Discos had standards !

**remicks** · April 1st, 2006, 12:41 AM

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Billboard December 25, 1976

PHILADELPHIA--- The Library , one of the area's first discotheques , celebrated its fourth anniversary ( which means it first opened in 1972 ! ) last week by reversing its anti-denim policy and staging a contest with cash prizes for the dressiest , funkiest , and most creative jeans .
The room reverted to its no jeans policy the following night , but the anniversary celebrations continued with special dance contests, guest deejays, an Italian buffet dinner ......"

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**Videoskooter** · April 1st, 2006, 03:42 PM

Remicks,

I remember that when I was very young, wearing a jeans was absolutely not done and people who were seen in it, were considered as hoodlums :o

I also remember very well that certain clubs, cafés and restaurants refused entry to people in Jeans.

You couldn't wear sneakers, jeans or the door was slammed in your face. Some Discos in Belgium are still using that standard (together with Hawaïan shirts :lol: ).

Was it as bad in the US of A, BITD???

**jam master jay** · April 1st, 2006, 08:26 PM

I can't speak about all the NYC clubs, but I am sure the dress code was a step way above jeans. The clubs in the tri-state area that I frequented in the early 80's - mid 80's were definitely not letting you in with, say - jeans, shorts, or t-shirts.

Today, I am amazed what people wear when they dress up for a club.

**ol'skinflint** · April 1st, 2006, 10:05 PM

didn't make a great deal of sense, at least not to me personally, because I could never relax and enjoy myself if I'm constantly worried about someone brushing against me with a lit cigarette, or spilling a drink on me. I can't remember a single disco in San Francisco that had a strict dress code (at least not in disco's golden days), I think it would have killed their business. It's interesting that this subject is being raised now, as I was in Las Vegas last week and avoided Studio 54 (though I was curious) because I know they have a dress code.

**discorecordplayer** · April 5th, 2006, 01:02 AM

well, girls look real hot in jeans :P

**Huffstutler** · April 7th, 2006, 02:45 PM

Yes, even some of the lesser hot spots here in Virginia had dress codes. I am talking about clubs inside motels. I remember Days Inn in Hampton would turn you away unless you had dress pants and women had to wear dresses - but not too revealing. On the other hand true "discos" didn't have a strict dress code. In fact, it was more colorful with jogging outfits or pullover shirts and white hightop sneakers were all the rage.

I would dress up in my 3 inch Italian stacked heeled shoes and skin tight flared jeans topped with a romeo sleaved shirt one evening and jeans and hightop sneakers the next - mostly either in Norfolk, VA or New Orleans (1977-1981). I was hitting the scene much earlier, when disco first emerged around 1974 but wasn't doing so 3-4 nights a week until the mid 70s.

Eric Huffstutler
Richmond, VA

**Videoskooter** · April 7th, 2006, 03:27 PM

Originally Written by Huffstutler

In fact, it was more colorful with jogging outfits or pullover shirts and white hightop sneakers were all the rage

:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

Eric is now arrested by the style-police :lol: :lol: :lol:

This, ehm "outfit" is FORBIDDEN in most of the Belgian big clubs

You can wear it but U won't come in!

all*that*glitters* · April 12th, 2006, 04:32 AM

Originally Written by remicks

*****

Billboard December 25, 1976

PHILADELPHIA--- The Library , one of the area's first discotheques , celebrated its fourth anniversary ( which means it first opened in 1972 ! ) last week by reversing its anti-denim policy and staging a contest with cash prizes for the dressiest , funkiest , and most creative jeans .
The room reverted to its no jeans policy the following night
*****

The Library sounds like a naff straight club to me as most clubs I remember going to in the mid 70's had men dancing topless in jeans. Sixpacks and pecs wrapped in tight ripped jeans with only a tambourine or a whistle as an accessory. Remember the Garage?? Or The Ice Palace??

Now that is the clone look I recall from the good old underground clubs in the 70's. Because one came to get down and SWEAT!!!

