12 West

This was a great club !!! , they even had a fashion show there from Bloomingdale's one night . Every one there was real friendly. One night my b/f and I were to meet Divine at West Beth next store but we left to go to 12 west and Devine shows up dancing with Elton John, we passed the poppers to them and Devine says " that was good s*** honey ",I thought I would platz. My b/f lived at the Dakota on west 72 St and new the right people. I was just lucky enough to be in love with him for 16 good years. Oh the memeories make life worth while.

I was just out of high school, grew up in central NJ, and was going into the city a lot with friends, handing out in the Village and tasting "grown up life" and the thing we thought was gay. I was lucky to be on the "in" with 12 West. I went to a preview openning that was designed to develop a member list. We were not given memberships but were told to mail in for a request. I cleverly taped the business card with logo on the envelope to attract attention and asked for my membership and when it came back in the mail, I was so excited. I was very young and investigating the meaning of my sexual inclinations. Dancing at 12 West was exillarating! Big, big square space, large carpeted steps 2/3's up the wall along two sides to sit on. The freedom of twirlling around the dance floor is a wonderful memory. I remember an "old" man, old to me, probably 55 or 60, dancing and dancing all alone with such an attitude and this "old" man just fascinated me.

There was no alcohol! It was a private club and people brought what ever intoxicants they wanted. But the club provided free fruit and cookies and fruit juice. Upstairs was a more small and private sitting area.

What nice memories!

James

I was a teenager taking dance classes in the city with Phil Black and Charles Kelly and went to many clubs in the 70's with other older straight and gay dancers. 12 West was one of my favorite places to go for a few reasons. The first one was pretty funny but true...they thought when I would get to the door that I was Kiki Dee and used to let me right in like I was a celebrity. I never questioned why they thought that and didn’t even know who she was because I was so young so I just went with it...lol...The second reason was the fairytale like atmosphere....lots of white big balloons all over the dance floor.....referees running through the place blowing whistles, and people all over the place just dancing and having fun. Upstairs was a whole different scene that I was not involved in but I still went up there every so often just to look around...hehehehe. I loved the layout, people and especially the music....great memories of a time and place long forgotten....

Dear freinds of the dance: I want to apologize for being so far behind schedule with the maintenance of 12westmemories.org and especially for being so far behind on answering your emails. My employer has been asking for a great deal of my time this year and I am largely obliged to do what they say....especially with the economy so messed up. There have also been technical problems related to a security update the my web host provider has implemented and I have not been able to consistently and reliably get logged in to work on the pages. Please bear with me. I still hope to get it all fixed. Please do not use the domain email address for now. Instead use the older address at: twelvewest@netzero.com Thank you all and be well.

Just finished reading all of your great comments. I'm 49, been DJing since about '82. Started going to Vinyl Mania when Manny was behind the counter. My first job was at the Pyramid not long after it first opened. I still spin to this day, with records mostly.

I'm probably a bit younger than most of you. I knew about 12 West because my mother had a house in Sunnyside Gardens, Queens on 45th Street that she rented out to one of the DJs from 12 West after we moved to Manhattan. I went to school for two years on 10th Street and Greenwich St. in the early '70s and I had family in the neighborhood. I was already playing music (guitar, not turntables ;) at this point but I had no idea that I would go on to be so mesmerized by DJing a few years later.

I remember walking into the 1st floor apartment once and meeting the 12 West DJ and seeing all the records lined up all over the room. Little did I know that my apartment would end up looking like this for years to come. If any of you know which of the people who played at 12 West lived in Sunnyside, I'd love to know. The name Tom Savarese rings a bell but I'm really not sure.

I'm struck but not surprised by the polite and generous tone of your words, a pleasure to read.
Your descriptions of 12 West reminds me of the many nights I spent at the Garage, I joined For the Record in '82 and the membership card got me into the Garage for free anytime I wanted to go. I would often go after being at the Mudd Club or Berlin which was more my social scene. I was living on Thompson Street at the time in a tiny place with a shower (not a tub) in the living room. I could walk to the Mudd club, Berlin, the Garage and I was always walking by the Loft but didn't know what it was other than some kind of party. I never wanted to pay so I didn't go in, but one early morning there was no one at the front door as I walked by so in I went. I can say my life changed at that moment. Although I loved the way-out scene of places like Mudd Club, I always felt vaguely dissatisfied with the music overall, and going to the Garage and the Loft opened up a whole world to me both musically and sonically.

