Disco Music > Disco People Index > Nightclub Industry > Rich Leon AKA Chino (Lightman)

Rich Leon AKA Chino (Lightman)

Lightman and partner in the booth for DJ Hippie at Club Zanzibar in Newark, NJ

Hi Bernie,
First thanks for taking the time & effort to maintain this great site dedicated to Disco.

Just a little history on Club Zanzibar. Zanzibar actually started off as Abe's Disco at the Lincoln Motel with Gerald T as the house DJ.

Miles Berger, the owner of the Lincoln Motel, wanted to bring some of the NY Disco Nightlife to NJ afer visiting the Paradise Garage in NY. He had Richard Long & Associates design a sound, lighting & special effects system and converted the 2nd floor ballroom of the Lincoln Motel to become, what was then, the premiere club in NJ.

Opening night was Aug 29, 1979. Club Zanzibar had 2 levels with DJ Hippe playing the larger 2nd level & House DJ Gerald T playing the 1st level (the original Abe's). Eventually DJ Hippie became the full time house DJ from 1979 to 1981.

Al Murphy was hired by Miles to promote & manage the club. Under Al's management, a Wednsday night party was added which had area DJ's playing on Wednsday night's. That's how Larry Patterson, Larry Levan, T-Scott, Tony Humphries & others came to play at Zanzibar. After Al left to pursue other interests, Larry Patterson became the manager. T-Scott & Tony Humphries didn't become the house jocks until after 1981 when Hippie & I left.

I know this because I was Hippie's partner in the booth from 1979-1981. I operated the lights & special effects system.

Gracis para todos!!!
Rich Leon AKA "Chino"

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