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The Paladium rocked! Never seen or heard anything like it. Tremendous!

Too damn huge and loud.I went back to brooklyn but couldnt hear for a day.

I remember Thursday nights at the Palladium (latin night). God, I have so many good memories there. The club was a bit big, but it was preety good when you were trying to avoid someone. They always had good bands playing. It was always Tuesday nights - Copa, Thursday nights - Palladium, Friday nights Copa and then Saturday you could switch between Broadway96, Roxy, Copa or hang out locally in Queens at Club Broadway II. What a good time back then. I'm talking late 80's through early 90's. I met a lot of people back then, but lost touch with most of them. It was great to be young and hanging out almost every night of the week. Forget about working - i'd go to work with major hangovers. Sometimes we'd go to the club, then hit the afterhours spot - then go straight to work! Those were the days!

...LAURA u took me back like I don't know WHAT?!! (sigh*) YES those were the days...ahhh!!! We have GOT to connect, (might even know u.) wink*

Can anyone tell me the exact address or cross streets of the Palladium? Anyone know what occupies the building now?

Hey, you never know, Slurp. Maybe we shared a moment!

Paladium was on 14th Street between 2nd and 3rd Ave.

Did Pat Benatar ever play a live show there?

In the beginning, Leroy Washington was the Friday & Saturday DJ at Palladium. Larry Levan also held a short stint. I think Larry played on Wednesday or Thursday.

I went to The Palladium in the 80s and was at a birthday party for Keith Haring. I was with Leo Ford at the time, and through him got to meet Andy Warhol. I had the free Keith Haring vest that were handed out on the night, but unfortunatley I did not keep it: the vest had the date of the party on it. Does anyone know the exact date? I think it was in 1985 or 1986. The Palladium was an amazing club that played some great music on the night I was there.

Palladium was a megaclub....one of NYC's most exciting ever! was a great bridge after the Funhouse.. sound system was gargantuan....place had a theatrical open huge feeling.....dancefloor was more like a parking lot(huge) and when video first hit the club scene,,,Palladium had the HUGE vid wall of tvs...place was energetic.....i won a VIP record pool spinoff to dj there for 2 hr set...but management there wouldnt let me for some greedy reason...(vito bruno/roman ricardo)

overall luved the place...an icon of NYC megaclubz.....illuminated stairs were awesome...and best nite was larry levans farewell ...an easter sunday performance that was second to none....was saddened and surprised to hear losing this NYC klub icon to NYU dorms...wtf????? i guess clubs dont last 4ever...i wished they did.
DIE HARD CLUBBER 4 EVER..

Every time I walk by the old site, I get a little misty eyed.

Aside from it being a slamming club....it was also a very gorgeous building, architectuarally speaking. Especially the ceiling in that main room.

A righteous palace. They sure don't build them like that anymore. That building should have been landmarked and it sure didn't deserve to be dismantled like that. :(

Does anyone know the final closing date of the Palladium?

Do any of you, or does any one know of anyone who danced or visited the Palladium during the 1960's-1970's during the times of the big-band era of Latin music or Jazz?? I'm doing some research and have YET to find someone else who can give me in-depth details and/or photos of this era ...

Thank you!!!

I'm a little confused. I saw on a website that the old Palladium was at 10 E. 60th St. by 5th Avenue. Did it move? When? I know the Palladium has been around since the 50's, but Rubell's hayday was in the 70's and 80's. Are these two different Palladiums?
I read online as well that Peter Gatien, former owner of the Limelight and Tunnel, owned the Palladium as well during the 90's.

I lived in New york 1988/89 and loved the paladium. It was a real eye opener I recently went back to new york after 18 years and sadly it is no longer there but standing outside brought back great memories. I met loads of people and wonder what there all doing now? One in particular called Otis Sims I think who used to dance on the podiums
with his frients where are you now????
We also used to go to Tunnel, Limelight,MK's Mars, Studio 54, Emerald
City, Nells, Redzone They were the best
times!!!!

"omg...i cant believe i wore those platform shoes i have corns like no tommorrow!but i loved ever second of those dancing days what great memories:-)

I started going to Palladium in 1989 when New York radio station Hot 97 (back then a dance station) used to broadcast their Saturday Night Dance Party LIVE from the club. From 1989-1991 DJ Glen Frischa mixed some great club music for Hot 97. The club itself was ELECTRIC. The lights and the huge dance floor were awesome. Of course you can't forget the dance artists of that time such as "The Cover Girls", "Pajama Party", "TKA", "Expose"... (I could go on forever). FYI (MTV used to broadcast "club MTV" from Palladium back in the early 90s) I still have many many of the weekend club passes that I will consider uploading on here. Also just a correction to Laura's posting... Palladium was located on 14th street, between 3rd and 4th ave. (Not 2nd & 3rd). For anyone who is interested, I have CD's for sale of many of the HOT 97 Saturday Night Dance Parties LIVE from Palladium between 1989 and 1992. Each CD set contains 4hrs of NON-STOP dance music mixed LIVE at Palladium. For more information, Email me at jerseynewyorker@yahoo.com and we can work out a deal. Like most people, I was very upset to hear that the club was closing,but I think it was only a matter of time. HOT 97 and the music scene in general was changing from DANCE MUSIC to RAP and HIP HOP, and Palladium was losing it's regulars. (This was of course before KTU brought the BEAT back to New York). I've been living in Tucson Arizona since 2000, but when I move back to NYC next year, I hope I will be able to find a club like Palladium.... It really was an awesome place... Email me if you want to talk more about this great club!!!

