New York Nightlife Becomes A Museum Piece

[Greg Wilson]

From Skrufff Webzine:

New York Nightlife Becomes A Museum Piece

New York's first ever proper museum exhibition celebrating disco opened
this week, some 35 years after David Mancuso kicked off the scene with
his parties at his warehouse style apartment The Loft.

"Disco: A Decade of Saturday Nights", comprising listening booths,
videos and 200 artefacts including John Travolta's Night Fever white suit,
opened at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, after a
successful run in Seattle.

"They wanted it to come here because disco is more about New York than
any other place," Library chief Jacqueline Davis told the Daily News,
"I went to see the show in Seattle and was impressed by its intelligent
focus."

The exhibition opened just as legendary Manhattan DJ Junior Vasquez
declared today's club scene to be well and truly finished, in a typically
outspoken interview with About.com.

"It (New York's club scene) sucks. Literally fucking sucks," he
declared.

"I mean the days of the Sound Factory are over and it's never coming
back. It's never ever going to be like that again, after-hours or that
feeling of family and partying about the music, it's just over.
Unfortunately, it's sad, but it's not coming back," said Junior.



Disco History Links:

Studio 54 New York City Nightclub of the 1970s ('The 1970's - 3 decades ago and life was
different - dramatically different. American Society was coming off of
the 60's, a decade of protest, of speaking out. Vietnam, Woodstock,
events most people associate with the later 1960's were fresh in the
memories of those who could remember them . . .')

Saturday Night Fever Costume - Authentic Saturday Night Fever Costumes ('Saturday Night Fever Costumes
- This Saturday Night Fever Costume includes a shirt with attached
imprinted vest, flared pants, and fitted imprinted jacket . . .,' $US49.99)

[judydoggie]

Well, it's about time!

Gregg -

Thank you for your wonderful discourse on an exhibit I'm only an hour and a half from but know it will take at least a month to visit.

Also, the first link you give is not just a very well-written brief on 54 but the entire site is a cross-section of one gay man's life that is remarkably interesting as autobiographies of ostensibly ordinary people go - and just as well-written and to the point as the 54 page.

Yours,

Paul - a.k.a. Judydoggie

[Greg Wilson]

Originally Posted by judydoggie

Well, it's about time!

Gregg -

Thank you for your wonderful discourse on an exhibit I'm only an hour and a half from but know it will take at least a month to visit.

Also, the first link you give is not just a very well-written brief on 54 but the entire site is a cross-section of one gay man's life that is remarkably interesting as autobiographies of ostensibly ordinary people go - and just as well-written and to the point as the 54 page.

Yours,

Paul - a.k.a. Judydoggie

Hi Judydoggie: Don't thank me, thank Skrufff. I just cut & pasted!

[Giovanni]

coming to NY in 2 weeks..... I'll be there to enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shootyourshot]

On my way out of the library after another Thursday of disco research in the Billboard archives, I decided to check the exhibit out. I didn't have time to watch the music videos or commentray or listen to any of the song samples, but I must have spent at least five minutes staring at that "Disco Bible" on display :o. The things I would do to look through those pages . . .

[DiscoMan]

"Disco Bible"?

[shootyourshot]

A book of several hundred pages (looked like it was hand-typed too) of disco record info for DJs from mid-78. Covering many disco oldies and some obscurities in addition to all the disco hits of the day. Listed by BPM, with record catalog numbers included.

[Giovanni]

I visited it last saturday.
This shows does not add much if you are a disco connoisseur and it's centered more on the disco scene than on the disco music. (Unfortunately nobody up to today examinated the disco phenomenon from a pure musical point of view....)

Among many banalities for non disco experts there are some interesting things to see / listen:

- a long video shot at the Gallery in the days (Siano using 3 turntables and pitching speeds)
- Earl Young explaining the birth of the disco beat
- the BPM disco books

[markydefad]

I keep reading about this Disco BPM Bible like it was the Ten Commandments restored behind a glass , don't-you-dare touch it protective shield. Just who's property was this book? :-?