I moved to New York City in 1975.
My friend from school, Mavis Greenberg on the subway.
In the lobby of the Ukrainian Home, Second Avenue, 1975 NYC
My photos from 1979 to 1982
Club 57 located at
57 Saint Marks Place NYC, NY 10003
Entry: Ammo by Drew Straub
One of the events I produced at Club 57 was The Lamp Show.
This was created by Kim Skapich. She worked at Cooper Union and assisted the architect John Hejduk.
This was her interpretation of a gooseneck lamp.
Club 57 Ladies Auxiliary hosted a Debutante Ball, 1979
Lori Montana with date. I hung the crêpe paper (purchased at Woolworths), and created a photo booth backdrop. Lori had her hair done at Mr. Steve of 1st Avenue.
Dale Ashmun and Rene Poulet.
I met Peter when I was a student at SVA, we became fast friends and went to movies quite often with other pals. It was Peter who told me about the Monster Movie Club at Club 57.
I would go to the Monster Movie Club, but Peter was not a regular. I managed to get his band, The Fleshtones to play at the Debutante Ball.
Glamor girl on table top.
Christian Hoffman at the DJ booth.
Dream date for the Club 57 Debutante Ball.
MC Drew Straub introduces debutante Ann Magnuson.
Debutante Ball Club 57
Drew Strawb & Deb O'NairDebutante Ball.
Their formal wear matched, peacock blue.
Tish Bellamo, Robin Schazenbach
Summertime, outside of Club 57 within the front gates of the church.
Kitty Brophy, John Sex, Amazon designer Stacey Elkinand AMMO designer Shawn McQuate billed as Shawn Salad
MC Diana Lillig. Spectators include Min Thometz and, seated on the floor, Billy.
August 23, 1980
Spectators include Charlotte Slivka.
August 23, 1980
Model Kitty Brophy, MC Diana Lillig.
I may have better photos from this night. Still scanning my collection.
August 23, 1980
Model Lisa Baumgardener, MC Diana Lillig
August 23, 1980
Model John Sex, MC Diana Lillig
August 23, 1980
Model Kitty Brophy, in dress by Sean AMMO
August 23, 1980
I know I have a better photo of this outfit, still digging in the Archives.
I know I have a better version of this outfit. Ann Magnuson models a dress by Stacey Joy Elkin
August 23, 1980
©April Palmieri
Wedding dress modeled by Lisa Baumgardener
August 23, 1980
©April Palmieri
Wedding dress modeled by Lisa Baumgardener
August 23, 1980
©April Palmieri
John Sex with Aqua Net, Club 57 ladies room. Aquanet.
Henry at the door of 57 Saint Marks Place.
Peter Kwaloff in costume for PS 57
Jonathan Quinn in the production of PS 57
Frank Holiday and I think it's William Fleet Lively
Simone & Deb O'Nair, the re is a package for Dany & Ande on the shelf behind them.
Chris and Nancy worked with me at a clothing company, he was a salesman, she is a designer. Chris also DJ'd retro 50s events at Carmelita's Reception House on 14th Street.
Dany at the DJ booth.
Charlotte Slivka, met her at the Ladies Auxiliary and she was also in Pulsallama.
Susan Hannaford at the door.
Wendy Wild on the far right, channeling Dolly Parton. Katy K in the center.
Photographer, unknown, I have the slide.
Jonathan Quinn, Jon Weiss, April Palmieri & Marek Pakulski
Bill Landis MC, April and Diana Lillig wrestlers, Marek my "manager" in the turban.
Photographer, unknown, I have the slide.
Diana Lillig 1980
The most lovely Bellamo sisters of the band Sick F*cks & creators of the legendary Manic Panic shop, hair color and makeup line. Club 57 Debutante Ball.
This is a collection of images including Club 57 members in locations other than the club itself, and some after the club ceased to be.
These are photos I took, and some taken of me with my camera.
I started with a Minolta SLR, then I got a Nikon point and shoot later in the 80s, the same model that Warhol used. The flash would not always fire properly on the Minolta, getting a good shot at night was rare, and it was large enough to discourage schelpping it around in any situation.
I have since discarded my old cameras because I carried them around and used them until they wore out, or broke. The Nikon died from using rechargeable NiCad batteries rather than Alkaline. Actually I did that twice, a second camera also overheated one too many times from NiCad batteries. Live and learn.
John Sex and the Bodacious Ta Ta's on the road in Miami.
This photo was taken with my camera by Wilfredo Vela who traveled with us on this occasion. We were in the lobby of our apartment hotel on the way to play at Club Nu, we walked over. I was wearing street shoes, my silver platforms were in my bag, so i kicked off my shoes for this pose.
I worked in the Empire State Building near Keith's apartment that was located on 6th Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets. I would see him around the area. The time period was about 1980. I don't know the name of his companion.