DJ Junior Vasquez closed ARENA the saturday night gay night for the club in September of 1996 with live performance by Deborah Cox. During the last song of the evening all of the dico balls were lowerd to the crowd so they could be cut and taken as a memento of this mlonumental club. it was a magical moment as the main disco ball was then lowered to the dancefloor where in one magical moment every person on that dancef loor reached and touched the disco ball that shined for so many a musical moment. A night that in my hearft will never be forgotten.

I was 18 years old in 1994 a senior in High School when I used to go to this place. Kenny Kenny and Aphrodita used to be at the door. I always used to go on Saturdays. Man seeing those pics above brings back a lot of memories and great times. Getting chosen to walk in Everytime by either of the 2 door people was the best. Then getting comped was even better. I really miss those days. Kenny Kenny was the best. Any place he was at the door was a hotspot. Even up to a couple of years ago @ Spa he still recognized me and would hook me up to get in for free with no hastles. People would be told "I'm not going to do it to night" that was the rejection line from him. How funny. Go to Youtube and see a video from Legendary Limelight and Club USA. You will be back in time!!!!

Ahhhh...this is the reason why I hardly go clubbing anymore. THIS was my home, my sanctuary. I cut my teeth, clubbing wise, with this club in the early 1980s.

The biggest sin of all was that NYU, my alma mater, went and bulldozed it and built some monstrosity in its place.

The Thursday and Sunday nights spent on the second floor (the bleachers) and in the Michael Todd Room made me who I am today.

Chris...I wish I could have been there for the last party. But, then again...knowing me I'd probably would have gotten bent and walked down to Washington Square and torched the Lubin School.

Remember the curtains? Does anyone remember the curtains...? They used raise them as the crowd got bigger. Does anyone remember me and my friends voguing on top of each others shoulders? We were unmissable. Always hung out by the giant speaker in the middle of the left hand side of the dancefloor.

Otis simms, I recall as being quiet but not introverted. I danced next to this guy for almost 2 years and never got to meet personally. I stopped going to this club and did not miss palladium after the "gay" scene got in vogue.
But, I must admit that it was definitely magical. Personally, I went only to dance, drink a bit, and met a few people. Otis used to hang out with 'the twins' who were part of a Dominican crowd that often met at palladium. I in particularly miss the way Otis danced. I believe his dance style was European inspired and most of us emulated that for the which I feel embarrassed to admit.

The sex going on in the bleachers and bathrooms were the best!

YO! WHAT MEMORIES!!THE GOOD DAYS!! MUCH RESPECT TO APHRODITA, WHO NEVER LET US DOWN AT THE DOOR TO GET IN. DRINKING OLD E 800 BEFORE ENTERING. GETTING COMPED. FREE DRINKS FROM 10 TO 11. REMEMBER THE HUGE ANGEL OVERHEAD AT THE ENTRANCE? GOING UP THE LIGHTED STAIRWAY, HEARING THAT DOPE HOUSE MUSIC, THE LIGHT SHOW WAS INCREDIBLE, MAN THAT PLACE WAS SECOND HOME FOR US KID. 1st TIME I WENT WAS IN 1993, RUN D.M.C./ONYX/SLICK RICK WERE PERFORMING. BUT SATURDAYS WAS THE HOT SPOT WITH DJ C A S A N O V A A A A A A A .AND HEX HECTOR. I REMEMBER THINKING IT'S 4:00 AM , WHERE ELSE WOULD ANYBODY BE BUT AT THE PALLADIUM. ARE U KIDIDING ME THIS PLACE IS THE S#*T. THE GLOW STICKS, THE SPEAKERS,"THAT'S WHY I'M HARD HEARING NOW" THE CICLE DANCES, REAL TALENTED PEOPLE WHO COULD BREAK DANCE ALL NIGHT. I MET SO MANY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE TRI-STATE. BIG UPS. BUT IT ALL WENT DOWNHILL IN MID 1996. WHAT A SHAME. GOOD THING I HAVE SOME VINYL TRACKS OF THE HOUSE MUSIC THAT WAS PLAYED THERE. AND ONE LP THAT WAS RECORDED LIVE BY CHARLIE CASANOVA. WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. "IS BROOKLYN IN DA HOUSE?" IS QUEENS REPRESENTIN, STATEN ISLAN IN DA HOUSE UPTOWN TURN IT UP,"BORIQUA" "BORIQUA". U KNOW KRS-ONE MADE A VIDEO AT PALLADIUM. CAN ANY ONE TELL ME? IN THE BEGINNING OF MOVIE CARLITO'S WAY. WHEN AL PACINO GETS OUT OF JAIL AND GOES OUT FOR A DRINK WITH SEAN PENN. ARE THEY AT THE PALLADIUM? IT LOOKS LIKE IT , GO AND RENT THE MOVIE TODAY!

