And during Prohibition, the back rooms of local businesses never quit pouring booze. Though the nightclub eventually reopened, many regulars said that it was never the same again. Haunted house. Phoenix had struggled with cocaine and heroin addiction. At first, she thought the two men were fighting, but then she saw Phoenix drop to the ground and go into convulsions. By September 1950, the modest building reopened as the Last Call, a strip club specializing in a "Rendezvous of the Stars" and "Strip-Capades." Famous for his acting talent as well as his good looks, he seemed like he was destined for greatness. As a young entertainer, he was also expected to pass out information about the Children of God group around the same time when he was allegedly enduring horrific abuse. Fans have left flowers, candles and notes at the spot where he collapsed on November 1, 1993 in Los Angeles, California. The artist was admittedly "hammered" when his friend daredhim to kick his foot through the glass window of the famed LA club. It soon became a hotbed for young celebrities, and just two months later, on Halloween, its most famous tragedy happened. While predominantly known as a music venue, the Viper Room also hosts a lower level below the stage and audience area, which is home to a large whiskey bar. Mobster Mickey Cohen and his cohorts were known to frequent The Melody Room during this time. She loves spending quality time with her friends, family, and puppy Luna! During that period of my life I had some next level depression and was like, consistently borderline suicidal. By June 1946, the grocery store vanished, replaced by the Cotton Club, an establishment that made no bones about attracting and entertaining America's most notorious criminals. Simoni King), a former sex worker and madam. Parking is $10 in the lot behind the Viper Room or adjoining the Viper Room. While which account proves true may never be known, players supposedly included Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, A-Rod, the Olsen twins, and Matt Damon. Phoenix collapsed outside of the club in front of his brother and sister, Joaquin and Rain Phoenix;Rainsat onRiver's chest to try and stop his convulsing. During a 21st birthday party hosted for supermodel Kate Moss, Neighbours star Jason Donovan suffered a cocaine-induced seizure at the club. At the time, his parents and four siblings were entirely dependent on Rivers success. And sadly, these two drugs would spell his end at The Viper Room. That fateful night, a bouncer had escorted Phoenix outside the nightclub where he instantly dropped to the ground. Get over here please, please, cause hes dying, please. Meanwhile, Rain tried to stop her brother from thrashing around. A crowd had circled round me and Michael [Hutchenceof INXS] was standing over me trying to empty my trouser pockets. A Haunted Los Angeles Hotspot! Although the building started as an innocuous blue-collar grocery store, it would rise to infamy two decades later as a notorious gangster hangout and strip club. They very politely handcuffed me and sat me on the curb right outside the Viper Room. According to Rita, the spirit of River Phoenix isnt the only entity inside the club. On the night of October 30, 1993, Phoenix and his girlfriend Samantha Mathis arrived at The Viper Room. [9] The club changed hands multiple times between 2004 and 2016; the club is currently owned by Viper Room Holdings, Ltd. CEO James Cooper.[10][11]. As for the Melody Room? So they moved around quite a bit with their baby son. Like the Cotton Club, the Greenwich Village Inn bore a famous name a callback to the Greenwich Village Caf located in the 1920's Christie Hotel (the first "modern" luxury hotel, according to the Los Angeles Times). The next 18 years saw its rise as a mainstay of the L.A. music scene, featuring performances by Billy Ward and the Dominoes, Bobby Troup, Bobby Short, and many more. I didnt see anyone doing drugs but he was high in a way that made me feel uncomfortable I was in way over my head. On the evening of October 30, Mathis went to the bathroom. The call was later leaked to news stations. There is also a nightclub in Stockholm, Sweden, "as well as ones in Harrogate, UK, Vienna, Austria, and another in Sheffield UK similarly named." Anyone who's anyone in Los Angeles has heard of The Viper Room on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood The now-haunted hotspot rose to its infamy after River Phoenix passed away in the bar on Halloween night in 1993 from an overdose. But unlike Phoenix, he regularly used cocaine. Sadly, hard drugs and Hollywood nightlife shattered that dream and led to River Phoenixs death on October 31, 1993, at the age of just 23. Some say Johnny Depp named the place after a Louisiana jazz club, and others say it refers to pot-smoking jazz musicians of that era. While he survived, Austalian actor Jason Donovan had a coke-induced seizure while partying at the club in 1995. That same year, the original blockbuster Spiderman, Tobey Maguire, approached The Viper Rooms co-owner Darien Feinstein about hosting high-stakes poker games in the basement of the club. By the late 1920s, the market, neighborhood, and winding "County Strip" thoroughfare became the site of transformation, according to Playground to the Stars. Known as the "vegan James Dean," Phoenix's untimely death shocked many who celebrated the actor as an emblem of healthy living and environmentalism. During Ritas decade-long tenure at the Viper Room, shes experienced some pretty unexplainable things: Ive