Elephas

I made my first post about Elephas a couple of years ago...I can't believe all the notifications I get about other postings! I was going there in the 80's guess about 83-85...? Some of the best times EVER!! At that time they were having male/female dancers on Friday nights. My friend Kathy was one of the girls and my friends Craig, Tony and Mario were all part of the guy review! The reason I first made the post was to see if anyone knew who the photographer was that used to take photos and slideshow them on the screens around the club? I would love to get copies of some of those!! I wish I remembered more names but this was "our" club. we came and went as we pleased, bouncers always waving us through, and the DJ's were the BEST!!! So fun knowing that others have this feeling too!

I loved going there during the week especially on Thursday nights! That was t-shirt night, and I had them in every color and sparkle lettering!! My friend Donald still has one, but it looks like it would fit a 2 year old!!! Wish I had one now, i'd frame it!!!

Never made it to Elephas. I was a bartender at the Broadcaster's Inn up untill they had that shooting in the lobby, kid died for dancing with the wrong girl. Then I think it became a gay club for a while.
Before then I worked at Leone's in Long Beach...Wow, where did the time go.

OK THE OWNERS HIRED THE BOUNCES AT THE DOOR. RICHIE WAS ONE .AND HE WOULD LET ANYONE IN .THE OTHER BOUNCER WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD AND KILLED AT RIPPLES BY THE BROOKLYN BOYS.. kaziem WAS HIS NAME HE KICKED THE s*** OUT OF A BUNCH EX PRIZON BKLYN BOYS.

I once went with a black friend and they didn't let me in. Mind you, I had been there countless number of times with my Italian friends without a problem. I never went back.

Interesting! Many of us were "at Elephas" the night Berkowitz was captured. Is it really necessary to specify that he was apprehended up in Yonkers?? No one said he was brought into custody at Elephas in Bayside!! Honestly, we were just elated that the nightmare may be over and they had someone to hold accountable!!

For all those who believe that Son of Sam was captured at Elephas...please go to this link: http://www.nydailynews.com/features/sonofsam/capture.html

Sorry to hear about Ray D ..He was a great guy ..He loved eating his tuna right out of the can .. we would go out all night to the after hours gambling places come back after losing all his money and enjoy eating Bumble bee tunea in hios all white house in Little neck was it ?

Ray Dittrich was the owner. Old family friend. He passed a few years ago.

I was simply looking for a mag cover of this gal I think I took out back in the day and started with Son of Sam and ended up here where I too was one of the fast dancers spinnning 2 gals occasionally learned up at the F L A W as in the 2nd Floor which put Elephas on the MAP because the F L A W was thee hot spot on Main St. in New Rochelle. They only let good lookers in and so the place was CANDYLAND and I was 17 when I "snuck" in with fake ID ...Lol ... Oh what a time and I have made 2 CD's of that era about 10 yrs ago and perhaps when I get incentive I will somehow post that CD for all to listen to and get tingles from like we all used to . If u like go friend me on Facebook , Ed Bertolas and I am part of a group which I will turn you onto of DISCO INFERNO's we ALL went to. Bet you see /meet some folks you mighta danced with ... WOW !

What about Sid ? MARK the Bartender ..

Yes I remember you ! You were the guy that stayed over all night and ran errands for Sid Mike and Ray >> you were the weird looking guy

Does anyone remember me ?

I USED TO GO TO JUST ABOUT EVERY DISCO THERE WAS BETWEEN 1977 AND 1986 IN BKLYN, QUEENS, MANHATTAN, NEW JERSEY, LONG ISLAND, FLORIDA, AND I CAN TRUELY SAY THAT THE ELEPHAS NIGHT CLUB HAD THE HOTTEST GIRLS AT THAT TIME. GREAT MEMORIES. WOULD GO BACK IN TIME IN A SINGLE HEART BEAT.

Can't believe I found this website! Okay, so I WAS one of the great dancers at Elefas. Not bragging, just being honest. People used to think I looked just like Marie Osmond back then, and they would confuse me for that "infamous" girl on the disco commercial - anyone remember her...? Awesome site and great memories of alot of fun. The DJ was awesome!!!

I remember Elephas. Loved going there with Linda. George always took over the dancefloor. Loved dancing with him.
Everytime I hear a song from that era it brings me back to that time. Never found another partner that danced the hustle as well as George.

