DiscoMusic.com

Yes. was definetly a HOT club. Too bad they dont make them like that anymore.

Channel 80 was the best, lots of dancing, lots of dating. I was the cat's meow back then and kind of still am for the 40+ crowd. Seriously though, I was so glad to finally see something on line about this great club. Anyone remember Jack the bartender?

I was an employee of Ch. 80,Rumours,Speaks and Club 231 from 1979-1983 all owned by Phil Basile (no relation). Home for me was Rumours. (Ch.80,231,Speaks) were my fill places. That was a long time ago but they were good times!

To Joy, re: Jack the bartender. Jack was the one who hired me at Rumours in ' 79. That was before Ch.80 was even built.Tony Basile

Tony B
Ah yes, Rumours and 231. Other bartenders from Channel 80 I remember: Bobby Grippo, Phil Phillips and Bobby Bram. Bobby would sometimes fill in at 231. But it was Monte (Bob Monteleone) who was the 231 bartender I remember most. What ever happened to Chubby and AJ who ran the club?

OOOOOHHHH I just LOVED Channel 80!! Sunday nights were the best in the summer. I remember I couldnt wait until I turned 25 to get in. It was considered an "older" person's club. LOL.

Tony, what did you look like back then?

Joy

Joy, I looke the same then as I do now, only older. People "always" tell me I look like Tony Danza.

Channel 80 was the best club ever. Studio 54 and Plato's Retreat were great but "80" had class. I was there every week and those days were the best in my life. Some great things happened there like meeting my husband. I loved the way I looked then, danced, clothes were special, money was no issue. It was a club for the beautiful people and it should have never closed...my memories of those times make me smile and I still tell the stories like it happened yesterday!

I had my Sweet 16 at Rumours in 1979. It was the height of disco and my party was the sh*t. Good times.....

Channel 80 wasn't just a club to go to...it was a "way of life". To be part of the "in-crowd" you not only dressed the part but had the "attitude" as well. You knew the staff - kissed them all 'hello'. You didn't wait on lines, ordered drinks with a hand signal and the bartenders knew just what to serve you. Champagne corks were always popping and the dance floor crowded with the best of dancers. Channel 80 added a sense of "style/class" to the Long Island disco world. It was the "Miami Vice" atmosphere transposed here. It was an "era" that can never be duplicated and one that I am glad I was a part of...

the best. AND REMEMBER THE LADY 80 THE FLOATING DISCO ON A BOAT. COOL.

I am now in my late 40's. I still look good but a little older. Somne people say I havent changed but put on a few pounds after 3 kids here in the Uk.
I was an employee of Channel 80 in the early 80s and Chubby was my boss! Not only was he my boss but was a very special man to me.He was besotted with me although he was married. I adored him.
He was in competition with another'Captain Freddie'with whom I got engaged very briefly until a not so nice discovery of his lifestyle.
My time there was wonderful and treasured. I was spoilt and had many friends there and also in the other clubs.I was covered in furs and diamonds and freddie refused to allow me to work any longer at channel 80 but to enjoy it instead and we used to frequent all the clubs on the circuit. I was a blond english girl!!! Everyone knew me. Do you?
I would love to hear from anyone who knows what happened to these guys. and anyone who was employed there must remember me surely??? I left in a rush and flew back to texas to my father and then onto the UK.

When did it turn into Spratts on the Water ?

I loved this club. I remember going to the club with lots of friends and we sometimes showed up in a 1920 Ford, a 57 fire engine, limos or the boats. Yes they were the best of times. I still listen to all the disco and sing while driving. I miss those days. The memories will live on forever. Anyone remember when they gave out the VIP Gold Card? We use to go there at the beginning of the season on a Wed night to get the card. Thanks for the memories. Before moving to Tampa a year ago, I drove around to where all the clubs use to be for a last look. Speaks is now someone's home.

Those "GOLD" cards! People thought they were like a "get into heaven free card. Gotta' have one! It was in vogue. It was...........the 80's. A time and place that has become a very long time ago. A "lifetime" ago. Our lifetime! Remember the song,"Lets go round again"? Can any one tell me who's hit that was???

Tony B - The Average White Band had the hit "Let's Go Round Again"....if only we could!

Right you are my friend! I'm listening to it as I type this reply. If only we could "go round again"........the money I made "and" the money I spent frivolously,God. But.......they were "indeed" some of the best times.

