DiscoMusic.com

Thank you, Bernie, for posting this one. Members check the Forum for the chit-chat (and photo) leading up to its posting. This after-hours club re-defined big. Marked by nothing more than a small, unfinished wooden kiosk at the entry door, upon entry one faced an enormous horseshoe-shaped bar. I seem to remember there was room for at least a dozen bartenders/barbacks there. Farther back, the dance floor was the size of an extra-large gymnasium. And at one end, the club's namesake; a one-story tall perfect (half-round) replica of a can of Crisco (the one with the cherry pie) atop which was the DJ/light booth). The music was excellent. Wide wrought-iron staircases took one to the second floor, where there were three bars, a "yuppie" themed bar, a "leather" bar, and another that escapes my memory. Notable was that, for an after-hours club, the decor was done with talent and restraint (somewhat bright yet quite chic in its simplicity -- I don't remember who did the club but it looked like one of Sam Lopata's designs). There was also a very luxurious (and always jam-packed) VIP room where all sorts of hedonism went on. The room was decorated with the same tasteful simplicity that the rest of the place was; but the surfaces were genuinely luxurious. The party nearly always lasted 'til 10 or 11 in the morning.

I remember DJ Frank Corr playing at Crisco........Frank was very good......He played stuff like Patrick Cowley's "I Wanna Take You Home," Two Man Sound : "Capital Tropical," "D.A.N.C.E by Night Force............Feels Like I'm In Love....Kelly Marie.........Carol Jiani's Hit N Run Lover..................a Crisco CLASSIC........GARY LOW: YOU ARE DANGER.................WOW!!!!

PS: Frank Corr moved to Floriday (Miami to play at a club called 1235 I believe...) and also played at Studio 54 for a while....however, I am not sure of his whereabouts....He also played at TORIES NYC for a while........I would love to hear more about what happened to FCorr.....

HI, its me DANNY RODRIGUEZ, one of the djs from crisco disco just wanted to mention a few people that worked at crisco also, djs, michael haines{known as michael copa, jhon cellini, derek and sergio on the lights, dennis and david , the bartenders and jimmy peaunuts the manager.

hi its me frank corr i'm living in ft. lauderdale i'm retired but keep buisy with rental properties. i've dj'd at some of the local clubs -the pier-seamonster-endup-mankind-to name a few. i was doing guest spots at ice palice fire island until my good friend chuck davis became ill with cancer and passed away. bye for now..FRANK

Frank Corr, you were fabulous....I was a big fan of yours and even hung out w/you many times at Criscos. I was there when you played the Saturday's at Studio 54 and also when you did 1235 in South Beach which of course wasn't called South Beach during that time.

You were a fabulous DJ and you were a darlin' person as well. Keep in touch and it is wonderful to hear that you are around and doing well. You were one of the BEST. I will say in all honesty that for your vast talent and extreme humbleness, you were "very underated" undeservingly so. By not by me and others who just love the stuff you played and the way you played it. One night you mixed Toto's Africa into "Let Me Go by Heaven 17 and it just blew my mind. God bless!

This is the most amazing thing to relive the glory days. This place was so great i used to leave my house at 2am, go to a few places to waste time to come here. i used to pick up all my friends on christopher street and we used to shuttle carloads of friends back and forth to the club. we carried on and partied well into the morning. i loved sitting on the banquets and just hanging. The music i am convinced, i only heard there. wow, thanks for the memories.

here you are again soul 70'z- crisco was another one of my haunts. i was alway's comped there and many of my drinks too. i met alot of people through the club scene and we would meet here after closing other clubs @ 4 am. (a taxi ride to paradise) the vip room is where i would settle. corr & rodriquez were very good hi energy dj's. (great atmosphere) to many good times to mention.

I danced at Crisco Disco from 1980 through closing in June 1983. My friend, Mario Melian introduced me to Crisco. I loved Saturday's , I would arrived at Crisco around 2:30 a.m. They had fabulous drag queens like Misoni, tiny, etc
The Puerto Rican boys doing the hustle on the second floor was fun. Always leaving Crisco, you would see a row of yellow taxi's lined up on 15th street.
Favorite records heard at Crisco: "lay all your love on Me" Abba. "Step by Step" Divine. "Mickey" by toni Basil. "Stars on 45"
Plus anything by Sylvester, etc.

Hi Andy here...bartender/manager. Living in Ft Lauderdale believe it or not next to Frank Corr! Living with my partner of 23 years, Kevin Daly, DJ Ice Palace. Betwenn Kevins music and Franks over the fence I feel like I'm back at Crisco somtimes. Managing Liberty Travel in Ft Lauderdale. Danny ever get down here?

Dear Andy, Kevin (and, send a message over the fence) Frank Corr: We're planning an important reunion of Ice Palace staff and regulars. We'd like at least a few anecdotes, maybe scans of photos, etc. if not your participation. The link to the thread referring to this at this site is: http://www.discomusic.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8298
It's heartwarming to know that you guys are in FL and still okay. Andy, do you remember Scarlet Gypsy? She's part of our group and remembers you well. Click on the thread or use contact info in my profile. See ya!

crisco disco was the best place ever to hang with friends and have a great time.
the dj and music was legendary. does any one remember the door man angel?
i would always show up with 10 people and knock on the door. he said how many i use to say 10, and he said what are you doing to me. i remember the song "party boy" it was crisco disco anthem. halloween was the best. it never ended. i miss that club terribly and also i miss the friends that i lost to aids that always went to crisco with me.

Frankie Corr! This is Larry -- you gave me my first break in the biz when you hired me to spin at the Lining, doing the Thursday "New Wave Night." I spotted your posting here and wanted to give you a shout. Hope all is well!

this is to tato. i was one of those boys dancing the hustle with my brother on the second floor. we were quite good. we lived in connecticut and would go there to dance of course but to pick up any of the latest hustle steps. we both loved the atmosphere to dance the hustle there.

I remember getting left at Crisco by my friends who both got picked up. I had no money or transportation and needed to get back to Connecticut. One of the bartenders took me for coffee at the World Trade Center and put me on a train! I don't remember his name, but I'll never forget him!

i'm glad to find some of the old friends from the good old days of disco in new york, my name is Frank Ponte I use to go to criscodisco back in the early 80's, I had a good friend of mine from jersey, Peter Strong you may remeber him as the doorman at crisco he was good friends with Frankie Corr, We all use to go out together on sunday night to the palladium and The Saint, After they closed down Crisco's Peter became GM at studio54 and i started working their with the both of them, Frankie and Peter, I've even hung out with them at Pete's house in Blairstown N.J. I'm glad to here you doing fine and frankie is still keeping in contact, I would love to send an email to frankie if you have an address or if you know anything of Peter Strong, How graet would it be to bring back the good old days of disco, I remeber some of my favorite songs frankie use to play at crisco's " Abba The Visitors" "Goomba Bay Band- Rain Rain Rain" I still have those records and when i play the and close my eye's it brings me back to those happier times, Well i won't keep you any longer, Thanks...
Sincery Yours,
Frank Ponte

Whatever happened to Hank the owner??? I miss the VIP room ....
and the goodies

The best thing about Crisco was that it was only $5.00 to get in. Halloween at Crisco was out of the world!

OMG. To think the world thought 54 was the hottest place in NY. 54 was just a place to Hang Out until it was time to go to Crisco Disco.

We used to meet at Uncle Charlie's in The Village. Then figure out where to go, yet again to 54, or just stay at Charlies and drink until it was time to walk over to Crisco Disco.
I remember allot more than just the music and the BEST lighting that was ever created.
But nobody has mentioned the obvious.

Does anyone remember the black guy on the dance floor who's T-Shirt lit up exposing the galaxy? The best acid! And I know you all did it. Hey it was the 70's or was it the 80's. Guess if you remembered you weren't really there! I had my one and only bad trip there. The funny thing is I met someone at Charlie's many moons later and he said he had the same Trip I did. I never did tell him about my trip. He would never believe we had an identical trip.

I wonder how many others thought they were Dancing In Hell? Was it the perfection of the lights moving to the Techno Pop or was it the greatest dancers all moving, as if choreographed, to the beat?

