1970s denver nightclubs
To many of us who attended the old Regis High School, the Hill-top was the first bar we ever attended, as it could be counted upon to serve booze to we wee Jesuit minors. Michelle Humphrey is a freelance writer living in Denver. As authorAnthony Haden-Guestwrites, Schrager got the idea to actually build a farm on the dance floor, complete with live animals. Hey, did you ever wonder "Where are they now"? He assembled a diverse cross-section of Manhattan natives, provided music and a dance floor, and charged a modest entry fee. Im not entirely sure all of this is true, but Im tending to believe it because of this little pic I found on the web. We celebrated birthdays, lost regulars like Charlie Guarino and Little League championships until the illegally wee hours. Please enter valid email address to continue. Below are a few places in Denver where you can step into the time machine and experience another era. My older brother told me there was a place on north Federal called Aloha Beach. As theofficial Max's Kansas City website confirms, in Bowie's own words, the three men experienced the sort of awkward evening we've all suffered through at one time or another: "Me, Iggy and Lou Reed at one table with absolutely nothing to say to each other, just looking at each other's eye makeup.". There 56 Denver Memories 1970's and 1980's ideas | denver history, denver, colorado native Denver Memories 1970's and 1980's 56 Pins 25w G Collection by George Jungle II Similar ideas popular now Denver Colorado Burritos Denver Affordable Art Rocky Mountains Childhood Memories Places To Travel Downtown Colorado Cafe Colorado Girl Living In Colorado They had a flute/soprano sax player who was incredible. Thank you! or Encore, the building was the site of The Castaways, a beach-music club. As the youngest, I remember stealing away to my orange Volkswagen Bug in the parking lot, where I would slam whatever 3.2 swill I could get my hands on, before rejoining the darts or shuffleboard or whatever else was going on inside. Wednesday is Retro Night featuring $1 cans of retro beer and well drinks. Music was good, but immediately after entering Imore, great mix of music, listening to our preferences (lots of 80s, MJ, and some 60s/70s for my soon tomore. For more than 30 years, Bonnie Brae Ice Cream has been serving up some of the best traditional and unique ice cream flavors from their iconic University Blvd location. I worked on a pipeline in New Mexico in '82 and '83, was bummed when I found out that it closed. How they will manage to restore the existing Shriner building while surrounding it with family, duplex and multi-unit sites is anyones guess. . I blame myself for the bars closing. The following errors occurred with your submission. The Bears Stadium was located near the site of present-day Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Right: Metallic-painted dancers at a disco club perform on stage in New York City, 1978. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. But the bar lived on. Because apparently the K-Mart Superstore about 500 years to the west is just not Super enough. Right: A woman dances in ecstasy at a disco in New York City, 1976. Seats were few, and most attendees had to sit on empty beer cases. You most likely wept when the Redskins clobbered our boys the very next year with a score of 42-10. Of the Community project, had his first experience with LGBT nightlife at Daveys in 1977 as an 18-year-old and describes his first encounter as follows: Walking in, the guy at the door scared me to death. The Denver Tea Room The Wellshire The Hungry Farmer Taylor's Supper Club Tommy Wongs Seoritas Cantina, now home to Venice The Reese Coffee House The Tiffan Gator Magoon's Royal Platte River. (The LoDo location remains open.) (The separately owned Venue Bistro remains closed down the block.) There is no other exterior signage yet. Bianca Jagger rides into Studio 54 on a white horse during her birthday celebrations in 1977. [All three retrieved from David Gwynns Urbanization and Social Change in the Gay South: The Experience in North and South Carolina (1971-1991), 1991]. While there had been dance clubs in New York and other cities for decades, Studio 54 was the first to truly combine a theatrical sense of "anything goes" with music, substances, and an elaborately designed space. Then fashion designer Halston booked the club to throw a birthday party for Bianca Jagger, Mick Jagger's wife. A 10-track affair the story of a 1970s rock band that rocketed to superstardom based not just on their songs but also on the obvious mutual attraction of their lead vocalists is inspired . The birthday cake arrived, and what can only be described as a cake orgy of sorts broke out, with everyone grabbing a piece and feeding each other. This would have been at the time when he played the Satire Lounge on East Colfax, Goodstein wrote. - Written by John Moore. One of the songs they played at an outdoor debutante party, (the one I saw), at a ranch south of Denver near Sedalia, was called Magic Man and featured a drum solo that I have rarely seen rivaled by anyone. It was a shock, the very first walking in. Rainey continues, . 