Michele Saunders. All photography © Tina Paul, 1987. All rights reserved.
Keith Haring, LA2, and Lysa Cooper. All photographs from the closing party of Paradise Garage. New York, September 26, 1987. All photography © Tina Paul, 1987. All rights reserved.
From 1977 to 1987, Paradise Garage reigned supreme over New York’s downtown nightclub scene. Located at 84 King Street, the Garage was home base for resident DJ Larry Levan (1954-1992), whose signature style of dance music became the definitive sound of New York—popularized by West End Records founder Mel Cheren (1933-2007), who financially backed the club.
.
Over a customized sound system designed by Richard Long, Levan would weave spellbinding tapestries of house, disco, rock, and pop tracks that kept revelers coming back for more. The Garage regularly hosted live performances by the hottest artists of the era, featuring everyone from Grace Jones to Whitney Houston, Sylvester to Divine, Klaus Nomi to New Order, Gwen Guthrie to The Clash.
.
Modeled on David Mancuso’s legendary invitation-only parties at The Loft, where no liquor was served, the Garage was a members-only club that curated its attendees as carefully as Levan selected his records. The three decades after the club closed, it remains an icon of New York’s nightlife hey-day, living on as the annual Paradise Garage Reunion, to be held this August 30 and 31 at Elsewhere in Brooklyn. In advance of the festivities, Garage members Michele Saunders and Tina Paul look back at the last weekend at the legendary club.
.
Read the Full Story at Document Journal
.
Walter, Gilbert, and Henry on the roof deck. All photography © Tina Paul, 1987. All rights reserved.
Garage Kids. Daryl, Richie Mercado, Leslie Macayza, Judi MeMuro, Duglas Coleman, and John Howard. All photography © Tina Paul, 1987. All rights reserved.