New York City Disco's

[Chala]

Hi I have a question to all you hitting the New York City Disco's in the late 70's particularly 77-80. I was in Hawaii enjoying the clubs there so I would not know the answer to this. I noticed when I came home, (NYC) and even today when New York City's best Disco's are talked about, they all seem to be gay clubs. Now we all know the gay scene was a HUGE part of Disco, but we all are not gay or into the gay scene. So...I would like to know which were the hottest none gay Disco's in New York City in that time frame? Please don't mention Studio 54 we all knew that one. When I mean non gay I mean a club that is not labeled gay. Thanks.

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Off the top of my head...

Rumbottoms, Adam's Apple, Starship Discovery, Hippopatomus, 2001 Oddysey, The Blue Angel, Gatsby's, Casablanca

[Chala]

Thanks Stephen as always :icon_cool: i only heard of a couple of those. I hope this post gets a couple more responses or maybe it's to early in the day.

[remicks]

*****


Hi Chala

Sorry I can't be of any help with your inquiry about NYC clubs .
But when you get the chance .... what were some of the Hawaii clubs you went to ??
I DJd there in '78 and '79 and worked the hotel club circuit until I got my job at The Lava Lava Club. Can't even remember those clubs names except Valentino's which I liked the best and had a good military clientèle ... since it was right there near Fort De Russey .The club I'm most interested in is the one that stood by itself ... not a part of a hotel ...it was back on Kuhio Street sort across the street from the back of the International Market Place... near the theatre that played The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Saturday night....("where's your neck?").
Do you recall that disco ??

What clubs did you favor??

Thanks !

remicks


*****

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

XENON - Studio 54's only, direct competition. (Albeit from quite a distance.)

[Dayna]

XENON - Studio 54's only, direct competition. (Albeit from quite a distance.)

In the Studio 54 hey days..If you were a 54 regular and were seen at Xenon you were chastized and called a peasant or and a traitor:icon_eek:..
.. Xenon was intresting enough and did have it's loyal followers..Jellybean was the Dj for awhile and some big names passed through from time to time .
I remember a line from the move 54 where the Steve Rubell's character said to a busboy..
"where do bad boys go? the answer "To Xenon a fate worse than hell"
Hi snookums..
hehe
xo

[Chala]

*****


Hi Chala

Sorry I can't be of any help with your inquiry about NYC clubs .
But when you get the chance .... what were some of the Hawaii clubs you went to ??
I DJd there in '78 and '79 and worked the hotel club circuit until I got my job at The Lava Lava Club. Can't even remember those clubs names except Valentino's which I liked the best and had a good military clientèle ... since it was right there near Fort De Russey .The club I'm most interested in is the one that stood by itself ... not a part of a hotel ...it was back on Kuhio Street sort across the street from the back of the International Market Place... near the theatre that played The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Saturday night....("where's your neck?").
Do you recall that disco ??

What clubs did you favor??

Thanks !

remicks


*****

Remicks hi, your bringing me back. The club that played The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Saturday (they even did the dance) was part of a Hotel, the Hyatt Regency I believe it also was the hottest club on the Island for a good while was "Spats" The resident DJ there (Ryan) was a Hawaiian native. He made a couple of trips to NY straight over to 57Th to Ice Palace 57 for his cutting edge style.

The crew at Spats were very cutting edge, Ryan was probably the best DJ on the Island. This girl that was part of the Spats crew "Kelly" she had platinum blonde hair and was from California and had a body that would not quit. I just would stare at her all night in her black dress that split all the way down from the top of her thigh. I finally got to dance with her at another club "Infinity" during a week night when Spats was slow, we dance to Cheryl Lynn's "Got to be real" I will never forget that night.

Down the street from Spats was "The Sting" down the road and across the street was "Infinity" Kalakaua Blvd was main drag, many of the clubs were on that street it. Kalakaua Blvd is like the Broadway in NYC. Late '79' the club that took over the premiere hot spot on the Island was a club listed on this site called "Hula's" this club was gay and man this place jumped.

Valentino's was good, one of the first club's I went to, they used to turn me away door cause I would go with to many buddies lol. Rex's was a very upscale club, like Regines on park avenue was in NYC, I loved going there the most beautiful women from the northwest region would always be there Washington, Oregon, Seattle.