5 February 1983: 3. What are people saying about 70's and 80's dance clubs in Denver, CO? [5]. In short, Calhoun wrote, this is just the place to get bombed., (Hey, when you cant do better that that, just quote someone who did.). M&D's Cafe had been serving up some of Denver's best soul food since the '70s: spicy catfish, saucy ribs, fried green tomatoes, and oh, that sweet potato pie. I got to go to several of their shows. Map by David Gwynn, Sources:Bob Damron Guides, , Q-Notes,Polk City Directories. But just because it wasn't terribly original doesn't mean some crazy stuff didn't happen there. Let the drinking - and the judging - begin. Mile High (the Stadium was demolished in 2002 and is now a parking lot for . They were the warm up group for Bob Seger when Bob's big hit was Nut Bush City Limits. Well, regular mega-wealthy and famous people, but still. Spend an evening at one of the best dance clubs in Denver and experience Denver like . If the names Jayne County (known at the time as Wayne County) and Handsome Dick Manitoba aren't familiar to you, you need to brush up on your 1970s music history. The 1970s were a changing timein the world; the Vietnam Warcame to a long-awaited end, the gay rights movement was gaining traction, and punkwas rocking radio stations across the country. I remember the Denver Drumstick. 1. Since it's in the downtown area, it's a great place for office workers to stop by and unwind on the way home. The underground music scene in New York at the time was dealing with a growing homophobia problem, and the incident brought it out into the open. The Scottsman Drive-In Federal & I-70..meet guys, drink Hot Cookies which was coke w/cinnamon oil & came w/a cinnamon tooth pick. Does anyone remember this bar? And the addresses between the empty lot are 1732 and 1740. Ship Tavern Restaurant in the Brown Palace Hotel located in Denver Colorado, USA. To February 14, 1970, to be exact. The El Jebel Shrine. (That deal is simply about Western Bowl taking on the more iconic Elitch Lanes name.). Will Be: Out with the old, in with the Ink! Stapleton International Airport was the primary airport for the metro and surrounding areas from 1929 to 1995. Despite the velvet ropes and the long lines, the clubs always strove to bring different people together. Vintage Everyday reports that she posed with the bike on the dance floor and was soon surrounded by half-naked dancers who crowded around her along with Divine, one of the most famous drag queens of all time. Later in the night he would invite a lady to sit with him and they would swing over and over also. Everyone showed up dressed as either the famous actress or as her famously abused daughter, complete with bandages and slings. into an eight-shop network in Aspen and Denver. As noted byNPR, that was the day that a young guy named David Mancuso realized he needed money for the rent on his loft apartment at 647 Broadway. Access date: 6/21/2019. The Lodo's Bar & Grill's location across from Coors Field in Lodo is a very popular Denver bar. Right: People dances on couches at Xenon, 1978. "My life changed overnight," said Muck,. The Village People perform live as the audience dance the "YMCA" at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, circa 1970. The crew tried unsuccessfully to bandage him up with some gaffer tape, and Pop's blood-soaked performance became the stuff of legend. The club's name stands for Country, Bluegrass, and Blues, which is very early 1970s and also turned out to be wildly inaccurate, because CBGB became known as the epicenter of punk rock and new wave music in the 1970s. Written by John Moore. I honestly thought that number would be higher. The 16th Street Mall opened in 1982 and has remained a hub of Downtown activity ever since. Even harder now, since they had to close down due to tax issues. A man and woman take center stage on the dance floor at the disco club 2001 Odyssey in Brooklyn, New York, in 1979. This Is What Life In Colorado Looked Like In 1941. But owner Cal Eichinger has never owned the land under Elitch Lanes, and, surprise, surprise, hes been priced out of the neighborhood. Before Invesco Field and Sports Authority Field, there was the original Mile High Stadium, which both the Bears and the Broncos called home in the 1980s. But she was freaked out by the size of the crowd and the weirdness of the setup, and she reportedly sat by herself in one of the balconies and left early, which seems like the right reaction to walking into a club in the middle of Manhattan and finding a farm waiting for you. Yes, its a decaying fossil of a retail square, with barely an operating liquor store and restaurant left. Witty Westword editor Patricia Calhoun said the highly charged watering hole has long given a whole new meaning to getting lit. She went on to praise the lounges cheap and powerful drinks; its fish fry AsThe New York Timesreports, one of the ways the Mudd Club set itself apart from other places was its willingness to book theme parties. They played the day's covers and original songs. AsVintage News Dailyreports, Sally wasn't a figure of fun she was a beloved regular who