Riviera (nightclub)

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Coordinates: 40°51′20″N 73°57′37″W / 40.85556°N 73.96028°W / 40.85556; -73.96028
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Riviera
Map
General information
StatusDemolished
ClassificationNightclub
Year(s) built1937
Demolished1954
Design and construction
Architect(s)Louis Abramson
Other information
Seating capacity800–900

The Riviera was a nightclub in Fort Lee, New Jersey, just outside of New York City, from 1931 to 1953. For most of its history it was located overlooking the Hudson River adjacent to the George Washington Bridge.[1][2][3][4][5]

History

The Riviera was first opened by Ben Marden in 1931[4][6] in Fort Lee on Hudson Terrace, near Myrtle Avenue[3] near the George Washington Bridge. The first Riviera building burned to the ground on Thanksgiving night, 1936.[3][4]

Arshile Gorky executed a mural for the club in the winter of 1940–1941.[7]

Marden reopened the Riviera, at a location closer to the George Washington Bridge, in June 1937.

Las Vegas hotels and used to also be a casino.[6] The Riviera closed during rationing at the start of the early years of World War II, and was re-opened in 1946 by Bill Miller, father of reporter Judith Miller,[3][6] who bought the club for $500–700,000.[1] It had a capacity of over 900, and could earn over $100,000 a week.[6]

The land that the nightclub was on was deemed necessary to make way for the Palisades Interstate Parkway, including the surrounding parkland, and the Riviera was forced to close.[6][3][1]

It closed permanently on Sunday, October 4, 1953 with

Eddie Fisher and Henny Youngman performing on the closing night.[6] It was demolished in 1954[3] with Miller receiving $758,000 compensation for his property.[1]

Performers

Among those who appeared at the Riviera were

Eddie Fisher[6][1][3] and Jane Froman.[8]

Bibliography

Austin, Tom; Kase, Ronald J. (2011). Bill Miller's Riviera: America's showplace in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Charleston, SC: History Press.

OCLC 754389858
. (144 pages)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Coutros, Evonne (April 2008). "That Was Show Biz: Bill Miller's Riviera nightclub was a stage for top talent". (201) Magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  2. ^ Wander, Eric (18 February 2011). "From the Archives: The Riviera Night Club". Fort Lee, NJ Patch. Patch Media. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Piccirillo, Ann (4 March 2011). "Fort Lee's Famed Riviera". Fort Lee, NJ Patch. Patch Media. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  4. ^
    OCLC 754389858
    . (144 pages)
  5. ^ Kelley, Tina (12 December 2002). "Bill Miller, 98, an Impresario In the Golden Age of Las Vegas". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  6. ^
    Archive.org
    .
  7. ISBN 9780374529727
    .
  8. ^ Jane Froman discards crutches, 1948-01-01, retrieved 2025-03-26

40°51′20″N 73°57′37″W / 40.85556°N 73.96028°W / 40.85556; -73.96028

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