The Crystal Palace was founded in St Louis by Jay Landesman in 1954. His primary occupation in the Fifties was running a family antique business. He was also a writer and entrepreneur of many interest and talents.

The building was originally a notorious gay bar called 'Dante's Inferno' until it closed shop on New Year's Eve. Jay opened it up as The Crystal Palace and decided to make the best martini in the West. Out went all the formica, in went all the marble. Out went the neon lighting, in went the chandeliers to create a new style of bar. Jay's biggest problem was to find the ideal bartender. Jack O'Neil wasn't the typical Irish bartender but his background was impressive. He had been an underground agent for the Anti-Defamation League, a part-time instructor of sociology at Washington University, a member of the local Fascist party, and before that a Trotskyite political activist. The fact that he knew how to make a cocktail was incidental.

The Crystal Palace quickly became a favourite stopping place, not only for the St Louis bohemian set, but for ad men, brokers, engineers, doctors and St Louis socialites. They were attracted by the eclectic décor as well as the bohemian atmosphere and the opportunity to engage in conversation with the Landesman's artistic friends. Novelists James Jones, Chandler Brossard and Shepard Rifkin were among those from Jay's New York circles who spent time in St Louis and became regulars at the bar.

Jay discovered the Compass Players in Chicago, a group of improvisational actors that included Alan Arkin, Mike Nichols, Severn Darden, Del Close, Elaine May, and Barbara Harris. He brought them to St Louis to bring a new type of theatre to the Crystal Palace .

Because of the success of the Compass Players , the Crystal Palace moved to the centre of the Gaslight Square district, in former antique shops, to develop more theatrical acts. The performers included Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Barbra Streisand, the Smothers Brothers, Phylis Diller, Gypsy Rose Lee and Dick Gregory.

In Landesman's words, 'If it is true that culture is only alive in a town that has good bars, St Louis was heading for a renaissance.'