Lori, Min, Wendy, Kim backstage. On a tour with The Clash August 23, 1982, location, Cape Cod Coliseum, Hyannis, South Yarmouth Massachusetts. US – Aug 23, 1982.
Photographed the boardwalk at Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY.
I used to go to Rockaway at the Beach 44th Street A train stop, every summer with my art school friends from SVA and Cooper Union, the leader of this pack was Kim Schapich from Chicago, she just loved the ocean.
At that time, Rockaway desolate abandoned area, the beach version of the East Village. The reason this was a choice location was that you could barbecue and bring dogs, park close to the beach. I even saw some guys steal tires from a car while I watched from the boardwalk. One year, as it got dark out, some police stopped by and suggested we leave before sundown for our own safety. My high school buddy Larry's cousin was a lifeguard at this beach, he attended one of these parties also.
Of course I invited anyone who wanted to go from my Club 57 friends, including Robert.
Gerard Little really was Frankie Lymon's Nephew. He had an act with that name. I performed with him at a few locations including Danceteria. I think this photo was taken in the basement of Danceteria. Gerard was known for making evening gowns out of black plastic trash bags. His tag line was "Pick me up, I'm garbage. Take me out, I'm trash."
I visited his home in Spanish Harlem. He lived in a walk up. He had a lot of his wardrobe visible and a vintage dressing table. I know he worked for NYU. Robert Carrithers has a photo of Gerard at home on Flickr, exactly as I remember it.
This scan is over-sharpend. :-(
I'll have to scan again.
An adorable tableaux vivant with Katy K and John Sex in Fiorucci's Window for Valentine's Day 1982.
As seen at Danceteria, lower level, coat check, dressing rooms, hallway. Where all the cool kids hung out.
We set up a Pulsallama photo shoot at Kathy Cooke's loft on 22nd street. 1981
In the apartment of Deb O'Nair & Rudy Protrudi
Diana Lillig, Deb O'Nair, Rene Poulet, Kitty?
June 1980
Pulsallama played at the legendary Hacienda Club in Manchester, England.
The photo was taken in the dressing room. She cut her finger, I don't remember how, she played the bongos in the band, so this was a problem.
October 1982.
Katy K and John Sex, Valentine's Day, 1982, Fiorucci, NYC.
There was a picnic on 4th of July, everyone met on the steps of Club 57 then went to Fort Tryon Park. I didn't go, I was broke and there were no cash machines in the olden days. I did take a few pictures, this is one. Robert Carrithers& John Sex.
Drew Strawb, unknown, Ann Magnuson, Stacey Elkn, John Sex, AMMO
John lived at 85 Saint Marks Place. He is modeling one of his home embellished outfits for me.
There was a record release party for Pulsallama at Lucky Strike on Stuyvesant Street. Grearar Little and John Sex attended.
Pulsallama record release party at Lucky Strike. 1982.
Kurt Thometz, Min Thometz, Kenny Scharf.
Ann Magnuson was kind enough to model for me at her home.
Photos like this are my way of sketching for an art project like an oil painting. I have a BFA from SVA.
Keith Haring working at PS122 on First Avenue and 9th Street. I lived a block away, at 170 First Avenue.
Daria Deshuk at her studio in PS122
Once again, I brought my Minolta to record a little behind the scenes of a Pulsallama photo shoot with Tesng Kwong Chi. The theme was International. Lori Montana is USA, Ann Magnuson is a Russian peasant, Stacey Joy is a French sophisticate. In the far left in the background, is Diana Lillig wearing a Latin American outfit.
For the record I wore an Italian inspired outfit.
I was invited to model for Soho Weekly News by style editor Ann Magnuson that was photographed at the loft of noted photographer and Club 57 regular Tseng Kwong Chi. I would often bring my own camera just to record my own participation in such events.
I am modeling a hat designed by Stacey Joy Elkin. The other models are Carmel Johnson and Susan Hannaford.
Everyone involved in this Italian themed photo shoot I knew from Club 57. Ann Magnuson may have taken this photo with my Minolta SLR.
April Palmieri & Wendy Wild modeling fashions by designer Katy K at a rockabilly nightclub. I bet Katy remembers the name of the club. In the dressing room.
This is a photo by Julie Scher.
Laura Kenyon and Katy K be hind the scenes at Danceteria.
I suspect this was a Marc Shaiman - Scott Whitman Production. We can verify the event.
I kept a lot of things. Sometimes I wonder why, then I look a little closer. It's all part of our collective story.
Now that everything is digital, I may be part of one of the last generations to have so much paper ephemera. It’s a treasure trove, that I am winnowing down to the essentials.
Photo & flyer by me.
I designed the flyer and produced this event.
The competition was won by artist Peter Dudek.
