1470 West
Earlier this week, I saw a comment from Her Bad Mother in which she said: “It’s been a very long time since I’ve encountered another human being who listened to Skinny Puppy.”
Have no fear, HBM. The freaks are STILL out.
Yes, in addition to being an Honors/AP student and a Hockey Honey and a proud-but-mediocre member of the drill team, I was also “an alternative”, as my father said.
Alternative, punk rock, progressive, new wave, goth - potayto, potahto. Not much has changed over the years, except that the wardrobe is more easily obtained than it once was. Kids these days have it so easy.
Given that my knowledge of new music (and by new, I mean indie or underground, not Top 40) essentially stagnated in the early 1990s, I honestly don’t know whether today’s goth culture has the same obsession with indie music that my friends and I did. While it’s obvious that I’m still (embarrassingly) well-versed in Top 40 tunes of the 1980s, the music that I bought (or taped from friends’ tapes and CDs - piracy alert!) was most often as far from the Top 40 as you could get, at least in the midwest.
Where did I hear this music? At clubs. Or in skaters’ basements.
Don’t get the wrong idea. There weren’t any REAL clubs in Dayton OH - not by big city standards at least. There were establishments with dance floors and big speakers that advertised “Alternative Nights” for the 18-and-under crowd where we would gather. Better than being mall rats, I suppose.
But once we hit senior year, we could go to “Alternative Night” on Thursdays at the local gay club, 1470 West. This was the Big Time.
1470 West was the address of the club. I’m not sure of its history, but it was well known as a bar and dance club that catered to the GLBT community. And if you don’t already know, the GLBT community can par-tay. In fact, when I first told my father that I planned to go to Alternative Night at 1470, his only comment was: “I hear that it has the best sound system in town.”
(Dad, you are so cool.)
I went and I loved it. I started going every Thursday night for the rest of the year and through the summer. They played music that I recognized - like “3am Eternal” by KLF and “Strangelove” by Depeche Mode - and music that I didn’t recognize but soon began to covet - like “This Corrosion” by Sisters of Mercy and “The Bog” by Bigod 20.
They also had a gigantic video screen, and one of the videos they played was “Worlock” by Skinny Puppy. The video contains samples from dozens of horror films and is extremely gruesome. The part of the video that I remember best is the shot of the elevator buttons as it descends. I suppose it’s a testament to my sanity that I don’t remember all the gore instead.
The cover was minimal ($3), and the over-21 clubgoers were distinguished from the under-21 crowd by bracelets. But I think I only ever drank at 1470 once. I wasn’t there to drink; I was there to dance. Even waiting in line to pay my cover charge, I could hear the music from inside and was impatient to get in there and on the dance floor.
We went all summer long and on breaks from school. Thanksgiving nights were spent at 1470. I even went by myself sometimes. I knew that there would always be someone I knew. 1470 on Thursday nights was my version of Cheers.
But the crowd there began to change. As grunge became popular and bands like Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails gained wider appeal, students from the local universities (who were mostly rubbernecking) began to infiltrate. We started to see it in the summer of 1992, and I remember witnessing a few fights in the parking lot, instigated by frat boys mouthing off.
As much as my friends and I resented the change, I’m sure the GLBT clubgoers resented it even more. Gawking at mohawks is expected - I mean, everyone wonders how you get your hair to DO that?! - but 1470 was a gay club where people went to be among friends, not to be a curiosity.
I went back to 1470 for the last time in 1993 with a fellow AFROTC cadet. He knew more people there than I did. It was terribly depressing to see the place overrun with frat boys and former mall rats.
I understand that the original location has closed, and a new location (with the same name) has opened downtown. Another club - The Asylum - also opened downtown in the mid-1990s. Kyle and I went there once when we first started dating, and even though it was wall-to-wall goth, it wasn’t the same.
The best part about 1470 was the crowd. I met people from all over the local area - some of whom I knew from school, some from other dance clubs, some from my summer job at a local bookstore. People were friendly, contrary to the aloof nature of the punk rock image. They shared cigarettes and cups of ice water. We could leave our coats on chairs and not think about them again until the end of the night. We were among friends.
