Other Legendary Clubs

Please, help out with more information of the clubs listed in this page... AND... Feel free to supply information on other classic Disco clubs as well !!! Here are other legendary clubs for which I'm looking for as much information as possible... I need completing information of the full club name, the address, the active years, the names of Resident-DJs and all other information; e.g. what happend to the club/building, what kind of crowd it had and other additional info. Or - If you have got photo's, invivations, logo's, membership cards or anything else... Please mail me any and all information you have... Mail ME   direct e-Mail: discoguy@disco-disco.com   CLUB:  2001 ODYSSEY Zoom address: 802 64th Street Brooklyn - New York City active years: 1975 - ??? ??? - Feb. 12, 2005 (as Spectrum) DeeJays: Chuck Rusniak(1975-1977) Ralph "Ralphie Dee" D'Agostino (Sep 1977 - Feb 1980) Joey "Cousine" Viola (1978 - 1980) websites: Disco-Disco: Mantus DJ Portal: Ralphie Dee information: — owner - Charlie Rusniak — Charlie ran the club together with his son, Chuck — the place was transformed into 2001 Odyssey Disco in the mid 70's and mylar was put on the walls and big multi-colored plastic balls were hung from the ceiling to give the illusion that you were out in space — all the regular guests used to reffer to the club as just 'the Odyssey' — already in 1976 Disco greats like Tramps, Gloria Gaynor, Tavares, Carol Douglas and others played here — this is the club where John Travolta strut his stuff in Saturday Night Fever — the world premiere of the movie was at Oceana in Brighton Beach in Dec. 16, 1977 and the premiere party took place at the Odyssey — the original dance floor was a stainless-steel metal floor which was later replaced by the legendary disco dance floor seen in the movie which had over 300 flashing lights and was actually installed by the movie makers just to improve the looks for the movie — the floor measured approximately 24 x 16 x 1 feet and was composed of twelve 4 x 8 feet plexi panels situated atop a wooden frame matrix housing over 300 separate light compartments with colored bulbs illuminated by the use of a 'light organ'. — when entering the club you went down a couple of stairs. To the right was a small room with a U-shaped bar and a pinball machine. There was a go-go dancer in that part of the bar. If you went straight when you walked down the stairs it was like a little lobby. There were bathrooms and a coat check and down the hall to the left was the disco. As soon as you opened the doors you saw the dance floor — there was also this little 'balcony' around the dancefloor as seen in the movie — the movie was based on Nik Cohn's history 'the Tribal rites of the new Saturday night' as published in New York Magazine in May 1976 — there was a real Tony Manero (Travolta's character), a blond guy called Eugene Robinson who worked in a supermarket — 2001 Odyssey had a 'sister' club in the Statler Hilton Hotel in 33rd st. & 7th Ave., Manhattan — the 2001 was more or less the home club for the band Mantus, for example they performed in the club in March 30, 1979 with Jocelyn Brown on vocals — acts booked for one club should also play the other the same night — DJ's Ralphie D & Joey "Cousin" used to run Teenage Disco Day on Saturdays and Beach Parties on Sundays (Where people hanging at Brighton or Manhattan Beach left in the afternoon and went straight to the club... in their beach attire, staying into the evening) — Ralphie & Joey also bought the car used in Saturday Night Fever and used to park it out front so people could have their photo taken in it — before becoming 2001 Odyssey, owner Charlie Rusniak had been running called Club 802 since 1948 in this former Norwegian Soccer Club premise — later it became the Spectrum Disco, a mainly gay club and they maintained the clubs original Saturday Night Fever dance floor, disco ball and its 70s-style lighting — in February 12, 2005 the last dance steps were taken on this legendary disco dancefloor, this was the last night of Spectrum and in April 1st the floor was out for auction — Photo: John Travolta on 2001 dancefloor — Photo: 2001 Odyssey dancefloor — Photo: 2001 Odyssey DJ Booth — Photo: Spectrum source: Joey / Billy Playlist 1978  DJ: Joey "Cousine" Viola  DEVIL'S GUN - CJ & Company BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE - Taste of Honey LE FREAK - Chic MACHO MAN - Village People GET OFF - Foxy YOU MAKE ME FEEL - Sylvester I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE - Alicia Bridges HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE - Bee Gees LAST DANCE - Donna Summer I LOVE AMERICA - Patrick Juvet NIGHT FEVER - Bee Gees IN THE BUSH - Musique RISKY CHANGES - Bionic Boogie DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO - T-Connection SHAME - Evelyn "Champagne" King HOLLYWOOD - Village People MORE THAN A WOMAN - Tavares    CLUB:  ADAM'S APPLE Zoom Zoom address: 61st Street & 1st Avenue New York City active years: DeeJays: David Todd Steve Mack John "Johhny Disco" Quinn websites: information: — owners were Mel Stier (who owned the Audubon Ballroom, Hunts Point Palace and Palm Gardens, which later turned into the Cheetah), Joe Cavallaro (one of the producers of the musical Hair) and