My friends threw me a surprise party, I think it was my 23 birthday, and after partying too much we all piled into cabs and headed to Crisco. I was born around Memorial Day and Crisco was throwing a party for the occasion. After everyone at my party gave me different "Party Favors" it was bound to happen that tripping at Crisco would turn into something WILD!!! Guys were dressed as dead Sailors who drowned. Two sailors were spreading a net out on the dance floor as if this was an everyday occurrence, 3 Native American Indians were dancing together as if they were calling upon some god to join the party and I also remember 3 Top Models, The 2 guys dressed in green Tuxedos str8 out of The Wizard of Oz with their Gorgeous Girlfriend. All this and I hadn't dropped the acid yet!

We were awaiting the man with the zany zapper T-Shirt to arrive. The guy mysteriously popped up on the dance floor and my friends made sure that we were all taken care of. I was dancing to a Disco song that I wish I knew the name. All I do remember about the song was the chant Love Will Turn Around. At least that's what I thought the words were. At that moment I started getting "hit."

The placed was packed to the rafters and we, surprisingly enough kept meeting friends at the club that we never dreamt would even know such a place existed.

I shut my eyes spinning to the words Love Will Turn Around and just let Go. The song seemed to last forever and when I opened my eyes everyone was in a circle watching me.

EVERYONE!!!

IT FREAKED ME OUT!!! These were the best dancers I ever saw in my life and they felt I was worth the time for them to stop dancing and watch me go dance.

I had to sit down. Too much too absorb as I was getting off. I sat to the right of the Crisco Can, right in front of one of those amazing speakers. The speakers vibrated to the music. Boy was that a bad idea to sit there. I went deaf from the sound. The only thing I could try to do was read lips. But the Music came thru Loud and clear. Kraftwork was on and the speakers vibrated to” Music Non Stop."

There was perfection to the whole evening. Too perfect. My friend Kitty batted her ultra lucent eye make-up at me when I told her the music made me deaf. That was Kitty's way to communicate with me. Others started dancing for me as I sat in front of the speaker, I was too F*cked up to move, and in my mind I felt that the true surprise party was being held for me at Crisco and that everyone was in on out. Everyone except me.

I started to think that this place is Hell. I thought it was my coming out party as the anti-Christ! I wanted NO PART OF IT! Then a guy wearing white sneakers started to dance for me, his sneakers turned into flames.

I thought everyone was ready to yell surprise and welcome me as their Savior. OMG!!!

I ran to the entrance of the upstairs bar rooms to seek quiet. My friends gathered around me and I could not hear one thing they were saying. All of a sudden I looked up at the ceiling and saw clouds parting and saw god trying to contact me. I did not understand why my friends didn't see this at the time. Then it dawned on me that everyone was a part of Hell and God was trying to save me. Of course the others would not see him.

My friends went off to talk to each other about how to handle the situation. I was alone so I ran up the staircase and started to try to reason with myself. Hardly anybody was upstairs. Each room had a bartender but no one else was to be seen. I lost track of how much time I was spending upstairs and didn't understand why my friends did not come to look for me there. That started freaking me out even more.

Later, I learned that the guy in front of the velvet rope did not deem them worthy of entering the upper sanctum. Even though my friends explained the situation. I always knew that guy was a shmuck. It was already morning; I descended the staircase and was thrown into a cab. We all left for my apartment. The whole bad situation lasted for about an hour. I was OK.

It took me years to recover but I never let on until just now. When we were in the elevator going up to my place one of my friends said we were going down. We got in at the lobby and I lived on the top floor. I started to begin to freak out again and then I was reassured and once I was in my home we put the music on and I stripped down into my underpants and left my bracelet on and all was dancing to the music.

Days later, I decided that the cure for the bad trip would be to trip again the following week at Crisco Disco. Only then would I feel this was just a bad trip. So I picked up some guy at Uncle Charlies who thought he just met the love of his life, me, and I knew he would watch over me if anything would go wrong. I didn't dare ask any of my friends to trip with me at Crisco. They were still recovering.

I rediscovered that it was nothing more than the best club in the world!

Though when my friend Gary started dating Romeo, the guy who had an 80 Foot Poster on Times Square showing off his Calvin Klein underpants, he said something that I think I can now shake off.

Romeo and I were having drinks at Charlies, we were just introduced, and he called me Diablo! I asked him why he said that. He said because you are Diablo. Hmmmmmmm. I thought that maybe in his broken Italian he meant something else. I thought he meant I was mean. He said look at you. You are Diablo; no one should look like you. You are too beautiful. He said it in a very upset way. Romeo was very vein.

I responded that you are the Calvin Klein guy. He said yes but no one who is mortal should look the way you do. I know you are DIABLO! We all know it!

Most would have been bowled over. The CK guy is depressed because he thinks I am so much better looking. What a compliment that would have been to anyone else. But to me it brought me right back to Crisco Disco. I shuttered!

Yet, if I heard the club was reopening I would be there for its Grand Opening. How many people can say they danced in Hell and were here to talk about it?

Hey Hank give me some special "K", LOL!
Remember his New Years Eve Party! LOL!
And Robin Williams in the "MVIP" room with Jim Murray and Billy Tootsie and ME! Until 10AM on the weekends!!!!!!! LOL!

Hi Frankie Corr! I hear Peter Strong passed on this year. Sorry to here that. He was a very good person and took care of everyone.

"Hank" is still around, living with his sister and his boy friend??? Upstate NY with - broke...

Billy Tootsie passed-on about 7 or 8 years ago, not from AIDS, even he had it, but, got hit by a car on his bike in FL.

Keep intouch everyone, keep the link going - Billy Smith (NYC/East Hampton)

A friend that was with me at the starship talked me into checking out this club, when I got there it scared the crap out of me and despite what your initial reaction is, I'M NOT HOMOFOBIC but there were way too many gay men in that place for my taste, I left in 10min and never went back! Whhhooosh, that was a close one.

I remember going to Crisco Disco when things started dying down for me at the Funhouse. One thing that totally turned me on about the place was their devotion to the patrons. I was there one Saturday night when the place got raided. The following Saturday they were handing out white plastic bottles & told you they couldnt serve alcohol but it was ok to bring your own!!!! Also loved the music!! DJ Frank Corr was one of the best at the time in my opinion. I would NEVER give up those days!! Had some of the best times of my life during the "Disco Era"!!! Hope we keep this thing going. Oh and btw, Gary Low's You Are A Danger??? Totally blew me away! I still have the 12"!!

Danny Rodriguez still still around and living in NJ. I chat with him from time to time.

I remember the Crisco very well, and especially remember DJ Frank Corr. Every so often when I speak to old friends about the Disco days, and the legendary DJs, such as Larry Levan and Nick Siano, I tell them about Frank Corr. Too bad the young crowd today did not have a chance to hear Frank spin, to dance on his floor, and to be under his spell. Frank was so professional. He always played excellant dance records, never missed trick, and if you visited the Crisco often enough, you would be able to hear all the dance music that was out at the time, all types: Punk, Techno, Garage, Imports - Frank played it all. Does anybody remember those sound effects that Frank used? Like the sound of a recording slowed-down. And there was also another one with a twinkle sound. He had quite a few. I loved this man! I told my friends about Frank, and invited them to the club several times, and everybody agreed that Frank was one of the best DJs in NYC. Crisco music was just as good as Garage music. Of all the Gay clubs on the West Village, Crisco was the best. The Anvil with Bobby DJ Guttadarro was also very good, but Crisco with Frank Corr ruled! I remember how Crisco allowed people to party openly; I used to bring bottles of Ethyl Chloride. I would drop a few tabs of acid, wait for it to take effect, then get on the dance floor with my bottles of ethyl and dance for hours screaming my head off: FRANKIE!!!, I would shout throughout the night. And I remember the Black guy with the shirt with the lights. There was also the athletic guy that use to take a hit of poppers and then climb up the columns. There was a large crowd there from Plato's Retreat and Fun House - they would start the night at the other spots, but always come home to Crisco and Frank. Thank God I collected a lot of the records from that time, many of which are tough to find today. I have Frank's DiscoNet remix, Looking for an Automatic Lover by Johnny Chingas. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my post. Frank Corr, may God bless you a million times!!! And, Hank and Jimmy, too.

