Arena, The

Hey, I was just listening to Deodados Whistle Bump and I had to look up the arena. I went the the Arena and Elephas in my younger days (bout 16). Those were the days.

THE ARENA DISCO REUNION PARTY @ CAPRI NIGHT CLUB(formally pastels) !! 88th street (bet 4th & 5th ave)FRI, JULY 29TH 2011 !! DOORS OPEN AT 9:30! $10 ADMISSION Hi im anthony , the dj from the arena. Be sure to come down to capri for the first OFFICIAL ARENA REUNION!!!!

My friends and I were there practically every weekend. We were from City line, Brooklyn and Ozone Park, Queens. We were 15 when we started going to the Arena. LOL, we'd dance the freak to Musiques push, push in the bush and yes Macho man was a big hit. Great DJ's, great peopls, the best LI Ice tea, great friends and very great time. I loved it! I have many many fond memories...

I remember going to the Arena one night so that I could meet Joe Causi from KTU. He used to dj at that station at night. I used to call in regularly to request songs. He always answered the phone himself. One time he told me he was going to be at the Arena that Saturday night and if I met him there, he would give me one of his famous "I Go To Bed With Joe Causi" nightshirts. So I finally met him, face to face and he was really cool and down to earth. I also remember going there with my friend Sue. She entered herself in a dance contest. We couldn't have been over 16. I can't believe we used to get in to so many clubs in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan when we were underage. Forget L.I. That was much harder.

The Arena was a nice space. I played there.

The line up of dj's and lightmen that played at the Arena are as so
Gary B.
Victor
Ray
Anthony B.
Marko
lightmen jocko
ray
jamie
marko's lightman unknown to me

The Arena's most requested song was The village people mach o man / a date with the rain/ in the bush/ rapper delight.

here a bit of new to add. i went today to the site of the arena on freshpond road it was being rented to meyer chevrolet but at the present time the property is up for rent or sale and after inspecting the building it is in a very good condition and the old clubs feature still visiable with a good monitary backer this could be reopened in a month the wiring for the lights and club are still in place which makes it reconstructable down to the decore.
This is a dream come true to be able to rebiuld a bit of history again. a movie could be possiable due to these features explained above.

The arena was the first disco to start the change over from pure disco to funky free-stlye in the queens area of new york most other clubs resisted this change for years.The music played at the arena was derived from the paradise garage in early 78 the dj's from the arena went to the garage to learn from larry levans funky sound. and brought it back to play at the arena. and the rest is history.

I'm sorry for the mis-types no edit on this page.
sound system was 2000 watts poineer amps/pre-amps
2 technics 1200 direct drive turntables. gemini mixer.
lighting standard ceiling theater type 50 light spinners system dance floor transparent star with lighting and spinners
decore plush gray velvet.mirrored walls and ceiling. club design was in the shape of an arena bleacher types plush seating over looking dance floor.crowd consisted of mostly italian americans and many locals from the area.

ok i have all the info you need on this club. i was a lightman and dj, for 2 years.

owners vinny,joey,mr.c ownership changed hands 2 time in clubs history.
type of club dance stlyes hustle,freak dancing,freestlye.
guest visit village people original group
guest dj's tim curry ktu radio,raphie ace, jenny costa, jim yu
most popular night saturday nights
club times 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. sunday 12 p.m. to 3.a.m.
cover charge door 4 dollars person

Hello, I'm Ray one of the dj's from the arena i played on sundays at the arena for 2 years 1978-80
And real dj was vic, jocko,ray anthony,jamie that is the music team for 4 years. it was agreat club and i injoyed play for you all god bless

sign Dj Ray arena

Its funny to read that people were still going there in 1984, I used to go there with all my friends from Ozone Park in around 1978! We would say we were sleeping at each other's houses then take a cab there, we too were 16 at the time. It was when disco was in its heydey.

funny i lived in long island at the time. never went into queens much, only to the MONASTERY ON QUEENS BLVD., ANOTHER GREAT PLACE. NOW I LIVE IN GLENDALE AND WORK OFF FPR IN RIDGEWOOD

THE ARENA WAS GREAT I THINK I WENT THERE WHEN I WAS LIKE 16 OR 17 GREAT STARTER CLUB

JOE CAM

I would like to correct the Djs. During the Arena's hey day. The DJ's were the Nights of the Turntables - Marco "T" Testoni and Chris Rubio - they rocked the house always!

I went there when I 16. We saw Lime. It was crazy!!! I was feaking out b/c I had fake i d. We had a freaking great time.

Hate to use the word "hangout" (was my favorite pass time growing up) but did have an over the top sound system.

I was 14 years old when this club was hot. (that was 1984). Fake I.d."s went a long way back then. Hell you didn't even need one really. My Father would drop off me and my friends every weekend, then pick us up at 3 am, and we would all go to breakfast at the Fresh Pond Diner. I was always crocked on those frozen Alabama Slammers. My Father was the best, still is. He bounced briefly at the Fun House, back when I was like 9 or 10 years old. I always remember him coming home just when it started to get light outside. Other clubs that were great were....Emerald City.....The Lemon Tree......and I cant forget the UNDERGROUND in the city. Those really were the good ol days, even though all me and my freinds ever did was complain about everything.