had my hair yanked, a hand on my leg. Tributes at The Viper Room honoring River Phoenix the day after his death in 1993. It's not a haunted house; it's not a horror show at all." If you want to go to 'Clown Bar' When: 8 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12. She is passionate about Princess Diana, the Titanic, the Romanovs, and Egypt amongst other things. Samantha Mathis, Phoenix's girlfriend, and his siblings, Rain and Leaf (a.k.a. "Have you got anything on you?" A nightclub located in Cincinnati, Ohio, was formerly called "The Viper Room". Without a body and minimal evidence, the case remains cold. Im going back to the bad, bad town, Phoenix said. They were very cool about it. Located at 8852 Sunset Boulevard, The Viper Room's storied address has a surprisingly long history behind it. But few people realize just how historic its location at 8852 Sunset really is. Johnny Cash performed at the venue, debuting material that would later appear on American Recordings (1994). Get over here please, please, cause hes dying, please.. Johnny Depp was one of the owners (he would give up his stake in 2004). A cop was sitting at a nearby red light and witnessed the whole thing. After getting booted from Rainbow Bar & Grill for throwing shot glasses at people, front man Corey Taylor took his drunken debauchery across the street to theViper Room. The Sunset Strip was born. In the 1990s and earlier 2000s, the Viper Room was a hotbed of illegal activity involving drugs and high-stakes gambling. But perhaps the nail in the coffin remains the fact that trendy bands and A-List celebs grace the club less often these days. [3] and in the 1980s, a jazz club called "The Central". River Phoenixs death left a notable void in Hollywood. He was already gone, but was pronounced dead later at the hospital. One bartender who had worked at the Viper Room for sixteen years said that he felt like the bottom bar had a different energy than the top a more malevolent one. But of course, those most affected by the death of River Phoenix were his devastated family members. In 1999, Johnny Depp found himself in the middle of a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by his business partner Anthony Fox. In addition to the drama Phoenix, one of the former co-owners, Anthony Fox, died in his office in 2001, while Michael Hutchence and Timothy Leary both died shortly after performing within the walls of the Viper. Advertisements urged visitors to "Take a Trip to the Strip" for entertainment by the Phil Moore Four. In 2001, Johnny Depp found himself embroiled in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit launched by one of his Viper Room business partners, Anthony Fox, according to Medium. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}34525.7N 118234.8W / 34.090472N 118.384667W / 34.090472; -118.384667. Famous for his acting talent as well as his good looks, Phoenix seemed like he was destined for greatness. Join us for a Los Angeles Ghost Tour! https://www.ranker.com/list/what-has-happened-at-the-viper-room/mariel-loveland, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Viper_Room, https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-adventures/photos/ghost-adventures-the-viper-room. Even though the actor was transported to the hospital, a paramedic said that he was clinically dead when they arrived at the club. Depp was a part-owner in The Viper Room, with his business partner Anthony Fox having the other share. A pesar de la minscula capacidad del lugar con forma de cueva de solo 250 personas, el cartel estelar de esa primera noche cont con Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Evan Dando de Lemonheads y el vocalista de Pogues, Shane MacGowan. On the night of his passing, River drank a speedball a highly toxic mix of heroin and cocaine dissolved into his drink. ISBN: 9780062273178. While working as missionaries for the controversial group, the family shuttled between Texas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. The Viper Room does, however, remain open a tantalizing relic of Sunset Strip's debauched and colorful history. The 1980s brought another name change to The Central. The Viper Room that we know today first opened on the Sunset Strip in 1993. As for River, he often played guitar and sang on the streets for money. With a famous owner, the tragic death of a beloved actor and the unsolved disappearance of a business partner, the nightclub is filled with sinister energy. Theyre ruining peoples lives.. The Cotton Club enjoyed a limited run. Phoenix's death was a tragedy that brought fans and . Credits: Culture Trip After banning photography at the club, John Wayne and Little Richard also made appearances. As stories of West Hollywood's mayhem and debauchery reached the ears of legislators, the Greenwich Village Inn became the epicenter of the action. Few spots in Los Angeles have played witness to more messed-up happenings. when members of the band the Brian Jonestown Massacre began brawling with each other on stage while performing. Initially, Depp said it was hard returning to the Viper Room and haunting walking past the spot where Phoenix died. Whatever the cause, it spelled the end for the Rue Angel, which succumbed to heavy smoke, water, and flame damage. River Phoenix and his younger brother Joaquin, pictured in the early 1980s. He was officially pronounced dead at 1:51 a.m. An autopsy report later revealed that the promising young actor had died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin. The 23-year-old Oscar