BijouBlog
Finding Love on a Dance Floor?
Hi folks! Will here. As I closed up my recollections on my time spent in South Beach, I needed to add some info on why I was "driven" to make this move back to N.Y.
Number one, I had no success at finding decent or lasting employment in any of the areas where I was qualified. Although I was not broke, I had the foresight to see that continuing on a "wishful thinking" path would eventually land me in a dangerous spot. My last few weeks in South Beach were spent at a friend's apartment - sleeping on his living room couch and living out of my suitcase. I appreciated his generosity and we remained friends long after my departure from Florida. This was almost a duplicate of the situation I faced just before I left N.J. - sleeping on a Ffriend's couch before the big move to South Beach. I was 44 and felt unhappy with what my life had become. The cold chill of reality told me that I needed to give up on any pipe dream of making South Beach work.
I had remained in touch with friends and family while in South Beach. One person in particular, my sister-in-law, knowing my dilemma, offered me "a couch" until I could find my bearings. That was a life saver. In mid-March I called her and took her up on her offer. I don't even know if my brother (her then husband) was even in on her offer. By the end of that month, I had squeezed as much of my life and belongings back into that tiny Toyota MR-2 and headed up I-95 to their Bay Ridge, Brooklyn home.
I was able to get almost everything back in that car except one suitcase full of photographs. The suitcase itself was a memoir - it was my Eastern Airlines flight attendant suitcase. I was depressed and bitter at the time of leaving Florida and consigned the suitcase and its photos to the garbage heap of a life that I was trying to leave and hopefully recreate. So many times I lamented over that decision. Those photos encapsulated many wonderful years and times that were irreplaceable. Hindsight is so 20-20! Enough of my maudlin moaning!
The trip back to New York was forgettable. I don't even remember if I stopped for a break at a motel. As I crossed into the familiar territories of northern New Jersey and finally into New York, my mood lifted dramatically ... thank God. My two "friends," the original twin towers of the World Trade Center, were there to greet me as I arrived in N.Y. By then, my mood was soaring.
I arrived in Brooklyn and found my way to my brother and sister-in-law's flat by late Thursday afternoon, March 30th. I was warmly greeted by them and my lovely young niece upon arrival. We had a nice dinner and then I crashed. I was emotionally and physically spent! After a great night's sleep and a day of recovery, I started thinking about the weekend, New York and The Roxie! In my last years in N.J., before my trek to South Beach, I spent almost every Saturday night at that iconic dance club at 10th Ave. and 18th St. in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan's lower West Side. I wanted to celebrate being back in The Big Apple and could think of no better way!
Once inside, I was overwhelmed by all six thousand square feet of this epic club. Between the sound system, lights, all of the beautiful people and of course the wonderful drag queens, I was home again. I went to a section of the floor where I used to hang out ... not too far from the entrance and the main bar. I ordered a Cape Cod to get started and then wandered all over the joint! The thundering music was new and fabulous - just like it had always had been! Without a dance partner (as of yet), I inched my way onto the dance floor and let the rhythm and lights take me away. I was never averse to dancing alone.
On a side note. In preparing for this episode of the blog, I did some research on The Roxie ... its history and the impact it had on the many cultures that graced its floor. Keeping it to a minimum, here are some basics. The club opened on December 5, 1979 as a "roller disco." This was at the height of this form of entertainment. That opening night was attended by the likes of Mick Jagger, Diana Ross and Dustin Hoffman, to name a few celebs. Other regular attendees who regularly performed there were Madonna, Cher, Bette Midler and Beyoncé. This place was an icon of entertainment.
Things were not always smooth sailing for the club, however. Over the years it transitioned from the roller disco of the late 70s, to the hip hop of the 80s. Violent clashes on the floor and even gunfire in and around the club forced its closing by the late 80s. But, in 1991, under the new ownership of John Blair, the club went through a huge $1.3 million renovation centering on internal architectural restructuring and a maple hardwood dance floor! With the stewardship of Mr. Blair and his "Chelsea Boys, " the next 15 years brought the club fame and notoriety.