Jeans were not allowed in Studio 54 or some other upmarket straight club but hey, who went there to dance anyway??? The policy in these clubs was mainly 'posing till closing' , maybe some shuffling on the dancefloor was OK but sweating in your Armani?? Controversial fact with the Studio 'no jeans'-policy was the launch of their own line of jeanswear a few years after the opening with Brooke Shields modelling. The ad ran the famous line 'now everybody can get into Studio 54'.
How's that rhyming with the club's dress policy?
all*that*glitters*

**remicks** · April 12th, 2006, 12:39 PM

Originally Written by all*that*glitters*

that is the clone look I recall from the good old underground clubs in the 70's. Because one came to get down and SWEAT!!!

maybe some other upmarket straight club but hey, who went there to dance anyway??? The policy in these clubs was mainly 'posing till closing' , maybe some shuffling on the dancefloor was OK but sweating in your Armani??
all*that*glitters*

:lol: you make a good point !

I do recall the scandalous time that Alfie's .... a terrific mid-sized gay club on Market Street beyond the Castro , once turned away Joan Baez :o at the door becuase of the way she was dressed ! :o

I hope it wasn't more of a Studio 54 wannabe attitude problem :oops:

They said it was a safety issue ... she was wearing open-toed shoes ..... a no no on the dancefloor.
Still she went off in a huff and never did do a disco record , did she !!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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**markydefad** · April 12th, 2006, 12:57 PM

Ah, to think we were robbed of a disco version of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"!!!! Blame it on Alfie's and their damned ban on open-toe shoes??? Was she wearing Birkenstocks???? :P :lol:

**Mixmachine** · April 12th, 2006, 01:22 PM

The Library sounds like a naff straight club to me as most clubs I remember going to in the mid 70's had men dancing topless in jeans. Sixpacks and pecs wrapped in tight ripped jeans with only a tambourine or a whistle as an accessory. Remember the Garage?? Or The Ice Palace??

Obviously you didn’t go out much, I’m sorry you missed impeccably dressed twenty something gorgeous looking women and her equally impressively dressed male partner reaping the dance floors Hustling the night away and doing it all with unsurpassed class and dignity.

Jeans were not allowed in Studio 54 or some other upmarket straight club but hey, who went there to dance anyway??? The policy in these clubs was mainly 'posing till closing' , maybe some shuffling on the dancefloor was OK but sweating in your Armani??

For the most parts jeans were not allowed in most clubs, maybe on off nights or Sundays, after all weren’t they part of the “Rockers” uniform?

Some of the best clubs with the wildest crowds I worked at and visited were Private clubs with impeccably dressed people that dance all night long and couldn’t care less about sweating or getting their fine “Armanis” ruined by flying cigareetes or spilled drinks, the next day they either took it to the cleaners of bought themselves a new one!!!!! If anyone thinks this people didn’t know how to party, well, like I said, you didn’t go out much…

Ps: In a effort to maintain harmony in this board I’m holding back and edited some of my my intended comments, I really don’t feel like engaging in another gay spat and/or argument, but for those that may take issue with some of my previous comments take a look at those previous quotes, if those are not the pronouncement of revisionist gay “militant” ridiculing and dismissing others experiences they know nothing about while promoting their perceived superior life style superiority, I don’t know what is….

edit: Oh I see the ususal suspects are joining in, how nice, I guess there is no use trying to get along around here.....

**markydefad** · April 12th, 2006, 01:29 PM

mixmachine....

As Miss Ross once exclaimed "Some things you never get used to!!"

With such a good record collection--why are you still so bitter about THE GAYS?????? :-? :o :o :o :-? :-? :-?

I'm just askin'.....

**remicks** · April 12th, 2006, 02:44 PM

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Mixmachine .....Speaking for myself ( and its my thread ) , I regret it if you find it necessary to hold back on comments !!! Feel free to say whatever you want about any of mine ! And I'll feel free to answer . Nothing evil about that .
I hold you in the highest regard ...... and imagine with envy you having the greatest vinyl collection conceivable .
These subjects deserve to get wrestled with . We all have our perspectives ... the way we each experienced those times.

I think you have a valid point ... about the way its too generalizing to describe all clubs ( gay or straight ) as having all been a certain way. (Or that one type had more fun than another )
There were plenty of gay clubs too that were filled with posers .... and at the end of the night, even at wild ones like Studio One , not everyone walked out looking like they'd been through the ringer .

We need all the input possible here ....to keep the disco record rightfully straight .... and also to keep it rightfully gay.

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