Technorati tags: music, clubs, 1470, Dayton, goth, alternative
June 7th, 2006 at 8:22 am
Wow. You and I would have been good friends back then, I think. Bigod 20. Their cover of Like A Prayer? I haven’t thought of that in years!
Front242…Skinny Puppy…KMFDM…Front Line Assembly…
What great memories of dancing all night in a crowded bar that was filled a little too much with the preppies and occasional cowboy who we all taunted because it was OUR club. Our club (Ikon) did the same thing - shut down (because of too much drug use! oops!) and reopened…a lot of the same people, but not the same place at all.
Great post. Thanks for the memories.
June 7th, 2006 at 9:38 am
I never liked Skinny Puppy, but my best friend turned me on to KMFDM and I love ‘em.
I had a bar that was my version of your 1470 West. It’s a yuppie restaurant now. Makes me sad when I drive by it.
June 7th, 2006 at 10:17 am
Ha ha ha. KMFDM. Those were the days.
My one-time roommate and best male friend had a Skinny Puppy tattoo on his hip. I’m not sure it’s still there. He’s now the European Reporter on Bloomberg Business News. Ah, how things change.
June 7th, 2006 at 10:29 am
Ah, the memories! I’ll have to post my own gothy memoirs sometime.
BTW, it was Mrs. Fortune’s Mixology post…
June 7th, 2006 at 11:36 am
I just love your dad’s comment. My parents would’ve freaked if I wanted to go to any kind of nightclub. If they’d thought about it, they might’ve realized that a gay club would probably be an excellent destination for a teen girl!
June 7th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
This takes me back to my Siouxshie and the Banshees/Ministry days. I was never brave enough to go to punk clubs though. Good for you.
June 7th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
You know, I had some of those bars too - and we went back and , it was just never the same. Never as …secret and ours.
June 7th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
I never had any of those places. I always had my face in a book. Had few friends and the ones I did have were just like me. I think maybe you had more fun. You also had a cooler dad. Way cooler.
June 7th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Hi, Skinny Puppy, yadda, yadda.
Sorry. I’ve been in internet hell for a couple of days but I have emerged with a new Wordpress location for Fire on the Poop Deck. So I’m letting folks know about it and I will return to actually reading my favorite blogs, like yours, tomorrow.
My new location: http://www.wendyboucher.com/blog
June 7th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
This was a great post! They recently razed a few of the bars that were hot spots “in my day.” My husband’s band used to play at one of them…*sigh*
I also loved the “alternative.” LOL
June 7th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
mmm. My 1470 was called The City Nightclub. Stupid name, awesome joint. Although my intentions were multi-faceted, unlike yours; I drank and smoked and inhaled prior to entry. I only went there a few times, though, because my friends always wanted to go to the Qwest, which was sorta more mainstream, less gay/goth friendly, but still alright. It got trendier as the years went by. And the City (which, btw, made it into some background shots in Gus van Sant’s film My Own Private Idaho) went under many years ago. It was sad, I guess. I just found adult versions of those places to hang out, so it wasn’t that big a deal. *shrug*
The music - KLF. That’s hilarious. And of course, Skinny Puppy and Ministry and … *you* know.
June 7th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
okay, would you believe me if i told you i danced for skinny puppy at their show here in my town when i was 16. and then traveled to chicago to see them again when i was 17 and danced for them there at cabaret metro. i had a thing for kevin (not ogre), and a friend of mine seriously dated duane for a couple of years.
years later, kevin (ogre) came through town touring with ministry and the whole band wound up back at our apartment. we listened to patsy cline in the bus.
i was never a groupie. these were the only guys i ever had anything to do with. and it wasn’t much. but it was fun.
there was no sex. no kissing. just hanging out.
June 8th, 2006 at 5:00 am
I never listened to alternative music growing up but your description of that club sounds like someplace I’d want to hang out! Any place where you don’t have to worry about your coat being stolen sounds like a good time to me!
June 8th, 2006 at 6:31 am
I was gothy back in the early 90’s in rural west Texas. Never got to many concerts but I was invited to a number of fabulous illegal “roving raves”. Do they still have those?
I used to make my own outfits from thrift store finds (back before it was cool to go “vintage”) and I’m still pretty proud of a few of those collections although my mom would always snarkily point out that girls who like to pet their shedding, fluffy white cats shouldn’t wear black.