I went to go to the Saint once when my friend was road managing for Patty Austin. It was so interesting to here how a club could sound as good as the Garage but come from a completely different place sonically. My preference was the more bottom heavy sound of the Garage but the Saint's sound was awe inspiring.

I was lucky enough to perform live at the Garage with the band Konk, I was the bass player.
For me, the gentleman dancing in this video embody's everything I loved about going out in New York, though this looks like it was a pretty commercial spot. This was a bit before I was old enough to go out on my own but you can see the wonderful connection between the late 1960s mind altering esthetic and the underground disco revolution to come.

Best wishes to all.

Web master, please note: The Great Jim Burgess and Paul Polous also DJ at 12 West. Jim went on to play at other clubs like the Saint and worked at several record/music companies.

Fran Lebowitz talks about 12 West in the January 2010 issue of Vanity Fair. She has a really funny story about people getting their coats stolen there.

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/02/oral-history-of-disco-201002

Well, I have been away from this site for too long!
I wanted to let you all know that after some difficult times, I'm once again publishing the non-profit / "hobbyist" web site: 12 West Memories, To the best of my knowledge, the first presence for 12 West on the web when it was first published in January of 2000. And of course Discomusic.com is linked on the "Letters And Links" page.
URL= http://www.12westmemories.org
Lest we forget!
Regards,
Bob Baker
member # (s) 0077 / A77

To all the people out there who had the experience to be around the greatest dj's in the era I salute you all, I remember all of them, I may not have crossed paths with those who new them but I had first hand experience. From Tom Saravese, Howard Merritt, Lance Wise, Robbie Leslie Richie Riveria, Tom Moulton, Ron(Nicky)Nickelson, Sharon White, Roy Thode, Jim Burgess, and many many many more I had the plesure of knowing through friends of the business, and last but not lease TOM SARAVESE IS ALIVE AND WELL....


Hail to all who kept the memories...........

John, this is Lee (from les mouches). Remember me, when you were living in Indpendence plaza with lance and you had a dj gig (sweet 16 or a wedding) out in queens and I went with you (btw sorry about the burnt mattress and bedding <G>)

Lee

Hi all I met Lance at the Galaxy 21 in NYC on 23rd st back in 76 Walter Gibbons & spinning (RIP)I became best friends with both . Lance was my room mate in 78-82 at Independence Plaza. I learned everything about dj'ing from Lance He played Uncle Pauls..(I played there), Anvil, Alex in wonderland, 12 West (On May 10 1983 I met a new dj "Jimmy Friedman" (RIP Aug 28 1985 The moment I got married to my current partner of now over 23 years) so difrernt than Lance but both so so very sweet.. I need to stop because I lost touch in2001..LANCE DANCE: OCT.19, 1957-July 18, 2003: I'LL LOVE HIM FOREVER Finally had died in his sleep from a massive coronary(I heard this from searching a few years almost every week on the internet WALTER,LANCE & JIMMY "Was MY Holy 3" The 3 greatest men & "Underated DJ'S" & I Missed them all I cry call the time . "My song at the saint I dedicaded to them... "Together In Electric Dreams"..Giorgio
I can't type anymore... tears on my keyboard.. LOVE LOVE LOVE... YES LOVE IS THE MESSAGE FOR US ALL
I AM SO BLESSED !
John now living in Queens NY

Regarding: Lance Wise,,Richard and dancer, I knew lance very well He was living in LA, he was a Dj at a bar in west hollywood (GoldCoast) he had a lover that past away and sold their house and moved to Oklahoma City in 95 or 96, he gave me his mothers number but dont know if works. Would like to get a hold of him.
Rudy

I also knew Lance, quite well. He not only played at 12 West but also the Anvil and Les Mouches. He us to live in Independance plaza with his his best friend.

Richard do you know what ever happened to Lance. BTW this is Lee from Les Mouches (use to dance (acrobatic dancing) with ankle bells in front of the dj booth on the banquet with fans.

I haven't seen Alan & his lover Larry, in awhile.

BTW Richard, do you remember a dj name Paul Polis. I use to be friendly with him and the last time I saw him was a New Years Eve (around 1979/80) at a Philly club I believe they called the DCA club (the dj booth was a clown head).

Yes I remember Lance Wise. He did dj at 12 West once or twice. His main gig was at the after hours club called the Anvil. I also played there a couple of times,
it was quite a wild place. I used to see Freddie Mercury there once in a while.
I'm not sure where Lance is now. He was a very fun person to be around.

