El Morocco (sometimes nicknamed Elmo or Elmer) was a 20th century Manhattan nightclub frequented by the rich and famous in the 1930s and 1950s. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York A nightclub (or "night club" or "club" is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark It was famous for its blue zebra-stripe motif (designed by Vernon MacFarlane) and its official photographer, Jerome Zerbe. Zebras are African Equids best known for their distinctive white and black stripes Jerome Zerbe ( July 24, 1904 – August 19, 1988) was one of the originators of a genre of Photography that is now utterly common

Contents 1 History 2 Miscellanea 3 References in popular culture 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links

History

In 1931, John Perona (born Eriane Giovanni Perona in Chiaverano in the Province of Turin, Italy),^[1] an Italian immigrant, opened El Morocco as a speakeasy at 154 East 54th Street where the Citigroup Center now stands. Chiaverano is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km northeast of The Province of Turin ( Piemontese: Provincia ëd Turin It Provincia di Torino) is a province in the Piedmont region of Italy Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest A speakeasy was an establishment that surreptitiously sold Alcoholic beverages during the period of United States history known as Prohibition (1920-1933 54th Street is a two-mile-long one-way Street traveling west to east across Midtown Manhattan. The Citigroup Center (formerly Citicorp Center) is one of the tallest Skyscrapers in New York City, United States located at 53rd Street Part of what made the club the 'place to be' was the photographs taken by Jerome Zerbe which were always in the news the next day. Jerome Zerbe ( July 24, 1904 – August 19, 1988) was one of the originators of a genre of Photography that is now utterly common Everyone always knew from the background zebra stripes on the banquettes where the celebrities had been.

Perona died in 1961, and his son, Edwin, moved the club to a four-storey townhouse at 307 East 54th Street. A storey (spelled story in the USA only floor, deck or level is the level of a Building above (or below the Ground. In Architecture and City planning, a terrace(d or row house or townhouse (though the latter term can also refer to Patio houses Later that year, Edwin Perona sold the club to John Mills, who owned it for three years. ^[2] It was then owned by Maurice Uchitel (1964–70) and Sheldon Hazeltine. ^[3] Before taking over El Morocco, Uchitel owned the Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach for several years. ^[4] In 1981, the Second Avenue wing operated briefly as a steakhouse. ^[5][6] In 1992, it operated as a topless bar. A bar (also called a Pub or Tavern) is a business that serves drinks especially Alcoholic beverages such as beer liquor and mixed drinks for consumption ^[7] In 1997, Desmond Wootton bought the property and opened the Night Owls nightclub. The site is now occupied by the Milan Condominium. ^[8]

Miscellanea

• First club to use a velvet rope.
• In 1950, Humphrey Bogart was banned for life.

References in popular culture

• Setting for scene in the 1973 film The Way We Were
• Recreated in the 2006 motion picture Infamous
• Mentioned in the 1936 Cole Porter song "Down in the Depths"
• Mentioned in the 1946 film The Kid from Brooklyn
• Mentioned in the 1954 film Sabrina
• Mentioned in the 1960 film BUtterfield 8
• Mentioned in the 1966 novel Valley of the Dolls
• Mentioned in the 1969 novel The Love Machine
• The cruise ship Carnival Splendor will feature a bar named El Morocco Bar themed after the original
• Elmo Restaurant and Lounge on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan is named for the nightclub^[9]

Notes

References

• Beebe, Lucius (1967). The Way We Were is a 1973 American film which tells the story of Katie Morosky an intense Jewish woman who marries Hubbell Gardner a carefree Infamous is a 2006 American Drama film written and directed by Douglas McGrath. Cole Albert Porter (June 9 1891 &ndash October 15 1964 was an American Composer and songwriter from Peru, Indiana. " Down in the Depths (on the Ninetieth Floor " is a song written by Cole Porter, for his 1936 musical Red Hot and Blue, in which it was introduced The Kid from Brooklyn is a 1946 Comedy film starring Danny Kaye and co-starring Virginia Mayo, Vera-Ellen, Steve Cochran, and Sabrina is a 1954 film directed by Billy Wilder, adapted for the screen by Wilder Samuel A BUtterfield 8 is a 1960 MGM Film directed by Daniel Mann, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Laurence Harvey. Valley of the Dolls is the title of a best selling Novel by Jacqueline Susann, published in 1966 A cruise ship or cruise liner is a Passenger ship used for pleasure voyages where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience Highlights The 3006 passenger vessel offers a 21000 square feet state-of-the-art indoor spa (the largest spa ever on a Carnival ship consuming two forward decks Seventh Avenue / Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York Lucius Morris Beebe ( December 9, 1902 – February 4, 1966) was an American Author, Gourmand, Photographer The Lucius Beebe Reader, Charles Clegg and Duncan Emrich (eds. Charles M Clegg Jr (1916 – 1979 was an American author photographer and railroad historian ), New York: Doubleday.  
• Zerbe, Jerome; introduction by Lucius Beebe (1937). Jerome Zerbe ( July 24, 1904 – August 19, 1988) was one of the originators of a genre of Photography that is now utterly common Lucius Morris Beebe ( December 9, 1902 – February 4, 1966) was an American Author, Gourmand, Photographer John Perona's El Morocco Family Album. New York: privately published.  
• Zerbe, Jerome; introduction by Lucius Beebe (1934). Jerome Zerbe ( July 24, 1904 – August 19, 1988) was one of the originators of a genre of Photography that is now utterly common Lucius Morris Beebe ( December 9, 1902 – February 4, 1966) was an American Author, Gourmand, Photographer People on Parade. New York: D. Kemp.  

External links

• "Ghosts of El Morocco", Laura Shaine Cunningham, The New York Times, September 4, 2004
• Angelo Zuccotti, 89, Artist of the Velvet Rope, Thomas, Robert, Jr. , The New York times, August 12, 1998
• Nights on the Town, Taki Theodoracopulos, National Review, December 13, 1993
• Photos of El Morocco
• Photos of El Morocco
• http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/2007/10/friday-night-fever-el-morocco.html
• Video of El Morocco and John Verona

Taki Theodoracopulos (Τάκης Θεοδωρακόπουλος born August 11 1937) originally named Petros (Peter Theodoracopulos but better known as Taki National Review ( NR) is a biweekly Magazine and Web site, founded by the late author William F

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