Elephas was just a great local club if you lived in the Bayside area, but I remember that people would come in from the other boroughs and Long Island as well. Good crowd (no freaks) and good music. Then I discovered Regines (a little more sophisticated) and Infinity (probably the wildest and best club with a HUGE dance floor and GREAT music and sound system) in Manhattan. I can still remember walking into Infinity and there were people dancing on the ledge about 5 feet over the dance floor and we knew we had to go up there. The music from '76 through '79 was awesome but we knew it was over when "Rappers Delight" came out and it was downhill from there. Infiniti was the best club overall but Elephas was the best "neighborhood" club. Great memories...............

I too, started like Bob going to clubs at Broadcasters Inn. Elephas was simply the best club to go to because the DJ mix was never the stereotype Disco crap on the radio, but a brilliant mix of true dance music! Example, Eddie Kendrick's, "Date with the Rain", "Ten Percent" "Relight my Fire" and Perhaps the best, "I Love Music" by the O'Jays. We competed with the guidos from Brooklyn for the girls in their dresses, heavy makeup and high heels! I miss those great days but am happy I survived it too!!

the 1st club i ever went to was Broadcasters's Inn right on horace harding expressway..i was 17 and remember drinking a tequilla sunrise..we all worked at Alexander's on queens blvd and a bunch of us would head out a can't believe i googled elephasfter work..then we found elephas and basically lived there..i remember i had a blue elephas tee shirt.. the music was incredible..we all knew how to have a good time back then..i am so grateful i grew up during that time. i can't believe i googled elephas and here are all the memories..thanks..

Okay kids.... First the club was the Bayside Manor and then it became Humperdinks. Once it became Elephas ... WE TOOK OVER!!!!

Didn't we, Linda... LMAO!!

Some of us still get together on Tuesday nights! Right now it's Sambuca Lounge on Post Avenue in Westbury. Quite a few faces from Elephas days!

Check it out when you're in New York. We'd love to see you...

Elephas was the first club I ever stepped foot in. I was only 15 (the drinking age was 18 then). I wore a ton of makeup, tight pants and high heels.I danced with a "cujine" wearing a crushed velvet jacket. He wore pinky rings and I remember almost falling and I reached out and grabbed his hand for support and off came his ring. By then, maybe it was the lights, the music or the "sloe gin fizz" but I stood there holding his ring and just laughed my a** off. I think I dropped it, got embarrased and ran off.

I too just stumbled onto this site because my older brother (who lives in Staten Island) called me (I live in Port Richey FL)and asked me if I remembered what the name of the club was before it was Elephas??? He is with a group of old friends who hit the club scene back in the 60's. Now getting back to Elephas, I was there every night the club was open..I loved Jimmy Yu, Paul & Tony. My brother Jimmy still hears from Jimmy Yu every now & then. We are still friends with Charlie (the bouncer). I was also one of the dancers with the dance troupe that used to give lessons & demonstrations!! I was there when Sal got shot (he was good friends with the guy I was dating at the time) and had just gotten out of the car behind him..To close for comfort. I could go on FOREVER!!! The best times of my life...
Well, if anyone has an answer to the question: What were the last 2 names of the club before it was Elephas, please let me know.
Oh & by the was there was a reunion a few years ago!!

I'm originally from NYC, and now live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I'm on break from school and I felt a bit nostalgic about the Disco Days. Next thing I know I run into this site with all the Disco Goodies Galore.

My friends and I use to hang out at Elephas all the time(70's), and I can remember the Berkowitz's shootings. I also remember many young ladies, including the girls I hung out with were cutting their hair really short and some were even wearing hats to make them look like guys as a deterrent to Son of Sam. I also remember going to Elephas a few weeks after the shooting and the crowd was very thinned out.

Anyway, on a good note, that place was awesome. Great sound, great mixes, great great crowd.

I lived in Whitestone, so it was a hop skip and a jump for me, and the boys to pile into a few cars and hang at Elephas till closing.
If you needed a break from the dancin and drinkin you could walk to White Castles for a few belly bombs, re-charge and hit the dance floor again.

I became a mobile dj in early 76(just out of high school), and the dj's at Elephas were a good source of schooling for grooves and mixes.

Most my friends were rockers, and mainly went to Elephas and other clubs to pickup chicks, but I was the one that would be awaiting the next song in the mix. They must of thought I was high or crazy but I was moved by the grooves and the dance!

I've been to many of the clubs mentioned in this, and other threads, and even attempted to start a club in Whitestone at one point, but it wasn't meant to be.