Does anyone remember Lance Wise I belived he DJ at 12 West but not sure,..
Rudy

I just talked with Barry a few months ago when Mel Cheren passed away. I was going to stay at Barry's apartment when I was going down to New York for Mel's Memorial service, but I got sick and couldn't go. Barry put me on the Billboard panel in 1974/1975 or whenever. He was going to come up to Boston next month and spend the weekend at my apartment. I will miss him very much. I've been crying all day. What happened?

I am very sad to hear this news about Barry. He was a great guy. We were not close friends but had a great deal of respect for each other during my years working in the dj booth at 12 West and The Saint. He was a bottomless well of knowledge about the music of the disco era. He had a wicked sense of humor too.
This is sad news.

wow I can't believe he is no longer with us.... !!!

Has anybody contacted Joel Teitleman(former asistant manager of Les Mouches and later General Manager of the Saint), I think Joel may know Barry's realatives.

I don't know ANY details but I just heard from Robbie Leslie that Barry Lederer passed away this weekend.

Said Robbie, "This weekend, Barry Lederer was found dead in his New York City apartment. Cause of death is not considered to involve foul play.

Barry was one half of the Graebar Sound team (along with partner peter Spar), which designed and installed sound systems for such legendary clubs as 12 West (NYC), Salvation (Miami), the Sandpiper and Botel (Fire Island Pines), Trocadero Transfer (San Francisco), and The Saint. They also did temporary installations for notable designer fashion shows in New York. Their in-house record collection was the largest I have ever laid eyes on! A close friend of remix artist Tom Moulton, Barry was DJ at several early dance clubs well ahead of the wave of mainstream gay venues - notably The Firehouse.

Barry Lederer wrote the 'Disco Mix' column for Billboard for several years of the Disco Era."

I am a DISCO fan from waaaaaaayyyyyy back in the 70's. I have friends that continue to live the "GOOD LIFE"!!!!!!

Love your website.

Keep-on-truckin' baby...

Pat...

Just to let you know,, Cary Finklestein,one of the original owners of 12 West (later opened Les Mouches), passed away the other day (see Les Mouches postings), on April 23, 2008

Good point! Well taken!! I am old, feel old, but my DISCO mind is alive and well!! Thank God for that!! While " I toot my own horn" I also added that calling ME or anyone else the very best is wrong.The fact that you never heard of me proves a point, if you are not a "name" deejay from New York, no-one knows you! I have been at this for so many long years, I couldn't help but get experienced. And it is experience in any job, that makes you great. I need no-one to tell me that, those who heard me enjoyed me. And most importantly, I survived it all!! It is just an opinion. But your point was taken to heart. Who really cares? We are old, maybe it is the frustration of knowing that back in the late 70's and early 80's, an average deejay got paid $100 bucks a night. A great deejay, maybe $500. Today, these so-called deejays can make tens of thousands, and there were literally hundreds of my generation's deejays that were so much better than these guys. Sorry, just an old a****** rambling on. Thanks for the reality check!!

Dear Vyniljunkie,

I felt that the term “the best” was used as an endearment of the person, and that place in time which we, collectively, shared for a minute, not arrogance, and certainly not “competition.”

Your statement “calling anyone THE BEST is WRONG!” – didn’t prevent you from tooting your own horn “as one of the very best LIVE in club, using actual vinyl, remixers of all-time.” in your bio. Who wrote that? Truthfully, I have never heard of you, maybe you are "the best."

It seems to me that you are in a lot of pain about this “best” issue. Why? You got to play music, party, make friends and have fun. I say that makes you ahead of the game! You could have been working at the Post Office or Walmart! So lighten up! People in our age group have stroked out on less.