Wow, I stumbled onto a Zebra video on youtube, and it got me thinking about "Speaks" were I used to see them.
So I googled Speaks long island and came across this site.

I had forgotten the names of the other clubs, Channel 80 Rumors, 231. What memorys are coming back.

I really miss those times, there was nothing like that in LA when I got here and I am sure its not like that on LI anymore, times have changed.

I remember when speaks changed from a rock place to a dance place, met my first girlfriend the last night it was a rock place. Something i will never forget

I used to hang out at Speaks in the late '70's, before I ever started working there, diggin' Zebra,Rat Race Choir and many more great bands who's names escape me some thirty years later! And you're right pal, the (island).....will never duplicate those days. Maybe the Hamptons. The Hamptoms "always" rocks in the summertime! Do you remember Davy Jones in Island Park? How about Chaunceys, on the westend of Long Beach.

I think I hit chaunceys once or twice, dont remember Davey Jones at all.
I remember Malibu in Lido beach I think it was. I went there quite a bit too in early 80's, for some reason I think we started going there more then Speaks towards the end. I moved to Florida for a year in 1981 then when I came back Speaks was an 18 and over club I think ?

But Speaks was the first nightclub I got to go to because a guy named "Andre" Gregoretti was the door man and he knew me so I got in when I was 16. There was a smaller but popular disco not to far from Speaks the name escapes me but actually that was the first place I got into somehow then Speaks. I still have an old ad for Speaks I clipped and saved.

I left Long Island in 1983 and when I came back to visit it was all different, some of the clubs where still there or had different names but the "Feel was gone.

Remember Ralph the manager of Speaks?

Some of the other joints in the Isl.Pk. area on Long Beach Rd.were the Night Club,OBI west,On the Rocks, and of course; Rumours, where I worked from 2/79-11/83 and filling in at Channel 80,231 and Speaks, which was on Austin Blvd. All owned by Philly Basile.And yes I remember Ralph. He was Philly's bro-in-law. Philly was married to Ralph's sister. I'd like to see that ad from Speaks.

I remember Channel 80,, Best times of my life. I worked there from 1985-1988. I wish someone would get a reunion going. All the Good Old Boys, Philly Basile, Chubby.

WORKED AT 80 FOR TWO SUMMERS AS A BARBACK REMEMBER MAKING 200 DOLLARS A NITE BACK IN THE VERY EARLY 80S THE HUGE RED BURN WAS SOMETHING ELSE SAW THINGS AT 80 THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. SLEPT MANY NIGHTS UP IN THE LINEN ROOM

at 80 every fri,sat and sun remember: the 4 main bartenders,bobby{the grip},philly,roy and jack aiming the champagne corks at that fake parrot. the 1st few years with the outdoor pool that proved to be too wild!!!!

remember mel the old guy that hung out @ 80 remember the lines to get the red card sunday all nite it went on great times man i miss that place the bouncer mike motiqua

I was 23 years old when Channel 80 just opened and now 51 I had the best time of my life and have so many great memories. The music, the dancing, the way we all dressed it was clean fun!! I remember Frankie Fix It, Phil and Chubbby --- I would love to have a Channel 80's reunion ---if any one interested please email me.
Lisa

I was 23 years old when Channel 80 just opened and now 51 I had the best time of my life and have so many great memories. The music, the dancing, the way we all dressed it was clean fun!! I remember Frankie Fix It, Phil and Chubbby --- I would love to have a Channel 80's reunion ---if any one interested please email me.
Lisa

ALL YOU GUYS SAY IS TRUE.CHANNEL 80 WAS THE BEST.SUNDAY NITE STARTED AT 2 PM AND WENT ON TILL 3 AM.ME FRANK PAPPALARDO;RICKY PALAGONIA;GARY SALADINO AND OTHERS WENT NUTS -JUST HAVING THE BEST TIMES OF OUR LIVES.THATS ALMOST 30YRS AGO!CAN YOU IMAGINE...?THE WHITECARD THE RED ONE @THE BLACK CARD & THE GOLD ONE ;I STILL HAVE THEM!THE LINES TO GET IN ; WE KNEW CHUBBY SO HE ALWAYS GOT US IN...YOU COULD ONLY IMAGINE THE TIMES WE HAD IF YOU WERE THERE.IM LIVING IN PHX AZ
NOW WITH KIDS AND WIFE;EVEN THEY CANT UNDERSTAND!ONE DAY IM SURE WELL ALL BE SEEING EACH OTHER AGAIN -I DONT KNOW WHEN OR WHERE BUT ITS GOT TO HAPPEN;; THESE TIMES WERE TOO GOOD -TOO MANY GOOD MEMORIES; DONT YOU AGREE?OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL THIS - SHARE A MOMENT OR TWO .ILL CHECK BACK..........MARCO [FLORAL PARK] CHOW!

