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The Black Banana (formerly La Banane Noire) was a nightclub in Philadelphia.
History
The Black Banana began in 1971 as "La Banane Noire," an ice cream parlor and restaurant located at 534 South 4th Street, Philadelphia.
In the late 1970s, it moved to 3rd and Race Street and became a members-only club, known as "The Crusaders Community Club".
DJs such as Josh Wink, Robbie Tronco, King Britt, Cosmo Baker, Dj Dozia, Jeff Gross (DJ Rush), Michael Sweeney, Richie Rosati, Willyum, Stango, Suzi Miller and her Bananettes performed at the nightclub, as well as video artists such as Nick London, Nick and Gigi Meoli, Toni Thomas, and uber Philly It-Girl, Kim Kelly.
The Black Banana suffered a devastating fire in 1991.
The club's founder, Garrick Melmeck died in 1991. The nightclub closed in 1998.
The building now houses Wexler Fine Arts Gallery.
References
- Hanke, Robert (1989). "La Banane Noire". Public Culture. 1 (2): 86–90. doi:10.1215/08992363-1-2-86.
- London, Nick (11 January 2011). "The Black Banana Reunion: Memories of the Vagabond Years". Phillymag.com. Philadelphia magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
39°57′14″N 75°08′42″W / 39.95389°N 75.14496°W / 39.95389; -75.14496
- 1970 establishments in Pennsylvania
- 1980s in LGBTQ history
- 1998 disestablishments in Pennsylvania
- Buildings and structures in Philadelphia
- Defunct LGBTQ nightclubs in the United States
- History of Philadelphia
- LGBTQ culture in Philadelphia
- LGBTQ history in Pennsylvania
- LGBTQ nightclubs in Pennsylvania
- Nightclubs in Philadelphia