Here's Mudd in your Eye by Roy Trakin.
Article featuresNIGHTCLUBBING cable tv show produced by Pat ivers and Emily Armstrong and their work at Danceteria. There are Polaroids of Pat Ivers, and Deb O'Nair & Rudi Protrudi illustrating the article.
In Cinema magazine distributed at movie theaters. Volume I issue II
1982, painted commercially produced Christmas card for Pulsallama by April Palmieri. I painted two versions with dayglo paint and color xeroxed the cards. Photo from my camera taken backstage at The Venue, London, by Dick O'Dell of Y records.
A Canadian in Paris lyrics ©Pulsallama
Artwork by Ann Magnuson
Copyright (c) Ann Magnuson
All rights reserved/Used with permission
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Wendy Wild, John Sex & Miss April at the home of Arturo in the Mission District. We performed at Club DV8 on the same bill as Sylvester.
John Sex and Wendy Wild on the beach. We were in town to do a show.
Wendy was always a great model. I had assignment to photograph punk fashion from a postcard company. I like this dramatic car wreck somewhere near Tompkins Square Park, Alphabet City.
Pulsallama played at The Venue in London, 1982.
Wendy poses with Foam Core guitar she created.
Window shopping. Boots. Pulsallama tour, 1982 London
April Palmieri & Wendy Wild modeling fashions by designer Katy K at a rockabilly nightclub. I bet Katy remembers the name of the club.
This is a photo by Julie Scher.
More photos of people I know from Club 57 in other locations like The Mudd Club, The Pyramid Club, Palladium, Danceteria, Limelight, Area, The Cat Club, and more.
May 1989, Tom Rubnitz' birthday party.
I made a paintong of John from a photo I took, acrylic on canvas. The location is Saint Marks Place. He lived on the block, 85 St Marks Place, but this is not his building.
John Sex & the Bodacious Ta Tas performed at Keith Haring's birthday party 1985. April, Andy Warhol, John Sex, Katy K, Kathy Cooke.
Joey Arias'show Mermaids on Heroin, I got to be in the show on a few occasions. Thanks Joey, wigs by Barry.
Lois Randal, Wendy's sister at home with guests Gordon Spaeth, Edgar Oliver, Katy K.
This is a low res scan, will have to re-do.
April at the record store, I can't remember the name, on Second Avenue between 7th street and Saint Marks place. Pigbag was also on the same label as Pulsallama, Y records from London. August 1982.
Backstage at Danceteria, for a Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman production of Nude Faces of 1985.
Min is wearing a dress by Amazon designer Stace Elkin backstage at a Pulsallama show Peppermint Lounge.
Photo from my camera. April Palmieri, Kathy Cooke, John Sex, Maggie McDermott, Katy K.
Slide is marked October 1984.
Backstage, somewhere, USA. October '86.
Man Parrish is a recording star (Hip Hop Be Bop & Boogie Down Bronx) and worked with John Sex as a road producer traveling with John for nightclub appearances.
http://www.manparrish.com/mp3/
Man Parrish worked with Klaus Nomi,
"Klaus Nomi was a close friend of Man Parrish. Man collaborated on several tracks, ranging from full song productions to synth sound design, production overdubs and live show support. Klaus also appeared on Man Parrish's first album (1984) song "Six Simple Synthesizers" listed above... "We miss you KLAUS ! "
He also worked with Paul Zone MAN2MAN (Male Stripper)
Holiday 1985
On our way to Club Nu opening in Miami.
Jean Caffeine at Danceteria. Pulsallama sound check. 1981.
Valentine's Day tableau vivant. Katy K and John Sex in repose in Fiorucci's window, Valentine's Day. There are posters of the Club 57 Trucker's Ball that John Sex made, and Katy was producing. February 1982
Dino Sorbello, Peter Kwaloff & Gerard Little attend the Pulsallama record release party at Lucky Strike. In the background is a Y Records poster of an appearance (Pig Bag and Pulsallama) at the Peppermint Lounge on 5th Avenue. Pulsallama was signed to London based Y records.
July 1982
Pulsallama record release party. Joey lived across the street.
August 1982, backstage at the Peppermint Lounge. Pulsallama show.
1984 Limelight, go go dancers get down.
1986 Pyramid Club, NYC
May 1989, Tom Rubnitz' birthday party.
May 1989, Tom Rubnitz' birthday party.
The inscription on the back of this print says 1982 Danceteria, but I'm pretty sure I took this photo at Kathy's loft in the UFT building on 22nd street.
Wearing a dress she designed at Kathy's loft. Pulsallama photoshoot 1982. Her stage name was Timbalina, she played the timbales.
Ann Magnuson at home. She was kind enough to model for me. I was planning on painting from the photos. She was preparing her hair and makeup, with Nancy Sinatra as inspiration.
