Chippendales dancers
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Chippendale dancers are a group of men who dance provocatively for a primarily female audience. They are best known as being shirtless, muscular and wearing little else but bow ties, white cuffs and tight black leather or spandex pants.
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[edit] Origins
The original "Chippendales" nightclub was started by Indian immigrant and entrepreneur Somen Banerjee (known as Steve), along with Paul Snider, notorious for murdering his wife, Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten, and Bruce Nahin, a young L.A attorney. After owning a Mobil gas station and a failed backgammon club, he used a small investment to purchase a failed Los Angeles club named "Destiny II". Originally, Chippendales had female mud wrestling and a 'Male Exotic Dancing Night' for women. It was the first one of its kind in the United States. Chippendales Clubs elsewhere in the US and around the world were later opened,notably New York, London,Hamburg, Philadelphia and Florida. Authorized Touring shows appeared throughout the US, Asia and Europe. Nahin was primarily responsible for the business aspects of the company, being instrumental in its tremendous growth, while Banerjee( and later DeNoia) were responsible for the creative aspects of the company.
Banerjee and Nahin established a relationship with choreographer Nick DeNoia, who had won an Emmy Award directing children's shows in the early 1980s. DeNoia, talented and driven, recruited very attractive men. His intention was to do more than just provide the performance of a striptease, but to bring women's fantasies to life. DeNoia played a major role in the successes that made Chippendales a world-famous institution. Banerjee and De Noia were the creative forces behind the success while Nahin remained primarily behind the scenes and the business force of the group. Banerjee paid DeNoia forty five percent of the corporation (retaining forty five percent for himself and ten percent belonging to Nahin)for his assistance. The relationship between De Noia and Banerjee was very tense and argumentative.
[edit] Arson and murder
Banerjee repeatedly attempted to stifle competition through the recruitment of an arsonist to burn down clubs nearby. For Chippendales, the entirety of the early 1980s was filled with major lawsuits pertaining to personal injury and discrimination. In 1987, the company filed for bankruptcy and began reorganization. Also in 1987, Banerjee and DeNoia came into disagreement over touring rights to Chippendales. DeNoia sued Banerjee, claiming he had violated a term of their agreement, which entitled DeNoia to most of the control of the touring rights for Chippendales. Nahin being a key witness for De Noia. In April of 1987, DeNoia was found murdered in his New York office, shot with a single bullet. Rumors emerged that Banerjee had arranged the hit. After De Noia's death Banerjee obtained his forty five percent of the company and as such held ninety percent ownership of the company (Nahin retaining ten percent). In 1988 the original "Chippendales" club was shut down after losing its liquor license and fire permit. The group became solely a touring opportunity, with Banerjee maintaining control. After Banerjee's death, his widow Irene, who is now also deceased, sold the Banerjee ninety percent to the current owners CHIPPENDALES USA.
[edit] Attempted murder, arrest and suicide
In 1990 and 1991, Banerjee enlisted ex-con Ray Colon. Banerjee wanted a former Chippendales' choreographer and protege of DeNoia, Mike Fullington, as well as two previous Chippendales dancers, to be killed. At the time the targets were touring Great Britain, where they had joined the Adonis club, a competitor of Chippendales'. Rather than do the deed himself, Colon attempted to hire a hitman to do the job. The man was an FBI informant. An entire conversation between Colon and the hitman setting up the hit was recorded. The informant brought the evidence to the United States Embassy. Colon had a meeting with Banerjee in Zurich, to discuss the planned killings. Colon was wired for sound. In 1993, Banerjee was indicted on counts of conspiracy and attempting to hire a hitman.
Banerjee's bail was denied, due to the statements of Ray Colon, who claimed that Banerjee had told him that he intended to pay a private pilot $25,000 to fly him back to India without a passport, or to commit suicide, if he were caught for his acts. Soon after, his charges were expanded to include the hired hit of DeNoia. Banerjee eventually pleaded guilty to attempted arson, racketeering, and murder for hire. He entered into a plea agreement that would lead to 26 years in prison, loss of his share of the Chippendales' parent company, and most of his estate. Although never proven it was suggested by the police that Banerjee committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell during the early morning on October 23, 1994, hours away from his sentencing. Due to the fact he committed suicide before his trial was completed, the entirety of his share in the Chippendales' corporation and his estate were passed on to his wife Irene who thereafter sold the company. Irene herself died of breast cancer in the early 2000's.