You got me going Remick giving me goose pimples thinking of those time's, I have to stop writing soon I could take up several pages on this subject.
The club I frequented at least 3 times a week was another spot across from the Fort De Russey parking lot was the great "Jillys" another hotel club. Many of the great clubs were in hotels. I remember getting dressed in the parking lot as to not wrinkle my clothes in the car..lol. Jillys resident DJ were George, then later in early 79 John Boone my buddy and favorite DJ started spinning there.

Spats was the only club I know of to do the The Rocky Horror Picture Show thing. Maybe Hula's did it, but you would never forget Hulas. I vaguely remember the Lava Lava club, I don't think it lasted long. I have to stop now or else I could go on and on, thanks for the memories Remick!

[Chala]

XENON - Studio 54's only, direct competition. (Albeit from quite a distance.)

Stephen i think i was home when Zenon's opened, that was in the early 80's if memory serves me correctly. Thanks for your time Stephen can always count on you

[Chala]

In the Studio 54 hey days..If you were a 54 regular and were seen at Xenon you were chastized and called a peasant or and a traitor:icon_eek:..
.. Xenon was intresting enough and did have it's loyal followers..Jellybean was the Dj for awhile and some big names passed through from time to time .
I remember a line from the move 54 where the Steve Rubell's character said to a busboy..
"where do bad boys go? the answer "To Xenon a fate worse than hell"
Hi snookums..
hehe
xo

Dayna, when were you in New York, your profile says Florida? Are you from NYC? Can you ad to the club list?

[Dayna]

Dayna, when were you in New York, your profile says Florida? Are you from NYC? Can you ad to the club list?

Hi Chala
Yes I am from Florida..Born and raised
But I would go to New York alot..
I first went to NY in about 1977,I was underage but it didn't seem to matter then.
I went to the clubs that you aren't intrested in
and some already named.
The one's Stephen listed were about the same as what I would suspect.
Have you gone to the nightclub listings here on the main site?
That might help unless they have all been stated.

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Stephen i think i was home when Zenon's opened, that was in the early 80's if memory serves me correctly.

In the "Clubs" section of this site, the XENON listing has pics. One of them is of an invite to the 2nd Anniversary Party, on June 9, 1980.

So, I'd guess the opening date was June 9, 1978.

[Chala]

Hi Chala
Yes I am from Florida..Born and raised
But I would go to New York alot..
I first went to NY in about 1977,I was underage but it didn't seem to matter then.
I went to the clubs that you aren't intrested in
and some already named.
The one's Stephen listed were about the same as what I would suspect.
Have you gone to the nightclub listings here on the main site?
That might help unless they have all been stated.

Hi again Dayna...

Don't get me wrong I would not mind at all going to a gay club assuming thats to what you are referring to when you say "clubs that you aren't interested in" it's just that i am not gay and did not at the time want to feel unwanted or out of place at one of those spots.

Yes i have been to the site listings but i am trying to find out the hottest and most popular straight Disco's of that time from members of this forum. Thanks Dayna.

[Chala]

In the "Clubs" section of this site, the XENON listing has pics. One of them is of an invite to the 2nd Anniversary Party, on June 9, 1980.

So, I'd guess the opening date was June 9, 1978.

I stand corrected Stephen thanks. I made that comment off pure memory.

[Dayna]

Hi again Dayna...

Don't get me wrong I would not mind at all going to a gay club assuming thats to what you are referring to when you say "clubs that you aren't interested in" it's just that i am not gay and did not at the time want to feel unwanted or out of place at one of those spots.

Yes i have been to the site listings but i am trying to find out the hottest and most popular straight Disco's of that time from members of this forum. Thanks Dayna.

You wanted me to add to the clubs that catered to mostly straight patrons.and I had none to add as Stephen had named the ones I would have..
I wasn't suggesting you werent gay friendly:icon_smile:..
even though you have overstated the fact that your straight.
Here on the forum most dont give much thought about lables..That's the great thing about Disco and this forum..
Hope you find all the info you need
D

[Chala]

even though you have overstated the fact that your straight.

The only reason i went there is because it was relevant to my question as well as getting my question answered which Stephen helped. Thanks for posting in this thread, hopefully some members from NYC will also give their imput as well.