Felix Brinkman, who also took the role of general manager of the club — it was a dining club in multi levels with 2 suspended dance floors. Upstairs there were about 75 tables and downstairs there were least 40 — Adam's Apple had a big rectangle bar with 4 complete bar stations, 4 bartenders, plus a dedicated service bar and bartender — the logo was a big red apple with a bite out of it on a yellow background — the club was crammed with real and artificial trees and plants like a jungle — they had a big purple mirror ball in the back — Lee Marvin and Wolfman Jack were frequent visitors — it was located right across the Dangerfields Comedy Club and Magique — Photo: Felix Brinkman at Adam's Apple source: Phil LeBash / John Quinn / Rick Brinkman Playlist June 1975  DJ: David Todd  CHICAGO THEME - Hubert Laws EXPANSIONS - Lonnie Liston Smith FOREVER CAME TODAY - The Jackson 5 FREE MAN - South Shore Commission THE HUSTLE - Van McCoy LOVE DO ME RIGHT - Rockin' Horse MAN WAS MADE TO LOVE WOMAN - Bobbi Martin SEXY - MFSB SUPERSHIP - George Benson SWEARIN' TO GOD - Frankie Valli    CLUB:  ADONIS Zoom address: 230 Second Avenue at 64th Street New York City active years: 1975 - 1976 DeeJays: websites: information: — owner ??? — Adonis was a Greek discotheque in uptown NYC — called itself, "Le Discotheque Pour Le Chic" — it had a straight crowd with slick Greek, Italian and Latino Hustle dancers from the tri-state areas — the club had a small Richard Long Sound Associates system — prior to becoming Adonis the club was called Pegasus — Photo: the Adonis Dancefloor — Photo: the Adonis Dancefloor (another view) — Photo: Adonis Businesscard source: Phil LeBash   CLUB:  BAREFOOT BOY Zoom address: East 39th Street at 2nd Avenue New York City active years: 1974 - 1977 ? DeeJays: Tony Smith (1974-1977) Lary Sanders (1975-1976) (photo) John "Jellybean" Benitez (photo) Joseph "Joey" Madonia Roy Thode (photo) Kevin Burke websites: Disco-Disco: John "Jellybean" Benitez information: — owned by Jimmy Merry (who also owned the Ice Palance in Fire Island, Ice Palace 57, the Red Parrot, The Country Cousin, The Lib [formerly Stage 45] and the bars/restaurants Cowboys & Cowgirls on E.53rd St, New Jimmy's on 3rd Ave & 88th-89th St and Harry's Back East on 3rd Ave) — had a large Puerto Rican & Cuban crowd — it had a small but very intimate dance floor and four bartenders in a circular bar at the front entrance — Kevin Burke was the first DJ, then Tony Smith took over and played there for years and was joined by Lary Sanders — later the club was renamed Zeus and in the early eighties it was called Stix — Photo: Barefoot Boy Ad source: Anthony / Paul / Kevin / Judy Playlist December 1975  DJ: Tony Smith  I LOVE MUSIC - The O'Jays Salsoul Orchestra (LP) LADY BUMP - Penny McLean I AM SOMEBODY - Jimmy James & The Vagabonds ERUCU - Mahogany Soundtrack EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART - Crown Heights Affair INSIDE AMERICA - Juggy Jones MIGHTY HIGH - Mighty Clouds Of Joy CASANOVA BROWN/(IF YOU WANT IT) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON - Gloria Gaynor CHANGE (MAKES YOU WANT TO HUSTLE) - Donald Byrd   CLUB:  BETTER DAYS Zoom address: 316 West 49th Street New York City active years: 1972 - 1988 DeeJays: Tee Scott Frankie Knuckles Francois Kevorkian Kenny Carpenter Shep Pettibone Bert Lockett Bruce Forest Larry Patterson Andre Collins websites: information: — owner - ??? — had a large dancefloor — mainly black gay street rough crowd — was more like a bar-club — had originally a crap sound system and equipment, no mixer, pre-cue or likewise. Tee Scott had to re-wire and build everything up — in 2007 there is a Brazilian BBQ Restaurant in the former club source: Dawn Playlist December 1976  DJ: Tee Scott  ANOTHER STAR/I WISH/AS - Stevie Wonder CAR WASH - Rose Royce DANCE AND SHAKE YOUR TAMBOURINE - Universal Robot Band DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY/DON'T KNOW WHY I LOVE YOU - Thelma Houston I'VE LEARNED FROM MY BURNS - Spider's Webb OPEN SESAME - Kool & The Gang OVERTURE - D.C. LaRue STUBBORN KIND OF FELLA - Buffalo Smoke UNDER CONSTRUCTION - El Coco YOU'RE MY DRIVING WHEEL/LET YOURSELF GO - The Supremes   CLUB:  BOND'S INTERNATIONAL CASINO Zoom Zoom address: 1530 Broadway (between 44th & 45th Street) New York City active years: July 1980 - 1983 DeeJays: Raul Rodriguez John Ceglia (photo) Kenny Carpenter Sharon White (photo) Bert Bevans (photo) Steve Mack websites: Disco-Disco: Maurice Brahms Disco-Disco: John Ceglia Disco-Disco: Bert Bevans Disco-Disco: Sharon White information: — owners John Addison & Maurice Brahms, later Mike Stone — the place had previously been Bond's Men's Clothing Store — owners put in over 1.5 million dollars in the place — enormous club - 9000 square feet of open space — the main dancefloor could hold some 3000 people — there was a second dancefloor downstairs and 5-6 VIP rooms upstairs - each in size of a normal todays club — it was reputed to be the world's largest disco — the sound system was designed by Richard Long, who also did the Paradise Garage — Bond's was originally more of a Punk/Rock Club but by late 1981 dance music ruled — crowd was a mixture of black and white, staight and gay — UK Punk rockers, the Clash, filled the club several nights in a row