Myself, I was drawn to the club primarily by the music. You could always count on the fabulous music of DJs like Frankie Knuckles, Junior Vasquez and Victor Calderone - just to name a few luminaries! The sound system was legendary, too. To my knowledge, I believe it was a Richard Long system. Studio 54 and Paradise Garage were two other of his achievements. All of that aside, the club had a very welcoming feeling. Whether you were alone or with a group, the whole monstrous dance floor and its revelers felt like one big private party!
I remember a popular song from the late 80s - "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life!" I have to take that and put a spin on it: "Last Night a Club Saved My Life." Let me explain. On or about 4am, with the entire 6,000 square feet of the club in full swing, and me out there on the dance floor (solo), a most beautiful and exotic man danced his way right in front of me me and took away my solo dancing status! Very handsome and reminding me of Yul Brynner (from The King and I), I was taken not only by his looks and great dancing, but by the aura around him. I knew within an instant that he was very special. I couldn't tell just how ... but, I knew that my life had changed. I know this must seem corny and melodramatic, but, we are still together 31 years later!
We danced together till dawn. I wanted to be with him. But, he asked if we could get together at a later date. I tried being forceful and persuasive ... to no avail. I got his number and thanked him for a wonderful night. Not "getting together" that night put this whole encounter on another level. After my persisting with a few calls and conversations, we had our first date. The night of that date was both mesmerizing and scorching! Soon, I was renting an apartment about a block away from his ... that is, until I was welcomed into his home permanently!
So, thank you Roxie ... you magical place! So many dance songs have lyrics about people meeting and falling in love on a dance floor. I am living proof! Please stay tuned ... as the next 31 years are pretty special, too!
Bio of Will Seagers:
Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.
You can read Will Seagers' previous blogs for Bijou here:
Welcome Matt/Will | What's For Dessert? | On and Off the Set of L.A. Tool & Die | Wanted, Weekend Lockup and Weekends in Hermosa Beach | Honeymoon in the Palms | Birds of a Feather | The Stereo Maven of Castro Street | The Pass Around Boy | The Ecstasy and the Agony | Fitness and Fantasy | Chasing the Boys and Chasing the Sun | Becoming Invisible | The Reverse Story of Dorian Gray | Pin Money | One Organ Leads to Another! | The Wheels of Steel | Feast and Famine | An Alphabet Soup of Powders and Pills | Merry Christmas (and Getting Re-Organized) | Now and Then | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: The Badlands | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: Moby Dick Bar | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: "Just Another Stroll Down the Castro!" | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Hamburger Mary's | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Long Live the Stud! | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Club Life..."Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!” | A "Split Ticket": SoMa/Folsom and The Haight! | Staying Vanilla in a Flavorful Culture | A Little Secret | Recollections of the 1977 S.F. Gay Pride Parade | Life's a Beach | Flora & Fauna | Once Is Just Not Enough! | A Love of Cultures – A Knack for Languages! | For the Birds | It's About Time! | The Perfect Storm | Hello Chicago/Adieu Fire Island Pines! | Sex in the Woods! | My Life at the Gym | The Last Picture Show | Cumming Attractions! | The Peter Pan Syndrome | Valentine's Day Reflections | The “Idus Martias” and a Peacock! | Taxing I.M.H.O. | Nope...This Sure Ain't Kansas! | The French Connection | Water Baby | Pride: You Wear It Well! | Life Goes On... | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 1 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 2 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 3 | A Christmas Haiku | It's My Party & I'll BLOG If I Want To! | "Werk!" | Heart Throbs from the Past! | Traveling the Arc | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 1 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 2 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 3 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 4 | "Brick Wall" | A Gap! | Life in South Beach | Club Memories of South Beach | Homage to the Stars & Studios of My Era
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