The Club that Rodney Built
After 40 years on First Ave., Dangerfield’s hopes to get some respect
By David Schlegel
Posted by Our Town on October 15, 2009 · View Comments
Comedian Rob Magnotti remembers performing in front of Rodney Dangerfield in 2004. Magnotti, who grew up a fan of the superstar, was slightly on edge before the show.
“They told me that night, ‘Rodney’s going to watch your set’,” Magnotti said. “That’s a lot of pressure!”
Dangerfield watched the act from the same booth he always occupied at Dangerfield’s Comedy Club, which he opened decades before on First Avenue and East 61st Street. He laughed a few times and clapped at the end of the set shouting, “Yo, alright baby! Alright!” Magnotti remembers.
Tony Bevacqua, Rodney Dangerfield’s business partner and longtime friend, helped build the club from the remnants of an old furniture factory.
On Sept. 29, the famed club celebrated its 40th anniversary, making it the longest-running comedy club in America, according to owners. The comedian opened the club in 1969. At the time, Dangerfield was touring the country and launching his film career in Los Angeles. With a wife and two children in New York, he thought the club would be a good way to stay close to his family. It also gave the comedian a home base to perform from, and something to promote during his many appearances on The Tonight Show, with Johnny Carson.
Business partner and longtime friend Tony Bevacqua helped Dangerfield build the club from the remnants of an old furniture factory. The two met at The Living Room, where Dangerfield performed standup and Bevacqua played guitar with the band. Bevaqua, who was also a builder, helped with most of the original construction and still does weekly repairs.
“He put in every nail in this club,” said James Dulworth, the club’s day manager for the past 11 years.
The club’s stage may not look very impressive, with its plain black backdrop and crooked white letters spelling out “DANGERFIELDS,” but the humble setup has hosted many of the biggest names in standup comedy history, including Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Sam Kinison, Andy Kaufman, Rosanne Barr and Jay Leno.
“Other clubs are building their history, but with Dangerfield’s, you’re walking into comedy history,” Magnotti said.
Two documentaries were filmed at Dangerfield’s in recent weeks: an A&E Biography on the star, who died in 2004, and a British documentary on Caddyshack , one of his most successful films. HBO standup comedy specials, album recordings and even the original press conference and screening for Caddyshack took place at the club.
Dulworth believes that the HBO specials, along with the star’s many appearances on the Tonight Show promoting shows, helped keep the club alive for many years when other venues closed their doors.
“From the very beginning, we had Rodney,” Dulworth said. “There’s an image for Rodney, and the club is a tribute to him.”
Even in tough economic times, Dangerfield’s has been able to thrive. The management recently decided to offer two-for-one and no-cover coupons, which has boosted ticket sales on weekends and even slow nights.
Nostalgia may also be a draw. Although the world around it has changed drastically, much has stayed the same inside the club. An old liquor bottle from the original opening night sits on top of the bar, and original antique red lamps covered in graffiti light the performance room.
“When you come in, it’s like a museum,” Dulworth said. “It still looks like the nightclubs from that period. I get people who call all the time and say things like, ‘I was here 25 years ago and stole the ashtray!’”
Well written!! The flow had an informal feeling but covered salient observations well. Good mixture of factual history and an eye for interesting details.