During the 1980's, Canadian Peter Gatien moved to NYC and built a nightclub empire. But this empire started with one legendary club, the Limelight.
Limelight was an old, vacant, deconsecrated church that Gatien turned into the hottest and most decadent club since Studio 54. This was the club that launched the legendary Club Kids - and the cash that Limelight generated allowed Gatien to open other superclubs like Palladium, Tunnel and Club USA.
When I moved to NYC in the early 90's, it wasn't unheard of for my friends and I to spend 2-3 nights a week in a Peter Gatien-owned club: Wednesdays and/or Fridays at Limelight (AKA "Slimelight"), Saturdays at Tunnel, and Sundays at Club USA (later at Palladium). Those were the days.
And then the DEA came and ruined everything. Bastards.
As the owner of legendary hotspots like Limelight, Tunnel, Palladium and Club USA, Peter Gatien was the king of the New York club scene until years of legal battles led to his eventual deportation to Canada. This exuberant documentary charts Gatien's rise and fall against the transformation of New York City, offering a wild ride through a now-closed chapter in the history of NYC nightlife. From the director of "Cocaine Cowboys."
As a club kid of sorts in SF during the late 80s/early 90s, I would read the Village Voice (Yes, I had a subscription.) and dream of going to places like Limelight and the Palladium. Damn the DEA.
ReplyDeleteI saw an ad for this earlier in the week and thought it sounded pretty interesting. I remember hearing about the Limelight, but of course never made it there.
ReplyDeleteI had to get out my tissue there for a minute! I can't wait to see this! And I wonder who will play your part Mame in the scenes from the Tuesday nights "Lick It" party night? But you know, I should have went down with the Palludium.
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