Roxy NYC

Coordinates: 40°44′42″N 74°00′25″W / 40.745013°N 74.006959°W

Roxy NYC
The Roxy

Exterior of Roxy
Location New York City (Chelsea, Manhattan), New York, United States
Owner Steven Greenberg (1978-1985) as Roxy's Roller Disco
Gene DiNino (1985-2007)
Type roller rink and nightclub
Opened 1978
Closed 2007

Roxy NYC (sometimes The Roxy) was a popular nightclub located at 515 West 18th Street in New York City. Located in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, it began as a roller skating rink and roller disco in 1978, founded by Steve Bauman, Richard Newhouse and Steve Greenberg.[1] It was acquired in 1985 by Gene DiNino. The Roxy shut down permanently in March 2007.

Operation

The Roxy hosted a party for the famed Olympic gold medal-winning USA Ice Hockey team in 1980.

Beginning in the early 1980s, the owners began hosting dance nights. Referred to by many as the “Studio 54 of roller rinks,” these parties thrived for several years. Then, as the popularity of skating began to fade, the space was revamped into a dance club in 1982.

Ruza Blue, a British expatriate nicknamed "Kool Lady Blue", founded an all-ages, all-races hip hop club in June 1982. Jon Baker, the future founder of Gee Street Records, worked the door. Hip hop pioneers Afrika Bambaataa began DJing there, and were soon joined by Grandmixer D.ST, Jazzy Jay, Grand Wizzard Theodore and Grandmaster Flash.[2] The club sponsored MC battles, Zulu Nation gatherings, breakdancing competitions with the Rock Steady Crew, graffiti murals, and double Dutch competitions. The club had a major influence on the evolution of hip hop culture over the next few years.[3] A performance at the club by Afrika Bambaattaa was featured in the 1984 film Beat Street.[4][5]

The Roxy hosted one of New York City's largest weekly gay dance nights, Roxy Saturdays, promoted by John Blair Promotions, which featured many famous DJs including Junior Vasquez, Manny Lehman, Hex Hector, Victor Calderone, Frankie Knuckles, James Andersen, Merritt, Offer Nissim, Hector Fonseca and Peter Rauhofer. Artists such as Dead or Alive, Cher, Madonna, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Whitney Houston, Liza Minnelli, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Cyndi Lauper, Grace Jones, Yoko Ono, LL Cool J, Lisa Marie Presley, Gloria Gaynor, and George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars all performed at the Roxy.

Closure

Roxy had stopped for several weeks in the fall of 2006, but resumed operation once again on December 2, 2006. The club closed its doors for good on March 10, 2007.[6] A documentary about the club's final party, entitled "Roxy: The Last Dance" premiered in August 2008 on the LOGO cable television network.[7]

There were plans for the club to be demolished in order to make room for new residential apartments. However, in July 2008, there was news that the Roxy would reopen under new management. The local community board that represents the interests of the residents near the club have stated that the club could reopen if it served the community in the long run.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Steve died in 2012. Cf. "Obituary: Steven GREENBERG", The New York Times, March 15, 2012
  2. ↑ Chang, Jeff (2005). Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. Picador. p. 174. ISBN 0-312-42579-1
  3. ↑ Terrell, Tom; Light, Alan [ed.] (1999). The Vibe History of Hip Hop. Three Rivers Press. p. 47. ISBN 0-609-80503-7
  4. ↑ "How the Roxy became the Roxy". from The New York Blade, April 8, 2005 issue.
  5. ↑ Retrospectively Yours: Next Magazine's retrospective look at the Roxy from Next Magazine
  6. ↑ Konigsberg, Eric, "Last Hurrah for a Gay Playground", The New York Times, March 12, 2007
  7. ↑ Roxy: The Last Dance from the Internet Movie Database
  8. ↑ Freedlander, David, Roxy nightclub ready to rise again,from New York Newsday, date July 8, 2008. (archived 2008)

External links