in 1981, this also led to a fans riot at Times Square — today it's some kind of diner/teathre called Bonds 45, but you can still see BONDS written on the brick wall in 44th Street — Photo: Bond Clash Poster — Photo: Bond 45 Restaurant - 2006 source: Shereen / Chris / SAV Some Bond's Classics  DJ: Kenny Carpenter  KEY WEST - Kasso BIG SPLIFF - Black Uhuru I KNOW YOU, I LIVE YOU - Chaka Khan MAGNIFICENT SEVEN/DANCE - the Clash   CLUB:  CONTINENTAL BATHS Zoom address: 2107 Broadway & 73rd Street New York City active years: late 1960's - 1975 DeeJays: Larry Levan (photo) Louie Gagliano (photo) websites: Disco-Disco: Larry Levan information: — owner Steve Ostrow — Continental Baths was located in the basement of the legendary Ansonia Hotel, where famous people like composer Igor Stravinsky lived — the club was a gay bathhouse which was advertised as bringing back 'the glory of ancient Rome' — being a gay club the place was raided by the police several times which made Steve install a secret light warning system — Continental Bath had a disco dance floor, a cabaret lounge, sauna rooms, a swimming pool and it could could serve 1000 men, 24 hours a day — in the height of the club's fame, Continental Baths towels were sold at Bloomingdale's — the club was the first bathhouse in the USA to have two doctors from the New York City Department of Health on premises on Monday and Thursday evenings, providing venereal disease counseling — it was also the first establishment of its kind to have a live DiscJockey in a glass booth spin tunes for guests at night and on the weekends — Larry Levan was lightman in the club when the resident DJ just walks out in 1972, Larry have six hours to get a record collection together, he play his first DJ gig and became the resident DJ — many of the greatest performers entertained at 'the Baths', most famous is Bette Midler who began her career there in 1972 accompanied by Barry Manilow on the piano only wearing a white towel — other acts who performed in the club was Melba Moore, the Manhattan Transfer and soprano Eleanor Steber, who gave a 'black towel' concert there in 1973 — the famous acts performing in the club attracted more and more straight people and by 1974 most of the gay crowd left kind of 'overnight' — the comedy drama movie 'Saturday Night At the Baths' was filmed on location — in 1975 Continental Baths was shut down and was reopened as a heterosexual swingers' club called Plato's Retreat [see below] source:   CLUB:  DANCETERIA Zoom address: 252 West 37th Street (first location) 30 West 21st Street (second location) 30 East 30th Street (third location) New York City active years: March 1980 - ??? DeeJays: Mark Kamins Johnny Dynell Anita Sarko Walter Durcots Freddy Bastone Mark Fotiadis Shaun Casset websites: Danceteria NYC Danceteria Flyers information: — owners Jim Fouratt & Rudolf Pieper — in it's first location it replaced a previously shortlived club called Armageddon — in it's second (and most famous) location it replaced Interferon, a multilevel club — the club scene from 'Desperately seeking Susan' was filmed at Danceteria — it was in Danceteria Madonna got her break through the DJ Mark Kamins, she also occasionally worked in the club — Keith Haring [famous painter] worked in the cloakroom and Sade in the bar — Beastie Boys also had their big break in the club — the crowd was mainly black and the music was a mix of New Wave and a little Rock. Not so much plain Disco — the club is mentioned in Nina Hagen's song "New York New York" — the place later became a club by the name, the Melting Pot — Danceteria was also housed in the ThirtyThirty Hotel, 30 E 30th Street (between Madison & Park Ave.) in the mid 80's and there it was run by John Argento, who had been the financial partner already in the old locations source: David / Greg / Ross / Sara   CLUB:  FUNHOUSE Zoom Zoom address: 526 West 26th Street Manhattan, New York City active years: March 30, 1979 - 1985 DeeJays: John "Jellybean" Benitez (photo) (Apr 1981 - Jun 1984) Jim Burgess (photo) Bobby "DJ" Guttadaro (photo) Jonathan Fearing Randy Murray Lil' Louie Vega (1984 - 1985) websites: Disco-Disco: FunHouse Disco-Disco: Jellybean Disco-Disco: Jim Burgess information: — owners Joe Monk — the club had a clown as its logo — a 12-foot clown face was by the dancefloor and the DJ booth was in the clown's mouth — in the premier night DJ's supremes Jim Burgess and Bobby 'DJ' Guttadaro played — there was a game room with video games and an electronic punching bag — the club became one of the main scenes for the electro and break dance culture — many of the best break acts performed the main stage, even Madonna made some of her first performances here (as she was the girlfriend of Jellybean) — DJ/Producer Arthur Baker used to have Jellybean try out his new tracks on the FunHouse crowd — the crowd was mainly hispanic and italian kids, called buggas — New Order's video for 'Confusion' was filmed in the club — FunHouse Photos source: Discoguy   CLUB:  GALAXY 21 Zoom Zoom address: 256 West 23rd Street (between 7th & 8th Avenue) New York City active years: 1972 - 1976 DeeJays: Walter Gibbons Joseph 'Joey' Madonia websites: information: — owner George Freeman — Walter Gibbons was the DJ and Francois Kevorkian started out here playing live