I remember Billy Smith
and of course Frankie Corr ..
and his friends Joe the con ed
guy & his various twinks ..many of whom
lived hard and died young and made
scary lookin corpses ......

there were several layers
of people in this gay disco scene

of course the all important
regular run of the mill customer
habitue ....

the promoters
club owners
drug dealers
and of course many
'mob' guys whose names
i won't mention ....

i can't believe that old reprobate
'Hank' is still alive ...;-)

he did more twinks & drugs
than anyone since Caligula

Peter 'popper' Strong
was a cool dude ...

i'd hazard a guess
that a large percentage
of the people IN this
scene are now gone

I'm 'Doc' and was
a bridge between almost
all the intersecting worlds
of the scene ...late 70's
- late 80's.. Criscos
to Tory's ...what a blast

we had

now if alive
we're OLD and tired

Steve Goodfriend
died ....and soooo many

if you survived
this and still have your
wits about you ...God Bless


this is 2007 NYC
winter
25 yrs after Criscos

Love,
Doc

Hi Frank and Danny and it's been too long. Check out my site: www.renehewitt.com and www.iMusicUnderground.com Danny it would be good to see each other as I'm still living in Jersey City. I have a show every Friday from 2 - 6pm Live from my apartment on facethebass.com/live.htm. Usually, my buddy (Tall, Eddie Cruz) plays from 4:30 - 6pm, but this week he's on vacation. Looking forward to hearing from you real soon.

Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt
www.renehewitt.com
www.iMusicUnderground.com

I just remember the guys, great music and that HUGE CRISCO CAN!!
Once bringing a hot italian straight friend with me there and him sharing some coke off his hand from his fingers and just really thinking THIS IS HEAVEN!!!

Thanks for the memory

glad you have good
memories of Criscos Scott!

en passant
<cue Donna Summer ...Last Dance>

Hi everyone its jamie I was the crazy kid who would sometimes wait on customers on the dance floor under the direction of Boby. I was the one who did the mid air flips and just acted like a freak. while working and freakier while a patron. This was 1977 and the best time in my life the crisco is always with me and i miss it dearly.

Jamie:
It wasn't so much Criscos
as it was 1977..................;-)

Hey everyone; loved reading your memories and comments. What was the owner's name? I can't remember.

actually there was
no 'owner' per se
but the individual
who fronted the joint
was named Hank Pagani
his lover Matthew was
on the lease ..........this
was hot 411 in 1979 lol

Thanks, Doc. Very hot!!!

Jose Marin, the practical nurse or nurse assistant at Bellevue who lived with his brother off Second Avenue, just below 14th Street, maybe 13th, maybe 12th, on the north side in the middle of the block, second floor, front apartment. He was cute, but a bit chubby, the younger brother Steffie was goreous, but going out with a gay cop from Stuvyestant town who co-founded the Gay Cops Group. Jose died well before 1994 when I left the City, and Steffie was ill in the Bronx, supposedly of AIDS. They took me to Crisco Disco when I lived on w. 22nd Street, after I moved from E. 33rd Street, nearer their place. We had the best times, even if not knowing Spanish I never knew what they were talking about with their friends. But the dancing was great. I can still remember the last night we went, before it closed. I never saw then again because shortly thereafter they moved to The Bronx.

Ah, what memories! Kids nowadays have no idea what real discos are like!

Hey!!! I remember this place! Wow! I agree with the one comment up there... Kids these days don't know what real discos are like... God bless back then! I still LOVE THE SCENE!

Wow, this is fantastic! Some of your guys' stories are really cool. Too bad the good days are gone, heh.
Oh well, the music will never die although, most people do think Disco is dead. It isn't! I've got hundreds of tracks... Anyone wanna chat about music and or this such... I'm up for it. This site is amazing! Thanks for the 70's. :)

I hope everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm having my annual Saturday After Thanksgiving party at my home in Jersey City Heights near the Path Train.

House and classics all night long.

Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt

danny its me freddy/DJFM from IDRC back in the day...please get back at me..we have a lot to catch up!...good to see you brutha...my email addy is: papichulo1133@yahoo.com and my cellie # is 201-739-4506

hope to talk to you soon!..i also found your myspace page and requested to be added...blessings bro...FM

cool ....get back
to doc ...at duke9555@yahoo.com

if ya wanna borrow $ ..keep it
movin

Hi everyone it is January 19th 2008 and i am looking for "Hank"! I need a toot! talking about toot, was talking with a friend a few months ago and found out my friend "Billy Tootie" past away while riding his bike on Collins Avenue in Miami - he git hit by a car of all things! Going to my house in East Hampton for the long weekend, bye bye.

Billy Smith - Manhattan

fu Billy Smith

Sorry, everyone regards to Billy Toots, it has been about 10 years now that he past-on, it still feels like yesterday just reading all this good stuff of the past, boi oh boi, did we have a ball! i love it all takening it all in, remember the Undergound! and Steve Cohen, what a nice guy he was to all of us, he was put on this earth just too make sure that we al had a good time, We did!
Thanks Steve, thank you so much...
If anyone wants to get a group all togethere and have a "rost" with what and who is left, we should all do this this year... hit me back and let's all meet up maybe for the last time and give us all and big hug. It's up to you now... one more look at the past and a hug to all you that have gotten this far in life, God bless.

Billy@BillyAmato.com

sent u an e-mail Billy ..
i miss SG and Hank
and the twinks who are all
now 45+++ if even alive. ;-(

doc

It was one Columbus day that there was a party called Slez Ball. When the police raided the place, all my friends, about 20 of us, were way too high to go home, so I suggested Crisco Disco. When we got there I showed my ID from Les Mouches (where I worked) and we all got comped after he had to frisk all of use (I think he just wanted to feel all our baskets)and bulging muscles.

The place had a hugh Crisco can as a DJ booth and if you wanted to take a break from dancing and you were very horny, you would go to the place several old meat lockers they had there, which was then used as "back room". The place was great for dancing and for sex <wink>

When was this club opened? When did it close?

opened around 78 closed
by special request of the
NYPD in 85 or so ........
re-opened as Page Six '86
at 220 west Houston ....RIP

“Scent of a Spanish Guitar”, written and produced by Rene Hewitt is NOW available on Traxsource.com and released on D#Sharp Records. Myspace.com/renehewitt

http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=16983&alias=upfront

Sounded like an interesting place, too bad I had already headed south when it opened. I did know Frank Corr from my record pool days.

Does anybody remember the first Crisco disco?

It was the first gay disco I had gone to in 1976. I believe it was on 22nd Street, off West street, a block away from the Eagle Bar.

The first time I walked in, I had never seen guys dancing together before (I was just coming out of the closet). Plus Crisco had, like so many other gay bars and clubs a back room. Being someone just coming out of the closet, it was so cool to let the music take me away into a room full of gyrating shirtless sweaty hot men. Then when I was so hot (from the music and all those hot men rubbing up against me) went to the back room for some release of sexual tension built up on the dance floor.

I thought I had died and gone to gay nurvana.

the 1st Crisco
was at 22 & 11 ave

smaller and less successful
than its later incarnation
@ 15 9-10 av. ( 408 w.15th st. )

Sex in the BACK ROOMS! What kind of place were you guy hanging out in? Wasn't it against the law?(Ha Ha) Too bad that you had no drugs, then it really would have been a party. Crazy place, too bad I missed it, I came to Miami in Aug. of 78.

Hay Vyniljunkie, this was the mid to late 1970's, almost every gay club and many gay bars had back rooms, they even had spaces in the newer crisco disco (use to be the meat lockers) where they had sex going on.

As far party favors (drugs), they had plenty of party favors,,,, not only they were better, but cheaper and nobody got busted or if someone had too much, they didn't leave the guy passed out on the dance floor or carry them outside the club like they later did in other clubs.

Some of the major club dealers ("house doctos") had had what looked like dept store for drugs in their apts. with shelves of various party favors (with pricelist menus) along with notes on what to take (either other drugs, vitamens and various foods) to reduce the crash/side affects!

Back then, we uses to call it Programing, starting with party favors that contained speed (black beauties), acid (clear light {blue & green], blotter, peach melba,Mickey Mouse, Fantasia, Mdm/MDA and lets not forget "magic mushrooms (silasiden), for high energy bubble gum music. Finally when it was late, and it was after hours, they went into sleeze music and people took downers and mellow party favors, like secenoil, tuanoils, qualudes, purple passion(that was used to cut the speed/stricknied in many forms of acid that was being used) & dust. They not only had poppers (the real stuff) but Eythel Chloride (on an eythel rag/hanky in your mouth which you often shared with seveal people at the same time). It was one of the most popular pharacuticals that was being used back then. Even in the baths Eythel was big especially for bottoms when they had what we called the "WAWAa's).

After the club(s) closed, guys would go to various soriees at various people's lofts/apts, where there were more party favors., Everybody at these soirees were on the same party faovr which would continue into late Sunday afternoon. Then guys would go home, freshen up and then go Sunday tea at another club.