Ah my home away from home! To Mark Vega: I went to several of those Keith Haring parties. I was a friend of his assistant, Benji. I still have a small pin of the angel with the x on it's chest on the wall of my office. I had MADD Keither Haring stuff but, as I'm sure you agree, we never thought those things would be collector's items. It was just "the thing." Keith was incredibly cool too. I discovered The Palladium through his parties.

Later, it became my home. My friend Manny worked there. I met a bouncer named Marcus who was killed outside on night on a Thanksgiving Thursday night. RIP. When Manny wasn't working we'd go and hang out at the last speaker on the left side, after the walls were raised. Every Saturday, a few Thursdays. We'd close the place out. Made some great friends there and solidified two life-long friendships that I have till this day!

Yep, I miss the Palladium.

Palladium was nice... very hot girls but Infinity was far better.

The Mike Todd Room (vip?) parties are such a fond memory. I use to get invites because of Don Munro and we'd go hoping from place to place. AREA, downtown in tribeca before it got to be a cool place. Does anyone remember AREA? NELL'S, DANCETERIA, SAVE THE ROBOTS, even LIMELIGHT in the beginning. those were the times. I use to see Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. I would go straight home and take a shower before heading to work. There's never been a club scene to compare.

"PALLADIUM" not the palladium.Yep I worked there for 3 years or so id say like 84 to like 87 or so.We still have old posters and Pics and lots of other stuff we saved.Good memories.Does anyone remember Steve Rubell passing out on the dance floor? LOL.

Yes, folks do you remember about 1985-1989 the 4 sided room that dropped down and if you were dancing under it you would all of a sudden be dancing in a small room with a window & a door? The spinning video wall?

SLuRP: http://www.MySpace.com/PReTTyBoy669NyC


...each and every post brought me back like y'all don't KNOW!!! I've found a LOT of the ole' heads, dj's, promotors and clubgoers from that era on MySpace of all places! Can't belieeeve apc hit it on the head with DANCETERIA, SAVE THE ROBOTS, etc.! They're all places I used to host at, (ANY1 remembers CLuB uSA, LIFE and STEVE LEWIS?!!) lol I think I could get a "REUNION" going just from this page alone. haha


Psst...shout out to LAURAANYC cuz' I'm most sure we did share a moment at some point.

The palladium was my home - some weeks I would be there 5 nights out of the week - Tuesday night networking parties, then changed to Wednesday - of course Friday and Saturday and Sunday boys night - great great times. The house that came down on the dance floor was an homage to Saturday Night Fever - it had brroklyn scenes on the outside and was meant to be a mini 2001 Odyssey... the large walls would be lifted as the dance floor filled up - it got bigger as the night went on - remember the volleybakll net and the huge balloons that were thrown out into the crowd? I started hanging out there in 1985, but by the time it closed I was no longer a regular - but still went there - it was a MEGA club.... a nightclub holyland.

I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME MORE ABOUT OTIS SIMS. WHAT WAS HE LIKE? WHY WAS HE SO WELL KNOWN

I am an NYU student currently living on the site where the Palladium used to be. We are looking to somehow honor the club era of the building and our idea is to decorate the our walls with pictures from the era. Unfortunately we are having a hard time finding pictures from the location. If you happen to have any personal pictures or know where can we get images of what Palladium used to be, we would love to used them in memory of the great nightlife that took place here. Please send any info to ip412@nyu.edu

rememver when the group menudo played and when it was 1 am and the upside down blue cross came down!!!!!!!!!

NEVER FORGOT...CHARLIE CASSANOVA.....UP IN THE BOOTH LOOKIN UP AT THE BALCONY AND HIM SAYING... Palladium" MAKE SOME FUNKIN NOISSSEEEEE AND THAT SONG CAME ON "NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP" HOLY SHIZZNIT..WOW AND THE PEOPLE TOSSING THE GLOW NECKLESS"S DOWN TO THE DANCE FLOOR I HAD A TON OF GOOD TIMES THERE I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON..

Otis was a great dancer as we all were, everyone with there on unique style. Those were some great times dancing on the Podium. You know Otis and then there was DAVID, DOUGLAS, ANDY, ERIC, ANGELO, and Myself. Great time late 80's early 90's dancing on the speakers and hanging out at the pizza shop.