drums on top of Walter's mixes. Kenny Carpenter did the lights — it was a multilevel club located in two adjoining townhouse type buildings. There was a main level long bar in the left building and the main level of the right building contained a tunnel like dance floor — second floor had a restaurant, game room, chill-out area and a movie room where cult films and some soft porn was played — third floor housed a smaller bar and tiny dance floor that was all dark and intimate — pay about $10 in the entrance and then all drinks were free — the crowd was a mix of gay, straight, ethnic and celebrity source: Steve   CLUB:  (This & That) GALLERY Zoom address: 136 West 22nd Street (first location) (between 6th and 7th Avenues) 172 Mercer Street & Halston (second location) New York City active years: Feb 1972 - July 1974 (first location) Oct 1974 - Oct 1977 (second location) DeeJays: Nicky Siano (photo) Larry Levan (photo) Frankie Knuckles (photo) websites: Disco-Disco: Nicky Siano Disco-Disco: Larry Levan Disco-Disco: Frankie Knuckles information: — owner Nicky Siano and his brother Joe — the name was 'This & That Gallery', but was just called 'the Gallery' by everyone — the Gallery was a stricktly private club, no walk ups were allowed — Nicky was the first to install 3 turntables in a NYC club — as the DJ Nicky often used songs with specific lyrics to send messages like "the Love I lost", "Where's the love?"... — both Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles worked in the club, but they didn't DJ there — Loleatta Holloway made her first performance as a dance artist in the club and Grace Jones made her first US apprearance at the Gallery — the crowd was a mixture of all people, anything/anyone could be found here — on Independence Day Nicky once dressed up like the Statue of Liberty reading the rights of the people of the Gallery — one night Nicky and Larry played all night in drag — first location was closed due to missing emergency exits — Alex Rosner built and installed the high quality sound system in the club, he built bass horns to the club already in 1973 along with the first crossover — second location had room for almost 2000 people and it had a balcony over the dance floor, it also had the first light system with moving ligts on three teirs, which made the lights 'move into the cieling' — a "Gallery movie" with live footages from 1976-77 will open in early 2005 as well as a "Gallery compilation" CD out in September 2004 — Photo: the Gallery Discoball — Photo: Nicky of Liberty by Gallery flag — Photo: the Gallery Dancefloor source: Nicky   CLUB:  ICE PALACE Zoom address: Fire Island, Cherry Groove Long Island New York active years: 1971 (??) - ??? DeeJays: Bobby "DJ" Guttadaro (photo) Jim Burgess (photo) Robbie Leslie (photo @ Studio 54) Roy Thode (photo) John Ceglia (photo) Sharon White (photo) David Todd Bacho Mangual websites: Disco-Disco: Jim Burgess Disco-Disco: Robbie Leslie Disco-Disco: John Ceglia Disco-Disco: Sharon White information: — owned by Jimmy Merry (who also owned the Barefoot Boy, Ice Palace 57, the Red Parrot, The Country Cousin, The Lib [formerly Stage 45] and the bars/restaurants Cowboys & Cowgirls on E.53rd St, New Jimmy's on 3rd Ave & 88th-89th St and Harry's Back East on 3rd Ave) — the club had an outside patio around a pool — all the beautiful people of Long Island frequented the club — it was here Barry White's 'Love theme' were first played by Bobby "DJ" back in 1973 — prior to becoming the Ice Palace the club was known as the Boom Boom Room, and in the 60's it was called the Bat Cave — after the Ice Palace the place became the Silver Shadow — Photo: Ice Palace lightning in 1975 source: Judy   CLUB:  ICE PALACE 57 Zoom address: 57 West 57th Street New York City active years: 1977 - 1984/85 ? DeeJays: Frank Houlihan Robbie Leslie (photo @ Studio 54) Roy Thode (photo) Sharon White (photo) Rene Hewitt Bacho Mangual websites: Disco-Disco: Robbie Leslie Disco-Disco: Sharon White information: — owned by Jimmy Merry (who also owned the Barefoot Boy, Ice Palace in Fire Island, the Red Parrot, The Country Cousin, The Lib [formerly Stage 45] and the bars/restaurants Cowboys & Cowgirls on E.53rd St, New Jimmy's on 3rd Ave & 88th-89th St and Harry's Back East on 3rd Ave) — the place was managed by Lou, Klaus and Jon-Jon — there was a $10.00 cover charge which included two drinks — the club were packed every night with a line down the entire block during the weekends — every Sunday the club opened at noon for Tea Dance and the club was full to capacity until closing — the club had an unsurpassed lightning system, one of the best ever — guests had to come down the stairs to enter the club's main room, the main bar was to the left with a lounge area — there was a giant dance floor in the middle which was surrounded by kiosk style seating against mirrored walls — most of the walls were created of Mylar mirrors, which would reflect the extensive lighting displays and make for a visually stunning, occasionally overwhelming experience. — the DJ Booth was enclosed in glass and was located in the far right back corner of the room — another service bar was located across the DJ booth, towards the front of the club, facing 57th Street — some of the bartenders were Carlos, Jimmy, Steve, and