Not only was there a lot more, but a larger variety & better quality of party favors and it didn't cost and arm & a leg. Also, people knew what they took and knew how to prevent OD's and extreme crashes, unlike today, where guysa are left on the dance floor or banquet passed our or worse. Or a club would call a private ambulance service to take the guy away descretly (which happened to a famous club on 28 Street, in the late 90's, which caused the club to be closed down).

Don't forget, NYC was the gay party capital of the world until the 90's before there were curcuit parties outside NYC. The biggest parties were always at the various gay clubs (especially those private clubs). Amost every major disco was originally started by or for the gay clientell, including the fun house, Les mouches, Studio 54, Bonds, Underground, Mud club, danceateria, Starship, Paradise Garage Palladium, Les Jardin, the gallery, the list goes on and on. Then there were the afterhours places like Crisco but sleezer, like the Anvil which had a floor show (drag and sex acts on the stage) and sex clubs like the Mineshaft. When the gays stopped going, they advertised or opened their doors the straight crowds (except for those gay after hour places like the Anvil & Mineshaft).

Then there were the clubs that were exclusively private and exclusively gay, like 12 West, riverclub, Flamingo, 10 floor, and the biggest of all the clubs (ever), the Saint, where you had private membership and with the case of the Saint,,, you had to be recommended for membership either by two members in good standing or one Charter member! Where once you walked in the door, the only thing you paid for was the coat check (with the saint some people, like myself and my friends, had private lockers) and hard booze. Everything else, was included (soda, juice, draft beer, pizza, coffee, real fruit, breakfast and so on).

I remember going to Sleeze ball at some hotel in midtown (1978/79) and they had a balcony closed off where every imaginable sex act was taking place, where the private security guards were freaking out until the Fire Dept along with the police, came and finally closed it down because of overcrowding. My group of about 20 or so guys were still too high to go home (it was about 11am), so I took my group to Criscos. The doorman knew who I was and didn't even charge us to get in. We partied till we closed the place and then went back to one of my friends who owned a loft in the village (with an indoor swimming pool) and we all mellowed out back there till ....

You certainly missed a lot. NYC will never see the likes of those days ever again, not since gay went "main stream" and where the owners stopped dancing/partying with the membership.

An evening out back then it would cost you about $100-150 (max). That was for admission to the club, and all your party favors, but it ususually cost a lot less on a regular Saturday night/sunday morning. Once a month clubs would have a special theme party and people would come to nyc from all over the world, party and then leave and fly home straight from the club.

HIV killed the 'party'
and more than a few
party-goers

True doc, but also gay has gone main stream, and with Mayors like Gulliani and now Bloomberg, they put the tombstones up for New York city's partying.

I am sure even if HIV never existed, New York city would slowly turn into Disney City with the help of Gulliani and Bloomberg. Look at how many gay bars and clubs have closed down. For example: The Upper Westside had so many gay bars, now there is only one!

The Old Eagle and Spike were forced to close down in their original location along with J's and the Lure because of gentrification.

Some bars Like the Rawhide now demand that their customers show a valid id to get in. I have seen the doorman get nasty when a hot older guy inquire why a valid id was needed even when he was obvoiusly over 50. I then saw the doorman not only refuse entry to the guy, but when the manager came out, he prompted the manager to demand that the customer apologize to him, the doorman, just for questioning why the bar required a valid ID; just to get (and the customer was cold sobber and wasn't nasty). When the patron refused to apologize (just for asking why his right to privacy was being challenged), the doorman got so nasty he told the manager they should not let him in even though the guy was willing to show the id! The manager then took it a step further and told the "customer" he was banned from the bar (forever) because he wouldn't apologize to the doorman.

Things like that would have never happend back in the late 70's early 80's. It seems the "gay patron" is now treated with disdain by bars because the bars are being harrassed by the Bloomberg/NYC "moral police", health dept. and police looking to give out summons if there is a hint of someone smoking a cigarette in a bar.

While it is true the HIV pandemic has helped to ruin the party atmosphere in NYC (but it hasn't hurt other locations like South Beach/Palm Springs, Fire Island & etc.), arch conservative NYC gov't officials have certainly put the tomb stone signs up: "no gay partying wanted, or allowed in, our Feifdom in the name of 'quality of life'"!!!

Even Madonna recently said NYC has changed greatly, so much so she called NYC boring compared to other cities.

Fan Dancer, being a straight Disco deejay(COPACABANA, THE BOAT) I saw drugs and sex, but not to those extremes, in NEW YORK. Miami was a different city all together. COCAINE COCAINE AND MORE COCAINE!! BLOWJOBS and MORE BLOWJOBS. I spun at THE BELL in Hackensack a few times, but GAY clubs always hired GAY deejays. You missed out on hearing ME! I was one of vthe better UNKNOWN deejays. Today I write. I have an article on DISCO AND DRUGS on this site, HISTORY 101, I can use your input. Check it out. Trust me, what you described above is right along the lines of what I want. Feel free to comment there as well. I will use what I read here as well. Thanks!! You are one wild DUDE!! Blew me out of the water!! I thought I was bad! I was an angel in comparison. Love hearing these stories. Keep'em cuming!! Pun intended.

If someone is smoking a cigarette in a New York City club, the police had out a summons? Does anything happen to the Club itself? Are there Nicotine NARC'S now? What on earth has happened to New York City? $10 pack of smokes, but you can't light up? Not as many GAY clubs? What on earth is going on there?? What do you do, go to FIRE ISLAND?

a few comments ....
1st and foremost to ALL
especially La Madonna it's
2008 ....NOT 1978 ...we're
all THIRTY years older ...except
our brethren who died young
and made good lookin corpses ..

to my parents the 60's 70's
80's couldn't compare to the
roaring 20's ....we all had
fun ...........god bless us
all everyone and to all a
goodnight

Here is some thoughts on the subject, but prepared, gay clubs and drugs were so vastly different than what you were use to in straight clubs, makes your clubs look like kindegarten. Especially since you guys were into coke, which wasn't the party favor of the gay masses at the gay clubs. Coke didn't become popular till the mid to late 80s', and I saw more of it in the corporate banking world of M&A than I saw it in the clubs and later in the gay bars in the 90's, but as far as the party favors of the gay set on the dance floor,,, it was never coke. They did snort (still have my bullet snorter), K (good old k hole), T, dust, MDM/MDA, but never snorted coke on the dance floor, nor did any of my friends and my "extended family".

<deleted by site admin>, that was tame by comparison in the gay clubs, sure guys gave <deleted by site admin> in the clubs' tea rooms (bathrooms) but I have seen, and partook, in hard core sex on the dance floor with my lover at several black parties, <deleted by site admin>

<deleted by site admin>.

Or the black out of the summer of 1976 or was it 1977, in the village where Weekhaken street off Christopher and West was like on big orgy room,... <deleted by site admin>..

LIttle did I realize, just coming out of the closet, that this, was nothing compared to what went on in the various venus through out Manhattan. I later found out, this was tame by comparision, compared to what went on in the baths (there were so many of Baths throughout the city (some even had gyms), and in the dance and sex clubs throughout Manhattan, where every neighborhood had at least one: gay sex bookstore, one gay movie house, bars with back rooms (some neighborhoods had 3 or 4 of those), then there were the after hours clubs, the abondoned piers, the parks, the subway tea rooms (even one on wall street), the gyms' steam rooms and then there was the abondoned West Side Highway, that once had cars speeding uptown and downtown, but now only had men cruising for action, not speed. Sex was a 24/7 vocation for the men of the night/day/morning/dusk, no matter where you went... <deleted by site admin>...

Sex was everywhere & at any hour,,,, Macy's, Bloomingdales, it made no difference where you were, Manhattan was like a cattle car in heat!

You didn't consider yourself having a good night out, unless you had sex at least once that evening, morning, afternoon, made no difference what time, any time was the right time.

Even at some of the beaches (not just
Fire Island's "meat rack",, sex was the major attraction, NYC had its own nude beach at Riis park, and then there was the East bathhouse at Jones Beach,,, in the dunes, in the dresssing cabannas, it was everywhere!

That is just a taste/nibble and compared to many guys I knew, I was considered tame by comparision, don't get me wrong, I was not a "saint", but I knew guys on the prowel even at work, like at American Expresse's tea room off their massive lunch room. Many directors and their boyfriends use to spend their lunch hour(s) in any one of the various tea room stalls; they would make Senator Larry Craig look like a novice nun out of the "habit"!