WE HAD SOME GREAT TIMES THERE, SOME OF MY BEST MEMORIES HAPPENED AT THERE. THERE WAS ONE FRIDAY NIGHT THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET, I WAS INVITED TO HANG OUT WITH OTIS S. BY ONE OF HIS FRIENDS. I FELT PRIVILEGED TO BE NEXT TO HIM.

...and lets NOT 4get all the amaaazing guest dj sets and live performances!!! New Year's there was always bangin' too and it's a good thang' I worked there cuz' that club was 1 of the 1ST to charge those riduculously expensive admission fees sheeesh!

Dj Kirk Alert
Opening for Dj Charlie Casanavo from 1992 to 1995

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5_NI2MSmp8

Broke my cherry at the getlaidium! What a scene-- Anybody remember the maitre d's Stan the man, whitney, 4 a night Tom!!
How bout the security aka disco police?
Tom Will, Fred Mett, the Kat man... Those were the days! peace!

I'm actually looking for someone who worked at Palladium in 1986. I would like to get in contact with the person who posted the following comment

"PALLADIUM" not the palladium.Yep I worked there for 3 years or so id say like 84 to like 87 or so.We still have old posters and Pics and lots of other stuff we saved.Good memories.Does anyone remember Steve Rubell passing out on the dance floor? LOL.
Posted by: JAY | Jun 10, 07 | 6:03 pm

If anyone has information about how I could contact this person or anyone else who would have information about the staff in 1986, it would be much appreciated.

I LIVED at the Palladium Friday and Saturday nights from 1985ish to 90 something. WAS THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO HANG IN THE DJ BOOTH VIP AREA! EVEN when Rubell would come in. Had my own private bathroom, entrance and exit. Martin was so cool (worked the lights/strobes). When I would go and dance he'd make the place dark and only put 1 light on me dancing. How I thought I was somebody back then... was a model at the time and TOOK OVER NYC. Danced with David, Peaches, Otis and the gang on the speakers on the left, then pizza! We never drank - just danced!! MAN was I in excellent shape. After "our show" we'd head off downtown to SAVE THE ROBOTS - which is in David Byrnes video now.

NEVER waited in any line, or PAID; Nells, Limelight (with the Rockefellers), Stringfellows (AUGH PETER), Dezerland, Tunnel, Emerald City, but Palladium was a MUST to start with! SO many more stories & memorabilia....

Now when I look back; who I knew, met and how I didnt pay attention, thought it would LAST FOREVER.

WOOOAH...DoNNaLiSa u just took me back BIGtime!!!

I too remember all these great times. Use to get in everywhere without having to go through the terrible waiting in line. I was friends with some kids from Interview, plus Don Munroe who was directing music videos for The Cars. We'd hang out with Cosima (von Bullow), Linda (Evangelista), Stephen Sprouse, Tama Janovich.... Fun times.

I miss the Palladium. Very upset at NYU for destroying the building. Some of the best things about the place were the stairs, the huge ceilings, the lightup walls, the multi televisions. And of course, the house music DJs.

When is Palladium a gay party?? I visit NYC for de Christmas Week and I want go a gay party.
Thanks

My introduction to Palladiu wsa the night of my High School Prom. I had also just begun modelling and was accompanied by my cousin who hung out with Otis. I am so happy and proud to have had my club experience begin at Palladium. I will never ever forget those magical nights in the Mike Todd room and have never experienced anything like it elsewhere in clubs elsewhere in the US (NY, Miami, LA) or Europe.Middle East (Barcelona, Ibiza, Beirut). Miss those days....I would love to download some of the big dance tunes from those days...anyone know a good site to visit?? xoxoxo

i remember in the 80's when i used to work there. it was the best time that i ever had. i wish that i could get in touch with all the bouncers that i used to work with they were the best. also the girl at the front Michelle the one with the crazy white hair.anyone out there that used to work there in the 80's get back at me.

I have been about 20 years ago at Palladium. It was on two floors, salsa music, best latin people in NY. I don't remember the location does it exist anymore? Yo estube en el Palladium, excelente disco-salsa hace unos 25 anios atras, sigue existiendo y adonde esta ubicado el lugar?
QUE DULCES RECUERDOS!!! No cre que era el de la calle 14. saludos y gracias

...heard they did a reunion about a summer or 2 ago but I missed it, (found out a LOT of ol' skool folks actually showed!) Did any1 here go???

Probably one of the greatest clubs in history. The Limelight and maybe USA could compare, Paragon and sometimes Warsaw in South Beach, I am told the Paradise Garage was great, and so was the Saint. Yet somehow the decorations there were better than the others.

I lived within walking distance, so I could walk home and sobre up for part of the time it was opened.

