BRILLIANT SEGMENT! I have been researching gay bar history for five years and I am delighted that videos like this exist to preserve the memories of our fabulous gay nightlife venues. I look forward to the opportunity to include a few segments about the Saint in my #GayBarchives series. #ilovegaybars #GayHistory
There was nothing so magical as dancing under the stars in the middle of New York City. To this day, the Saint is the pinnacle of gay club experiences of my 60 yr old life.
Souvenirs was our theme song! Whenever it came on (and it always came on), my "family" and I would drop whatever we were doing to dance at 4:00 on the dance floor!
I'm originally from Rye New York and commuted to Grand Central to go to The Saint as I was a member. Ironically back then the block that I now live on where the original Eagle and Spike were around the corner was vacant, decadent and dangerous and we used to do things on it now it's all art galleries. I am forever grateful to F. Alan Pastore who I knew from Westchester County who introduced me to The Saint. I had interstellar space to dance in.
My best friend,the man I loved the most the man I danced with the most,John Tenenbaum was living in Atlanta he had an invite for opening night, the magic was so intense he went back to Atlanta rearranged his life and moved to New York just weeks later
I Remember the Saint Parties When All the DJs Used to Take A Few Hours for A Weekend of One Big Event 'I Worked for Crisco Disco West 15th Street on Top of the Crisco Can
don't think i ever missed a Saturday... or Sunday for that matter, it all depended on who was playing and if Monday was a holiday even better. The Saint was for me the gold standard to the greatest total experience. its 2020 and i don't think anyone i knew back then is around. RR
The Saint on Sunday night was the place to be in the 80s. Red Parrot was my preferred place on Friday and Saturday along with Private Eyes and Limelight. But Sunday belonged to the Saint
Love, love, LOVE learning about gay life in the 1970s. I was born into the maelstrom of AIDS & Reaganomics & crack that was the mid-'80s when it was all Cold War & conservatism & greed. Born in the wrong era I guess.
Later in the club's history they opened one night a week to straights. I got to go once or twice and have been to a lot of clubs but never one that I talk about like The Saint. The light show was brilliant! I wish that they talked about the first floor and bar area. I remember giant carpeted blocks to sit on and climb. Amazing space! So glad to have seen and had a taste of it!
I was at the last party, the greatest club, danced for hours & hours, the floor was amazing in that it always seemed to expand to accommodate as many dancers as wanted to dance yet was intimate even if there were just a handful, amazing & a wonderful space.
Cause we could we should and isn't it great... We didn't know there was a price to pay that just makes my heart wanna break we he says that.. A lost nirvana.. What an incredible decade the 70s were so free so freeing talking to my peers older ltbt people older gay men saying it was so much fun there was room to grow everything was new for us just a great time to live all those dreams the saint looked incredible along with studio what fun what a blast a magical time
There leaving out that the circular light well space ship with the giant capsule was on Hydraulics at one point it would begin to rise like it was flying and the capsule would turn with a show shooting out from it and at the beginning when tons of people were there having the time of there lives the lights would all at once shoot straight up. A Hatch opened and a long mirror ball would lower with a light show in it as well and the people would go crazy. My Mother came to visit and being a party designer. One of many, she was given the VIP treatment and allowed into the DJ booth to press the button that lowered this massive object. LOL she went nuts and had a fantastic time. But she got dizzy and had to go downstairs where you could relax Talk and get to know people. She told people about that night for years.
The night started with pillows on the floor and classical music on there amazing sound system, Then the music slowly became a git more rhythm and slowly became disco the Best DJS in the world. and Oh The mega stars that performed there wow. And Grace Jones On New Years eve :) Remember me I'm the Crazy Chuck I designed the 2001 party. But it turned into the Dead Baby party. sounds horrible but it wasn't It was just so surreal and everyone was on something No alcohol license yet. Buy Big bowls of Fruit and soda and water all free. Well Cover charge was high and so worth it. Unless you got a membership. in less than a yeas over 1 million people had bought memberships. The Saint was a HIT. Oh the storied I could tell. Good ones.
The largest Planetarium globe in the world. Streisand accepted an award for New York Women in Film and I was the Stage manager. Oh MY . Bruce the owner new it was on my Birthday and wanted me to be there from a select few of his designers. Total secret until she arrived. I think I may have fainted for a sec. I hated what I chose to wear. Everyone just knew it was going to be Elisabeth Taylor . . I spent time With Streisand!!! and sat on stage with her!!! and a HUGE floral arrangement.Simple but beautiful Black suit, 1 Black Onyx ring with a tiny diamond in the middle. I am sure it was vintage I'm so excited. To Find this
I was new to NYC and was Taken there got opening night. Had to work there. I was a Party designer until they closed the doors meany years later. Met so many amazing people OMG The memories. yes Like floating through space.
