South Florida Night Life Memories (Miami, Miami Beach: movers, club, homeless)
MiamiMiami-Dade County
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The Button on the beach was great, it brings back many many memories. I used to be a bouncer there ....... Can YOU imagine Spring Break 84' 85' 86' Woo, what a time! All the other clubs were great also, like Backstreets, Pete and Lennys, Club Z, Christophers, Cassanovas.... I can go on and on.........
The Disco movement was huge in Miami through out the 70's & 80's, and with it came a fast growing night life and scene with many clubs opening all over South Florida as well as many local bands becoming international recording stars.
While the scene was hot, filled with excitement and great times, it was also filled with drugs, murder, sex and corruption.
Welcome to the Magic City!
Let the memories begin!
Alexandre (Omni hotel-downtown Miami)
Before becoming a Hollywood star, actor Andy Garcia ran the light show at Alexandre's.
Allegros (formerly Alexandre)
Backstreets (Ft. Lauderdale) DJ Scott Blackwell & Bob Mero
Backstreets was an enourmous club that mainly catered to the gay crowd, but also welcomed a mix of gay & straight club goers in it's western saloon multi level design, it's exterior offered a swimming pool, jacuzzi, tiki bar, outdoor stage and dance floor.
Backstreets later became The Edge
Banana Boat (Kendall Dr. 107th) DJ Avy Gonzalez Banana Boat's DJ Avy Gonzalez went on to have a successful career as a music producer & remixer, he worked with such groups as Expose, Genuine Parts, Hazell Dean and many others.
Banana Boat is now a salsa club named Crystal's
Casanovas (740 E. 9th St.,Hialeah) DJ Carlos Nodal - Ciro Llerena
Casanovas was not one of S. Florida's hottest clubs, it wasn't located in a fancy hotel, nor did it sport a million dollar light show, but Casanovas hands down was Miami's most talked about spot, even today Casanovas name is spoken as if it's still standing.
One can compare Casanovas appeal and popularity as being Miami's own Studio 54.
Cheekers (Dania,Fla)
Faces In The Grove ( Mayfair-Coconut Grove) DJ Scott Blackwell
Faces was one of Miami's hard to get into hotspots, one had to formally dress up, or be turned down.
Firehouse Four (1000 S. Miami Ave) DJ Roli
Firehehouse's happy hour is legendary, at times Firehouse goers would spill out to the sidewalk in order to have room to dance.
Gambits (LeJeune Rd.- Marriott) DJ George Rivero
Set inside a Marriott hotel, Gambits was a small but quaint spot located near Miami International Airport, if one wanted to party at a central location and stay close to home, Gambit's was one of the many options.
Honey For The Bears (Miami) DL Carlos Nodal
Another hard to get into club where dressing up was a must to get in, 21 was strictly enforced, the music was provided by the late DJ Carlos Nodal who was the original Casanovas DJ as well as by legendary Jock, DJ Jimmy Yu
Limelight (Hallandale,Fla) Bobby Lombardi - Lewis Martinee
The first Limelight was built in South Florida in the same location as another legendary club "Rumbottoms" in Hallandale once occupied.
The Limelight quickly became the model for clubs to come all over the world, as it sported a million dollar sound & lightshow,a sunken stainless steel dance floor was always packed anytime Limelight's doors were open.
The creator of mixing records using the BPM (beats-per-minute) DJ Bob Lombardi was recruited from Long Island where he was a staple in the Long Island club scene from his days at "The Corral" & "Rumbottoms" where his muscial selection kept the party going, which he also did at Limelight.
Once Bobby Lombardi parted ways with the Limelight, S. Florida DJ turned mega music producer (of Expose fame) "Lewis Martinee" took over the turntable duties until the Limelight was closed down after a fire destroyed the place.
Bobby Lombardi was a talented DJ remembered for using "carts" instead of records, which lead him to create the use of BPM's.
Lombardi who has now passed on to heaven will always be remembered as one the of innovators of DJ'ing & mixing.
