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Disco Music > Discotheques and Clubs Index > Copa
Copa
2800 South Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Copa was "THE" stand out club and Disco in South Florida. It had a mainly gay client่le but many straight patrons would come just to hear the fabulous music and dance.
Located in Ft. Lauderdale most people didn't even feel the need to drive to Miami at that time because You could find whatever you wanted and more at The Copa. touted as the longest running, most recognizable gay nightclub in the world.
With its lush interior and decor of white palm trees sunken sitting area's the main room was carpeted in a medium to sea blue color with Glass block and neon it was a joy to the eye. Its large dance floor was very accommodating.There was a bar called the pirates cove that was sort of rustic looking with walls made of raw wood with a lacquered wood bar top that showed Porno all the time on a monitor "I didn't care for that," But that was the room for the more so called butch men.There was also a large patio outside that encircled about half the club and had two tiki style bars..There were plenty of bars to get a drink and places to sit down and chill when not dancing cruising or posing.
With several DJs passing in and out including Robbie Leslie, Bill Kelly, Stephen L Freeman and many others, the music was the best in Florida, I'd say the south itself.
Gorgeous bartenders waiters and busboys added to the view..
The Copa hosted many Diva's and Disco acts over the years, Many who say the club was their favorite or one of their favorite venues.
The Copa was an experience, an adventure not just a club.
Every night told a story and I wish I had the book.
Although I do own several pages maybe even a few chapters..wink.
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COMMENTS ON THIS DISCO / DISCOTHEQUE / NIGHTCLUB
The COPA was the place to go for great music! No doubt about it. Gay or straight, it was DISCO at it's best. It could be extremely wild and dangerous, like a scary Roller-coaster, that thrilled you to death! Great Club!! A TEN on my scale from 1-10.
Thank you, Dayna, for including me in your COPA write-up. I'm VERY flattered.
Getting a COPA Guest-DJ gig was no easy task. It wasn't until I'd been doing Guest-spots on both coasts, before they finally asked me. But when they did, I got "COPA weekends". :o) THAT was a BIG deal! You'd play COPA, FTL on Friday. Then they'd fly you down to Key West, to play the "other" COPA, on Saturday. Then fly you home Sunday. (The flights were on "puddle-jumpers". A twin-engine propeller plane, that was scary as hell! Needless to say, I opted to drive myself down and back, after the first gig.) And, on a couple occasions when I was booked back-to-back with Robbie Leslie, (Me in FTL & Robbie in KW, on Friday. Then the reverse on Saturday.) I had to be, especially, on-point.
It was always a thrill and a challenge, to play The COPA. That crowd was accustomed to hearing the best in the biz. And could chew you up & spit you out, if you didn't give 110%, the entire night.
Back in the day I was a pilot for Eastern Airlines flying 727s and later the great L-1011s between Florida and the northeast. A "steward" who we knew was gay took a few of us very straight (air force vets) airline pilots to this place one weekend. I was shocked at what I saw and our steward friend had a huge laugh on us.
(In those days Eastern and other airlines would find a way to fire you if you were gay. But even the straighest most right-wing pilot like myself would never betray a co-worker. Eastern is long gone, all the L-1011s have been scrapped and I'm retired. Our steward friend is still around too.)
The Copa stands out as one of the best clubs in South Florida ever. Bill Kelly was a genious on the turntables and would mix the most underground outrageous 80's disco and manage to throw in something new wavish or something from the 70's that fit perfectly. I truly miss this space since it went away after all the hurricanes (Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
I grew up in Daytona Beach, but have lived in several cities in Florida, including three years in Palm Beach. The Copa was ALWAYS the place to go! Always top notch DJs and music, as well as popular recording artists of the time.
I am both shocked and saddened that this club is gone. It seems many clubs and bars in Florida have met a similar fate, such as The Zodiac Lounge in Daytona Beach. But I guess we can't expect everything to remain the same. Other gay establishments I miss from South Florida are Marlin Beach Hotel and 13 Buttons.
To Capt. Milano: I am quite envious that you piloted those beautiful and majestic L-1011s. I have many memories of those, too.
I have been to the COPA a few times when I was with Bill Kelly's FLAMINGO RECORD POOL in the mid-eighties. Though I am straight, I certainly enjoyed myself. There were enough women there to satisfy me. But it was Bill Kelly who made me feel right at home. Besides a great deejay, he is a nice guy. The music of course was the latest, the crowd the wildest, and the booze, the real thing. Nothing watered down there. Every deejay who played there should be very proud. This was one of South Florida's best clubs, no matter your sexual orientation.
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