Do you remember BellaNapoli's nightclub in Hilbrow? [Archive]

sand_man

20-04-2012, 04:46 PM

One of my favourite haunts of all time.

Where were yours?

EDIT: And Basil the Greek, anyone remember him? Gangster in an era when gangsters used their hands to defend their honor...

EDIT: The bouncers at Bella's were as tough as they came. Remember the Natal rugby team causing trouble there one evening on tour, Hugh Reece and Atherton got klapped for their efforts...

Niren_M

20-04-2012, 04:50 PM

The Doors, Whitehorse, Masters of the Game.

sand_man

20-04-2012, 04:51 PM

Boobs nightclub!!! ROUGH!!

Niren_M

20-04-2012, 04:52 PM

Went to Boobs once, was below street level as I can remember. Pink Cadillac, Gullivers.

alf101

20-04-2012, 04:55 PM

Cosmic_Nomad

20-04-2012, 06:34 PM

Heaven -->The doors, Fancy that, Plumb crazy, Carlton ( thunderdome ) and yes white horse inn, but when you mentioned Boobs that was a farken ruff place.

But yea had some good times at BellaNapoli's.

You had that German sausage place up the gully with wooden drum tables out side.

CeeBee

21-04-2012, 08:47 PM

oh.... good memories
there was that other place just accross from Carlton Centre too... cant remember the name, also a favourite

marine1

22-04-2012, 12:43 AM

Ques or cues?(spelling)

maumau

22-04-2012, 04:14 AM

Alcatraz, Alice D, DV8, Dirtbox, Junction, the Temple

greg0205

22-04-2012, 06:35 PM

Pah... Children! Cosmic_Nomad, you mentioned Heaven... Before opening that the owner, Bruce Kennedy, owned a club on Fox Street called Scants. CeeBee, that's where Heaven was and the same venue later became The Doors. marine1, it was Q's... There have been some deadly clubs downtown, everyone's afraid to go there 'tho. My best came much later... 115 Anderson... Slick deep house spot with Marco, the owner spinning as well as Vinnie, Fresh (back in the day) and a whole bunch more.

sand_man

22-04-2012, 07:05 PM

Ooooooh.. old school greg... You talking mid 70's too late 80's early 90's?

What about Idols??? For me that was the epitome of the ultimate nightclub!!

And around the corner from Idols was a club called 4th World which was possibly the weirdest jol I've ever been on. I never indulged in drugs but 20 minutes in that club and I always felt incredibly disorientated. They made liberal use of strobes, you'll me amazed how disorientating 3 minutes of constant strobing becomes..

greg0205

22-04-2012, 07:17 PM

LOL, Just old brother, just old... I was THE Idols regular, still bump into Larry every now and then, but did you know that before there was Idols, there was Mandys?
Can't remember the guy who opened 4th Worlds name 'tho, never really enjoyed the club, but I'd met him in Cape Town the December before and he based his idea on a club there called Euphoria... In case any of you Capetonians are wondering, it were Decadance is now and, speaking of Cape Town clubs back in the day, kinda lived at Havana and met the guys from Depeche Mode there after a concert in Cape Town (circa '91/92), there was the Gecko Lounge around the corner, 50 Orange up the road and my two best, Bar A-Go-Go (something like an underground kinda club) and Isis... *sighs*

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 07:18 PM

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 07:23 PM

oh.... good memories
there was that other place just accross from Carlton Centre too... cant remember the name, also a favourite

OMW, dont tell me you where a Caesars groopy?

That was the Yuppy hang out where the girls only spoke to you when you showed the Porsche key's

sand_man

22-04-2012, 07:28 PM

LOL, Just old brother, just old... I was THE Idols regular, still bump into Larry every now and then, but did you know that before there was Idols, there was Mandys?
Can't remember the guy who opened 4th Worlds name 'tho, never really enjoyed the club, but I'd met him in Cape Town the December before and he based his idea on a club there called Euphoria...

1st time I went to Idols was a few months after it opened, I was 15, the guy who took us was a bit of a player. It wasn't the easiest club to get into, had an element of exclusivity when it 1st opened, always a q, always frequented by top class models, always made to wait to get in, doors only opened at around 1am but what a vibe??!!!! The best!!

4th World was a mind bender. Sure they were spiking either drinks or air vents or both in that hole... Nonetheless, saw some peculiar/interesting people/things in there...

sand_man

22-04-2012, 07:32 PM

OMW, dont tell me you where a Caesars groopy?

That was the Yuppy hang out where the girls only spoke to you when you showed the Porsche key's

Ja, Caesars!!!! Pretentious club that but it sort out to be one!!! That was the 1st time I see Rocky Weinstein in action. Gave this kid a flatie that must have lifted him a whole metre off the ground!! Never seen anyone issue flatie's like Rocky. Probably the only bloke I know that could kill a man with a flatie!!

What about Thunderdome!!!!??? My wife's favourite hangout back in the day!!!

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 07:40 PM

What about Thunderdome!!!!??? My wife's favourite hangout back in the day!!!

That was a kiddies joint, if you wanted Jail bait you went to Thunderdome. Way to many underage people that went there back in the day.

greg0205

22-04-2012, 07:40 PM

We almost had a ritual for Friday/Saturday nights. BellaNapoli downstars, then the doors followed with Alice D
Bella started with 2 Black label beers then off to the Doors for some Southern comforts and Alice for smoking some dubie

Sometimes we just stuck to one club, it all depended on what the vibe was like that night.

I remember clearing the Dance floor a couple of times at Bella's when me and 2 friends started moshing to Bohemian Rhapsody.

And you can not bring up Bella's in the 80 early 90's without mentioning Fontana esp eating the chicken on the steps. Was the only Shop back then that was open 24/7 and nothing was better than that Fontana chicken when you had the munchies at 4 in da morning.