She was probably right.
June 8th, 2006 at 7:15 am
Several years ago I went dancing at 1470. It was a goth night, and it was a lot of fun. The downstairs part of the club was more country, so we stayed upstairs with the goth folks.
June 8th, 2006 at 7:32 am
The closest I got to cool clubs was the 40 Watt in Athens,GA during the REM years. I saw Michael Stipe sitting on a bench once. My REM groupie roommate wouldn’t let us look in his direction because the band members didn’t like attention. Yeah, OK maybe they shouldn’t have made records that hit the top forty.
June 8th, 2006 at 7:49 am
Christina - I think we’re talking about a different 1470. This one was all on one floor (in a strip mall, believe it or not), and I don’t think there was ANY country music in the DJ booth (unless you count Revolting Cocks’ “Beers, Steers and Queers”.
Cameo - That is wild. Her Bad Mother has some personal connections to Skinny Puppy too.
June 8th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
MGM, omigod. I almost noted that song as one of the more memorable ones before I finished that post, but I couldn’t recall the band’s name. RevCo. Dur.
It’s all coming back to me now. I’m *loving* this topic! Thanks for writing your story about it - I didn’t mention how much fun it was to read it.
Cameo - dude. Skinny Puppy is your band experience? I’m not worthy.
June 8th, 2006 at 12:35 pm
Skinny Puppy, Sisters of Mercy… it’s all coming back to me now…
July 13th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
I loved 1470 West! I was there every thursday night for Alternative Night. What great music! Songs like “Worlock”, “Kooler Than Jesus”, “I Sit on Acid” kept me on the dancefloor all night long. (Anyone remember the song “Finger Foc”… who sang that one?). It was a perfect place to go until grunge/alternative got big & then all of the Joe Quarterback’s & Susy Promqueen’s took all over. Ruined it some. I loved the crowd that was there. Met some of the best people. What great times!
September 14th, 2006 at 11:34 am
Chris, as the former DJ at 1470 West (Dorothy Lane) the Artist of finger foc was Friends of Carlotta. Now, go download it!
February 10th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Great post…I’m now left wondering if I know you! I, too, spent many a night at 1470’s in the 90’s. My uncle was the manager there for many years. The last time I was there was to visit him at the downtown location, shortly before it closed for good. But to me, the downtown location just wasn’t the same, anyway. The “real” 14’s will always be, to me, the Kettering location. It was there that my best friend and I would while away the hours, dancing to Dwayne’s DJ’ing. It was there that the DJ dedicated the evening to my mother…on the day she was buried. I will always have fond memories of 1470. Thanks so much for the post, and the trip down memory lane…
February 13th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Yeah… i remember 1470… i was a bouncer actually… and i recall all the people who came in and out of that place… more than anything… i think that it’s the one job/place I’ll miss… I loved that place… I wasn’t one of the “freaks”… but i found myself there… i grew in that place… and I’ll miss every moment i had there…
Much love to Ralph and Jerry… i miss you guys
-Out!-
-Colby
March 11th, 2007 at 11:45 am
was a bartender @ 1470 (both locations). thanks for reminding me of the fun
March 11th, 2007 at 11:47 am
name is Les
March 19th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Yea, Lords of Acid: Rough Sex.
I was a regular at 1470’s class of 1992. I got this body there for FREE: Some young kids tripping their balls off. Man, that Rat Posion really fucks little miceys up. I mean felching is really a Mommy and Daddy thing isn’t it. Well, I have progressed from the days of underground hardcore homoeroticism. These days I hibernate in San Fran where it is NOT OK to be Gay: we are talking STONEWALL up to the nither heights of heaven! What a turn around. I have encountered more hatred and discrimination in San Francisco (Bay Area) than I did in Dayton/Cincinnati: they think caution is politically correct; alas gaiety is quite elusive and only by throwing caution into the wind will you ever succeed at anything. GOD IS A FAGGOT. Kudos to OHIO for keeping Queer cool. If you think California is any better your are DEAD WRONG. Plus it is a royal rip-off and a pain the ass.
Favorite Songs: Worlock, White Rabbit, Increase My Bust, Rough Sex, anything by Erasure & and of course LAST CALL: Phantom of the Opera.
