Leviticus was a nightclub in midtown Manhattan that opened in November 1974[1] at 45 W. 33rd Street and featured disco and live music until its closing in October 1988. Although Leviticus attracted a diverse audience, it was attended primarily by middle-class African Americans who worked in the midtown area.[2]
Leviticus was built, owned, and operated by The Best of Friends, Inc. an organization that also owned Justine's on W. 38th Street, Bogard's on E. 48th Street, Orpheus on Washington Ave. in Brooklyn and Lucifer's on Linden Blvd. in Queens.[3]
Leviticus started out as a pure disco but began featuring well-known musical acts a few years later as a supplement to disco dancing, which remained popular. Many well-known performers appeared at Leviticus. In comparing Leviticus to Studio 54, historian Dr. Alice Echols said "Studio 54 was reportedly a white Hollywood version of the fashionable black Manhattan disco Leviticus."[4]
A strict dress code was enforced: jackets required, no sneakers or jeans, no hats.[5] The Best of Friends avoided radio advertising and chose to promote their clubs by using their personal mailing list and making in-person invitations.
Many celebrities visited Leviticus and other clubs owned by The Best of Friends. Vaughn Harper worked at Leviticus as MC at the start of his career, but quickly became one of the top DJs in New York City with his “Between the Sheets” program on WBLS radio. Even after his success on radio, Vaughn often returned to Leviticus to serve as MC for the live shows.[6]
The Best of Friends, Inc. was comprised of Tony Cooper, Danny Berry, Charles “CP” Perry, Mal Woolfolk, Harry Felder, Wayne Scarbrough, Andre Smith, and Noel Hankin.[7]
- ^ Murray, James (April 9, 1975). "Come Party With Us". NY Amsterdam News.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Gayle, Stephen (September 1981). "The Million Dollar Party". Black Enterprise.
- ^ Gayle, Stephen (September 1981). "Million Dollar Party". Black Enterprise.
- ^ Echols, Alice (2010). Professor of History at USC. 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-393-06675-3.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Murray, James (April 3, 1975). "Eight Young Businessmen Capture the Leisure Hours of Midtown Workers". NY Amsterdam News.
- ^ "New York DJ Vaughn Harper of WBLS "Quiet Storm" Dies at 71". PIX11. July 9, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Murray, James (April 3, 1975). "Eight Young Businessmen Capture The Leisure Hours of Midtown Workers". New York Amsterdam News.