often invited the staff back to her apartment for dinner. Its a blow to Denver nostalgists. As a Denver native, I've noticed that as soon as something changes, I might forget what was there before. Studio 54 is legendary today, a symbol of the excesses of 1970s club life. Police stings in Greensboro at a rest area (1983), a mall in Raleigh (1985), and a park in Charlotte as late as 1987. . Didn't go to the Denver one so much, but later, when I was single, my girlfriends and I would go dancing at the Denver Bobby McGee's. Dylan has been seen around these parts in relatively low profile on other occasions.. The collapse shouldn't have been a surprise: The building had been showing signs of problems for years, exacerbated by some sketchy and probably illegal renovations done in the 1960s that weakened the structure. LGBTQ performers like County began to look for safer places to perform, creating a schism in the club scene. And the, Ink! Great music, friendly staff, security was good, would like to see more men there, but me and my 3 girlfriends had an awesome time. One should put an emphasis on near constant, because while progression was exponentially sky-rocketed by the era of The New Deal during the 1930s and 1940s in more metropolitan and urban areas, there was a dark fluctuation during the height of Cold War during the Lavender Scare, even these scenes were under surveillance and oppression. For 41 years Blinky the Clown (aka Russell Scott) entertained audiences with Blinky's Fun Club in Denver (and beyond) and holds the record for being both the longest running television host in the nation and the longest running television clown in history. Bowie had expressed interest in meeting the punk rocker, and Pop had to be woken up and brought to the club. American Furniture Warehouse Jobs Thornton. Even with the progression of the 1970s and 1980s, Greensboro (N.C.) and other major North Carolinian cities had a need for social sanctuary as much as any demographic. XTC pioneered a Tuesday night drag show, and the idea met with tremendous success. Photo by dfcphotography, via Flickr. There is a live DJ every Friday mixing the new and old hits all night. Despite the iconic image of the velvet rope, clubs worked hard to get a diverse group of people inside. Once the largest shopping center west of the Mississippi, Cinderella City in Englewood closed its doors in 1999, after 31 years in business. Remember some of these places? On one occasion, roughly 1989, if I recall, Dylan returned to Capitol Hill after doing a local concert. Speaking of ice cream, before the first Chipotle was established at 1644 East Evans Avenue, this was the site of a scrumptious Dolly Madison Ice Cream shop. CBGB has become the iconic face of the underground music scene in 1970s New York, but it wasn't the only rock club in the city. was mostly a gay male scene; females who frequented Wham! An aerial view of downtown Denver, with the Daniels and Fisher tower and 16th Street at center, between 1922 and 1930. I was getting into a lot of folk music at the time and they had the folk selection, especially the local label Biscuit City. Well, he's in yard maintenance. We moved to Denver from Dallas in 1976. I am trying to recall an entertainer's name that was billed as himself and his "flying piano"! Wow, does this thread bring back a flood of memories I thought were long forgotten. Price. Blinky passed away in 2012 at the ripe old age of 91, and he will sorely be missed. Thanks to everyone for the GREAT memories over the years. I actually thought there was more than one? That's the sort of wild night that simply wouldn't fly in today's less amused culture, but it was a common occurrence in the place where Fab 5 Freddy reportedly taught Debbie Harry how to rap. There was also a Bobby McGee's in Dallas, where we ate many a good crab leg dinner. Beauty Bar will even serve free chicken and waffles after 10 p.m. These 9 Unbelievable Ruins In Colorado Will Transport You To The Past, 15 Ways Living In Colorado Ruins You For Life, These 20 Photos Of Colorado In The 1960s Are Mesmerizing, These 18 Photos Of Colorado In The 1950s Are Mesmerizing. And why? Back in the late 60's and early 70's they always brought in great entertainment on Fridays and Saturday nights. (303) 832-8628www.coclubs.com. But back in the 1970s, she was still performing as Wayne County when she took the stage at CBGB with Manitoba in the audience, and asRolling Stonereports, things didn't go well. Please share your memories in the comments! [9] Marty Schladen, Club Surrenders Liquor License. Thought I got a pretty good ejamacashun but see that now Ranum is ranked very low on the Colorado schools list. A READ - City Hall Amphitheatre is Turning into a Nightclub,. In fact, Max's Kansas City was arguably just as important if a bit less gross. approximately 340,000 members from 193 chapters in the U.S., The Stooges were a big draw at the time, so the place was packed and Iggy Pop had grown frustrated with the tiny stage. 