nominee was poised to have a career on par with '90s contemporaries like Leonardo DiCaprio when he, Prior to Phoenix's passing, the troubled actor allegedly went on a, On the night River overdosed, he drank a speedball a mix of heroin and cocaine dissolved into a drink and chased it with Valium. On top of all that, Phoenix was likely still grappling with his traumatic memories of being involved with a cult at an early age. Besides the Greenwich, businesses involved in the controversy included La Brea Avenue's Flamingo, known for its drag shows. Beginning in 2005, the Viper Room housed some of Hollywood's highest-stakes poker games (via Time), with buy-ins starting at $5,000 and often going much higher. Some people speculated in-fighting between gangsters produced the mysterious blaze. Though nearly three decades have passed since River Phoenixs death, its clear that his memory lives on especially in the hearts of his loved ones. He said: Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.'. The Viper Room has a ton of history, tragedy, and supernatural occurrences that span about 101 years. Located on Los Angeles Sunset Strip, it is one of the oldest remaining structures. The building went through several name changes, though since the 1940s it remained some sort of nightclub. But the illicit activities at the Viper Room wouldn't come to an end with Depp out of the picture. Jun 24, 2022 11:18 AM EDT In 1993, young Hollywood movie star River Phoenix's life was tragically cut short as he overdosed on drugs at the notorious nightclub The Viper Room. Few movie stars of the early 1990s were as beloved as River Phoenix. The location itself initially operated as a grocery store from 1921 into the 1940s. [14] On April 16, 2011, a nightclub named "The Viper Room" opened its doors in the city of Nijmegen in the Netherlands. The Infamous Viper Room. I think I'm OD'ing." The Viper Room officially opened in 1993. Depp wanted to open a venue where he could hang out with his famous friends and where he could play guitar away from the prying eyes (and lens) of the paparazzi. Charlize Theron hugs Keanu Reeves outside The Viper Room after his performance with his band, Dogstar. Donovan described the harrowing incident in his memoir Between the Lines: My Story Uncut. And Depp found himself embroiled in a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by Fox, who alleged Depp conspired with four other individuals to commit fraud. [2] In November 1997, Australian rock star Michael Hutchence played his last public performance in the Viper Room, a week before his suicide. "Twenty years after his death, River Phoenix remains as enigmatic and elusive as ever. As Filthy McNasty's, the establishment attracted eclectic public figures like Elvis Presley, Phyllis Diller, Mick Jagger, Evel Knievel, and Tom Waits. After all, his former boss was dogged by law enforcement and in and out of prison oncharges of tax evasion. [1] The club became known for being a hangout of the young Hollywood elite, and was the site where actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose on the night before Halloween in 1993. At the time, the club was partly owned by Johnny Depp, and was a haven for celebrities to kick back and party. Despite his untimely death, River Phoenix left a huge mark on the world not only as a talented actor but also as a passionate animal rights activist and environmentalist. Genre (s): Reality, Suspense, Documentary Watch Now Stream On Stream On Stream On Stream On Though tragic, River Phoenix's Viper Room death was just onemark on the property's sordid history, which includes cash-embezzling mobsters, mysterious disappearances, numerous drugoverdoses, and an illegal, multi-million dollar gambling ring. River Phoenix (left) with Liza Minnelli (right) in 1991. "Twenty years after his death, River Phoenix remains as enigmatic and elusive as ever. Joaquin, who would go on to star in Walk the Line and Gladiator, desperately called 911 after his brother had seizures on the sidewalk. People are coming out and laughing at me. The Viper Room opened on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood in 1993. But before Phoenix entered Hollywood, his early life was a humble one and quite unconventional. Entrepreneur Molly Bloom was hired to run the games, which ended up attracting a number of A-list movie stars, including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Leonardo DiCaprio. I stayed in a supposedly haunted hotel (not on purpose). The ring often included other actors such as Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matt Damon. He was wheeled out of the Viper Room ona stretcher. But it was River Phoenixs role in the 1986 movie Stand By Me that really got Hollywoods attention. Joaquin), witnessed the heartbreaking event, reports The Guardian, unable to save him despite CPR and a call to 911. The original building where the club is currently located is slated to be demolished by 2023, to make way for a replacement club, retail and a five star hotel tower. [citation needed] In Oliver Stone's film The Doors (1991), the building was used as a filming location for scenes depicting the London Fog, also of West Hollywood. The Viper Room is known for the drug-fueled debauchery that ensued inside its doors during the '90s. These are the guys from all corners of the United States that make up the critically-acclaimed Travel Channel hit, Ghost Adventures. But everything changed in 1951, when local officials folded to pressure to bring the Strip's laws into synch with that of the