In the early and mid-1980’s there was a club where the femme queens used to go named The Greenwich Pub. It was located on 8th Avenue just below 14th Street - basically a block from the infamous Meatpacking District. The photographer Katsu Naito published a B&W zine in 2018 entitled, West Side Rendezvous of photos from the early 90’s documenting the streetwalking scene over there when the area really was a meatpacking district .. some of the sidewalks perpetually slick with the congealed fat of the hanging carcasses. This was before the gentrification that ultimately swept through the area.
The Greenwich Pub was where the pre- and post-op transsexuals used to hang .. they had drag shows and go-go boys. I took some pictures there. Chico Starr and the Amazing Electrifying Grace were emcee’s for the shows. I knew them from The Anvil which had been three blocks down 14th Street on the river. In fact, Chico was a friend from the days he was spinning records at The Anvil in the 70’s. Grace did shows there too .. Grace Jones, Tina Turner...
I met Dorian Corey for the first time ever at The Greenwich Pub .. was sitting at a table one night probably ‘85 or ’86 minding my own business when I hear a voice, “Would you mind if we sit here?” I look up that was the first time I ever laid eyes on her. She was with two other people. She introduced herself and her two friends .. Paris Dupree and Crystal Allen.
So that’s how it started...
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