Pavilion

You're so right Blaine, the place was a dump when the sun came in the open doors and the lights were on. It was all wooden and dark and stunk of poppers and cigarettes BUT at night when the Hot Men & Gorgeous Women (never really knew which was which)
and the Music reached "Fever Pitch" and the Lights were perfect and everything "Kicked In" OMG it was Heaven. All those Hot Sweaty half naked, muscular men, writhing together was something you had to experience to understand. AND NEVER ANY FIGHTS !!!
Then it was off to the "Rack" to continue the Dance.

I spent many a night Dancing & Partying with my friends at Pavillion.Totally incredible experience.
The Pavillion I remember was owned by a man named Count Charles deRohan and he was a Genius at throwing a Party.
He owned a Home right on the edge of the "M-Rack"
and it was huge. He had a party one time where there were al least two to three hundred people in his place and the Waiters & Bartenders Parachuted into the party from an airplane in the sky.
Charles was a wild man when it came to parties.
Very amazing memories of that man & his Club!

I just wanted to put a townie spin on the chat here, you betcha! wink. Seriosly, I worked at the Whale a few summers in the early 80's and when we got off we'd walk down to the Pavillion, climb up the wall between it and the Elephant and enter near the upper level bar, usually to some quizzical looks. Then we went down on the floor and danced for hours. It was fantastic, the computerized lights during the first year or two were amazing.
Thanks BW

My dad used to work there. does anyone know him, his name is Richard Ellison. Email me if u know anything about him: ANTISORA1991@YAHOO.COM

An era is gone and so are all the original owners (8 as I remember) My best friend Steve Goodfriend was the last to go. I really miss him , he was a big part of my life and a true friend for 25 years.

I went to fire island from 94-98. The pines is like no other place. I remember the Pavilion being THE place to DJ but I was shocked to hear how little they pay their DJ's. It may be an honor to play there but why not pay a fair rate since the place was always packed. May not even be the case anymore or ever but sure heard it from a lot of ppl. Maybe someone can enlighten us here. Anyway if you've never been to a week on the island you gotta go at least once. Oh and dont forget to check out the meatrack...delicious...see ya!

I remember it as the Sandpiper. It was a warm friendly claustrophobic little bar/club. The innocence of the time was, in hindsight, womderful.
The renovation that then became the Pavillion was a bit of a giant monolith by comparison. The bigger space was needed however.
I remember I worked there the whole summer of 1984. I had a Streisand diva moment when I used to play AND do the lights on Wed. nights!...LOL
It was nice when the sun would come up and you could walk it off on the beach after the club closed.
I haven"t been there in about 17 years.

I TOO PLAYED THERE WHEN IT WAS THE SANDPIPER, FOLLOWED BY RITCH RIVERA AND SO MANY OTHER "PIONEERS" OF THE DAY. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS GREAT AND THE TIMES INCREDIBLE. HATS OFF TO THOSE THAT CONTINUED THE TRADITION
BARRY

The Pavillion and the Pines was and is fabulous, but nothing compares to the 80's and early 90's on the island. Very friendly people and what parties!! I am one of the old gaurd who went from 1982 to 2002...

i just can't believe that nobody has commented on the pavillion. from '90 to about '99 i was a fixture there and i must say i had a blast for most of it. michael fierman was the king of the turntables and susan moribito was queen. or maybe the reverse?
in the early years the music was high energy and trancy disco with a great morning music finish. too bad i was often to twisted to stay after 8am.
the disco itself was a dump. proved one did not need the lights of studio 54 to have a good time.
i keep in touch with almost all of my old friends from fire island. i love them all.