Not to sound like a johnny one note, last New Year's Eve "Sensations" in Duesseldorf was featured on German tv and it's decor reminded me of the place, also the people, mostly straight, but large groups of gays and lesbians. I am going to Carnavale in Duesseldorf to see what the place is like in real life. But, I will never forget walking downstairs to the "play rooms" at this place!

Wunderbar and Peggy Sue's

I can't believe that Otis Simms has not replied or come across this website even by chance. Maybe he's still shocked that the 90's over.

I remember going to the PALLADIUM all the time in the late 70' and early 80'. Oone time I went with my friend Jackie and slipped on a banana peel. We would wear the HUEVO PANTS!!!!!!!

The best Grateful Dead show I ever saw was at the Palladium on April 30, 1977. The Hells Angels were roaming around that evening. I also saw the New Riders of the Purple Sage there a couple of times, and the Pretenders in the early 80s.

The Palladium has been around, under one name or another for about thirty years. It was a theater that played to overflow crowds whenever a name group was there. A vast array of fantastic deejays played there. one of the largest sound and light shows ever. A meat market, that featured live sex ever few corners. Lots of drugs and prostitution made it easy to get laid. From that perspective, it was a 10, but as far as a DISCO is concerned, the real DISCO era was before the Palladium's time. A solid 9 on my scale from 1 to 10.

Was the Palladium shut down due to the murder of bouncer Marcus Peterson on Thanksgiving 1990?

I love it.... does anyone remember around 87-88. the guy who would wear like mime make-up,b/w shirt and hide his face behind a open newspaper. He would stand by the stairs on the way down to bathrooms and public phones(what are they)and sneak a peak @ you, he was a trip.This place brought out the best in everyone. There never will be a club like it....EVER

It sounds like LORIE met one of those SPECIAL people that New York City tends to have. That GUY was everywhere! In every DISCO in town I saw this guy taking a "peek". It was the same guy??

Maybe the reason US discos are dead and the few small ones that exist make you go home early is because people like vyniljunkie are around! KEEP HIM IN THE STATES, PLEASE!

whoa, why all the hate,? Did I do you harm in some way? Maybe you didn't realize that I was making a "Joke". You do know that in New York City there are an unbelievable amount of strange people. I was trying to make a joke about that. Forgive me if I offended you somehow. You don't know me? I am a really honest and nice guy. I wasn't being bad, I was trying to be funny. Sorry that my sense of humor offended you. Friends??

WHY IS CLUBGOER 1991-1994 SO INTERESTED IN OTIS SIMMS?

Hey CLUBGOER 1991-1994, Do you remember a guy that used to dance on the speakers (he wore spandex and had strings or shoelacers hanging from his wrists)?

...oh I remember Otis fondly! We were a crowd from Sweden hanging out with him and his friends in 87/88. Loved the way he was dancing. I went back to NY recently and sadly found out that Palladium was no more. Miss both Otis and the place!

pls im disco music lover and collector of vinyls..pls someone suggest me a good place for hear this wonderful music in nyc?im comin there next week..thanks a lot!

@Louises,
The reason is because I've never seen someone take dancing so artistically. I've never seen some one dance like he did. It seem Euro-style dancing. I'm from the Bronx NY, and I became acquainted with one of his friends, who was a dominican as I was -ok!

if anyone has pictures of the palladium during arena or bump or even earlier please please please email me some pics. i was there when it finally closed down. the "PALLADIUM" was my studio 54. my home away from home. the micheal todd room, the bleachers, the oversized mantles on each side of the stairs. i loved chillin on the 2nd floor looking down at the sea of bodies on the dance floor. i called it the river of flesh. ofcourse we also enjoyed chillin out in the ladies room. and dancing on those giant speakers. when the curtain was pulled back to make more space we would all head to the dance floor. i will never forget junior or kevin or alex. you know who i speak of. i love all of you who shared my experience

I was there at the palladium grand opening night. late summer of 1985. steve rubell, grace jones and her then boyfriend dolph lundgren of rocky IV fame were all there having a great time. awesome night club. I became a fixture there once studio 54 had closed. always had a great time with my boys ANGEL GRANDE, ANDRE QUINTANA, ORLANDO MARTINEZ, BOBBY CASTILLO, VINNY DEMAIO, AND CARLOS ALVAREZ.

Memories of Sat. nights...Not getting in, till one. Packed as Hell. Walking up the illuminated stair case. Listening to CASANOVA. ripping it up.. Then the infamous. PALLADIUM......MAKEEE SOOOMMMMEEE FUUUCKKINNN NNOISEEEE... Heading to the second floor bar.. then up the opra stairs, to damn near the top. when the music gets lower. Then burn an joint. LET THE NIGHT BEGIN.... Dance till we get kicked out. Talk about THE PALLADIUM every time the club word is mentioned.. Fridays the LIMELIGHT, UNDERGROUND, HOMEBASE,THE BANK.. PALLADIUM WAS THE HOUSE OF GOD.... THE BIRTHPLACE OF REAL TECHNO...