In response to you Marco.......As a former employee of Ch.80 and as a fellow Phoenician for the past five years I have two questions for you! First,remember the "Lady 80"? It was that Huck Finn type river boat w/the big paddlewheel behind it.Philly bought it,refurbished it and charged a cover to take a booze cruise up and down Reynolds Channel.Second,How-the-hell-did-we-get-out-here???????

TONY B.
FIRST ; I HEARD OF THE 'LADY 80', BUT NEVER WAS ON IT. SECOND; AFTER 10 SOLID YEARS OF CLUBBING,I NEEDED A CHANGE-HAD TO MOVE ON; I DID IT ALL IN NEW YORK. WAS GOING TO CA.PASSED THRU PHOENIX IN 86 AND DECIDED TO STAY.DID ABOUT 7 MORE PARTY YEARS, MET A GAL AT A CLUB -HITCHED UP AND GOT MARRIED -HAVE AN 11 YR OLD GIRL.I DONT HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MEMORIES,CAUSE WE BOTH WILL HAVE THEM FOREVER.DO YOU REMEMBER SUNDAYS? NOTHING COULD COMPARE NOR COME CLOSE TO 80 ON SUNDAYS!THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD WAS A RAIN OUT OUTSIDE . AS MANY PEOPLE AS I KNOW HERE IN PX NOBODY UNDERSTANDS 'THE REAL GOOD TIMES WE HAD'REMEMBER CHUBBY WENT TO ZACHARYS TO WORK THE DOOR? IS HE STILL AROUND? REMEMBER OBI WEST?I DONT KNOW HOW WE GOT OUT OF THE 80'S ALIVE! WHERE YOU LIVING-? MARCO

I worked Sunday afternoons there for a short time. As I stated in earlier posts,I worked at Rumours for the most part. Yea,I remember Chubby. No love loss there!OBI West,South and East.Many late night binges under my belt in OBI W. back in those days!"Especially" OBI South. Used to take my boat out of Bay Park and cruise about a mile off the beach 'till we got to Oak Beach.Then.........par-ty time!Until they took away the boat dock 'cause people were hangin' on their boats and skating the cover charge for the live music.They did the same thing at Jones Beach Theater in Zack's Bay.You used to pull up by boat and see some good concerts.Then they blocked off the bay entrance to the theater so you couldn't pull the boat around the so. side of the band shell. Total "A"-holes!I'm in Glendale, just west of the 17 and just north of the 101.Been here five years now. Lookin' to get back to the Island asap.Had enough out here.Where RU?

TB YOU MIGHT KNOW MY BUD WHO OWNED THE PIZZA COVE NEXT TO INFINITYS IN WANTAUGH;FRANK P.-WE ALL HUNG AT LATIQUE IN LEVITOWN-TONY THE BARTENDER AND JOHN AND FRANK THE DOORMEN WERE OUR PARTNERS OVER THERE. IT WAS ACROSS FROM UNCLE SAMS. I REMEMBER JACK FROM RUMOURS,KIND OF A KICKED BACK GUY BUT DID GOOD BY US.I REMEMBER 231 ALSO-YOU WORKED THERE TOO? I THINK WEDNESDAYS WAS THERE NITE.....DONT REMEMBER GETTING HOME TOO OFTEN ! I THINK THAT WAS CHUBBYS FIRST SHOT AT WORKING A DOOR AT A NITECLUB ,NOT SURE THOUGH;YOUD KNOW BETTER. YOU HAVE A GREATER MEMORY THAN I DO-ABOUT THE DETAILS AT THESE CLUBS;NAMES ETC. IM IN AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS-S ON I10 TOWARDS TUCSON------MARCO

The Lady 80. We had a party for my friend Nick's 30th Birthday on that boat. We bought him a blow up doll dressed as a Firefem. I need to find a way to scan those photos and post them on the site. Most of you will probably remember many of the people! Marco and Tony were discussing Latique in East Meadow. Do you remember big Anthony and Billy Sasone. Both bartenders. Billy owns a restaurant in Syosset, Cafe Testarossa. My husband and I moved to the D.C. area 5 years ago but get back to Long Island alot. MISSSSSS IT!! We always go to Testarossa! Sim1