Here's a list of some of the great Disco's I remember hanging out in from back in the day.

Bronx:
Stereo Lounge-(first Disco I ever went to in 76-First time I heard 10Percent 12inch)

Queens:
Elephas(of course - Go Yankees-1978)
Ripples on the Water (Giant speakers literally on the Dance Floor)
Enchanted Gardens
Jimmy Byrnes
Lemmon Tree
Rusty Nail(Many Last Call for Alcohol-My Friend MikeC's brother Bartended there-and I think Mike occasionaly works the door still)
Travelers Inn

Long Island:
Eclipse
Penrods
Uncle Sams
Decamerons
Bijou
Speaks(SpeakEasy)
Fokos

Brooklyn
2001 Odyssey (before and after SNF)

NYC:
Infinity (The best Disco in town!!!) First Heard one of my Fav Songs “From East to West. Went upstairs with my date, layed back with her on the bed/couch, and there we’re two guys on the other side of the bed laying down at the same time. We almost knocked each other out. Don’t remember the rest of that night???
Adams Apple
Boombamakaoo
Barney Googles
Funhouse (Hanging out in a mini car in the middle of the club with my date)
Hippopotamus
Xenon
Illusions
Inferno
Ipanema(Best Salsa/Disco mix)
Le Jardin
Millenium
Nell Gwynns
Pegasus
Plato's
Reflections
Revelations
Roseland
Starship

New Jersey:
Soap Factory

First grooves I heard, bought and spun:
Soul City Walk
Let’s Groove
Making Love
10 Percent
Walkin in Rhythm
Rock Creek Park
Dreaming a Dream
Atmosphere Strut
Let’s Get It Together
Disco Connection
Helplessly
Mighty High
Another Star
Under My Skin
Down to Love Town
Where the Happy People Go
Stone to the Bone
I Love America
We Got the Time
I thought it was you
I Feel a Groove Coming On
Spanish Hustle
I Love a Mellow Groove
Do It Any Way You Wanna

These are just some of the the Disco’s and grooves I remember from the 70's, I’m sure there are others that will come to mind after this post is sent.

I took a few trips back to NYC last year and on my last visit I was staying at the Anchor Inn, Northern Blvd, Bayside, NY, and I had to revisit the old Elephas location. It is now an Asian Restaurant. I went in and had my wife take pix of me in various dance poses throughout the Restaurant. On the way out, lying on the ground of the parking lot, were some bricks that had fallen off the building. I couldn’t help but taking a few home with me as a reminder of Elephas.

I’m sorry for the long post, but I’m making up for lost time.

Ciao for now,
NickyJ

ps: My friend Tommy owned a Tropicana Route in Manhattan, and I believe he was able to get my friends and I in many of the private/members only clubs with no problem. He recently passed away... RIP Tommy....Good Times!!!

Danny,
Thanks for posting. An interview with Jimmy Yu appears on this very site at:
http://www.discomusic.com/people-more/54_0_11_0_C/

Wow! I can't believe I googled Elephas and all of this appeared !!!!

Elephas was the first club I ever stepped foot into and I was barely 17. My older brothers would sneak me in with their Guido Connections! Haha. The first DJ to influence me was Paul Casella's 8-track Tapes in the early 70's, (I was barely 13) and Paul knew my cousin Anthony Paisano and they took me to Disco Disc record shop on Austin street in Forest Hills ... I will never forget this moment for as long as I live.
The first import I ever bought was: "Let me take you back in time baby" by: Eruption .. RCA 7 inch and I still have it! :)

And besides Paul, I "always" attributed my earliest learning experiences to Anthony & Jimmy Yu @ Elephas.
We lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and then I turned 18 in 1979 and I started going to The Paradise Garage, The Loft and all the other NYC clubs ... and here I am Thirty Something Years later typing to all of you from a Hotel room in Napoli, here on 5 city tour once again.

God has blessed me and I always hoped that one day I would be able to personally thank the DJ's at Elephas!
I recently caught up with Paul and it's just awesome!

I remember it like it was yesterday! How great the mixing skills were and this was SCHOOL for me.
"I don't want lose your love", "Free Love", Spring Affair .... So many great songs, so incredibly difficult to mix, compared to today's nonsense ... yet it was done so incredibly well.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING MY TEACHERS!! xox

I PRAY SOMEONE FROM ELEPHAS SEES THIS !