Nude Faces 1985 cast with director Scott Wittman.
Tabboo! Scott and John Sex
Deb O'Nair
Lucky Strike, August 1982
1985 Danceteria
April, Oli and Min
Fiorucci's window, Valentine's Day 1982
At her Ave A boutique opening party.
Modeling prep at Kwong Chi's loft on 6th Ave for SoHo Weekly News. Notice vacuum cleaner painted by Kenny Scharf and the photos of Sean AMMO on the wall.
NYC 1981
Bleecker Street near the Bowery 1979 NYC
Union Square East. 1984 NYC
Posing for me at Kathy Cook's loft. The over exposure reminds me of Vargas. 1981 NYC
Saint Marks Place 1980.
I don't know who the woman is. Unknown location.
Dino Sorbello, Dale Ashmun, John Read. July 1986
I was invited to dance in the Space Party video in Kenny Scharf room installation at the Palladium 1985. I brought my camera.
Kenny Scharf designed and created the lounge of the Palladium, and filmed Space Party there.
In the Scharf Room at the Palladium NYC
My final edit of 80 images for the exhibition Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978–1983 at MoMA opening 10/31/17 closing on 4/8/2018.
Backstage at a Katy K fashion show. Wendy, a hairdresser and a can of Aerolac. Long Island NY, 1980s
Club 57 church steps.
I'm researching some images for an upcoming book about the Lower East Side.
My maternal grandmother was born on Essex Street. My dad was born on Chrystie Street in 1929. I lived in the Lower East Side from 1975 to 1999.
Frank Palmieri, with daughters April and Janice.
This is my father's outdoor gallery space at the famous Greenwich Village Art Show in Manhattan. I discovered he painted on the reverse side of a painting I really liked, a landscape from Maine. We are posing with the original painting facing the camera. He painted on masonite panels.
Dad was born on the Lower East Side, on Chrystie Street in the early 1920s.
After serving in WW2 in the Army Air Corps, Frank went to The Art Student's League, where he met his wife Anita. They ran their own art galleries in NY, Maine and Florida.
This year My photos will be shown as part of the Keith Haring exhibition at Tate Liverpool UK, June through November 2019. tate.org.uk
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-liverpool/exhibition/keith-haring?fbclid=IwAR2l5VpbflJce-eWEUGwtXDS5gAqdc24JTaQLmqZTMIJDOM2VFI8trwbAJo
Club 57 original band was signed by Y Records of London UK.
NYC all-girl percussion group 1981 to 1983.
Will add more to the archive.
Photo by George DuBose, NYC, 1983
Bans members left to right, top to bottom, Min Thometz, Stacey Joy Elkin, Wendy Wild, Judy Monteleon, April Palmieri, Kim Davis, Jean Caffeine.
May 29, 30, 31st 1982 opening for the Clash.
Photo by April Palmieri, I often brought my camera on stage with me. Cibrachrome print by Tom.
Final Show 7/14/1983
Pulsallama Record reviewof the song Oui-Oui (A Canadian in Paris).
Written by Winston C. Robinson Jr.
Pulsallama show October 14th 1982 the The Venue!
Postcard invite for Pulsallama show at Mudd Clib for Saint Patrick’s Day 1982.
Addressed to the Bush Tetra’s rehearsal studio in a storefront at 68 East First street that was shared by Pulsallama. Even the show was on 3/17, the postmark was also 3/17, so I wonder if anyone saw it in time to attend the event. Also it was stepped on, original dirt from 1982.
Evidence of the glamour of the live show.
Jim Fouratt’s On The Waterfront event at Andy Warhol’s Underground.
For Editorial use only with credit.
Taken at George’s studio on West 34th Street.
Pulsallama Show at Danceteria 1982
Photo by ©April Palmieri
Pulsallama Show at the Hacienda Club, Manchester UK October 1982.
Unfortunately, Min had a laceration to her fingers on her right hand, she played the bongos in the band.
Photo by ©April Palmieri
Backstage at the Peppermint Lounge Pulsallama show.
Photo by ©April Palmieri
Promo photo by ©April palmieri
Using a photo by Tseng Kwong Chi, John Sex created this promotional poster for Pulsallama at the NYC Cavern Club.
Pulsallama record for sale, Second Avenue near Gem Spa
Band member April Palmieri
Photo by ©April Palmieri.
Wendy in a solid gold costume for her Pulsallama song Rock Fest in the Meadowlands. She would construct guitar replicas out of foamcore, magic marker and spray paint, then would proceed to smash them up on stage during the song at the end of the concert.
Photo by George DuBose photographed in his studio 1983.
Cover of the 7” release of the song Oui Oui.
Photo taken by Dick O’Dell of Y Records
Location The Venue derssing room, London 1982
Produced and painted by April Palmieri