Dwayne Holt was absolutely the funkiest DJ I ever herd mix at the Palladium. He always played records no other DJ played. And he always used a lot of bass. DJ John Hall was hot too, he was in the michael tood room.

Robbie Leslie and Dwayne Holt Were both DJs at Studio 54 for John Blair adn then they were both spinning for John Blair at The Palladium Robbie Leslie was splendid at the Ice palice in Fire island.

Hi Everyone!
I am searching for a poster of Jerry Garcia's performances at The Palladium in 1977, 1981 and 1982. Any inside venue photos would be great also!

Thanks for any help.

Harry

I was a DJ there for 3-4 months until 1018 opened and I took a residency there. I was a back up DJ for Dalphe Blue Sorry if I spelled it wrong. When Glenn Frishca started doing Hot 103.5 then hot 97.7 mixes there. I remember the new music seminar party there in 86 or 87 it's all a blur and we arrived early and the village curtains were still down on the dance floor. Remember MTV's Club dance show there

Peace DJ JAMS

Vyniljunkie
just read your posting Sorry if I didn't realise that dude was everywhere.....I was a 17 year old from Upstate NY, first time in the City. Just glad someone else saw him too. Also, I apologise for the wrong spelling of "PEEK"
Good thing we have someone like you pointing out these things...
Have a wonderful Day...

It was magic, and it was never supposed to end. We were somehow shoehorned in between all of the people in NYC who were making money, and all the rest that didn't know any better. Palladium wasn't the destination, it was the gateway. We would start there and wind our way through Area, Danceteria, Siberia, Robots ... later on came MK's, Mr. Fuji's, Horatio, Tunnel, Nells and a hundred others of which I can't remember the names.

We always had the same goal, not to get laid, but to find love. And the chickitas that would love you had to see you dance. So you danced, and maybe you got good at it, and then the lovely would take you home, and use you up like a Kleenex, and even though you had balls and could fight a pretty good bar fight you still cried when she didn't want to see you again. Like a toddler that had his toy swiped, except it was your heart. So you would go back ... never on a Friday or Saturday, those were amateur nights, Bridge and Tunnel nights. And you might go on a Sunday even though it was Gay night all over the city, but Tuesday and Thursday nights were yours.

And when you looked back on it, you couldn't believe how beautiful the women were, some straight from their jobs at Young and Rubicam or the receptionist at Nestle, whatever. They only needed to tickle your palm with those lovely fingers and then they had you, and you knew they were going to use you for your d*ck, and you pretended to your friends that this was all you wanted anyway, but they all knew it was a lie, you wanted one of them to make you whole.

AIDs messed the whole thing up, it killed the scene like Bikini Atoll, and we had nothing left. But I still think back to those days ... for a tiny sliver of time, I could take the millionaire's daughter from her daddy's apartment on Madison Avenue right through the front door at some hidden after-hours club, and suddenly we were equalized. She was no longer the flawless human, and I was no longer the kind of guy that had to pretend not to care about the $100 bar tab. She needed me, and I pretended not to need her. But when a boy grows up on food stamps, he can't leave her $5,000 Coco Chanel dress on the floor, he has to hang it up, and then she wakes up naked in the morning and sees the dress on the hangar, the truth is out, she and he are as different creatures as a seagull and a pigeon. She has to marry the kind of guy that can leave her dress on the floor.

And that was the magic of Palladium, it was the doorway to this alternate reality where the girl with the backpack doesn't eventually get dumped by the trust-fund Eurotrash, after Au Bar and a long night. It was the place where love would win, even though we all found out that love never wins because reality could only be suspended by the lights and mirrors and video screens in a few islands of magic in nightclubs like these. And once 2:00 am comes, and the bouncers toss the beguiled into the street for them to wander somewhere else ... eventually the truth always comes out ... love is dying, love is dead.

Palladium was just another club. But it was the poster child for all of those clubs. They knocked it down and killed the magic because they had to show us that they not only own our bodies and our minds, but they own our dreams too.

Carlos, Palladium wasn't just a "decent club in the Big Apple," it had a piece of all of our hearts. It's like calling a Monet a "decent painting in the Louvre."

You're not from the City, you wouldn't know.

Yukon,

You only had a $100 bar tab for the night? Were you @ the right club

>> You only had a $100 bar tab for the night?
>> Were you @ the right club

Lessee ... I remember the third floor bar at Danceteria was two drinks and a tip for $10. And then I could poach drinks by about 1:00 am or so to make sure I had $10 for the cab.

When you gave your girl a drink That was mixed from a few drinks that you poached from the bar, that was called a "Lyndon." Probably a bit of backwash too.

wow! reading all this blows my mind! recharging my memory...MT room, Madonna's home coming party, draped myself in one of the lace table clothes for the train ride home! The invitation may be well preserved in my box o goodies!