I was more on the fringe and a late comer to all of that,but even if I was twisted I have a photographic memory (sometimes a curse more than a blessing)!

The site admin has deleted sections of this post as it contained graphic and sexually explicit talk which is not permitted anywhere on this site. Please do not post this type of material, thank you.

I look forward to reading all about it. You fuckin guys were crazy! It doesn't surprise me though, MEN in general are all SEX addicts. Many guys I've known and met had SEX with ANYONE who was willing, male or female. I had a great friend in Miami, a record promoter, little Mario, everyone down here knows who I am talking about. He succumbed ti AIDS years ago, but he never cared, he played Baseball with me, a great second baseman. He would have fit in and loved every second of those parties you are talking about. In fact, he would travel to New York City and San Fransisco to indulge in those man-on-man activities. God bless him, he died doing what he loved!! Talk soon, I'll be looking for your stories!!

sez was shall we
say readily available
almost anywhere in NYC
during the 70's and most
of the 80's .......hot
stuff Donna Summer

sex

I respectfully ask all of you not to post profanity or sexually explicit text as it will get deleted. I've had to go in an remove sections of previous posts and ask that it stop. Thank you.

Hey everyone. I'm Jimmy Peanuts little brother Peter. From time to time I used to work in the coat room on Saturday nights. I am not sure if everyone knows but Jimmy passed away back in October 1997. Not from Aids or drugs but from heart disease. He was 48 at the time, the same age our dad was when he had his first heart attack. Jimmy loved Crisco and he and Hank did everything in their power to keep that place as great as you are reading in these stories above. I miss the days of Disco and the days of Crisco Disco especially, but I miss my brother even more. I will try to locate some of the pictures that Jimmy had of Crisco like the DJ booth, Waylan Flowers and Madam in the VIP room and a few celebs as well. I am glad to see that some of the DJ's are still hanging thats great. I wish Jimmy was alive to see and read some of these blogs he would be laughing and coming up with some of his own stories I'm sure. Keep this going guys its a great tribute to Jimmy and Hank and the memory of the Glory Days. I will write again to you all. Peace and love be with you.

i knew 'peanuts' as we all
called him ......didn't have a
clue he had a younger brother ...
i also knew Fat Anthony & Big John
and that crew .......Jimmy and i
were friendly ....is Hank still
with us? spent a few heavenly nights/early
mornings with them both .........Murray
got us coffee .........and d*** the door
watched the door

write it up

I thank GOD for having been the right age at the right time to experience Criscos. From the age of 17 thru its closing I Was there every Friday and Saturday night and sometimes during the week. They were the best years of my life. God Bless! P>S> If any of my friends from there see this please post.

Hi doc54 -
When our Mom passed away in 2006 we heard from Hank, he was living in NJ with his sister then. Murray passed away a while ago. I haven't heard from Fat Anthony or Big John even when Jimmy passed away. Now that Halloween is coming up do you all remember the Halloween parties??? Next to his birthday parties, I think Peanuts loved the Halloween parties too. Well you all have a great day and speak to you all soon. Ciao.

Peanuts Brother:
I see Fat Anthony now n again
mentioned in the papers ....;-(
last time i saw big John he looked
ill ........ i remember all the theme
parties at Crisco ....hot hot hot !!! i also
remember Sal Calise ( politics ) Sally's at
220 west Houston ....later named Page Six ..
Hanks last successful venture ..( Peanuts managed )

we were all sooo young back then

keep the faith ....stay healthy

l8r
duke 9555 at yahoo dot com

Like reading all your stories, does any remember POPPERS, like Bolt, Super Bolt, Locker Room, Hardon, those were some days back in the Disco Era.
Rudy

heavens 2 betsy ...nobody
i knew used poppers ...we all
had amyl nitrate str8 from a doc ..
wonder who?

Your funny LOL.

wanna c** back to Doc's place
and do some ludes ? baby

Would but live in LA.
Take care my stud.

LA? oh poop

ALREADY SENT THIS BUT DUE TO THE FACT I WAS NOT REGISTERED AT THE TIME, I AM RESENDING TO ENSURE DELIVERY. A great site, by the way. Kudos to you.

Hi Peter and Frankie. It is me, Louie/Luis; I was the first (at least according to Hank and Jimmy) to bring the Studio crowd down to the club around 79-80 which then led to the construction of the second floor to handle all the overflow (extra $$); the VIP and, let us not forget, the MIP (Most Important Persons) rooms. We would all arrive in our limousines and party all night. When I first went there on a lark, there was only the front door alcove where others got patted down for weapons (they never did pat me or my entourage down). It was my usual posse at the time along with my brother George and cousin Al. Within a year, they had set up the velvet ropes outside and the line of cabs and limos went around the block. What a transformation! Hank, his lover from Detroit, my wife at the time, Karen, and all our friends (Black Eric...remember him) would take vacations together (once we chartered a yacht in Virgin Islands and were run put of the British Virgin islands ...literally had to run to the dock and cut the lines to the vessel in order to get away from an angry crowd...don't ask. Sorry to hear about Jimmy Peanuts. I remember him and his young latin lover (don't remember if he was Guatemalan or Puerto Rican). Jimmy always treated me with loving respect and was the one who approached me one night during my initial visits to inform that the owner, Hank Pagani, wanted to meet me. Truly, it was more of a summons with no choice. Hank later became Godfather to one of my daughters. Although I was not permitted to pay for my drinks, I felt compelled to make up for it with tips and free "party favors" all night to all our friends...with pleasure! Wish I knew how to get in touch with Hank. My God, the drugs: blow, ethyl chloride bottles hanging from my belts, smack (although Hank disapproved of that one), Special K, MDA (before ecstasy), the list is endless. Met and hung out with everyone from Tanya Tucker (who was very sexually active at the time), to Calvin Klein, Keith Richards, the list is truly endless. I even remember Disco Sally's wedding at Magique where Hank walked Sally down the aisle and I was best man to her husband, Greek Johnny. What a time! Different times...much freer than today in ways that are unexplainable to those who were not there. The obligatory nightly visit to the booth to ensure Frankie Coors was adequately "comfortable" to create his unmatched mixes. I also remember when we donated 200 bullet proof vests to the local 9th Precinct and the bouncers at the door were real cops by that time. But, it became too popular and notorious for an after hours so that even the payoffs could not keep it open; especially after Howard Wirestein (former owner of Hurrahs and Irving Plaza) asked permission to open the Continental after hours a few blocks away -- which Hank promptly granted (Hank believed that the more after-hours businesses that opened, the more money everyone would make (remember AM/PM with Vito the owner and Freddy the host who later went on to host the VIP room in the Church disco (forgot the name). Unfortunately, the Continental proved to be our undoing as Arthur was wired by the FBI and it was they who had fronted the money to open the Continental (the story is in the NY Times, look it up). Hence, Arthur's moniker from "Weinstein" to "Wirestein." I also remember Jimmy Murray and Don Amente of the Red Parrot hanging with us. What a time!! Truly, and for a straight man with a family, the time of our lives. My best to all, and those who are not with us remain in my thoughts and prayers. Bless all and party on!! Frankie, if you read this, I too live in South Florida now; Sunny Isles Beach to be exact. Older, a little wiser, but miss the inherent carefree attitude of our youth. Be well all!!

wow .........Louie is a font of 411
brings back memories ....it was the 10th
pct. that was given the vests ....the church
disco was Limelight ( cyclops the owner ) and
wirestein is given too much credit for the
demise of Rubell ..Crisco etc ... Hanks lavish
and in your face parties with all the attendant
hoopla in the street ( 15h 9av 8 av ) eventually
forced the cops to shut the joint down ...
the cops who worked Crisco got outta control
and had 2 b let go .....

gr8 times gr8 people

ever make it down to Page Six
( 220 w. Houston ) ..Hanks 2nd club ?

