New York Nightclub Photo Op
When you visit or live in New York, chances are, you are being photographed pretty frequently without even knowing it. There are hidden cameras everywhere… on street corners, inside restaurants, bars, stores, you name it, you are on someones security screen being watched. There are many nightclubs though, that don’t have cameras, which has hindered some very serious criminal investigations.
Who can forget the horrifying story of 24 year old Imettte St. Guillan, a graduate student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who was found dead in Brooklyn after partying in the Bowery area of New York. She had been out bar hopping with her friends, then, in an intoxicated state, decided to keep bar hopping alone, and went to many places, including”The Falls,” which did not have cameras, but did have an ex-con bouncer who is now indicted in her murder.
Then, there was the murder of 18 year old Jennifer Moore. She was allegedly killed by another ex-con who snatched the wobbly young woman after a night of illegal drinking that started at the Chelsea club Guest House. Again, no cameras to backtrack what happened that night.
The wheels are now in motion to make nightclubs safer here in New York, so that this never happens again. New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly joined by nightclub executives and city officials, have made key recommendations in a 58-point security plan they want all city clubs to adopt, no matter how big the club. The proposal named “The Best Practices” is nightlife guidelines that call for plenty of easily identifiable security personnel inside all nightspots, orders all patrons to pass through scanning equipment, including VIP’s, and their entourages (that means YOU P-Diddy), and has every club keep a list of ousted rowdy patrons at the door, who would be turned away if they tried to return.

We took our Fox cameras over to the world famous “China Club” in New York to see what kind of system they have in place, and what the owners thought of this new proposal, that at this point, is completely voluntary for club managers.
The China Club is one of the bigger clubs that has been in existence for over 23 years in New York. General Manager Tim Gleason, showed us all around the club and was very open about how much security they have there. He said that he doesn’t mind the policy that Kelly has proposed, because it not only helps keep the public safe, but also protects the nightclub establishments too. One of the historic problems for club owners in the city, has been, if they call police to report a problem, they run the risk of getting a summons for having a “disorderly premise,” which can cost a club it’s liquor license. But, if clubs work with police on this new voluntary guideline proposal, a single incident, will *not* result in a ticket. So, essentially, the cops and the clubs are working together here to keep everyone safe.
Now, onto some of the fun stuff. While we were walking around with Tim inside the China Club we went upstairs to look at the cameras on the second level, which is where there is a HUGE wall of black and white photos of all the celebrities that have partied at the club over the years. I had never been here before, so I of course was mesmerized by the photos, and started snapping pictures to show you that I thought were interesting. One that stood out right away for obvious reasons….

I just walked down the hallway of my office to show Geraldo this picture and ask him who it was.
He lit up and smiled having a good memory, and said it was of him and the club owner. He didn’t divulge any details of the night… sorry (i bet they were good too!)

Here’s one of David Lee Roth, singer of Van Halen, and a couple of lovely ladies. As you know, he is currently on tour with the reunited VH… still trying to get those tickets to Madison Square Garden!
Check out actress Marisa Tomei and director Quenin Tarantino cutting a rug! I wonder what they were dancing too?
Here’s one that stopped me in my tracks. Nicole Brown Simpson, looking beautiful and alive with O.J. Simpson and NY Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.Here’s to a safer way of life at New York City Nightclubs… and remember to smile, you are on candid camera!
Tags: cameras, China Club, Geraldo, new york nightclubs, O.J. Simpson
Share This
Love Billy Idol!! White Wedding, yeah!! Looks like you had fun anyway. Glad to see they are installing more cameras in the clubs, help to keep everyone safer.
Man that place has some history! If walls could only speak…….
“…It’s a nice to start again,
It’s a nice day for a white wedding.
..yeah.”
The eighties were soooo cool.
LT and OJ in better days. OJ is looking at some hard time, and LT hasn’t been heard from too much since attorney Cynthia Alksne put him in his place on TV a few years ago regarding a drug-related accusation that LT thought he’d made up a good excuse for. Cynthia peeled him like a banana.
Laura
That is great to know they are going to be doing this !!! Everyone needs to be safe in bar’s. I will remember to smile for the camera’s when in NY city -taylor
I’ve never been to New York but I do have grown kids out in the world. I’m all for reasonable safety precautions but honestly, the burden is not on business owners. It’s on people knowing enough to protect themselves with responsible behavior. Cameras can’t prevent murders, only tell the story afterward.
Loved the pictures! I am torn between thinking all those cameras are a good idea for the safety aspect and feeling like all those science fiction stories I used to read when I was young are now coming true. Don’t they have cameras on every street corner in London?
Interesting story Laura, many women could have been saved by this practice. If not from murder than a rape.
I loved the pix, obviously people having a great time. I thought LT was really sick, eery feeling.
Brings back memories of the few times I made it into Studio 54 back in the ’80’s. That was quite the experience and great people watching when I wasn’t dancing.
That picture of OJ and Nicole made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up — great pics Laura !!
Hey!…Man i just love your blog, keep the cool posts comin..holy Friday