I read all these comments, and I chuckle. you guys throw the word "best" around too easily. Granted, all these deejays were great, but it is arrogance to call any of them THE BEST!! That means, absolutely no one better!! WRONG!! There are great deejays everywhere in the world who chuckled at those statements. Have you heard EVERY DEE JAY IN THE WORLD? You had to, to be able to call anyone the BEST!! And then there are STYLES, each deejay has one. Some styles are liked by some but not by others. And then there is LOCATION! Where these deejays played means a lot as well. Many great deejays played in Chicago and Los Angeles, and maybe HOBOKEN!! If they had been at STUDIO 54, maybe you would be referring to them as THE BEST! Calling anyone THE BEST is WRONG! I heard all these guys , I liked Scotty Blackwell better. That's my opinion. Some LOVED Bobby V, or Bobby G. What category would you put JELLYBEAN or PINKY in?? They have also been called THE BEST. Is there a competition that I was not aware of?? Was there a competition I missed somewhere? What makes a deejay THE BEST?? His music, his mixing, the timing, does he remix? Stop this foolishness, there is NO-WAY any single deejay was THE BEST!! I know that some of you are passionate about what you say, but passion isn't what makes a great deejay, not on its own. There is a lot of things to be considered to call someone the BEST!! As a formidable deejay myself, you insult me and others like me with such foolish statements. I'd put my LIVE remixing talents in a showdown with ANYONE!! But that certainly doesn't make me THE BEST!! But if I had been in a top New York Club, some would have called me that, they too, would have been wrong!! There is no, never was, never will be ONE deejay who could be called THE BEST!!

Yes, JudyDoggie,
If you knew Marsha Stern, you were absolutely correct because she and Sharon White were an item and Sharon did fill in at 12 West, even did it when I was there in the '78-'79 time frame. Marsha Stern was a Production Assistant along with me Ramon Sandoval and Rafael Torres on the Midnight Rhythm and Love at First Bite albums.

Jimmy Stuard, I believe played at Les mouches. We all, at Les Mouches were devistated, after all we were like one big family. The entire staff would either go to 12 West or flamingo when we closed for the night (loved Howard Merrit and Boom boom Richie Rivera)

I use to work at Les Mouches. I was one of the original fan dancers and also wore indian ankle bells on the banquet in front of the dj booth. My group consisted of Roger Pippen, Derf Belvedare, Elliot Molia, Alyn Pollard (and his lover Carlos), Scott, Dr. Colenda, Kenny and Lara Lepold. We all danced in the VIP Corner where the controls for the exhaust fans were.

Another Dj, and a friend, was Paul Polis, who was from Atlanta like Jim Burgess (who disliked Paul).

The night at the Saint when Jim burgess walked out of the DJ booth, because he wanted a cut of the door $$$, Bruce Mailman said if he walked out, he would never work again. I believe Alan Dodd took over when Jim Burgess walked out. Jim came over to me and said "Lee, they pay me for a specific time, that time is over, unless they pay me I refuse to play any more!"

It is sad that today nobody plays instruments (i.e. castinets, tamberines). There was one guy who use to play two tamberines against his body it was like watching an artist as he danced and wacked his tamberines against his sweaty limber body.

Later I use to use tank tops and tshirts in place of fans, after my leather fans were stolen at the Underground one sunday. They were so wet with sweat, I could snap my material and snap a cigarette out of the hand of a fool walking through the dance floor with a lite cigarette.

One night at the Ice palace will go down in history. Roy was playing and suddenly the Ice Palace dance floor gave way,,, nobody stopped. Roy continued playing and the hot sweaty men continued dancing as the dance floor dropped a few feet.

One of my favorite parties was the Birthday party for Syvester & the industry party (ABC party). Another time Ann Margret was suppose to sing, but her husband didn't like the idea that there was no barrier between her and the crowd. She never did get to sing because of that. I remember Tony Demartino telling me about it.

Sleez was my favorite dance time with such songs as "Take off Your Makeup", "We are family". The sun would be streaming through the skylight and all those palm plants hanging from the ceiling. I remeber one winter they opend the front door, and you couldn't see a thing there was so much steam streaming out the door.

There was on short guy who was deaf and danced with cowboy boots,,, during sleez he would glide around the dance floor near the front door, moving so gracefully without bumping into anybody.

One night Patty LaPone sang at Les mouches' cabaret,,, (She was staring in the broadway show Evita) Cary Finklestein, one of owners of Les Mouches (and one of the original owners of 12 west) and a group of us, took Patty to 12 West. As I snapped open my fans and stated dancing on a banquet in the lounge,, Patti said to me "Lee, we should have you dance in the show with those fans of yours (which were black leather with silver rays)". I have never seen so many fantastic dancers, but why do those guys have rags sticking out of their mouths (of course everybody was either on dust or dust with Eythel Chloride).