city. Donovan eventuallyturned his life around,at least partially due to the encouragement of Johnny Depp, who recommended the singer"take it easy in the future. I feel like in virtually every movie that I made, there was a connection to River in some way. By 1978, Phoenixs parents had grown disillusioned with the group and returned to the United States. Maguire won nearly every week, and according to Curtis, they used Leonardo DiCaprio (unbeknownst to him)as a lure to draw other players. View The Gallery 1 / 11 Ghost Adventures Crew Johnny Depp was one of the owners (he would give up his stake in 2004). Last Night at the Viper Room tells the heart-shredding story of how this haunted actor left such a big impression in such a brief time." The iconic Viper Room opened by Johnny Depp and former actor Sal Jenco in 1993 will become a. Joaquin then made a heart-wrenching 911 call, which was later leaked to the press. Given the history of drugs and rock n roll, this is an interesting one to visit. What could you expect from a night at the Greenwich Village Inn? The club existed on the site of The Melody Room, formerly owned by gangster Bugsy Siegel in the 1940's. Johnny and musician Chuck E. Weiss went into business with Fox, took 51% ownership in . Filthy McNasty's and the Central effectively set the stage for the mayhem of the 1990s and 2000s, with the Viper Room acting as a harbinger of hard music, illicit drug use, and illegal gambling. But as Playground to the Starspoints out, despite the evocative name, the Cotton Club had no connection to the wildly famous operation in Manhattan. While he rarely spoke about the Children of God in public, his mother once quoted him as saying, Theyre disgusting. The Viper Room Zak and the crew investigate the infamous Viper Room on West Hollywood's Sunset Strip. The Creepiest LA Ghost Stories. I knew the symptoms all too well, for it was not the first time this had happened to me. Ghost Adventures: The Viper Room Next stop with the Ghost Adventures crew: the infamous Viper Room on West Hollywood's Sunset Strip. Over the years, mainstream stars including Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera, and Gwen Stefani, appeared with the girl group. Open today: 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM. They went into a quieter area and were able to capture voices on tape that Viper Room employee Rita Fiora believed to be River when he said, I get confused.. Anyone whos anyone in Los Angeles has heard of The Viper Room on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood The now-haunted hotspot rose to its infamy after River Phoenix passed away in the bar on Halloween night in 1993 from an overdose. Search instead in Creative? The LA-based firm Silver Creek Development will turn the legendary 8852 West Sunset Boulevard into a residential building with cafes, restaurants, and a luxury hotel. With a famous owner, the tragic death of a beloved actor and the unsolved disappearance of a business partner, the nightclub is filled with sinister energy. Photo courtesy of Fllckr, jennyfersure CC-2.0, Given the death of River and the mobster connections, it would make sense for some interesting ghosts to be hanging around. On October 31, 1993, actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose outside the notorious Viper Room nightclub in Hollywood. To see such a promising young actor die so suddenly was heartbreaking, especially for his loved ones. Drea de Matteo attends a performance by The Cult at The Viper Room in Los Angeles on . Upon his arrival, the actor went on a massive drug binge with Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante. Its not just the tragic passing of River Phoenix that attracts ghost aficionados to the Viper Room. The properties total 38,000 square feet of land and 16,000 square feet of parking space, an attractive location for development in an otherwise land-poor city. [8], As part of the settlement of a lawsuit involving the disappearance of co-owner Anthony Fox in December 2001, Depp relinquished his ownership of the Viper Room in 2004. Though his loved ones quickly called 911, it was already too late to save him. Slash and Danny Saber play guitar at The Viper Room for the Jim Dunlop party in Los Angeles, California in 1999. The Viper Room on the Sunset Strip was a popular destination for young celebrities in the 1990s. Oops, there was an error sending your message. The Viper Room's role in rock 'n' roll debauchery gets all the attention. Id talk out loud to her, and shed text me a response. Credit: The Viper Room. 945 Fairfield Rd, Yeerongpilly QLD 4105 07 3426 8126 Open Hours: 24/7 . He chased it with Valium. Sadly, when he returned to Los Angeles in late October 1993, he almost immediately went on a massive drug binge. Just days before he was to testify, the Edward Scissorhands actor mysteriously disappeared, along with his truck and .38 caliber rifle. But if you assume the past holds the Viper Room's seediest episodes, think again. Los Angeless infamous Viper Room, which was once Hollywoods hot spot, is set to be destroyed. Before the club is set to be demolished early next year, it is worth remembering the tragic Halloween night nearly 30 years ago - staff claiming ghosts from the past still haunt the venue. Kate Moss's21st birthday wasn't an exception which could be expected from the model whoselook basically inspired the term "heroin chic.". Yet, Donovan would make a recovery, getting released from the hospital three hours later.
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