Yours Truley
Dracula Nosferatu
April 8th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
I loved the old 1470 (Dorothy Lane) and went from around ‘95 to ‘98 and it was just awesome. I think half the club music I’ve sought in past years, came from hearing songs played up at 1470 West. I cant remember his name, but he was tall with short hair and a DJ I believe, but he would come down from the DJ booth whenever his song “Ride On Time” by Blackbox would come on, and this guy would tear that fucking dance floor up!! People would move out of his way. Needless to say, I now have every song staple 1470 ever played regularly for everyone! And it was just fun times. I miss em. I sometimes wonder what happened to all the 1470 crew. The dancers Jareeah* and Ashley West with her spins omg. The cocktail server Justin in his makeup and black vinyl pants, around ‘97. Fun times. Great times. I dont think I’ll ever find another club to go to around here, quite like it. But I guess we have our memories. And I was fortunate to be there the very last weekend it was closing at Dorothy Lane. It was something else!
July 30th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Wow, so many cool comments about music back then. I was a DJ at 1470 West from 85-89 (along with Dwayne) and just posted my first of many blogs to come about the music back then. You can check it out at http://www.maxmusings.blogspot.com. Back then, I was Scott or DJ Brat and am now DJing on Bangkok, Thailand and still throw in some favorites from “back in the day.”
Keep the 1470 spirit alive!
PS> Les, if you read this, email me at DJMaxxx808@yahoo.com
July 30th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
By the way, a friend, Bill Trent, and I are putting together a “fans’ memories” type coffeetable book about 1470 (only the original Kettering location) so if you have memories and pictures you would like to share with us, contact me at DJMaxxx808@yahoo.com. Thanks!
November 5th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I used to go to 1470 West all the time, best nightclub in Dayton.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
wow…I found more people that used to go into the old 1470 west. I went there when i was 18 to 23 or so back in 85 and remember the one mgr named Mary and her brother Jack. I used to sit with Jack every night and he would buy me drinks all night. I missed that place so much . I had heard at one time they opened a small 1470 west up in Dunedin florida but its now closed as well…..I wish someone would open a club up like that again playing all the old stuff….I moved away from Dayton and now residing in Nasvhille tn. thanks for the memories
January 29th, 2008 at 7:49 am
I grew up in 1470 Dorothy Lane location. In the 80’s you could drink hard liquor at 18 yrs. i was in the ‘grandfather clause’ that said if you were 19 you still could drink liquor. it didn’t matter anyhow, 1470 was easy to get into with fake i.d.’s and the drinks were STRONG! They did not skimp at all! i remember having my first screaming orgasm there (a drink)! I’m a lesbian so was with the other ladies at the pool table ha ha! oh and dancing on their huge floor — the energy was always intense! There were lots of perms, booze, dancing, loving. The DJ’s were wonderful and doing things no one else was doing. You could not sit still there. Everyone danced. There was drag queen night which was so fun! I remember my straight friend knew one of the male strippers so we had to go that night! I never had a bad time there! Not ever! I also went skinny dipping at the Christopher Club behind 1470. Did a flip off the low board! oh the memories my child shall never know! oh the not-so-clear memories…waking up in middletown once??? Sorry, the ’80’s were very wild! When friend was pulled over with all of us drinking, damn cop made us pour out the beer! Such strict penalties! Also, anyone remember the Pony Keg? Would sell beer to anyone over the age of 10 practically. 3.2, but we just drank more of it! Thanks for the fun memories! I’m so glad to be alive today. We lost many great friends to the Aids epidemic may they rest in peace. Shouting out with much love,
auntiebea
March 17th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Found that a lot of the old 1470’s regulars hang out at Aquarius now (where el diablo’s used to be, on 2nd and St. Clair)… especially on Thursdays and Saturdays… check it out!
-Colby
June 19th, 2008 at 11:30 am
May god you guys scare me. I don’t know what made me look this up, but it’s odd I all these memories came running back. I worked there as a waiter and bar back at the main bar (Kevin and Dee were my bartenders). But had to leave for Cali… As much as I miss that place (and Tom believe it or not) I love living out here by LA more.
May the spirit of 1470 never die.