>> WHY DOESN'T SOMEONE PLAN AN ELEPHAS REUNION? :-)

Peace to all,
Sincerely,
Danny Tenaglia

Facebook screen name: Danny Tenaglia Ny

Wow, I've been looking online for some peeps to share about the disco days with. I didn't frequent Elephas, man but everyone knew Elephas. I used to go to ARENA everynite on Fresh Pond Rd. Then there was the KINGS INN, at Laguardia Airport which later became the EXECUTIVE SUITE. I was good friends with Kaseems first wife. The bouncer that got killed! I don't remember which disco it was but he always messed with the wrong people. I went to JHS with him. Such fun in the 70's and early 80's. Man did they fly by. What memories!!!! I loved to dance disco, still do; but where the heck do you go??? I wish they would bring disco back. Is it possible? How about Latin nite at the Pan Am in Elmhurst. Tito Puente on Monday nites. Wow, what I wouldn't do to turn back the clock to those fun times. And to be that young again. So fast and wild were those days that I never thought Iwould see the 90's let alone the 21 centry. LOL. Anyone know of anymore sites to visit to reminisce about back in the day. Anyone remember the Singer Joey Dee from the KINGS INN. He was known for the song by Shirley Bassey, MY LIFE! Man what a song.

I used to go to Elephas in the 80's...towards the end my friends used to be dancers there..i think the owners name was Ray, and there was a second Elephas upstate. Also, there used to be pictures on the screens taken of people in the club...does anyone know who that photographer was?

Hi I lived right next door to Elephas, I was still very young, but I remember staying up late ate nite watching all the pretty women visiting the club, my brother Domenic was also in the club when the Son of sam shooting happened. The shooting happened by my best friend John's house. I only wish I was old enough to get in to the club, those women were hot and wild! Frank M.

DJ Gary...
Wow Paulie Cassella was probably the best DJ as far as blending songs without missing a beat and playing some of the best tunes.
In the very early Disco days he was at Broadcasters and then the Monastary in Sunnyside queens.
Don't forget Johnnie Ace DJ Jenny Costa.
Thier style came right out of Paulie Cassella.

Thanks

Frank Demicco

I grew up with Mike Morash and his family. The summer of Son of Sam... that night at Elephas. We were there the night before. Scared the living crap out of us that we were so close to this mad man. Mike told us to stay away for our own safety.
Memories of a great time to being a young adult.
Last I heard about Mike he had moved down to Florida after both his parents had passed away. We used to laugh when his Mom would say, Mike looked so much like Tom Jones. LOL

I lived in elephas john the bartender and i practiced rock and roll when it was closed but when it was open party and girls time one of the owners deneros friend was in the movie once upon a time in amaerica...also jimmy u the dj i was there when sal lupo got shot they locked up the place how about kaseem killed in another disco ...

38 years working clubs and private Gigs now working in florida sarasota area I'm having the same problem (with Music) today like I did 38 years ago when I worked SOME Queens & Bklyn clubs .And thats the same difference like playing Manhattan dance crowds verses playing Bklyn /Queens Clubs .And Thats!!!!
Playing Hot Music and if they never heard the song, they walk off the dance floor .Even when your mixing a PERFECT 1 Min.mix and they finally figure out that the song they were dancing to isn't ON!!!! ANY MORE , They Walk Off ???,,,,,,, Now My POINT .
Stay with me .For years I wanted to try and get what's on my mind about this into words.Spinning Manhattan Clubs is a LOT EASIER than spinning Bklyn /Queens Clubs Because to keep the Bklyn/ Queens dancing you have to stick to top 40 and sticking to top 40 you have to play( what some people called it was ) BUBBLE GUM MUSIC.and mixing Bubble gum music ( on 7" 45's) is alot harder mixing ( especially beat mixing )Than playing the special 12" 45's made to mix easily in and out of songs .
BUT !!!! Mr. Paul Casella Mixed that bubble gum early disco like he was a DJ in his last 10 lifes .After Listening to many great Disco Club DJ's It was Pauls Mixes that talk me into making a career of Being A FULL TIME Professional Disc Jockey
I HOPE THIS ALL MAKES SENSE ,
Care to share,,,,,,
Thank You
Gary D'Amico
Bushwick ,Bklyn
Ozone Pk./H.B ,Queens
P S Does Any one Remember Mon Vi Je , after that it was Galaxy and after that it was butterfingers (1980 to 1987)I was the resident DJ at all three.
Mon Vi Je , Howard Beach ,Queen = FunHouse/Manhattan

Wow I remember this club. I knew Sal Lupo who was the victim that was wounded by Son Of Sam.