be cool Louie

doc54 xoxoxo

Hi doc, You are correct as it was, indeed, the 10th Precinct. I have been living in south Florida too long....(lol). However, while Wirestein had absolutely nothing to do with Stevie's downfall at Studio, you are correct in that the Crico bouncers were completely out of control and the scene outside what was supposed to be an "underground" club was too much in your face to avoid untoward attention. I will never forget having a conversation with George Plimpton in the MIP room, when one of the cop-bouncers knocked on the door and asked Buster (head bouncer for the Ritz on E. 13th St, remember?) to have me come to the door. When I get there, the cop-bouncer tells me that an alleged big time Brazilian drug dealer's body guard is insisting on entering and he is armed. They actually wanted my permission to kill him and dump his body in the river a block away (his Brazilian boss was a casual acquaintance, hence why they came to me)!! The last thing I ever expected to do was make such a decision at 7am and high as a kite (or anytime). I knew then our days were numbered. OF COURSE I SAID NO...then, promptly returned to partying. Also, I can state with absolute certainty that it was Wirestein (more than Hank's parties) that put the nail in the coffin at Crico's (once the Feds are involved, there is no "fixing" matters). In any event, all good things eventually come to an end. While I do not necessarily remember you, thank you for the missive and the remembrances. Be well and stay safe...those of us who made it through are truly blessed. The saddest part -- aside from the untimely demise of so many friends -- is the reality that those freedoms no longer exist in our current police state mentality. As a native born Cuban, naturalized American citizen who came to this country in 1957 at 3 years old, I take those freedoms more seriously than most Americans I have met. So, we lived a time that is unlikely to ever be repeated. I enjoy the very fond memories, which is all that remains. Again, be well and blessed!

i think thru the mist of time
i remember a Louie and wife...

anyhoo Wirestein and Hank met
often in the office of Page Six's
and over a coke spoke of days gone
by ..........Hank remained unjailed
as did most ....i remember Buster
fondly ....i and he were often
the only ones allowed to be armed
in the club ...exciting times

Jimmy Peanuts lover was Puerto Rican
named maybe Felix ? he had more than
one oddly enough all Latinos ....

the club had a large Latino
clientele .....many a cute
boy from the Bx met his lover
at Crisco's ....Buster died
of aids in the early 90's ...
as did soooo many ...my wife
and i were lucky .....we were
bi and had many many friends
from Studio Criscos Ninth Circle
etc etc ....a bar up at
48 & 8av i 4get the name ...been
tryin to remember for years ....
had a large sign over the bar
TEMPERANCE .....irony i guess
a guy named Duke was the mgr.

i'm sooo glad 2 hear from u Lou

that Fidel dude seems 2 b
livin 4ever!!!! ( pity )

stay well


doc54

Hi Doc,

Now that you mention being armed, I am certain I would recognize you (even now at our respective ages) as being armed was a huge issue with me and you were pointed out as one of the very few individuals (non-employees) who was permitted to be armed within the club. Buster and I were introduced by his Manager at the Ritz (Billy) long ago. We became extraordinarily close and, eventually, when you saw him, you saw me. Indeed, after an unusual event (better known at the time as my kidnapping), he became my watcher ("body-guard" does not begin to approach what he meant to me and my family). He was part of my wedding party to my second wife here in Miami Beach in 1984. True to form, after the wedding party I was so smashed that he held all the cash (that is how things were done in those days) to pay the bill for all the festivities -- which he did and handed me an itemized statement the next morning with the change (it was not chump change, if you get my drift). Trustworthy to the end. I was in Europe when I received the belated news of his passing away. It hit me hard (they all did, but Buster's most of all).

Thinking about Freddy and the Limelight (I do remember Cyclops Peter, the owner), he (Freddy) and Isme the model came to visit me at my home in Miami Beach around 1986-87 and seemed to be doing well, but we have lost touch.

Cannot remember the club on 48th, although my memories are slowly returning as a result of these very nice missives. I will keep you posted if something cracks up there besides my skull.

The thing about Arthur Wirestein that really galls me to this day (besides the fact that once a snitch, always a snitch), is that he approached me to serve as intermediary to approach Hank on his behalf for the ok. I was not a "big shot," but everyone knew that Hank and my entire family were close so.... There I was drying out in St. John's Virgin Islands in 82-83 when I receive a week-old copy of the NY Times with the story. I wanted to die thinking that I had anything remotely to do with a problem for Hank (which, as it turned out, I did not and all thankfully stayed well within the family). And, of course Hank stayed out of trouble, but it wasn't easy on that one. The feds are unforgiving.

You know that Stevie (Studio 54 - I hate saying it that way; we always just said "Studio," but I am trying to adhere to this site's rule with Club names and addresses) was the absolute biggest rat the scene had ever known. Contrary to popular belief, it was not Stevie's gay party boy leading the IRS to the $500k in the ceiling that caused Studio's problems. That is a cover story. The real story is that Jack Dushy, the third partner with Stevie and Ian, got himself in a jam and turned. Then Stevie and Ian turned and that is how John Addison (owner of the old Les Jardin [next to the future Xenon--HEY, THAT'S 48TH STREET! IS THAT THE CLUB TO WHICH YOU REFER??) and that Park Avenue bomb he opened, NY NY; John got his start with a club called Superstar on east 81st, Yorkville section in the glam era of platform shoes), along with Maurice Brahms (owner of Infinity on Lafayette; and later Bonds on Times Square) both wound up doing time (although it was "easy" time in a minimum security fed country club, and only a few months). Yes, Stevie and Ian nearly single handedly brought down arguably the biggest club owners in NY! Hard to believe that Ian is now a near billionaire (with a B) in the Hotel business with his holdings in the Morgan's Group. How they got into the hotel business trading their shares in Studio a short while after their release from prison for a rundown hotel on Madison and 33rd called the Alexander, which they promptly converted into the first "boutique" hotel named Morgan's is another story for another time.

Ahh Castro. We come from the province where he landed with 81 men (all but 14 killed on the beach) and took off into the mountains. My father was a covert, but ardent, supporter of Fidel supplying him with arms and economic aid. Dad truly believed that Castro would bring democracy from Batista's dictatorship. Shortly after the revolution, he met with Castro during his short stay in Harlem in late 1959 and was offered a Ministerial role in the new regime. However, when Dad saw all the commies around Fidel, he realized he had made a huge mistake. My Dad was never the same afterward. As for me, I have never believed in the embargo and time has proven me right. A policy that has failed for 50 years. You may even say it has aided the regime and, in a twisted way, assisted the passage of the torch to Raul. What a bunch of bs. We should do what we have done with China, Russia, Vietnam and all the rest. Why is it that now we do not speak to our perceived enemies?? If this had been our policy during the cold war, we might not even be here now. Hopefully things will change with Obama.

Doc, sorry for the waxing so poetic and the length of these missives. Just so many memories returning. Curious how we dwell on the good and try to ensure that the negative is not at the forefront of our thoughts?! A survival mechanism I presume. Be well, my friend, if I may take the liberty of calling you a friend? If not, then please, just be well.

oh yes thru times foggy
veil i remember Lou ...

i lost all my diaries and pics
in a fire a few yrs ago
so i rely exclusivley on memory ...
we spoke of Fidel often ( we didn't like him )

recall how we all came from different
areas of life but met at the crossroads
called Crisco .....Hank knew us all
good bad mobster gay and bi and str8

the establishment i seek 2 recall
the name of was a simple working class
gay bar on 48th st. at 8 av .....

not the kind of joint you would
frequent i guess ...tho i did meet
Prince Ego Von Furstenberg there

i married his wife's ( Diane )
1st cousin ..........coke was
the fuel of the scene ....i abstained
from drugs and watched the passing
parade sober and thoughtful .....
Donnie Brasco & a few of Hanks wiseguy
buddies were often at the Parrot and
l8r Crisco .....who knew he was a cop?

lotsa different folk at the clubs

elite / demented / gangster /

etc etc .............oddly hardly
any of us danced at these discos ;-)

if anyone recalls the name of that
seedy 8 av gay bar please post it

tia

Fran Boyar? remember her??


love,
Doc54

Was it O'Neil's, the former Haymarket on W. 48st? Remember Egon very well. Shared more than one plane ride from the Pines with him. He was a bad, bad boy; tsk, tsk.

I always danced (in between being busy partying, conversing, meeting people). In fact, my older cousin owned dance studios in California and he taught me to teach dance while I went to school out there. Wow, have not thought of that in a long time; but it's like riding a bike and to this day I can still dance anything.

Fran Boyer does not ring a bell; but give me time.

Speaking of which FYI, I visited all types of places (otherwise, how did I wind up comfortably at Crico's even when that separate dark room was in full operation? not many things scare me, but that sure did; I always felt Hank should have kept it) the Mineshaft, and the Anvil S&M Bar on 14th St around the corner from Crico's right in the heart of the Meat Packing District (when all kinds of meat packng went on apparently -- not so sanitized like today). Let's not forget the Toilet down the street on 11th!! One time was enough for that. The Ramrod on West Street. But I do understand what you mean. All these other places were a one or two visit experience and not my regular rounds.