Les Mouches had a staff (between the resturant and disco)of about 70 guys. We usually all went in mass at the end of the night to either 12 West, Flamingo (loved both Howard Merritt and Boom Boom Richie Rivera) or the Paradise Garage. We literally brought the party with us. Especially when the party favor of choice that year was Clear Light (blue and then green)with a touch of Magic Mushrooms (with apple sauce).

Today, nobdy has what we like to call as Dance Manners. Back then, no matter how crowded 12 dance floor was, nobody ever bumped into anybody else and if someone wanted to walk on to the dance floor, they danced their way through the crowd,, Now, they just shoved their way through, not caring who they knock out of sinq. In all my years dancing in the clubs, I never remember seeing an ambulence come and take some guy who OD'd, like they do now.
The only incident I can remember was at the saint. I was with Mark Ackermann (who did the lights) and some guy lost all his clothes and they had to give the poor guy a garbage bag to wear to go home. We all had a big laugh about it when we went upstairs to Mark's original apt (which was above the Saint.

As far as Peter Spar (he was such a sweet heart and so dam hot, I had such a major crush on Peter), I do believe he (along with his partner) did all the sound systems at 12 West, Les mouches and the Saint. I remember Cary telling me that Peter was a Genius with sound and Mark was a genius with light
systems.

AH What great memories. I still play the tapes that Bob Bunting gave me as a present from Moonshadows and I have a few of Robbie Leslie's,

Thank you Patience! Like I said, I just discovered this site, and like as all of us, have many more reflections about that era. I lived it - it was exciting - and I'm sure I'll keep checking back to fill in the blank spaces if I can. Actually, I'm wondering what year Infinity opened. I went there with Steve Rubell and Jon Addison back when they were opening 15 Lansdowne Street in Boston. Jim Burgess was the DJ that night. Steve and Jon also took me to Le Jardin, where I did an impromptu DJ guest spot. I just can't remember what year that was! So much for "long term memory" on my part! And yes, "It's All Over" was the first cut on side one of Charles Mann's album "Say You Love Me Too" on ABC Records, released in 1973. I still have 3 albums in my record collection!

Kudos to you Wendy Hunt! And Thanks! It's nice to know someone in my age group still has "long term memory!" Danae Jacovidis reflections were a nice, and surprising, addition to the story.

Not to be confused with Cajun Swamp singer Charles Mann (aka Charles Louis Dominique), "Philly Sound" Charles Mann sang "It's All Over" on his first and last album "Say You Love Me Too” ABC Records 1973.

After 30+ years, I was able to buy the album on eBay.

I just stumbled on this website at 5 AM Oct 12. I was a DJ during the summer of 1972 and 1973 at The A House in Provincetown. In 1973, Jimmy Stuard walked into the A House and was so inspired by my style of playing music that he wanted to become a DJ. My closing song every night was "It's All Over" by Charles Mann. When I moved to Boston in the fall of 1973, I became the DJ at a new club called Styx. Jimmy finally convinced the managers at The 1270 to let him be the DJ instead of having a juke box! Jimmy and I spent hours and hours every day practicing together and perfecting our style of mixing records that we created together. When he started at the 1270, I gave him a copy of "It's All Over" as a good luck gift. Not only was he a brilliant DJ, he was my best friend. Jimmy made 12 West a magical place, but The Saint, as far as I'm concerned, was the Ultimate club of all times. I had the good fortune of doing guest spots at both 12 West and The Saint. The Saint was the type of club that both Jimmy and I talked about, and dreamed of playing at long before it ever existed. My one regret is that Jimmy passed away before he had a chance to DJ at The Saint.

Was anyone out there at the Rhinestone Cowboy party?
The club was done up in a glam western motif. Florian did a great job with the decor. Alan Dodd did a production number overlaying, "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell over Gino Soccio's "Dancer", that was a mixing masterpiece! The room was packed to the gills! Everyone when wild. It was one of the moments when I had difficulty doing the lights because I was so floored by what I was hearing. I looked over at Alan and he looked back with this sheepish grin on his face cause he knew he had that room in the palm of his hand. Good times...I just thought I'd share that one.

Richard

"It's All Over" is done by Charles Mann and, indeed, was Jimmy's signature song for the end of the night.
Thanks for the nice comments, Barry! I'm so glad to hear from those of us that are still around....and some of us STILL spinning!!

Wendy

I don't think it was the Alma Faye song. Didn't her song start "Its over, call it a day...” Her song came out in 1978 (?) Jimmy Stuard played the “It’s All Over” I’m thinking about years before he died at the Everard Baths on May 25, 1977.

