dorian’s, but somehow our dad pulled off getting the O.K. At first, we had to have Barry and John set up the bass and drums upstairs in a room above the club, and somehow we piped them into the main room downstairs where, even though you only saw Bill and me on stage, you heard the foursome.” […]
Dorian’s was owned by David Ray, then in his 20s, who helped manage the group, along with Richard “Biggie” Korn.
“David was instrumental in taking Bannister’s Wharf and turning it into the tourist attraction it is now after the Navy left town,” Cowsill said. “To this day, we hear from some of those sailors and other folks on our website, saying they remember us and the good times they had at Dorian’s while stationed in Newport.” […]
In the 1970s, David W. Ray purchased the building in 1973 and relocated it to Bannister’s Wharf, piece by piece, over a six-month period. The second and third floors were lifted, moved, and set on a new foundation, now serving as the wharf-level dining area. The Clarke Cooke House was reborn as a renowned Newport dining destination, blending its rich history with a modern, vibrant atmosphere. Walking through the Clarke Cooke House today, you can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the stars who once graced its halls.
