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Disco Music > Discotheques and Clubs Index > Catacombs, The
Catacombs, The
1127 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA USA
Owner: Wayne Geftman
DJs: Wayne Geftman, David Todd, Donald Stone, Billy Kennedy with special appearances from Second Story DJs.
Lighting: Joel ???, Carter Burnette
Manager: Linda ???
An after hours club located under Philly's famed Second Story, The Catacombs was a hangout of music industry professionals and where records were broken. It has extreme cultural significance for the African American gay community as it was one of the first clubs that helped shape what was to become house music.
Because the room was relatively small, and the Richard Long sound system was superb, a Philly signature mixing style emerged where DJs overlayed two records for extended periods.
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COMMENTS ON THIS DISCO / DISCOTHEQUE / NIGHTCLUB
All,
Robbie Tronco and I have been doing an afterhours party at the Mansion... in honor of SOUL but obviously inspired by our days at The Story and Catacombs in the '70s-8)s!! There are actually some people that have been coming that used to go to both clubs... even remember Frankie Who, Frankie Sestito, Billy Kennedy, Donald Stone, David Todd, and my brother Jimmy Del Femine!!
Here are the details:
From the City of Brotherly Soul…
troncoDELphia productions presents
S O U L S U N D A Y S
Soulful music inspired by: The Second Story, Catacombs, Paradise Garage, and The Warehouse
Spun with love by:
Philly’s Legendary Robbie Tronco
&
DEL (Philly & Chicago)
The Mansion
(corner of 19th & Sansom Sts.)
11PM till 3:15AM
Admission $5 (free with flyer before Midnight)
Hosts: Winston & Marsha
YOU CAN’T FAKE THE FEELING WITHOUT FEELING!!!
Try to make it out, it's a small room in an old brownstone (you'll recognize it when you see the building). It would be great to get a crowd from the Story and Catacombs... maybe we could start an earlier Sunday party (to allow for all of us who need to rise up early on Monday mornings!.)
All the best,
Del (Robert Del Femine)
Carterette..just a bit on the sound system, it originally was the system from the Music Box in Margate built by Alex Rosner, Wayne Geftman then double the system and Alex + Donald Carucci installed it, it featured hand built Luxman amps,backed with Macintosh power, it had slotted and bullet jbl tweeter arrays, voice of the theater mid range cabinets and Rosner's custom bass horns, the 360' sound was incredible plus the fact it had low cielings and a small dance floor with bleachers on either side.
I was lucky to play on the original Music Box system and then upstairs at the incredible SS, but talking about the Catacombs sound system puts a smile on my face to this day. It litterly moved people..of course along with the legendary dj's were the fantastic light persons that you were a big part of..
Stay well
Frankiewho
Hey I had my own dance at the combs,I would dance on my toes like I was running in place.I started that dance and people would do it at the combs.Some people thought is was Mark Berts but it was me..I still love to dance I like Danny 718 sessions in NYC.Philly was has had nothing after combs..
Thanks Frankie for the updated sound system comments. In retrospect, I probably should have mentioned the light show as I was one of the club's light jockeys. The best way I can describe the lights would be minimalistic, yet definitely effective. Our best effect were the old "FLASH" bulbs which could only be used once a night. These were old photographic light bulbs. Imagine the nichochrome wire in a magiccube (dating myself for sure!) in the size of a 300 watt lightbulb. Additionally, the strobes were two in the floor of the bass speakers and four in the ceiling. I think I made my mark by memorizing the keyboard solo for "Love Is The Message" and playing it on the strobes. However, you could never forget your first visit to the club once you saw the larger than life phallus standing next to our own Miss Linda, the club's manager.
I used to go to Catacombs after work on the weekends.I loved listening to Wayne playing all the new music.I picked up a lot there.I especially liked to go on nights when David Todd used to weave his funky magic.I miss him....And I am looking forward to the reunion.It is definitely going to happen thanks to the efforts of Frankie Sestito. Can't wait to see everybody.....
I am very excited about the possibilty of a SS/Catacombs reunion. Pls post planned early.I met a DJ in DC who used to hang at Catacombs on occassion-he goes by the name Mandrill. He plays at a small club in DC called the FAB Lounge. We talked about old times-. Listening to him play took me back-way back. Hope to here more on the reunion. Yea-cant fake the feeling-G. Hunt
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