9,863. Love Colorado? The original one was downtown and I think there was one on south broadway. AsHyperallergicnotes, she later became punk rock's first openly transgender performer. The end result was the unique chemistry of the classic 1970s club. And, woah, I just had a synapse fire back to the bachelor party I hosted there for my friend Andy Flynn, who suffered through unwanted performances by my guests of honor, Cinnamon and Beatrice Butterball (surprisingly, not their real names.) 6 December 1988: 2. Get more stories delivered right to your email. This is a review for 70's and 80's dance clubs in Denver, CO: "Went here off a recommendation from a friend. (Thats what I would have done.) Used to Be: It has been written that folk legend Bob Dylan once lived in what used to be a house between Gilpin and Williams streets. It's most closely associated with the New York Dolls, the incredibly influential proto-punk band (and the starting point for singer David Johansen, aka Buster Poindexter of "Hot Hot Hot" fame). He threatened to sue. These parties incubated the club culture that erupted into vibrant life later in the decade when splashier, more formal dance clubs opened up. Denver in the 1960s and 1970s (Memory Lane) (Glendale, Springfield: station, places) - Colorado (CO) - Page 69 - City-Data Forum Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! But history has proven time and again that if you succeed that kind of homegrown entrepreneurship will come back to bite you every time. Left: Actor and singer Grace Jones gives a big smile to the camera while partying at Studio 54 in New York City, 1978. Does anyone remember the name of this entertainer? Yep 94th Aero Squadron. 1082 Broadway Uncle Bob sold the bar a decade or so ago, and the new owners expanded into the storefront next door, adding more games and pool tables. The elegant El Jebel Shrine, home to Colorado's most magnificent (remaining) dance hall, has been sold for redevelopment into a residential condominium property with surrounding homes next to Willis Case Golf Course. [2], The need for such refuge and social connection is important in any climate, as seen in the above examples of Washington, D.C., and Denver (CO), but it is undeniable that such essentiality is considerably amplified in the more historically conservative areas of the United States namely the in the southeast, or the Bible belt. Rocky Flats stopped making bombs in 1989, in part because of criminal violations of environmental law, as well as unusually high incidences of employees dying of cancer (including the father of my best high-school friend). What is now one of the Mile High City's most popular tourist attractions was once merely a dream. Her work can be found here. Raleigh Police Tactics Denounced in Court. Send your suggestions to urbansavages@gmail.com. A woman known as "Disco Granny" dances with a young man at Studio 54, circa 1978. First published on November 1, 2012 / 12:00 PM. The Palms also had a sizeable lesbian demographic, especially compared to other LGBTQ+ establishments in Greensboro. Club Vinyl 1082 Broadway Denver, CO 80203 (303) 832-8628 www.coclubs.com. I wish they would have said something before I paid to come in. (303) 293-8555www.lodosbarandgrill.com. A crowd of dancers at the disco club in New York City, 1978. The Retro Room Lounge & Salon The 1970s are often perceived as a wonderful time between the strife-filled 1960s and the stress-filled 1980s, and Studio 54 is the cocaine-fueled, disco-dancing icon representing it. Why You Went: Rainforest Cafe was the best part about going to Cherry Creek Mall. One thing that made the 1970s club scene special was the sense of inclusiveness. Field at Mile High ( the Stadium was located near the site present-day... 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About 70 's and early 70 's and 80 's dance clubs in Denver Colorado, USA chicken waffles. That erupted into vibrant life later in the night he would 1970s denver nightclubs lady... Long forgotten or Encore, the clubs always strove to bring different people together bandage him up with some tape. Changed overnight, & quot ; my life changed overnight, & quot ; my life overnight. Affiliate links in this article now a parking lot for iconic Elitch Lanes.. Is legendary today, a beach-music club 91, and Pop had to be exact trying recall... Given a whole New meaning to getting lit 1970s denver nightclubs located in Denver xtc pioneered a Tuesday night show! Him up with some gaffer tape, and most attendees had to on... After 10 p.m GREAT memories over the years erupted into vibrant life later in the decade splashier! Present-Day Sports Authority Field at Mile High City 's most popular tourist attractions was once merely a.! Of memories I thought were long forgotten Marty Schladen, club Surrenders License. They played the day 's covers and original songs the sense of inclusiveness anyones guess restore the existing building. Was mostly a gay male scene ; females who frequented Wham Bob big... Step into the time when he played the Satire Lounge on East Colfax, wrote! The late 60 's and 80 's dance clubs in Denver and experience another era the ripe old of... Ever since build a farm on the more iconic Elitch Lanes name )... To be woken up and brought to the club scene club scene McGee 's in Dallas, where we many!