I cannot believe the way people dress at the clubs in NY today. I was there last December and every where I went all I could think was none of these people would ever have been permitted into any decent club in our day. Imagine Manhattenites that dress like and, worse, have the aura and sound of the bridge and tunnel crowd. Incredible, and please know that I am not an elitist...just a realist.

Everyone has been telling me to write a book, including my three daughters. All these remembrances have me seriously considering it for once. Hey, idiots have written best sellers; who knows...now I am starting to believe my own bs. lol.

Take care.

the Haymarket sounds right ...
not O'neils however ......Peanuts
recruited a few near and dear friends
from it's habitues ..........youthful
Spanish lads of a certain bent ....
there's a book in them thar diso hills
fer shure ....but it's gotta be good
and well written not just a laundry list
and then i went here and afterwards there

there have been a few books about the
era and clubs .....remember we all
had very different experiences living
in the same era going to the same places

me and you did the MIP room and shared
privileges of the upper echelons
the less fortunate still had major
fun on the 1st floor ..........and
fondly recall the medication dancing
and the non-stop music ....Coors et al

my book would be very different
from your book even tho we were
living in the same zone ....

i feel LUCKY i was alive at the
time and could fully participate
in the disco nightlife fever of NYC 1976-1988

Fran Boyar was a Studio confidante
of whomever happened to own it ...
Rubell ...Fleishmann ..etc
Billy Smith worked with her
as did eventually Peter Popper
and Fredy Rothball 'Mista' he
of the vip/mip room ....later
the slimelight .... he LOVED
everyone if you recall ...his
favorite saying

i'd rather not meet anyone
from that wonderful era
i wanna keep it all frozen in
time ( 1980 ) where we can all
stay young and FABULOUS lookin
and arthritis is only something
our parents need concern themselves
with .....

the music was LOUD insistent
raucous and _never_ stopped

cue up Last Dance ...Donna
take us home

Doc54

Greetings folks...everyone talks about frank koor when talking about Criscos and deservedly and respectfully so but what about dj danny rodriguez who spun there every sundays thru thursdays weekly???(frank played friday & saturday night as I recall)...im sure alot of you guys went out during the week as I did and ended up at Criscos after going to other spots or just headed there during the week because that was the place to be and an afterhours spot.....danny played there the bulk of the time and also played at the Ice Palace and ended up playing at Copacabana for 9 years after Criscos...you mean to tell me that no one danced to his music? everytime i went there during weekdays the place was packed...often made me wonder if anyone had regular jobs anymore...lol..just surprised that in all this blog, me rene hewitt, and danny rodriguez himself are the only ones that even give danny a mention. continued blessings to everyone and please keep me, danny, and rene posted of any crisco reunions as it would be interesting. blessings..DJFM PREPARTYRADIO , RADIO.JERSEYDJS.COM

no dis on Danny
i suspect an older contingent
is reading and responding here ...
i was pretty much a weekend partier ...
i knew cutie pie Derek ....he of the
magic lights .....stopped in once
in a while weekdays for a drink ..
say hi 2 the guys

Doc54

Danny was (imagine he still is) great and I had numerous tapes of his which my ex-wife and I fought over during our divorce. In a rage, I finally destroyed them (I could be a real a-hole back then when I was so young). Danny deserves all the mention that may come his way.

A reunion? Perhaps, but I so enjoy the memories which can NEVER be relived. A reunion might just be so anti-climatic and borderline depressive (even the drug culture, which fueled so much of our experiences at Crisco's, is so not there anymore). However, if Hank is still alive, I would come anyway.

Hi Doc,

Of course. The NY nightlife would only be one or two chapters of a 12-15 chapter book. and it would be more behind the scene stuff, rather than what everyone already knows (or think they know). You are one of the few who are well informed. It is the difference between mere name dropping and actual knowledge.

All this has been a pleasure. I agree with you regarding the reunion with the caveat I stated earlier in response to "Pre-party Radio" above, that I would go if Hank is still alive and were to be present as well.

Be well and watch the Arthritis; lol (I know what you mean).

understood Lou
i remember Hank or Henry
as i invariably called him ...

at the Red Parrot for his
birthday in 1982 ( 50th?)
he seemed so OLD ....lol
i was in my 30ies my good
boy pal was a teen and my
wife was in her 20's

i'd rather not see
anyone ..... shades of
Dorian Grey ? Henry not
excepted

let the era be forever
enscounced within the walls
of my memory and so many others

memories as well


good luck to y'all

Love & kisses
Doc54

Hey, I was at that party and walked in with Hank and the gang. We were all formal!! What a trip. My 1st wife and I were separated by then and Hank asked my girlfriend at the time (who was the sister to Peter Frampton's wife Barbara...more names!!) to meet us at the Red Parrot as he wanted all men (and some boys) in his entourage. When I relate these stories to my girls they look at me so wide-eyed (they think I am so tough, when really they have my number and for them I am weak).

Hank's young lover from Detroit was the only other person I ever heard call him Henry on a regular basis.

Be well and signing off for a while. This has been (and is) a joy. Please take care of yourself Doc.

Your Dorian Grey allusion has much appeal. You are probably right.

yes indeed louie...danny is doing well...has a family now and regular job. lives in upstate, ny. I talk to him almost daily now and have featured him on my mix show "DJFM BABYPOWDER SESSIONS" twice. We had a back to Crisco's show not too long ago and even played Macho - I'm a Man during the set...bought back alot of memories...he was also featured on my show this week with a special classic set he did which was wonderful! both times to packed chatrooms. He currently is producing music house, hard house, tribal but still plays the classics. I go back with Danny since he was resident dj in Puerto Rico at the most famous spot there back in the days which was San Juan San Juan Disco in the Early 80's and then we hooked again back in NYC shortly afterwards. God what I would give to have some of those old tapes you got rid of, definitely priceless. Well for me if there was ever a reunion, I would attend. Im currently 47 now and still attend alot of NYC nightlife/parties currently and would def know how to make this one a party too still...arthitis, bad knees and all. Thank you for your response louie and doc..God bless you guys and stay in touch! for those that might want to reach out to Danny, here is his myspace address www.myspace.com/djdannyrodriguez ..just tell him fm sent you...lol...blessings fm

i took lotsa pics of that
party ....alas all gone now ;-(

for 25 extra points and a chance
at the big grand prize ....what
was Henry wearing that night ?

i had some interesting interaction
with the Frampton family ....another
time 4 that story ............


Henry was a showman lol

ifya want up ^ there someplace
is my e-mail addy

for further recollections


Love,
Doc54

well at least one unforgettable thing i remembered fondly from criscos was that when Danny would take off to the "VIP" to take "a breather", he would always leave me spinning in the booth when I used to go to hang out there after my club would close on a wed. night or thursday night in Queens, NY and I would head over to Criscos to hang out with my good friend Danny who was the dj at Criscos sun-thurs nights/mornings. it was the most amazing place to spin with the Richard Long sound system, floating 1200 turntables, pitch controlled cassette decks and even a reel to reel which i used to transfer 3 mix sessions on cassettes from my resident club in Queens, NY (Club Wings on 94th St. by LaGuardia Airport)to the reel to reel which I submitted to WBLS, FM for my first non-paying radio job(promotion for me & my club every 30mins of mix session), a 2 hour spot on the late night mix show on 107.5 wbls in the early 1980's. Danny would tell me ill be right back and 3 hours later was when i would see him again...lol...guess he was having entirely too much fun...but weren't we all...I'm just glad I had even the slightest of opportunity to be a part of something so special and historical in the dance music biz...as Criscos was...to me that was a memory of a lifetime that I never forget.....djfm

Hank ONLY ever wore black leather pants, shirt (most times black as well, but also would inject a lumberjack shirt at times to remind him of his pre-leather days). When I first met him, I dressed in all leather of various colors and styles chosen from our clothing store. At first, he only wore jeans and a lumberjack shirt, while telling me he could never wear leather. After about six months, lo and behold, he had about 50 separate BLACK leather suits in his closet upstairs (where I sometimes played chess on one of his Detroit's boy many classical colletions (what was his name, the true love young man from Detroit; while a little unstable, he was honest, giving and loving with no pretenses). To answer your question, I cannot imagine he wore anything other than the black leather; that is why he wanted all of us in the entourage to wear black as well.