Yes, I´m glad to see the Palladium still rocks!

I´ve been there Sept. ´87 when I was on vacation to the Big Apple and it´s allways in my memory!

I´ll be back sometime...

Greetings from Bremen, Germany
Ulf

Just found out the lighted stairs have been moved to an event space in tribeca called Tribeca rooftop/ I posted the pictures on this site but see them at





tribec.com

In July 1986, the unveiling of the newly renovated Statue of Liberty was on display attracting every tourist the world over, but sending most New Yorkers packing. This at-the-time 23 year old California girl, along with her best friend, jumped on a last minute People’s Express flight (remember them?!?) to Newark to be a part of the historical scene.

While touring the city, post July 4th festivities, we had the good fortune of meeting actor Marjoe Gortner at the Hard Rock Café. I say good fortune because the waitress there was trying to turn our table and we had exceeded our welcome (translation: tab paid, time to go). Eric Burden was just starting an impromptu jam session with Paul Shaffer and no one wanted to go. I leaned over to the table where Mr. Gortner was sitting alone and asked if he was the actor in the movie “Earthquake.” Somehow, that was the right question and voilà , we’re chatting it up and enjoying the show.

Because we were so charming (hmmm), we received a follow-up invite from Mr. Gortner to visit the Palladium with him and his friend, attorney Richard Golub, where the latter wanted to spin his new single “I Hate My Lawyer.” We met at Mr. Golub’s (outrageous) flat on the upper eastside, sipped frozen Finlandia vodka from plush leopard printed chairs under Andy Warhol paintings of Mr. Golub’s ex, and then we piled into a limo and headed to the Palladium.

The evening was a blur, thanks to the Finlandia, but the first impression when entering will forever be etched in my mind. I think we went on a Monday, which was gay night. The draggers were fabulous!

P.S. They wouldn’t spin Golub’s track and he left in a huff.

I have to say that Palladium was to me the best dance club of our time, I spent so much time there in the 90's and it was awesome.I have seen many posted comments about Otis Sims and i agree that there is no one then who danced or moved like he did, it was trully an expierience to watch him dance.I spent time with him outside of the club but no nothing of him for many, many years.I hope he is well.

Hey Robert...I was head of security at the Paladawhopper from 6/86 - 10/87. Can't remember you without a last name. Were you security? Do you remember me? My boss was Chuck. Ring any bells? Tom Meade was my assistant. And Scott Sturnick? Get back to me if you remember....

Just so all of you know before there was the palladium at that location, there was a Giant Movie theatre in the Style of Radio City Music Hall. It was Called the Acadamey of Music, its sister theatre is still open in Brooklyn as the BAM. It was a beautiful theatre going back to the silent film era having stage shows and an organ player. It was also famous for having one of New YOrks Most famous Billiard Palors on its first floor if I remember it was called Obriens. It had tables running for a whole block and every great pool hustler cut his teeth there including Minnisita fats. 14ths street was a great venus for Immigrants and entertainment and when the 60's came things started to change people moved away and 14th street changed. The building that housed the Academy of Music should never have been Torn down, it should have been changed into an entertanment venue just like BAM but money talks. And NYU which owns the property in the middle of the night tore it down before landmark status could be obtained and now we have a dormitory for there students instead of an arts facility for the community.
thanks

Bruce G
former General Manager of the Underground on Union Square

Many memories of the Palladium in the late 90's..by far one of the best nightclubs in NYC ( along w/ others such as, Vinyl, Roxy's,and Copa). Walking in there was an amazing feeling, I was in awe... it was huge..Def some good good times there! They don't make Clubs like that anymore.....

OMG, I only went to the Palladium one time in 1987 or 88, I was on vacation from PR and my then former boyfriend, who was a bouncer there, took me. But I did everything, danced on the speakers, the volleyball, the room upstairs, (not the bleacher thing)WOW. All your memories brought back that special night in my life which was one of the happiest. Thanks for sharing.

But who can remember the name of the girl wearing her fur , who decided who would be let in for the night ??

The Palladium, hold's a very special place in my heart for an eternity... This is where I met my husband and have been together for the past 26 years & have a handsome son now 16yrs old. It was love at first sight. The music,the crowds, it was just the place you wanted to be at and hang with your friends, hot nite 6 I won tickets & WOW it was the bomb, hot 95 nite when La India was a guest & shouted "HOT 97" was the funniest does anyone remember she got BOO-ED LMAO... We truly miss it... till this day we have yet to find a club with the PALLADIUM's awesome music & atmosphere...
Well I guess we just have our wonderful memories and all the fun times...

I have a question for anyone whom can answer... Does anyone remember the day that Grupo Niche played live at the Palladium in 1989... some latin bunny has to recall?