Patrick — there were also a celebrity lounge where regular guests as Andy Warhol, Grace Jones, Halston, Bianca Jagger and others could be seen — years before becoming Ice Palace 57, the place was known as Club Martinique, where Frank Sinatra used to perform — in 1984/85 the club was sold and became the Silver Shadow — there's an Ice Palace 57 reunion being planned, more information HERE — Photo: Ice Palace 57 - Drink ticket source: Michael / Paul / Judy / Scarlet Gypsy (Drink ticket)   CLUB:  MAGIQUE Zoom Zoom address: 61 Street at 1 Avenue New York City active years: 1979 ? - 1982 ? (a few years) DeeJays: Preston Powell Tony Smith Frank Houlihan Bill Quinn Patrick Labbate Vini Puentes websites: information: — owner - Gary & Steve Rodgers, Bruce Garfunkel and Jerry Denberg — Magique was a Regine's wannabe, just a bit younger — Magique was a two stories club and was concidered 'small' by NYC standards, some 1200 people could be in the club — VIP room on the second floor — they had their own laser lightning system — the club had mainly a straight crowd, but with some Bi/Gay people — it was located across the Adam's Apple and the Dangerfields Comedy Club was just up the Avenue — in the club special parties were held for people like Diana Ross/Motown, Blondie and Christopher Reeves as well as for many Modeling Agencies, the Ms Universe Coronation party and several Penthouse Magazine parties featuring many 'Penthouse pets'. — Celeb's seen in the club were among others; Grace Jones, Disco Sally, Divine, OJ Simpson, Robin Williams, Frankie Crocker, Ron Jeremy and Robert Duvall — Disco Sally had her wedding reception in the club — Magique later became Chippendales which was run for a couple of years by the same owners — the building was demolished some years ago source: Mitch / Bill Quinn Playlist circa 1980/1981  DJ: Bill Quinn  HILLS OF KATMANDU - Tantra HIT'N'RUN LOVER- Carol Janni CAN'T FAKE THE FEELING - Geraldine Hunt SET ME FREE - Three Degrees LP/12" tracks - Lime BiCOSTAL - Peter Allen GIVE ME A BREAK - Vivian Vee Sleeze sets: HOT BUTTERFLY - Bionic Boogie (Jim Burgess Mix) TAKE OFF YOUR MAKE-UP - Lamont Dozier PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER - Buddy Miles LA VIE EN ROSE - Grace Jones   CLUB:  PLATO'S RETREAT Zoom address: 2107 Broadway & 73rd Street (first location) 509 W 34'th Street (second location) (between 10th and 11th Ave) New York City active years: 1975 - New Years Eve, 1985 DeeJays: Bacho Mangual websites: information: — owners Larry Levenson and ??? — Plato's Retreat was located in the basement of the legendary Ansonia Hotel, prior to Plato's the premice was known as the Continental Baths [see above] — the club was a heterosexual swingers' club located in a bathhouse which was advertised as bringing back 'the glory of ancient Rome' — Plato's Retreat had a disco dance floor, sauna rooms, a swimming pool with waterfalls and it could welcome some 1000 people a night — no liquor was served in the club, but the drug scene was pretty intense in NYC most famous sex club — the club was moved to it's second location sometime around 1980 — in its heydays the club attracted celeberties like Madonna, Richard Dreyfuss, Sammy Davis Jr, Paul Newman, Ron Jeremy and John Wayne — the Clubs logo looks like two mirrored 2's and symbolize two kneeling lovers facing each other — Joe Thomas sung about the club in his 1978 T.K. hit called just Plato's Retreat, where he was vocally backed up by Jocelyn Brown, Diva Grey and Gwen Guthrie — Plato's Retreat was shut down by the City of New York on New Year's Eve, 1985, at the height of the AIDS epidemic — Photo: Plato's Retreat in 1983 — Photo: Plato's Retreat membership card and rules — Photo: Plato's Retreat matchbook — Photo: Plato's Retreat ashtray — Video: Plato's Retreat in 1977 — Song: Plato's Retreat - Joe Thomas source: Mike   CLUB:  RED PARROT Zoom address: 617 West 57th Street between 11th and 12th Aveue New York City active years: New Years Eve 1980 - 1988 DeeJays: Frank Houlihan Robbie Leslie (photo @ Studio 54) Roy Thode (photo) Sharon White (photo) Kevin Burke websites: Disco-Disco: Robbie Leslie Disco-Disco: Sharon White information: — owner - Jimmy Merry (who also owned the Barefoot Boy, the Ice Palace on Fire Island, Ice Palace 57, The Country Cousin, The Lib [formerly Stage 45] and the bars/restaurants Cowboys & Cowgirls on E.53rd St, New Jimmy's on 3rd Ave & 88th-89th St and Harry's Back East on 3rd Ave) — Jimmy had a genuine concern for all his personel, from managers down to busboys — the Red Parrot was the size of a warehouse and spanned an entire block, between 57th and 58th streets) — this huge club could have some 3200 guests and the dancefloor some 1000 dancers — the club opened New Year's Eve in 1980 and it's first three New Year's Eves featured Cab Calloway and his Orchestra — in the beginning the mix of people was 60% wealthy, hip straights and 40% gay. 