El Morocco: Difference between revisions

| caption = PhotoEl taken at the clubMorocco in 1965

| location = [[Manhattan]], New York City, U.S.

'''El Morocco''', (sometimes nicknamed '''Elmo''' or '''Elmer)''', was a 20th-century [[nightclub]] in the [[Manhattan]] borough of [[nightclubNew York City]]. It was frequented by the rich and famous from the 1930s until the decline of [[café society]] in the late 1950s. It was famousknown for its blue [[zebra]]-stripe motif, (designed by Vernon MacFarlane), and its official photographer, [[Jerome Zerbe]].

In 1931, John Perona (born Enrione Giovanni Perona in [[Chiaverano]] in the [[Province of Turin]], [[Italy]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldandsold.com/articles06/new-york-city-75.shtml |title=New York City -– Cafe Society Oror Up Fromfrom Thethe Speakeasies |publisher=Oldandsold.com |accessdateaccess-date=2011-12-29}}</ref> an Italian immigrant, with [[Martín de Álzaga (racing driver)|Martín de Alzaga]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://es.geocities.com/alzaga203/gorbato.htm |title=Macoco, ELEl PLAYBOYPlayboy DELDel SIGLOSiglo |trans-title=Macoco, The Playboy of the Century |last=Gorbato |first=Viviana |date=2009-10-26 |accessdatelanguage=es |access-date=2011-12-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026185502/http://es.geocities.com/alzaga203/gorbato.htm |archivedatearchive-date=October 26, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pilotosmuertos.es/comunicados/oc_no_di_2007/alzaga.html |title=Martín de beste bron van informatie over pilotos muertos. Deze website is te koop!Álzaga |publisher=pilotosmuertos.es |accessdatelanguage=es |access-date=2011-12-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/2011072700013620080202121841/http://www.pilotosmuertos.es/comunicados/oc_no_di_2007/alzaga.html |archivedatearchive-date=20112008-0702-2702 }}</ref> opened El Morocco as a [[speakeasy]] at 154 East [[54th Street (Manhattan)|54th Street]], on the south side of 54th Street in the middle of the block between [[Lexington Avenue]] and [[Third Avenue]], where the [[Citigroup Center]] now stands.

After [[prohibition]] was repealed, it became one of the most popular establishments in [[New York, New York|New York City]]. Its regular clientele consisted of fashionable society, politicians, and entertainers. [[Lucille Ball]] and [[Desi Arnaz]] had their wedding reception here. 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. Everyone always knew where the celebrities had been from the background zebra stripes on the banquettes where the celebrities had been.

The neighborhood started changing after [[World War II]]. Eventually, and eventually Perona moved El Morocco to a four-story townhouse at 307 East 54th Street, on the north side of the street near the corner of [[Second Avenue (Manhattan)|Second Avenue]], in 1960.

Perona died in 1961, and his son, Edwin took over the proprietorship. Later that year, Edwin Perona sold the club to John Mills, who owned it for three years.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,830962,00.html?iid=chix-sphere | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203103328/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,830962,00.html?iid=chix-sphere | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 3, 2009 | work=Time | title=Nightclubs: In Old Morocco | date=December 25, 1964 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref> It was then owned by Maurice Uchitel (1964&ndash;70) and Sheldon Hazeltine.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v20/ai_4240554 | work=Nation's Restaurant News | title=Hazeltine acquires N.Y.'s El Morocco; targets October reopening | first=Joe | last=Edwards | year=1986}}</ref> Before taking over El Morocco, Uchitel owned the [[Eden Roc (hotel)|Eden Roc Hotel]] in Miami Beach for several years.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/07/nyregion/maurice-uchitel-88-owner-of-el-morocco.html | work=The New York Times | title=Maurice Uchitel, 88, Owner of El Morocco | date=May 7, 2000 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref> In 1981, the Second Avenue wing operated briefly as a steakhouse.<ref>{{cite news| title=East Side steak and side dishes of Japan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/20/arts/restaurants-by-mimi-sheraton-east-side-steak-and-side-dishes-of-japan.html |first=Mimi|last=Sheraton | newspaper=The New York Times |date=20 March 1981 |accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/29/nyregion/21-and-el-morocco-2-legends-reopen.html | work=The New York Times | title='21' And El Morocco: 2 Legends Reopen | first=Frank J. | last=Prial | date=April 29, 1987 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref> In 1992, it operated as a [[topless bar]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/27/style/el-morocco-famous-sup-n-sip-is-a-strip.html | work=The New York Times | title=El Morocco: Famous Sup 'n' Sip Is a Strip | date=September 27, 1992 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref> In 1997, Desmond Wootton bought the property and opened the Night Owls nightclub. The site is now occupied by the Milan Condominium.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040613174028/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=191980 The Milan Condominium, New York City<!-- Bot generated title -->]}}</ref>

* A fictionalized version of the club featuring distinctive zebra -striped banquettes is featured in the Woody Allen movie ''[[Café Society (2016 film)|Cafe Society]]'' (2016). The club is referenced by name in Woody Allen's movie ''[[Radio Days]]'' (1987).

* John Perona, billed as the club's "owner and operator,", appeared as a mystery guest on the television show ''[[What's My Line]]'' on April 6, 1958. The particular panel included, along with three regular panelists, [[Orson Welles]]. Perona himself was so well known that the panelists were blindfolded and he disguised his voice, following the show's custom with readily identifiable guests.

*[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nights+on+the+town.-a014752854 Nights on the Town]{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [[Taki Theodoracopulos]], ''[[National Review]]'', December 13, 1993