(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Watchung Booksellers is hosting an author talk and Q&A on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 7:00pm to spotlight Positively Fourth and Mercer: The Inside Story of New York's Iconic Music Club, The Bottom Line. This exclusive panel discussion features Bottom Line co-founder Allan Pepper and music journalist Billy Altman, who co-authored the book, sharing anecdotes and perspectives from the club’s 30-year-plus history.
Moderated by local radio personality Jerry Treacy, the event will also unveil a gallery of rare photographs taken by long-time club photographer Peter Cunningham. Many of the images are featured in the book, with some never before seen publicly.
Register for the event here. A $5.00 admission price includes a 10% discount on a book purchase at the event. Watchung Booksellers is located at 54 Fairfield Street in Montclair, New Jersey.
Pepper and fellow music promoter Stanley Snadowsky opened The Bottom Line in 1974, creating a small club with a big goal: putting the artists and audiences first by building a creative environment with a focus on what transpired on stage.
“The Bottom Line was never just a venue,” Pepper said. “Stanley and I envisioned it as a new concept for presenting live music. We were always confident we could make that a reality, but what we had no way of predicting was the lasting impact this little club would have on New York’s music scene or the history of popular music. That’s the story we are telling with this book.”
Pepper described the practical choices that supported the “music first” philosophy of The Bottom Line since opening night: providing an intimate theater-like setup, with no minimum cover charge, no pressure on patrons to purchase food or drinks, and ongoing efforts to reduce noise during performances.
Those details are as much a part of Positively Fourth and Mercer as the photos and recollections from performers, patrons, and staffers.
“Allan and I wanted to present more than a collection of anecdotes,” Altman said. “Once we started working on this project, it quickly became clear we were outlining a rich narrative of cultural and creative energy. Positively Fourth and Mercer will appeal to readers with a passion for music, and to anyone attracted to stories of friendship, ambition, and the importance of following a dream.”
The recently released book is a behind-the-scenes chronicle of the legendary Greenwich Village music club. The Bottom Line was the site of many iconic music moments:
* Bruce Springsteen’s career-making stand in August 1975
* Dolly Parton’s first New York City performance in 1977
* Harry Chapin’s 1981 milestone 2,000th concert
* The annual holiday-themed “The Downtown Messiah”
* The “In Their Own Words” series in the 1990s, which brought together unique singer-songwriter pairings to perform and discuss their craft.
Promotional support for this event is provided by renowned Montclair music venue Outpost in the Burbs.