This was a great place...great music and sound. I fondly remember Mike Morash from Elephas north as well. =]

I think I remember JoanneF. Were you friends with Ramona and PatF?

The reason I'm still a Dj after 38 years is because of a dj named Mr. Paul Casella .After listening to a mixed 8 track ,Paul use to sell to a Hair cutting shop ,Carl Jasons ,Ozone Park ,We also loved his selection of early Disco back @ Broadcasters he would play Gloria Gaynor Never can say goodbye and announce winning door numbers during instrumental and at the very end of that song at the most perfect timing you hear the horns of mfsb ,Love is the message.Another great mix was ,Notations ,Think before you start & he mixed Another Girl ,Silver Convention .I could never duplicate that mix until last month ,After 38 years !!! I was one of Bklyn Queens First mobil Dj's starting 1972 .Working After hour clubs on Jamaica Ave bklyn .and 1st Ave Manhattan my first real club was Rimaurs on Woodhaven & Alantic Ave and After meeting the owners of the Fun house Dj work and bartending (when I wasn't spinning )was really GOOD .Getting records from prince st.Pool Judy W.& For the record and IDRC Eddie R.and Jamie R.. ,My best times are All the clubs mention in Bklyn Queens & Long Island and Manhattan and then some.Before I say bye there's one more dj that needs to be mention and his Name Speaks for Himself . Mr. Jim Burgess ! ! ! Thank You

Gary D'Amico

we used to go to decameron natalie and his son were the owners remember wild wednesday
me and buddy frank pappalardo were there all the time a guy named lee --looked just like travolta b

est times-- 30 years ago great memories moved on to the city enchanted gardens 54 etc

i remember paul casella dj
went to decameron latique 54 channel 80 etc wow

I was at Elephas every night...I really miss that place...a lot of memories...I was always there with my girlfriend Gerri..loved Ralph the bouncer, and Angel was the man... mark the bartender, richie the doorman,,,and all the great dancers...of course the best d.j.'s on LI..will find some ole photos

I went to Elephas and was there the night Son of Sam AKA David Berkowitz was caught. Our pic sdated Michael djHacker, who I believe wa one of the best dj's in NYC in the 80's. He was just as good as Larry L of the GARAGE in Manhattan.

Yeah I was one of the many DJ's during that time...
Michael Hacker, Anthony Cintorino, Ted Chang

I worked at Jerry's over by the LIE (495) Fresh Meadows Queens funny that now I googled this after all the years gone by... What a blast from the past. I remember that night good thing I missed it.

LOL well feel free to look me up... www.digerati-master.com

Back in the day..the Gunn Club aka Avanti on disco nights had some cool ocal bands...White Trash, Batalion and my favorite R.A. Roller among others. It was a good time.

Gunn Club was on (heavy metal) nights- Camouflage was new wave night, I forget other nights' names

The joint on Bell Blvd by the movies was the Gunn Club, later it became Raw, now it is some Chinese joint.

What was the name of the joint
on Bell Blvd next to the Bayside movies?

I was there the night Elvis died and the DJ played Jailhouse Rock and everyone got on the dancefloor doing Elvis impersonations.

I WAS THERE THAT NITE TOO. NOW I WORK FOR THE BROTHER OF ONE OF THE BOUNCERS THAT WORKED THERE. THE CLUB YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS LA'TIQUE, IT WAS IN LEVITTOWN.

My grandmother used to live near there and I remember a very long time ago we'd drive by on Northern Blvd and the building was a restaurant or diner or something and then it became a disco. Of course I remember it to be the place where "Son of Sam" shot one of his victims. I was 17 that summer.

Barb you must be from long island so maybe you can remember a club named la tek .I can not remember where it was located.I went a couple of times but never left in the same condition as i went in.

OOOOOH Elephas!! I used to go every Friday and Saturday night back in the early 80's. It was a hot neighborhood club back in the day - drinking age back then was only 18, so most of the kids hanging out were anywhere from 17-21. I used to get wasted out of my mind on Long Island Ice Teas, while wearing my white capezio shoes!! LOL

Great dancers. I was there the night Son of Sam shot a guy outside.

i was the dj at elephas 1974-81 untill the day it closed back then it was the place to go people from queens brooklyn long island we had a great crowd.

Very classy disco.Best sound system I ever heard. I really loved this place.