The song “Its All Over”, that I remember, was sung by a man. The first time I heard Jimmy play it was on a Saturday night at a place called the "Other Side.” I remember Jimmy playing there for only a few weekend nights before he moved to the 1270. This was sometime in 1972-73. I remember him bringing in and setting up his own equipment – speakers and a turn table!

It could easily have been It's OVER by Alma Faye on Casablanca............White Promo 8 minutes I believe.....

To all my dear friends who know about this kinda stuff! Don't hide in the bushes, come out and give us feedback...? Am I correct w/the It's Over - Alma Faye?

Trivia Question: Jimmy Stuard played a song at 1270 in Boston and 12 West at "last call". The lyrics began "It's all over, it's all over..time I wanted to care...

What is the name of this song and who sang it?

HI,
REREADING SOME OF THE ABOVE COMMENTS THAT WERE POSTED SOME TIME AGO, I FEEL THERE ARE A FEW POINTS THAT HAVE TO BE COMMENTED ON
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS GREAT TO HEAR FROM WENDY. SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST DJS.(AND WENDY-DANAE SAYS HELLO)
A COMMENT POSTED BY JUDY DOGGIE I FEEL IS UNWARRANTED. DURING THOSE YEARS, WE ALL WENT OUT AND PLAYED. THE FACT THE JIMMY STUARD DID IT AND WAS A "STAR" MEANS NOTHING MORE THAN LIKE US ALL, HE WANTED A GOOD TIME.
AND FOR THE COMMENT ABOUT HIM BEING AROUND FOR SUCH SHORT TIME AND HIS SUDDEN DEMISE, DOES NOT DIMISH HIS STATUE AS AN ICON.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS JAMES DEAN. NEED I SAY MORE.
TOM SAVARESE WAS A GREAT DJ, BUT HE WAS EVENTUALLY FIRED FROM 12 WEST.THE REASON BEING THAT HIS MUSIC WAS TOO PROGRESSIVE AND HE PLAYED"OVER THE HEADS" OF THE AUDIENCE.'A TOP DJ PLAYS FOR THE CROWD, NOT FOR HIMSELF.
12 WEST AS WE ALL KNOW WAS AMOMENT IN TIME AND CAN NEVER BE DUPLICATED.
I AM SO GLAD I WAS PART OF IT
BARRY

SENTIMENTALLY YOU!

Jimmy Stuard was my DJ mentor and got me my first gig at the 1270 in Boston in 1975, the club he worked until his pilgrimage to 12 West. Back in those days it was all 45's and LP cuts. How did we do it? Patience and steady hands, that's how! It's amazing to see how far technology has come.

I remember many nights of closing the 1270 at 2 AM and driving to NYC to hear Jimmy spin well into the daylight hours at 12 West. I'd bring my tambourine and dance in the area directly in front of the DJ booth. Jimmy would always have a handful of joints for me. We LOVED to smoke together! I was devasted by his death. I remember staying at Tony and Alan's place when I went down for his service at Campbell's Funeral Home. Too bad we never got to hear Jimmy spin at the Saint...

As for me, I'm still spinning gigs all over the country and loving it. Sharon White and I often comment on how we're the grandmothers of all the DJ's! Robbie Leslie and I are often DJ's that are hired by RSVP Vacations for their cruises. See, there's a bunch of us that are still in the biz!

The only two clubs I never spun at that were dreams of mine were 12 West and the Saint. I certainly did put in many hours dancing at both establishments, though! Great memories...

DJ Wendy Hunt

I remember when 12 West got started. A friend of mine, Todd, gave me a form to fill out so I could become a member. If I remember correctly, membership costed 15 dollars. Back then, I was young and a fool. I never became a member.

As fate would have it, my involvement with 12 West heightened through the friendship with the Michigan boys - I think Alan Dodd was one of them? I use to live with his red haired brother and Florian Ceglerik who use to do some of the decorations (occasinally, I would help Florian with some of the decorations since we were roomates and both attended Parson's. Of course this connection allowed us to be scooted in and not be a part of the long lines - thank god for that!). I wonder if anyone remembers the coolers with acid, THC, and Speed?

Alan, when he started at 12 West, did not have much knowledge about mixing but I know the owner - one of the owners? - Michael(?) took him under his wing. I remember how insecure Alan was. He knew that a botch up meant being stoned from the crowd (the worst thing that could happen when you are tripping and the DJ unintentionally skips a beat.)