I saw a post regarding how valuable Richard Bernstein's art works are now. He gave me one every year for my B-day for about four years (they too have been lost in the upheavals of my life). He and Tara Kulakundis would hang out (her husband, the Greek shipping tycoon, became a pain). We'd often make a "pit" stip at his room in the Chelsea Hotel and then on to Crisco's. I imagine he is not with us as he did not take care of himself then, let alone now.

DJFM: it is great to here that Danny is doing so well. I would love to get one of his classic disco mix CDs.

Henry wore a 25,000 $ ( according
to him ) snake-skin suit that b-day
night to the Parrot ...Hank was not
above exaggerating his already
lavish lifestyle ....he often tried
to compete with the fabulously wealthy
Steve Goodfriend and his K-mart fortune ...

i believe Hank's Detroit boy was
Matthew .....but i could be wrong
..my memory is off these days
that may be the name of Goodfriend's
boy-toy ...........Henry had a boy
du jour .........never took one of mine
tho we both knew he could ...Henry was
a sweet guy .....i loved him ....spent
a few nights holding his hand as he
'emerged' from a special k journey ...

his sense of theatre was perfect
his coke dreams often sounded
real ..... as opposed to all
the other guys coke fantasies ...

i got to know him better
after all his clubs were done
and he was driving a VW bug ...

we'd drive around and around
hit the bars close one up ...
usually the 9th circle ....

he'd drive me home ( 14th st. )
and off 2 jersey he'd go

we'd drive by 408 w. 15th st.

i'd sigh he'd smile

often after police raids
he and I would go to mass

he did attend seminary
and i was an altar boy

he never once got fresh
with me ;-)

too bad


Doc54

hey louie...here you go: www.myspace.com/djdannyrodriguez

Im sure hell send it to you. he was guest dj on my show twice this week since i currently host 2 weekly mix shows on 2 different internet radio stations it was sure alot of fun...peace...fm

Hey FM and good morning. I sent Danny a link to a picture of him from years ago.

Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt

Hi Rene and FM:

thanks for the info on Danny. I will get in touch with him after the first of the year for one his CDs (I almost said "tapes" as that is what I use to get from him...he looks great).

Doc,

Hank's live-in lover for the years I knew him (saw him everyday and went on more than one vacation together as a group) was "Al." Hank did have a twink named Ritchie which he kept on the side and drove Al crazy (Hank explained it like a Don who loved his wife and she would come first, but would still have a "mistress" on the side..."traditional Italian). Oh well. Did you ever meet his son, Gary? Hank was one for the ages.

I totally forgot that snakeskin outfit. BY the way, we should remember that Hank was 60 at the height of the Crisco era...and he kept up wtih all of us in our late 20s at the time. So, we should not allow our age to limit us too much.

Be well.

well said louie!...and hi rene!...awsome ill follow up with danny about the pic and i will see you at the post-thanksgiving day party which im so looking forward to it. God bless everyone here...fm

Al!! oh yes ...Matthew was
Steve's live-in "wife" i need
you about on constant call Lou
as my memory isn't as sharp as it
once was.............but i'm pretty
sure that B-day was Henry's 50th
in 82 ...? lets not age him ...
IF he's still with us ....

i'm duke on yahoo
i have no face book
or my space
but 95 55
is all i have addy wise

cya

He was so proud of being 60. Bragged about it all the time (and that was before the face lift). On this, there is no doubt. Rather than aging him, he is an inspiration as I slowly close in that part of my life (now 54). Looking back, there is no way I could keep him now at my present age. It just makes him all the more remarkable. My parents were partying (no drugs) with their friend until the wee hours well into their late 60s. It is all a matter of attitude and what one feels within. However, I am tired.

omg he's 86 yrs old
wherever he is .....i have
2 sit down ............he'll be
in the back in his 'office' ...
he was a STAR imho ....life
goes on long after the joy of living
is over ....as the song sez
i have a pic of myself at that time

duke9555@yahoo.com

Hi all,

Really sorry to hear about Jimmy. I had always hoped to see him again. Anyone know what happened to Dominick?? He saved my life in the MIP room once and I'll always remember him for that. Once someone tried to harass me and he was there in a flash--he really did save me.
By the way, DJFM, I have quite a few old tapes of Danny's and I think a few Frank Houlihan tapes. What about Howard Merritt? Anyone know about him?

Hey everyone I have not been on this site in over two years! it is like reading a live book and it keeps updating it self. Wild! Keep it going it is something to come back to every few months.


Love and Peace April/2009
Billy Smith

Dominic ? he was a Red Parrot
habitue and friend of the mob
contingent at the clubs ...........
he went missing one night ...i never
heard him again

I can remember that Crisco Disco was the first club I was ever frisked before entering the disco. They would admit like maybe six at a time in this vestibule where they's frisk and then let us into the clyb. Fond memories. lol

my friends at Crisco were Mario Melian, Joey Roldam, Lenny Osuui, Eddie Diaz, Cesar, we all went to St. Agnes High school during the late 1970's. Great songs heard at Crisco "Stars on 45" "Mickey"

WHOA!

Talk about memories!

I doubt if any of you guys remember me. I was just a twink at the time. 18/19 years old. I worked a coctail waiter at The Ninth Circle. (Remember when it was legal to drink at 18! LOL) I used to go to Crisco's after work at 4am with Micheal (Bartender 9 - 0) and his "wife" Patia. We spent many a night drinking, dancing, and stumbling out a dawn. (And then go open another bar at 8am. (Hey we got off work ay 4am. We were still almost on out own Happy Hour)

Crisco's was my first. LOL. (And actually so was one of its bartenders.) Hank used to come into the Circle alot to visit Fred Tree. Hank was always a nice guy.

Anyway I just wanted to say THANK YOU. This page and everyone who comments bring back old and fond memoriee of my so called "education". Some people would say it was mispent youth. But man i think it was well spent and I am glad I was there.

And Joey. The blond bartender from the second floor. Just wanted to say if you are still around I wish we would have dated instead of the one night stand. I still think of you.

Hey Billy "Fingers" - The Ninth Circle, that was very nice of you saying that, i still talk about Crisco's to all my new friends....

Billy Smith

The #1 twink at the Ninth Circle
was Bobby Lurch ..........fact

There were many Number 1 Twinks at the Circle......fact! LOL

tru many were available
for a price ....just ask Tree
he'd put in a good word ...Steve
Goodfriend too

where is Bobby Lurch, is he still with us?

Bobby my wife and I spent a few
heavenly weeks together in 88 Billy
hope he's well

some of my memorable moments at Crisco Disco:
1)Fall 1982 when the DJ played Jennifer Holliday's "And I'm telling you" it brought down the house at Crisco.

2)New year's Eve 1982 - seeing hundreds of white balloons outside the club, and the huge crowd outside braving frigid weather trying to get in to celebrate.

There's really nowhere to dance in NYC , except the Monster on Tuesday nights for disco classic night where I see CJ & Peter (former Crisco regulars)

Who were the two young Italian guys that always danced on main level, they were there every Saturday night from 81 through June 83?

Seeing hundreds of white balloons on New Yars Eve was so cool.

Hank was the best and so kind. God bless Steve Goodfriend and Bobby A. and Billy Toos!

Boy i miss them.

Billy Smith

wow, I googled "dj frank koor" because I bought a record from ebay, "love heartache", and it has FK's stamp on the label.
I'm in my 30's, damn I missed this era!
Sounds amazing.

Frankie Coors was an influential
and accomplished dj ....you missed
out on a fabulous era no doubt

Hey guys.

I'm trying to put some NYC Gay History on my blog from my time period (Late 70's - Mid 80's) I was only 19 at the time at worked at The Ninth Circle. (LOL what an eductaion and introduction to the life. Very HARD Crash Course.) But it was along time ago and to be honest I was kinda self medicated at the time. : - )

Have already put criscos on my blog. I've done Crisco's. And have done The Eagle. (With Video which was a find! http://www.back2stonewall.com/?p=9818 ) The Avnil is soon to come. But one of the places that we also used to hit was ALEX IN WONDERLAND. And I am running into a brick wall on info and it would suck to lose any Gay History or have it forgotten

Does anyone out there have any info or memories of Alex? I remember it was stories. There was a leather bar below ground. Meat packing district really close to The Anvil. Got raided a few times. )I was there. LOL) But thats ablout all my brain cells will let me remember.

If anyone out there has any firther info/memories/picyures could you please contact me at mister.movies@hotmail.com

Thnaks in advance

But