THE COPA - FT.Lauderdale

[Energyguy]

I was Just wondering which Disco Divas have appeared over the years at the COPA club in Miami?
I have a 12" single by disco/HINRG diva Evelyn Thomas and the photos on the sleeve show her performing live on stage at the club in 1989.

[Mixmachine]

Originally Posted by Energyguy

I was Just wondering which Disco Divas have appeared over the years at the COPA club in Miami?
I have a 12" single by disco/HINRG diva Evelyn Thomas and the photos on the sleeve show her performing live on stage at the club in 1989.

which one?

[swerzer]

Actually THE COPA is in Ft. Lauderdale. Evelyn Thomas lives in Hallandale (which is sort of midway between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale) so she frequently played at South Florida nightclubs. Many, many, many disco performers have played at the Copa over the years.

swerzer

[discodisco]

I LOVE THE COPA...I happen to know the owner very well.Everytime I'm in town I make a stop we always have a few shots together...The place still looks the same...and it still gets crazy...brings back lots of good memories...E.G.

[nrgbeat]

and the go go boys aren't bad to look at either.

[Boogie Child]

I saw Sharon Redd there during Spring Break in 1983. She was fantastic. She performed bare foot and was as high as a kite.
The bar was great.

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by Boogie Child

I saw Sharon Redd there during Spring Break in 1983. She was fantastic. She performed bare foot and was as high as a kite.
The bar was great.

Sharon Redd barefoot & high as a kit !! ?? - bet that would have been worth seeing... :lol:

[Muscl59]

Thanks for reminding me of the good times I had at this place over the years.
Dance clubs come and go but the Copa has been here since 1974. 31 years & still going strong!

[Dayna]

When I worked there I saw many artists
Grace Jones 3 times..
Linda Clifford..Claudja Barry,France Joli..
Other diva's that performed there were Debbie Jacobs.
Thelma Houston,Gloria Gaynor,Loleatta Holloway,Jody Watley,Hazel Dean,Anita Ward,Bonnie Pointer,Taana Gardner,Martha Wash,Sylvester,Jocelyn Brown,Corey Daye,Madleen Kane,The Village People,Vickie Sue Robinson,Sister Sledge,Jackie Moore
Alicia Bridges,Ami Stewart,
Lime,Sarah Dash,Melba Moore,David Naughton,Miquel Brown,Debbie Harry, Yvonne Elliman,Sharon Brown,Carrie Lucas and many more...
Most artists I ask will tell you they were always treated like royalty at the Copa..and it was one of if not their favorite club to perform in..

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Sorry to make the mention but...
They finally, tore the building down, last month. All thats left is the wall along Federal Highway.
It's eerie... The concrete entrance steps...leading-up to nowhere.

Was at Gold Coast Roller Rink(next door), a couple weekends ago and walked over for a look-see.
Had a moment of silence... Let out a sigh... In '80 I first walked into the place. In '91 I played there.

Fantastic Dancefloor!!!
One of the worst DJ booths ever built!!!

American Gypsy's "I'm Okay, You're Okay" and Harlow's "Take Off", are the first records I remember dancing to, at The Copa.

[Dayna]

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

Sorry to make the mention but...
They finally, tore the building down, last month. All thats left is the wall along Federal Highway.
It's eerie... The concrete entrance steps...leading-up to nowhere.

Was at Gold Coast Roller Rink(next door), a couple weekends ago and walked over for a look-see.
Had a moment of silence... Let out a sigh... In '80 I first walked into the place. In '91 I played there.

Fantastic Dancefloor!!!
One of the worst DJ booths ever built!!!

American Gypsy's "I'm Okay, You're Okay" and Harlow's "Take Off", are the first records I remember dancing to, at The Copa.

I know.. I actually cried...........
I had SO many good times there and so many good MEN.hehe..
I was this 17 year old blonde twinkie walking around in those short red dolphin shorts with a tray..
We wont go too far there..lol

[needlefingers]

I was a "Copette" from October '79 (it was my coming out bar after the army) thru December '82 (when I moved to California).

And I visited many times afterwards. I'm from Hollywood, Florida.

I must have ordered drinks from you Dayna. I saw many of those acts also.

Remember Tiny Tina? I can't remember the cabaret guy's name, but I remember his young lover Adam. We all used to do shows at the Hollywood Playhouse.