Hi!

I'm looking for anyone who worked at Palladium in the Summer and Fall of 1986. It's actually kind of important so if anyone has any info about someone by the name of John S---- that you may have worked with or knew please please let me know.

Thanks

In the summer of '85 I was taken against my disco hating will by 2 friends to PALLADIUM and my life was changed forever!
The grand entrance, stairs, Sound system and of course veri-lights bluew my mind. for the first time ever I danced with hundreds of strangers united in one crazy spirit to "Into The Groove", "Susudio" and of best of all "You Spin Me". The comming out experience was so profound I immediately went back to Boston and quit my engineering career to become a nightclub DJ.
I am forever endebted to Madonna, Steve Rubell and some anonymous dancers who danced with me on those speakers and helped me free myself forever.
I go down 14th Street often when I'm in NY and ALWAYS get misty and think If I could have only one more night....
I have lots of pix to swap with anyone interested.

With the Fall air, comes a nostalgic longing for the old Palladium. There was nothing in the World like the feeling that came over you as you walked down those steps into the dance area. I remember running into Nas up in the bleachers up top, which seemed to function as a sort of short stay motel. The Palladium spoiled me, as did other clubs in Manhattan during the 1990's. If it wasn't the first 3000 women wearing white, I just didn't want to hear about it. I remember this one girl with died blonde hair from LES who dressed better than any female in Manhattan. She used to invent new reggae ticks right there on the floor, and for the next two years you could see this dance spread to Jersey and end up in music videos. I used to always see her there and at the Pizza spot at 4:30 AM on 14th St.. I remember Havoc from Mobb Deep kicking it, getting numbers, while bullets flew overhead from a passing Wrangler full of Chelsea portorocs. A few hundred people in line outside.

I remember all of the goddesses that I had real moments with, only to part ways in the crowd. I remember rolling out of this place at 5:30 in the morning, with a pass to come back for just $20. One night, I saw Biggie, Pun, Ghost, Rae, Cormega, AZ & Nas perform. I remember Flex with the 'don't stop, get it, get it'" We used to gear up at the Ralph Lauren Mansion, and come through with the Teddy Bear towels, fresh cuts from Astor Place, etc.. I often wonder where everyone is and what they are doing. Nowadays, people get excited if there are 400 people in a club. It just is not the same. It never will be.

I started hitting the clubs on the lower east side in 1977 when I was 16, and the next year saw my first big name concert at the Palladium: UFO, with ACDC as opener (UFO blew ACDC away, in my opinion). A great, huge theater, with a crystal chandelier the size of a Volkswagon hanging from the ceiling, that shook so much we thought it would come crashing down...would love to know seating capacity (4000?) a big, dusty, old grande dame of a theater, emininetly fitted for the decayed grandeur of the NY club scene in the late 70's. Saw several more big acts there which I can't remember, and the Kinks NYE 1980-81...great show...great venue...was sad to hear at the time it had been clubized, but since people had so much fun, it's ok, but sad to have lost the only mid-sized venue in Manhattan that could take the knocks.

Anyone happen to have photos of (re)opening night? I think it was 5/14/85. I was there with the ecstatic throng and, to the best of my knowledge (and that of the guard at the exit with whom I swapped a pin at daybreak), I was the last patron to vacate the premises. Just one more night? Sure, if that night lasted FOREVER. haha

As a young woman of only 18 years old in 1989 I can tell you that the Palladium is forever etched in my mind. Coming from a small town in Montana to the city lights of NY, I was awestruck the first time I was "allowed in" the club because I knew the security guys pretty well. Needless to say that when it came time for a Friday paycheck, I was on my way into the city, exiting the building at 5 am, wobble to Penn Station and made the ride back home to my nanny job. That was all I looked forward to, five dollar Heineken in a bottle, dancing with a bunch of latino boys on top of the dance floor speakers and feeling utterly euphoric. I will never be able to replace the memory with another great time in my life. Its too bad that they tore it down, I never knew that until years later. I dont remember one concert name that I saw there, doesnt matter, they rocked my world in such a good way. Being there to ring in the new year in 1989 was memorable, how could it not be. Rest in peace the memory of the Palladium, I wish that I could have saved just one brick of the building and place it in my yard, as a reminder of my wild youth far from the sunsets of Montana.

Oh my god Candace this has to be you!! Do you remember me you used to all me Sam Fox Ha!!!This is spooky I was reading a diary only last night from my time in NY and was laughing to myself what we got up to!! Oh and Mr Otis never new he was so popular and to think I was so starry eyed with him (I was only 19 he was fit as we say in the UK! And all his friends (Douglas if your reading this what are you all up to these days. I need to get some photos on here infact you took them of Otis and sent them to me. We have to get in touch I hope you read this soon. The Palladium and NYC the best time of my life and what an eye opener Ha!!!