'ALL' of the employees were gay and in the mid 80's the club mix became more gay — the façade, as well as the foyer, were all imported Italian slate, which had to be regularly treated with boiled linseed oil to keep the tiles glossy and non-porous — in the foyer there was a 10-foot high neon parrot and you needed to pass through a chromed wire-fence 'hallway' to enter the dancefloor — the DJ booth was huge and could accommodate 2 DJ's, 2 lightning guys, 1 laser-light operator, 2 sound engineers and 4 guests at the same time — in the front, close to the dancefloor, was the main bar with 6 bartenters. There was another bar with four bartenders in the back, and then further back, down a small flight of steps, the VIP area, with its own bar — the club was designed by Sam Lopata with walls in a frosty-reflective silver metal surface, glossy black vinyl couches, black carpenting, cocktail tables of metal grating and staircases with colored lighting from underneath — the bathrooms were all done in millions of 1" round black glossy tiles, with black grout, from floor and walls to ceiling — there were also two triangular glass cages which held a pair of full-grown Macaw parrots each. Each cage was air-conditioned and sound-insulated so the birds didn't hear the sound and people tapping on the glass — there was a big rotating stage as well as a small special see-through glass floor stage which could be raised and lowers from the ceiling — there were also three "go-go" cages that could be raised and lowered, like elevators, right onto the dance floor — people like Madonna, Smokey Robinson, Nancy Wilson, George Clinton, Parliament, Funkadelic, Curtis Hairston and many others performed at the Red Parrot — prior to Red Parrot the location was the High Rollers roller Disco rink — the Club was sold in 1988 to John Juliano and was turned into the club Emerald City. — the building was demolished in 2004 to give rooms for a skyscrape. source: Paul Lewis / Judy   CLUB:  REGINE'S Zoom address: 502 Park Avenue, corner of 59th Street New York City active years: 1976 - 1991 DeeJays: Daniel Glass websites: information: — owner Regine, her actual name is Regina Zylberberg — Regine's was the most chic, expensive, classy and upscale club in New York at the time — "evening elegance" was the dresscode, which meant jacket was always required — admission was $12 in 1978 and the club was open from 22:30 - 04:00 — the club was designed in Art Deco style for some $500000 by Alberto Pinto and had a $20000 soundsystem — the dancefloor was made by plexiglass with 4 built-in heartshaped neon tubes — famous people like Paloma Picasso, Jackie Onassis and Andy Warhol partied in the club along with ALL the rich and famous from all over — Jewish-Belgian born Regine had opened up her first club 'Chez Regine' in Paris already back in 1958, which is claimed to be the first real Discotheque as they played recorded music instead of having live bands — at the height of her carreer there was 19 Regine's all over the world, including London, Cairo, Rio, Monte Carlo and many other citites — in 1979 Regine also recorded the frensh version of the Gloria Gaynor classic "I will survive", "Je survivrai", on the US Prism label — the club is mentioned in Andrea True Connection's track "NY, You got me dancing" (along with 12 West and the Silver Dollar) — Photo: Regines card with cake source:   CLUB:  ROXY Zoom Zoom address: 515 West 18th Street (between 10th & 11th Ave) New York City active years: December 8, 1979 - March 10, 2007 DeeJays: Danny Krivit Roman Ricardo DJ Julio Afrika Bambataa Robbie Leslie (photo @ Studio 54) John Ceglia (photo) Sharon White (photo) Frankie Knuckles (photo) Big Bob Grandmaster Flash Afrika Islam Grand Master D.ST Junior Vasquez Hex Hector Johny Visious websites: Disco-Disco: Robbie Leslie Disco-Disco: John Ceglia Disco-Disco: Sharon White Disco-Disco: Frankie Knuckles information: — original owners - Steven Greenberg, Bill Graham and Richard Newhouse. Eugene DiNino acquired the club in 1985, he also owned Eugene's — location was originally a truck parking lot before it was turned into a club — Roxy is a huge place, in the size of an airplane hangar — the DJ line up in the opening night was Danny Krivit, Elise Sokol and DJ Julio — Roman Ricardo along with DJ Julio were the resident DJ's for years — the club was originally a Roller Disco and still had Roller Disco nights on Wednesdays until its closure — it later became more of a old school Hip-Hop club with Hip Hop pioneer DJ's like; Afrika Bambaataa, Afrika Islam, Grandmixer D.ST, Jazzy Jay and Grandmaster Flash — Friday nights varied, but Saturday nights were gay night and had been since the mid 90's — the Roxy NYC was featured in the movie Beat Street, starring Falcon Crest actor Lorenzo Lamaz — the club is mentioned in Nina Hagen's song "New York New York" — artists such as Cher, Madonna, Beyoncé, Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, Yoko Ono and Gloria Gaynor have all performed at the Roxy — Roxy closed in the 80's to become a latin/freestyle club - '1018'. That club closed and the place was reopened as Roxy again — Photo: ROXY party — Photo: ROXY rollerparty source: Sara / DJ Julio / Discoguy Playlist January 1980  DJ: Danny Krivit  AND THE BEAT GOES ON/OUT THE BOX - The Whispers COMPUTER GAME "THEME FROM THE CIRCUS" - Yellow Magic Orchestra I SHOULDA LOVED YA - Narada Michael Walden I'M CAUGHT UP - Inner Life I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER/SEXY DANCER - Prince I WANNA ROCK YOU - Giorgio JUST A TOUCH OF LOVE - Slave LOVE INJECTION - Trussel Masterjam (LP) - Rufus Off The Wall (LP) - Michael Jackson ROTATION - Herb Alpert SING, SING, SING - Charlie Callello Orchestra SECOND TIME AROUND/RIGHT IN THE SOCKET - Shalamar VERTIGO (MEDLEY)/RELIGHT MY FIRE (MEDLEY) - Dan Hartman YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME/UNDER YOUR SPELL - Phyllis Hyman   CLUB:  THE SAINT Zoom Zoom Zoom address: 2nd Ave & 6th Street New York active years: September 20, 1980 - May 2, 1988 DeeJays: Jim Burgess (photo) Roy Thode (photo) Robbie Leslie (photo @ Studio 54) Sharon White (photo) John Ceglia (photo) Shaun Buchanan Michael Cavalone Alan Dodd Michael Fierman Warren Gluck Nao Nakamura Chuck Parsons Wayne Scott Terry Sherman Mark Thomas light men: Richard Tucker Mark Ackerman Jorge Villardell Richard Erskine Tony Devisia Richard Sabala websites: Disco-Disco: Jim Burgess Disco-Disco: Robbie Leslie Disco-Disco: Sharon White Disco-Disco: John Ceglia SaintDisco.com AndWeDanced - the Saint Saint - 5 AM information: — owner Bruce Mailman and Charles Terrell — the Saint opened in the old Fillmore East theater, which had been a Rock club in the 70's — the location was a huge 50'000 square feet three level club with lots of doorways, passages, stairs, balconies and overlooks — it was a gay membership club, over 3'000 men had paid $250 each for a membership within three weeks of the club's opening — close to $5 million was invested in concrete, glass, marble and steel to create this exceptional club with its fantastic lighting, sound system, amazing hydraulics and mechanical support. Most of the money spent came from Bruce Mailman's successful venue St. Mark's Baths — had a huge 5000 square feet dancefloor under a enormous 76 feet high dome — in the center of the dancefloor was the hydralic lift mounted lightning system which could create effects like a eternal night sky or a wonderful sunrise — close to 500 speakers was included in the Saint's phenomenal sound system — the club held famous "black & white parties" and other theme evenings — DJ Jim Burgess held his legendary Swan Song Farewell (retirement) party in the club in January 31, 1981 — the club throw a 48 hours non-stop farewell party before closing in May 2, 1988 — last dance song played was Jimmy Ruffin's "Hold On To My Love" followed by Marlena Shaw's performance of "Suite Seventeen". The closing classical music was one hour long and included "Pomp and Circumstance" (from Clockwork Orange), "Mefistofele" and "Beethoven's Ninth" (final movement) all according to DJ Robbie Leslie. — much EuroDisco and Hi-NRG music were played — Photo: Jim Burgess Farewell Party flyer — Photo: Saint matchbook source: Discoguy / Jim / Robbie Some Saint Classics  HIGH ENERGY - Evelyn Thomas HOLD ON TO MY LOVE - Jimmy Ruffin I FEEL LOVE (Patrick Cowley remix) - Donna Summer IT'S RAINING MEN - Weather Girls SEARCHIN' - Hazell Dean SHOOT YOUR SHOT - Divine SO MANY MEN, SO LITTLE TIME - Miquel Brown THAT'S THE MEANING - Beautiful Bend TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING - Marlena Shaw WHEN YOU WAKE UP TOMORROW - Candi Staton WHERE IS MY MAN - Eartha Kitt WITHOUT YOUR LOVE/ALIVE WITH LOVE - Cut Glass   CLUB:  THE SANDPIPER Zoom Zoom Zoom Zoom address: 37 Fire Island Boulevard Fire Island Pines, N.Y. 11782 active years: 1970 - 1979 (10 seasons) 1980 - 2006 (as the Pines Pavillion) DeeJays: Don Findley (1970-74) Tom Moulton (tapes, 1972-1974) (photo) Barry Lederer (tapes, 1975) (photo) Lary Sanders (1976-77) (photo) Tom Savarese (1976-77) (photo) Robbie Leslie (1978-79) (photo @ Studio 54) websites: Disco-Disco: Tom Moulton Disco-Disco: Barry Lederer Disco-Disco: Robbie Leslie information: — owners Gene Smith and Ron Malcomb — the Sandpiper was a high-end supper club prior to 1970, then it also became a Discotheque during the nights — some 500+ people danced the nights away during the hot summer nights, and the crowd was mainly gay men — it was in the Sandpiper Tom Moulton's reel to reel extended Disco mixes could first be heard in the Summer of 1972, and during the two following seasons — the Sandpiper was one of the first clubs to install an excellent Graebar Sound system and it included Bose Speakers and a Graebar update for the 1976 season; clusters of tweeters, bass cabinets and subwoofers were added to the Bose already in place — the DJ Equipment was 2 Technics 1200 turntables, a Bozak mixer and Phase Linear Amps — everything followed a blue and white theme and the premise was divided in half by a row of banquets, where one half was the dance floor and the other the dining room area — the light show was simply small twinkly Christmas lights running up and down along the wooden beams. Because of the mirrored walls and blue plexiglass columns with the same twinkly lights it created like an infinitely long 3D Trompe L'oeil kind of effect — the club was a summer retreat for the private membership club rosters of New York City's 10th floor and Flamingo — its patrons esoteric attitude only added to the reality of being at the most exclusive summer dance club on earth (at that time). With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Long Island Sound on the other while yachts docked 30 or 40 feet from the dance-floor, the deejays earned the clubs reputation of being the creme de la creme of all discotheques — the Sandpiper used no themes for their parties, but many private