SIM1 I DO REMEMBER ANTHONY THE BT-HE WAS A HIT WITH THE LADYS; SOME COMPETITION FOR THE REST OF US! IM SURE ID KNOW BILLY IF I SAW HIM BUT NO RECOLLECTION AT THIS TIME-WE N E V E R MISSED A TUESDAY NITE THERE. TUESDAY WAS THERE NITE.WOULDNT MISS IT FOR THE WORLD! YOUR BUD BILLY WOULD KNOW US IM SURE-I HUNG WITH FRANK PAPPALARDO;OWNER OF THE PIZZA COVE- ASK HIM- FRANK WAS REAL CLOSE WITH ANTHONY. SMALL WORLD...MARCO

I was a bartender at Channel 80 for 4 yrs, Rumors for 1 and 2 at 231. I tell people about those days and they have a hard time believing just how incredible it was. You had to live it to understand.

I was a friend of Charles Ciro, Wendy Samuels and Vito Bavaro....anyone know of them?

whatever happened to channel 80 and davey jones? davey jones had a great outdoor patio (on or near water, i think). there was a bar where austin and long beach rd split...past the strip joint, on the right side of the long beach road heading south. small place, had little disco. one thing about it was funny...they broadcast the playboy channel on TV (really, it wasn't the strip joint!)

What a joint ths was on a Sunday afternoon till te wee hours, omg

I had a great time at the clubs in the 1980s.

Anyone interested in having a reunion the channel 80 spot is now called BridgeWater I think ....looks nice I am sure we can have a reunion there??

In response to the one who said they worked 80, Rumours for a yr and 231 who's signed Channel 80!
Who are you? I spent 5 yrs at Rumours and am curious!

Mike B., Channel 80 is now the "Bridgewater" and D.Jones is now defunct!

Tony,
Ken Walton is my name. Worked Channel 80 from 82 to 86. Outside bar mostly. 231 for 2 years and one year at Rumors.

I Opened Rumors I think it was 1978-1979 My birthday 10/19/1978??? I ran the cafe in the back of Rumors, some calles me Disco dave, there was my friend Arnie the door man, Michelle the hat check girl, Cubby was manager. I also worked oa Speaks and Speak Easy as a back bartender and cook. I also worked for Brakeouy Mgt. Co, which was Phil's Record & promotion company on Long beach Road. Carmain was the DJ in those days. Helped open Channel 80 than moved to florida where I worked for J. Sprats on the water in Ft. Lauderdale, I would see frankie sometimes when he came into town. Any way they were the best days of our lifes!!!

Well I started working at Rumours in Feb of '79.At that time Jack was one of the doormen because I worked w/Jack in a shop in Lynbrook, and he hooked me up w/then head bartender Jack Ferrante! Jack hired me on the spot! Great Guy Jack! Vinny Nicholas was the manager, not Chubby. I do rem Arnie for a short time. The cafe was pretty much run by Ronnie. Tall blond guy who did the sweet 16's at Rumours and 231. Michelle was the coat check w/another girl named Debbie. Carmine had just left Rumours about the time I started. Behind the DJ booth during my tenor at Rumours was Neal, Tommy, John, Ralph and Johnny Ace. Back bar was tended by Ronnie, Joey, Alexis and myself. Front bar had Jack Ferrante uptown, Jimmy Bannon mid-town and Kevin Kehoe downtown. Waitresses were Joanne, Cindy, Lori, Barbara and others who's names escape me from those early days. There was a busboy named Mikey Hamburg and another guy named Steve Valenti who took over the valet parking at 80. Yes they were good times from loooooooong ago!

na rumbottums and infinity were the best , channel 80 and speaks were ok but my dads place was greaT

I was a bartender in the opening year,hired by Jack Ferrante(an incredibly great guy)and I worked that outside bar (by the pool).I remember working the day of Al D'Amato's Senate victory party (like a scene out of the Godfather);getting tips in blow;Sinatra's NY NY;those huge cigarette speedboats firing up their engines at 3AM to head back to Brooklyn;I was the one who got punched in the head by a patron that Sept. ending my time at the illustrious establishment.Oh Yeah, who was that smug weasel/manager named Jeff?and what was the name of that red-headed waiter who blew his brains out that summer?