The Club 57 Series by Robert Carrithers: Amazing Photos Capture Scenes of a New York Nightclub in the Early 1980s ~ Vintage Everyday

Club 57 was a nightclub located at 57 St. Mark’s Place in the East Village, New York City during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was originally founded by Stanley Zbigniew Strychacki as well as Dominic Rose, then enhanced by nightclub performer Ann Magnuson, Susan Hannaford, and poet Tom Scully.

Robert Carrithers, an American photographer and filmmaker, moved to New York in 1979 and spontaneously documented everything that happened at Club 57. His photographs capture the raw energy, creativity, and personalities of the artists who frequented the club, including early works by now-famous figures like Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, Ann Magnuson, and musicians like Cyndi Lauper and Klaus Nomi.

The Club 57 Series is a unique historical testimony to a pivotal period in pop culture. It showcases the birth of significant artistic movements, the early careers of iconic artists, and the spirit of a countercultural scene that defined the East Village. Many of the artists associated with Club 57 went on to achieve widespread fame, while others faced tragic ends due to issues like drug use and the AIDS epidemic.

In essence, Robert Carrithers' Club 57 Series provides an invaluable visual record of a transformative period in New York City's art and cultural history, capturing the essence of an underground space that nurtured creativity and rebellion.

“I lived in New York during the early ‘80s, a very special unique time of creativity in New York,” Carrithers wrote. “I was a regular at a place called Club 57 in the basement of a Polish church on St. Marks in the East Village. It was a creative laboratory that would change night after night with themes and happenings. One night there would be an art opening and then another night there would be bands, films or a crazed theme party. Many talented and fun people developed their art at Club 57 throughout this time. The following photographs capture some of these memorable people through portraits or at the various events.”