New York’s Night Club Boom

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 11th Year

Issue

Issue No.

7

Date Released

10 Jun 1946

Length of issue (in feet)

1922

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1New York’s Night Club Boom

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: The March of Time takes the audience into a variety of New York’s thousand-odd night clubs, ranging from Bowery favourites to the most exclusive establishments, to show not only the entertainment provided but also what goes on behind the scenes.

Today every club has to conform to rigid fire laws, to strict licensing and police regulations, including the fingerprinting of all employees - a lingering reminder of the reputation the industry acquired in its gangster-ridden prohibition days. But though New York’s night life is now a substantial and decorous branch of show business, says the film, it still remains a highly speculative industry. Because only one new club in ten that opens its doors is apt to last out the first season, it is an investment strictly for those who are willing to gamble on a long chance. To keep a first-class place going takes a big staff - often as many as one employee for every two guests. As club membership is not the "open sesame" to New York’s night clubs, a discerning doorman is stationed to left in the "right people" and brush off any not up to the tone of the establishment, while the social arbiter is the headwaiter, who separates the sheep from the goats. To celebrities and known socialites he assigns the best tables, while good looking, well turned out customers get next consideration, but tipping is by far the safest way of securing a good table. The waiter who knows how to put on a good show can increase his tips considerably and, at the same time, distract attention from the quality of the food which, in many night clubs, is apt to be indifferent at best. But there are some New York night spots which take great pride in their cuisine, among them the "21" Club, where the March of Time cameras go into the kitchen to show the equipment and organisation required to maintain its reputation for excellent fare, while a visit to the wine cellars of "El Morocco" shows the care lavished on the fine wines and liqueurs for which it is famous.

Other places like "The Stork Club" attract their customers by the celebrities who can frequently be seen at their tables, like Ed Wynn, Jinx Falkenburg, Elliott Roosevelt, Faye Emerson and Orson Welles. Big popular-priced places like the "400" draw the young crowd who want bandsmen like Jimmy Dorsey and room to dance, or, for those to whom an evening on Broadway is a gala event, the "Zandibar" gives a supper and full revue with drawing cards like the "Ink Spots" for what they would pay for their pair of theatre tickets.
Ending on a visit to Sammy’s Bowery Follies, where the elite mingle with the "local aristocracy" the March of Time concludes with the observation that U.S. night clubs, from Broadway to Main Street, provide an outlet for the American’s eternal restless need for an occasional escape from the blessings of home sweet home.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.12 No.8 of the US edition.

Keywords

Music and dance; Entertainment and leisure; Food and cooking

Written sources

Monthly Film Bulletin   Vol.13 No.154 31 October 1946, p145.
The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.