Manhattans (6620 Red Road South Miami) DJ Billy Swan
Located next door to the University Of Miami and owned by an African American, Manhattan's was a staple in the South Miami club scene, it's dance floor was a small version of the multi-colored flashing dance floor seen in "Saturday Night Fever"
Mix 2 Club (N. Bay Village)
Mix 2 one of the earliest Disco clubs will always be remembered for it's Wednesday nights, $10.00 not only got you in, but included your drinks for the entire night.
The Mutiny (Mutiny hotel Coconut Grove) DJ Jimmy Yu & DJ Humberto Fleites
Located on the penthouse level of The Mutiny hotel, The Mutiny was the favorite spot for Miami's infamous drug runners and Miami's most elite, it featured multiple dance floors scattered across the room rather then just one, The Mutiny's elegance and upscale decor was enhanced by it's view of the bay.
My Place (127th & 8st.)
Nepenthe (3937 N. Federal Highway Ft. Lauderdale)
Nepenthe's one of many Ft. Lauderdale nightclub giants featured a sunken stainless steel dance floor with an incredible sound & lighting system, Nepenthe's spared no expense with it's lush decor that included custom made bar counters that were illuminated with tiny lights, a very classy and wonderful spot to go.
Pagoda (N. Bay Villlage)
Pagoda's like Mix 2 both just blocks from each other are early examples of nightclubs in South Florida that paved the way for future night spots.
Parallel Bar (Bakery Center)
A fitness gym by day, a club/restaurant at night, Parallel Bar loaded it's wooden dance floors with club goers dancing to the sounds provided by Rayomnd Hernandez, two floors occupied Parallel Bar's interior while the club it's self was located on the second floor of the failed Bakery Center mall in South Miami.
The Bakery Center was demolished to make way for a new outdoor shopping & entertainment complex "Sunset Place Mall", Parallel Bar maybe history, but "Martini Bar" is doing a great job following in the footsteps of Parallel Bar in bringing South Miami's nightlife back to life.
Penrod's Beach Club (1st & Ocean Dr.)
Penrod's is located on South Beach and sits where the south point pier once stood, following in the footsteps of "Woodys On The Beach", Pendrods drew in a massive "Top 40" crowd with it's multi level complex that featured an open air experience with it's large sliding doors, opening the way to a romantic view of the ocean, as well as an enourmous lower level exterior complete with tiki bars and a small pool, as well as an outdoor fitness gym.
As if conquering the nightclub scene on Miami Beach wasn't enough, Penrod's sandy beach area hosted some of Miami's biggest outdoor concerts, that included "Bon Jovi" as over 50,000 were in attendance, even when no concerts were going on, Penrod's was jammed packed by beach goers during daylight hours as patrons sat back to work on their suntan as food & drinks were offered from the lower level and exterior bars.
Penrod's is now Nikki Beach, a trendy hotspot that has spawn into more then just a club.
Passions (1235 Washington Ave,MB)
Short lived Passions did not have the success as it's predecessors 1235 & Deco's, now home to Mansion
Pete & Lenny's (Commercial Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale)
Pete & Lenny's was one of South Florida's premiere dance clubs, it featured an erray of entertainment in it's multi level complex, that included live house bands such as "The Real Thing & the band "Ecstasy".
Pete & Lenny's set the standard high for rival clubs all over South Florida as it always showcased some of the top recording artist at the time on a weekly basis.
Pete & Lenny's was also used for filiming the television program Disco 77.
Scaramouche (Downtown Miami,Omni Hotel) DJ Joe Lenders
Scaramouche as well as Alexandre's was located inside the Omni hotel in downtown Miami.
Scaramouche also like other upscale spots had a strict dress code, and if you were lucky to get in, once inside the plush decor and mirrored trimmings were a sight to see as white couches against the walls and tables directly around the dance floor gave Scaramouche's well deserved reputation for being one of South Florida's most glamorous dance clubs which also featured one of the first ever laser light shows ever seen in the are.