I wonder what ever happend to Alan, his brother and Florian? Garrett

The DJ's at 12 West were Jim, Paul, Alan, Jim B., Robbie and Jimmy E. Roy never played at 12 West. I was the fan dancer on the Southwest corner wall directly across from the DJ both to the left of the rythm section. Barry, I agree with you, Jim was the best at 12 West. When he died in the EVerhard Fire I was devestated. I still believe today that fire was set on purpose. I couldn't believe we lost our grestest DJ of that era. But I do hold a special place for Alan Dodd. Hell they were all good. 12 West was home. The sound system was the best and if truth must be told. The music played at 12 West was far better then even at The Saint. They had our DJ's at The Saint, but somehow, my tapes of the music at The West were better. "Saturday night shinning on my sunday morning face". That sunlight coming through those skylights...hmmmm..magical..

Teddy

12 West was my 1st gay club experience, before I was even all the way out myself. I was never the same & never heard music the same way again. It was where I learned that white boys COULD indeed dance. At the end of the night , the beat was so deeply imbedded in me that to ths day, I start to move instinctively.

The above comment is somewhat correct, but not entirely.
Yes Peter was by all means a genious in putting together all the systems we did. However both Peter and i worked on the sound from my apt and my office unbeknownst to many, Peter would assemble what he thought was good and we would both go over what was needed to make it complete and sounding like it should. This is no ways is take take anything away from Peter's accomplishment, but in the long run, it was a consensus between the 2 of us of how the system would sound. Peter was never great in dealing with club owners. With my extensive experience in other areas, i was the necessary go -between for Peter and the club owner. Had this not been the case, many of our systems would never had seen the light of day due to the stubborn nature of my partner and long lost friend.
Barry a.k.a. DJBJ

While Barry Lederer was half of the great GRAEBAR team, it was Peter Spar who masterminded the sound systems behind 12 West, The Saint, Probe and a multitude of other clubs. Barry was primarily involved in fashion shows and mobile sound installations while Peter Spar was the SHEER GENIUS of sound in other areas. This is not to take away from Richard Long who designed the sound for Paradise Garage & others or Alex Rosner, another sound designer.

I had the pleasure of doing lights, as well as dj from time to time, at 12 West for almost 3 years.
There was no other club quite like it. It wasn't that it was the most technogically advanced, although it had one the most fabulous sound sound systems in NYC. The roman area-like layout of the room was great for letting people particiate in, as well as observe, the party. It had no liquor license so there was no alcohol, just other stuff(lol) which people brought themselves. This made for a wonderfully up and friendly energy in the club.

It was also a place where people went for the music, first. While it was a very sexy vibe in the club, it wasn't a meatmarket/pickup type of thing. There were two sky lights in the main room that would flood the room with sunlight. It was a pre "Saint round-the-clock" party that rarely went past 7:30 am. but never left you feeling unsatisfied.

I remember the first time went in 1976 as a wide-eyed 16 yr. old, fresh out of the closet. I felt like I had landed on another planet. Jimmy Stuard was playing. It was the first time I heard someone do an "echo" with two copies of the same song. I thought it was amazing. The song was "Let's Get It Together" by El Coco. I had no idea at the time that I'd be doing the lights in less than a year from that night.

I could go on and on about how many wonderful times I had in that dj booth with the likes of Jim Burgess, Robbie Leslie, Alan Dodd and many other dj's.

It was one of those special clubs which unfortunately cannot be re-created. Anyone who has been there I'm sure would agree.

It occurred to me as I researched here, I was still in college and interning with IBM, so it must have been around 1976-77. I got into the 12 West with some friends. We'd been to the Cowboys and Cowgirls. My then acquaintance and later to be good friend Marsha Stern was with us, and she brought me into the DJ booth and introduced me to Sharon White. It IS possible that Sharon was just filling in.

I also do recall that, of all the clubs I've ever been to, I've never been higher than at 12 West. I don't know, I just felt more comfortable getting high there than anywhere else (including the Saint, where EVERYONE was trippin').

12 West was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was also the timing. Way back then, you could walk around the neighborhood in relative safety, particularly if you were in a group. Gay bashing started much later on, parallel to the onset of the crack epidemic and AIDS-related homophobia.