And the bathroom attendant, a little guy with a Frank Zappa mustache.

I was at my high school reunion a couple of years ago when I went looking for The Copa. There is a new club right by it and I thought maybe it was a new Copa. But some people told me it was lost during Hurricane Wilma.

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Originally Posted by needlefingers

Remember Tiny Tina?

He/she's still around.(not performing anymore, tho') As are, Tiffany Ariegus and Nikki Adams.(STILL working it on a weekly basis!) Dana Manchester passed-away about 5 years ago.

Originally Posted by needlefingers

I was at my high school reunion a couple of years ago when I went looking for The Copa. There is a new club right by it and I thought maybe it was a new Copa. But some people told me it was lost during Hurricane Wilma.

It was heavily damaged during Hurricane Wilma. The 3-story high, steel-girdered "COPA" sign, was blown down onto Federal Highway.

By the time 'Wilma' hit, the COPA's business had been pretty-well killed-off by "Coliseum". The club that was 2 doors down. (It was a Country/Western Bar, back in the early 80's, just beyond the Roller Rink.) The only club with a strong enough draw to actually kill the COPA's weekends. Coliseum was a BIG, multi-level club, with all the newest gadgets and a kick-ass sound-system. It's being backed by A LOT of money, and being on the same street didn't help the COPA, either. 'Wilma' trashed enough of the club, that it wasn't worthwhile for the current owners to re-open it. (Bill Bastiensen and John Castelli's family had sold their interests in the club many years ago.)

'Coliseum' closed a few months back, as well. After a fantastic run. Now that building's falling apart.

The last webpage, before they closed, is still up:
Copa - Weekdays

And I found this on a bar review site:
CLOSED: Copa (Bar or Club in Fort Lauderdale)
The Copa is closed
Posted: March 22, 2006
In major disrepair for years, the hurricane finished her off. The Copa has closed as the owner hunts a way to finish off the insurance company.

[needlefingers]

Thanks Stephen.

I remember Dana and Nikki too. One of them (I can't remember which) wanted me to choreograph their act, but I was more involved in DJing, college, athletics and the Playhouse. Also, I was a little taken aback by drag queens at first, a feeling I don't share today.

Before The Copa, I wouldn't dream of walking or working in a disco without a tie. I had to be dressed to the nines and wear real nice shoes. After my first night at The Copa, I became a jeans and t-shirt guy with Nike sneakers.

I had thought the other club was The Copa that night, because I had not been home in about 7 years and Federal Highway was changed because of the airport expansion. So I thought they had moved the opening to the west side of the building.

There was also another club in the vicinity called The Flying Machine.

I worked at The Loft on Hollywood Blvd., Traxx on Dixie Highway, and Tops on Pembroke road. I did lights for a month at Backstreet. And loved the Marlin on Ft. Lauderdale beach. And of course the old Limelight on Pembroke that moved to Hollywood beach after it burnt down. And any Big Daddy's.

Before the army, in '75 and '76, I used to go to Bachelors III in Fort Lauderdale. Back then we would see KC, Barry White, George McCrae, Gwen McCrae, Foxy, Betty Wright, Bette Midler.... That was when drinking was 18 and Singapore Slings were the "in" drink.

[Dayna]

Originally Posted by needlefingers

I was a "Copette" from October '79 (it was my coming out bar after the army) thru December '82 (when I moved to California).

And I visited many times afterwards. I'm from Hollywood, Florida.

I must have ordered drinks from you Dayna. I saw many of those acts also.

Remember Tiny Tina? I can't remember the cabaret guy's name, but I remember his young lover Adam. We all used to do shows at the Hollywood Playhouse.

And the bathroom attendant, a little guy with a Frank Zappa mustache.

I was at my high school reunion a couple of years ago when I went looking for The Copa. There is a new club right by it and I thought maybe it was a new Copa. But some people told me it was lost during Hurricane Wilma.

I remember most all the entertainers from back in the day..
Maxine Allen,Jamie Burke, Arieagus of course..Bobbie Lake,Tiny Tina..Dana..Nikki,Racheal Santoni,Sandy Laraunt,and the list goes on..Dana Douglas..Billie Boots..
My fav bartender was Curry Stevenson.. SO HOT~!!!"I had him" lol..Or better yet he had me..wink