Studio 51 (Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale)
Studio 51 is yet another example of how hot the Ft. Lauderdale club scene was years ago, it featured a black plexiglass dance floor, incredible light show with a heart pounding sound system.
The Studio 51 logo would spin around just beneath the plexiglass.
Studio 51 dancers, waitresses as well as the bartenders wore Egyptian themed costumes.
Top Draw (79 Street Causeway in N. Bay Village) DJ Jimmy Martinez
The Top Draw was a private club as well as an upscale restaurant where the likes of Frank Sinatra could be seen having drinks near the piano bar area.
At Top Draw one could easily make a night of it starting out with dinner, then slipping away to the piano bar lounge while fueling yourself until the disco dance area opened and stayed open until 5 a.m.
Widow McCoys (Miami)DJ Jimmy Yu
Club Z, 1235, Deco's,Facades, Egoiste, Club Nu, Electric City, The Sands, Ricks Bar, Cameo Theatre, Maxim's, Swiss Chateau, Hearthrobs, Forrest, The Beat Club, Illusions, Skylite, Studabakers, Lime Key, Village Inn, Confettis, Christophers, Heatwaves, Spinners, Pack Jam, Strawberries, 94th Aero, Suzzane's In The Grove, Cats, Stefano's, Samy's, Fire & Ice, Flynn's, Ronnie's, Sugars, Waterfront, Uncle Charlies, The Copa, Kitchen Club, Albert & Manny's
I have hung out at 80% of those clubs and they were great!
I have hung out and also played at a few (1235, Backstreets, Nepenthe, and some club inside the hotel off of 103st & the Palmetto but the name escapes me). Have been to Parallel Bar, Fire & Ice, Ozone, Club Nu, 94 Aero, Copa, Waterfront,Sugars (where the black gay guys used to hang out), Twist, Ovo at the Warsaw Ballroom (South Beach) and countleess others I can't recall at the moment but I sure had a lot of fun!
No not Star-fyre band unless they played at "Ronnie's" the Skyliner Inn by the Airport..always great for late night - early morning action.
There was a Button's reunion down south here in Miami Sat Sept 18th.
Can't believe I stumble upon this site. Anyone remember Wayne Cochran playing his band at the Eclipse club? Buried in Dadeland Towers?
Neon Leon's in South Miami?
Zachary's?? on SHipping Avenue in the Grove? The best prime rib in Miami (well next to Fox's)
The Alley? right down the street on Shipping
"The Brasserie"... on top of the Holiday Inn.. then it was down 36 street to the 747. 3 stories of drinks and disco and the divine male sex.
Great days... I used to teach the "Hustle" at the Brasserie with my girlfriend. M _ _ _ _ _.
Thanks for bringing back good memories.
Hey all! Does anyone have photos of the club Manhattans? I am working on a documentary and really would love to have some shots from the club (exterior shots most importantly).Moderator cut: Advertising If anyone can help or point me in the right direction let me know!! Thanks!
Usually the library and local concil often have historic pictures of the development that has happened over the decades. Manhattans was the backgammon bar. I went there often.
Great Post - not ot overlook several of the clubs where the brothas hung out -
(Miami was great in the 80's for all night partying), 119th St. Big Daddy's Lounge, 8600 Big Daddy's Lounge (big shout to "Frank Hollywood"), Pier 17, Climax (before it went to nude dancing), Green's Lounge in Goulds, The Inferno, Troy's, Tomorrow's, The Starlight Ballroom, Sergio's, Nepenthe, Imoja in West Palm.................... The gold coast was bumpin, and I loved spinnin' where ever I could get on at.
Okay so I forgot the original people's .. when I could get there I went to the JET A WAY where "Cookie" did her thing as well as "glover the Lover" and a few more. Jerry Ruskin was a big backer of this club and for a long time it WAS "goin' on"
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I hung out at about 80% of those clubs