One last comment: Why all this fuss over Jimmy Stuard? In the music business, when somebody makes some very fine product, then dies suddenly, somehow the empathy/sympathy thing kicks in and they're elevated to martyr/saint status. Other artists who create great product which becomes popular but then survive, never to eclipse or at least equal the popularity of a certain hit or in Jimmy's case the 12 West gig, merely 'cause they survive, are treated rather cruelly. The words "one-hit-wonder" and "has-been" come to mind.

Finally, let me qualify. I feel just as bad or more so than anyone else about anyone who leaves this earth suddenly, and perhaps in as much pain and fear as Mr. Stuard. I just wonder why he thought so little of himself that he had to resort to the nameless one-night stands of a bathhouse, given his celebrity and all. Could he not have connected and developed a relationship, regardless how shallow, with anyone he saw at the venerable club. It seems to me there were plenty of eligible, very handsome young men (and women) in attendance every night.

I would love to get my hands on some of Jimmy's live performance tapes? This would bring me such joy!

I HAVE READ THE ABOVE COMMENTS AND THEY ALL ARE TRUE. THERE WERE MANY GREAT DJS AT THIS CLUB. HOWEVER, NO MATTER HOW GREAT TOM WAS OR ROBBIE FOR THAT MATTER, I STILL CONTEND THAT JIMMY STUARD TOPS THE BILL. THE OTHERS RANK JUST AS HIGH, BUT JIMMY HAD MAGIC IN HIM.
BARRY

I MUST COMMENT THAT AMONG THE GREAT DJS AT 12 WEST WAS JIMMY STUARD, WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT OFF TOO SOON.HIS POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS IS UNPARALLED
BARRY LEDERER
OF GRAEBAR-THE SOUND OF 12 WEST TROCADERO, PROBE AND THE SAINT

A couple of additional comments......

Sharon White and Roy Thode NEVER played at 12 West to my knowledge and I have confirmed this with friends who know about this kinda stuff....

Sharon White did INDEED play at The River Club..............

Some DJs in addition to Sir Robbie Leslie who played at the River Club were:

Alan Dodd
Jim Evangelista...and..

Jimmy Stuard (this gentlemen died at the Everard Baths fire.....) for those who knew and loved him..........

There is no DOUBT in my mind or nor should there be in anyone's mind that Tom Savarese was one of the greatest DJs and by no means did I want to take away from Tom Savarese's greatness with my commments about Robbie Leslie, but with that said, Robbie is, was and will be till Guiness Book of Records proves us differently, the greatest DJ ever.

His understanding of musical construction and drama far surpasses that of the greats of his time and present time...He was and is consistently superb while many of the other greats has many "hit or misses" kinda performances, it was rare that Robbie Leslie had a "miss" kinda night...

He has what I would call a sort of "understatment" with his ability to make DJing look so eloquent and with such FINESSE and sophistication.....

Sort of the Leornard Bernstein of DJing.....I remember Robbie Leslie at Studio 54 and the Palladium with his records all organized in plastic sleeves, all his Hot Tracks, Disconets in one bin....His early evening, late evening...It was such a pleasure to see such aesthetics in preparation and in "a nutshell" RAW TALENT...... There were times where the mixes were so well entrenched within each other (for lack of a better word) that you had no clue what was blending in until it rose above the "song that was playing" and it was in your face to enjoy and fathom..........

Mixes that were so well timed that when the verse of one song ended, the verse of another song began and so forth.......Songs these days don't lend themselves to this kind of mixing creativity, primarily because there are so many different simultaneously mixes of a song that you have no clue what you are listening to.......Versions of songs need to co-exist with the DJs and with the public so that the DJs can develop their presentation as times goes by.......(Oops is that not a standard song???)

Anyway, more to come..

Kudos to Tom Savarese.....But KuKudos to Robbie Leslie..

Alex

While I do strongly agree with Alex on his comments about Robbie, I do believe that Tom Savarese needs to be listed as one of the clubs DJs; Tom would also create an increatable trip with his selection of music and style of spinning.

One of many comments that I will make about Robbie Leslie....

He the the DJ's DJ.........There isn't a DJ professional or not who is not AWED by Robbie Leslie.........

A talent beyond words.........Robbie is the "reference point" by which any DJ should be measured........

More to say......but I will shssss for now!

I know that Tom Savarese also was a DJ at this great club. Why is he not listed?

My favorite place in the world! Other great DJ's that spinned here included Sharon White and the late,great Jim Burgess and Roy Thode.
Thank you for including this incedible place on your list!