When I got into the scene in the late 80’s, people were reminiscing about the Golden Age when you could go to an SM every night of the week, that there were so many clubs like Le Scene, Club O, Club DeSade, Chateau 19, Paddles and Hellfire. When I got to the scene there was only Paddles and The Vault and you could only go out Wednesday through Saturday nights. Now there’s only Paddles on Fridays and Saturdays, the occasional Submit party and several events at Bacchus which will close shortly having lost their lease.
I remember the old Eagle and The Spike (what fun to do Sunday brunch at The Spike!) and everybody would reminisce about the Mineshaft and the Ramrod and the Anvil. And then, years later, everybody at the LURE would reminisce about those places. Nowadays, even Boots & Saddles is gone and, at the new Eagle, the guys are all reminiscing about the LURE.
The Golden Age is always before you got there.
Will be another Golden Age in NYC? I am doubtful. New York State safe sex regulations, the internet and the real estate boom have put the kibosh on it.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Drew // Mar 20, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Uh uh, Lolita!
I have seen the future of leather in NYC. And it’s the New York boys of Leather. Have you been to a LOAD party? It’s great! So much energy!
Okay, so there’s no play going on, just socializing. But I haven’t had the sense of community like I get from the boys since… Well… Since the LURE closed.
I think that every generation will find their own way of doing things, and have their own places to go. I once met a guy who told me that the Golden Age of NYC was during the ’40s, when you could walk down just about any block and get a sailor to give you a blowjob. And as far as he was concerned, nothing that came after was better than that.
I think it’s always somebody’s Golden Age, but we just have to decide if it’s going to be ours.
-Drew
http://singletails.blogspot.com
2 Harleysman // Mar 23, 2007 at 4:18 am
Lolita,
May I also mention Bizarre Theater at 51-west 19 street between 5th and 6th avenue. I owned it with Mistress Valerie in the late 70’s early 80’s. We reenacted and improvised different BdSm sexual fantasies on stage and held parties including slave auctions on special weekends. Let not forget Belle de Jour, while not a traditional club had live on stage BdSm shows and was my first introduction to the scene. Finally, there was a continuous running play by Leil Loundes and Chip Durgom called “Another Way to Love” down on Grand Street if my memory serves me right, long before it became chic to live there.
I enjoyed reading the Blog. Thank you for allowing me to comment.
John
“The Future isn’t what it use to be” Boddy DeNiro in Angel Heart
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