homes did put on these special events — in late 1979 the club was sold and it was opened up in 1980 as the Pines Pavillion. At that time it had expanded its size by adding a 2nd floor — in September of 2006 the legendary building was demolished and a piece of history was destroyed forever — Photo: Sandpiper demolished source: Lary Sanders Playlist Spring/Summer 1976  DJ: Lary Sanders  YOU'RE MY PEACE OF MIND/LIFE GOES ON - Faith, Hope & Charity CHERCHEZ LA FEMME/SOUR & SWEET - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL/DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC - Tavares TRY ME, I KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT/COULD IT BE MAGIC - Donna Summer YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE/RUN TO ME - Candi Staton YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE - Lou Rawls MIDNIGHT LOVE AFFAIR/IN THE MORNING - Carol Douglas BEST DISCO IN TOWN - the Ritchie Family THIS IS IT - Melba Moore I NEED YOU, YOU NEED ME - Joe Simon Playlist Spring/Summer 1977  DJ: Lary Sanders  NATIVE NEW YORKER - Odyssey I FEEL LOVE - Donna Summer IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW/YOU ARE YOU ARE - Linda Clifford SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER SOUNDTRACK: Stayin' Alive/Night Fever/You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees & If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman STOP & THINK/LOVE EPIDEMIC/TRUSTING HEART - The Trammps LA VIE EN ROSE/THAT'S THE TROUBLE/SORRY - Grace Jones LOVIN' IS REALLY MY GAME - Brainstorm DEVIL'S GUN - CJ & Co. GIRL DON'T MAKE ME WAIT - Pattie Brooks ECSTASY - Barry White   CLUB:  TENTH FLOOR Zoom address: West 28th Street New York City active years: 1972 - 1974 DeeJays: Ray Yeates websites: information: — the owner was David Sokoloff — the club was located on the tenth floor and was a private disco with 400 members, members could bring two guests — membership was $75 — it was a loft space, white, not very large, windows on the front with seating, chairs and sofas, directly across was the dance floor and the DJ booth, it was an intimate space — the elevator often didn’t work so the guests had to walk up 10 flights — the 10th Floor crowd was a very glamorous, beautiful and chic white gay crowd, it was the crowd who frequented Fire Island as well as the Flamingo — it was only open on weekends and served no alcohol, they only had a juice bar and bowls of fruit — novelist Andrew Holleran refers to the club as the Twelfth Floor in his novel 'Dancer From The Dance', where he thinks gay sensibility meets the American dream and produced what he calls the 'strange democracy' of the dance — the club was located across the street of the legendary Everard (nicknamed Everhard) Baths, which was an old church converted into a bathhouse in 1888 and it had been patronized by gay men since the 1920s and it was in the Everard Baths the famous 12 West DJ, Jimmy Stuard, died in a fire in May 25, 1977 source: Reg / Barry R 10'th Floor Classics  ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice DIRTY OL' MAN - Three Degrees DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes GIVING UP - Zulema I'M DOIN' FINE NOW - New York City LAW OF THE LAND - The Temptations LOVE TRAIN - O'Jays MAKE ME BELIEVE IN YOU - Patty Joe NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE - Gloria Gaynor T.S.O.P. - MFSB WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN - Three Degrees   CLUB:  UNDERGROUND Zoom address: 860 Broadway at 17th Street New York City active years: 1980 - 1989 DeeJays: Jim Burgess (photo) John Ceglia (photo) Robbie Leslie (photo) Roy Thode (photo) Gregg J. Deger (Fridays 1982-1985) Richie Rivera Michael Fierman Wayne Scott Richard Viglione Kevin Burke websites: Disco-Disco: Maurice Brahms Disco-Disco: Jim Burgess Disco-Disco: Robbie Leslie Disco-Disco: John Ceglia information: — owner Jay Levy & Maurice Brahms — opened to pick up the slack from Studio 54 when Ian & Steve went to jail — the club was open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights as well as for Sunday Tea dance — it was a huge club and it had some 4-5 bars — brick, mirror, neon, wrought iron and hardwood, a very masculine and beautiful room with a great Richard Long sound system — lightman, Eric Erickson, was one of the most creative and yet under rated artists in New York. "Eric was the Underground" [John Ceglia] — the club played much New Wave music like Spandau Ballet and similar — there are some scenes from the club in the the 1980's movie Liquid Sky — in 1986-87 the club changed it's name to Union Square — the place was later turned into a store and currently [2007] it's a PETCO store — Invite: France Joli Valentines Day Front — Invite: France Joli Valentines Day Back source: John Ceglia, Dominick Pinto Playlist circa 1980/1981  DJ: John Ceglia  WITHOUT YOUR LOVE/ALIVE WITH LOVE - Cut Glass IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND - Viola Wills HILLS OF KATMANDU/WISHBONE - Tantra HIT'N'RUN LOVER- Carol Janni MASTER BLASTER - Stevie Wonder INSIDE YOU - the Isley Brothers HOT LEATHER - the Passengers SAN SALVADOR/ANY TIME & PLACE - Azoto YOUNG MEN DRIVE FAST - the Quick LIVING UP TO LOVE - Companion [Boris Midney]

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