Love those rituals... Ours was Saturday night... Four of us... My friend Michael used to live in Fourways, the furthest from town, and he'd pick me up in Bryanston, we'd head off to pick Richard and Terrence, the rest of the musketeers, in Sandton and Greenside... Each leg of the trip was measured by very specific amounts of Vodka, Bioplus and Livaton... The final bottle of Bioplus was purchased in Braamfontein, just before we popped into Caesars Palace (the club in Braamies, really late 80's, early 90's) and then it was off to Idols. By the time we got there we were usually so messed up that the walk to the entrance was an adventure in itself... Again... *sigh*

greg0205

22-04-2012, 07:50 PM

1st time I went to Idols was a few months after it opened, I was 15, the guy who took us was a bit of a player. It wasn't the easiest club to get into, had an element of exclusivity when it 1st opened, always a q, always frequented by top class models, always made to wait to get in, doors only opened at around 1am but what a vibe??!!!! The best!!

Hehehe... They actually issued "model cards" which models could present at the door to get in free. Larry used to run that door like nobody's business... There were nights when the club was completley packed and there were more people waiting to get in than were inside! We had that door worked out 'tho and my cousin Terrence used to use it as a pick-up line... Larry would spot us and tell people to get out of the way to let us in and if Terrence spotted a honey he liked as we made our way through the crowds to the door, he'd do the whole: "Hey baby, wanna get in with me?" So cheesy but 60% of the time it worked every time. :D

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 07:50 PM

Love those rituals... Ours was Saturday night... Four of us... My friend Michael used to live in Fourways, the furthest from town, and he'd pick me up in Bryanston, we'd head off to pick Richard and Terrence, the rest of the musketeers, in Sandton and Greenside... Each leg of the trip was measured by very specific amounts of Vodka, Bioplus and Livaton... The final bottle of Bioplus was purchased in Braamfontein, just before we popped into Caesars Palace (the club in Braamies, really late 80's, early 90's) and then it was off to Idols. By the time we got there we were usually so messed up that the walk to the entrance was an adventure in itself... Again... *sigh*

Sorry that was the Caesars I was taking about...

So you where a Yuppy....Back in my clubbing days we would not have mixed :)
I was one of the Metal/Goth heads always dressed in black T, docs and torn black jeans with long black hair that came down half way to my back.

As for entry to the clubs I normally went to, we use to be regulars and never waited in q's. Never paid either, most people used comps, we didn't even bother, was on 1st name basis with the bouncers/DJ's

greg0205

22-04-2012, 07:54 PM

Ja, Caesars!!!! Pretentious club that but it sort out to be one!!! That was the 1st time I see Rocky Weinstein in action. Gave this kid a flatie that must have lifted him a whole metre off the ground!! Never seen anyone issue flatie's like Rocky. Probably the only bloke I know that could kill a man with a flatie!!

What about Thunderdome!!!!??? My wife's favourite hangout back in the day!!!

LOL Forgot about Rocky and Ricky... You saw Rocky at Caesars, I got to see Dave Ryan cancel Big John Illingham at the Thunderdome. All while Dave was on crutches 'cos he'd been shot in the foot the week before.

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 07:55 PM

Talking about clubs anyone remember Camel's Pyramid of light?

greg0205

22-04-2012, 08:00 PM

Sorry that was the Caesars I was taking about...

So you where a Yuppy....Back in my clubbing days we would not have mixed :)
I was one of the Metal/Goth heads always dressed in black T, docs and torn black jeans with long black hair that came down half way to my back.

The point of Caesars was always the girls. :) They had a ladies night on Wednesdays as well... So, so, so much eye candy.

Yeah, took me 'till my late, late thirties to get to The Red Room, if that is even considered a metal/goth club... Love the music but I can't shake my ass to it and sometimes, I love the nightlife, I gotta boogie :D

sand_man

22-04-2012, 08:09 PM

Talking about clubs anyone remember Camel's Pyramid of light?

Haha, yeah!! I recall something to that effect. Didn't you get complimentary fags at the door?

sand_man

22-04-2012, 08:13 PM

The point of Caesars was always the girls. :) They had a ladies night on Wednesdays as well... So, so, so much eye candy.

Yeah, took me 'till my late, late thirties to get to The Red Room, if that is even considered a metal/goth club... Love the music but I can't shake my ass to it and sometimes, I love the nightlife, I gotta boogie :D

Had the most memorable jols at The Doors, Market street. Not sure what it was, loved the music, loved the people, the vibe was always pleasant, seemed to be a happier crowd despite the hardcore music, seldom any aggro and the women were easier too... :p

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 08:14 PM

Haha, yeah!! I recall something to that effect. Didn't you get complimentary fags at the door?

Nope, Camel's pyramid of light was a yearly event (Well 3 years that I knew of) of massive outdoor club, with laser light shows and all.

Had the most memorable jols at The Doors, Market street. Not sure what it was, loved the music, loved the people, the vibe was always pleasant, seemed to be a happier crowd despite the hardcore music, seldom any aggro and the women were easier too... :p

Thats because the doors back then was only Goth/Alternative, for metal agro people you had to go to Alice D/Alcatraz.

Goth as in "catch the butterfly" music. My brother use to call it Catch the butterfly as the women always looked like they where stoned, standing still trying to catch a butterfly thats fluttering around them.

greg0205

22-04-2012, 08:15 PM

Haha, yeah!! I recall something to that effect. Didn't you get complimentary fags at the door?

There's a whole new "Do you remember?" thread right there... When cigarette reps used to hand out packets of smokes at clubs and parties... *sigh*

sand_man

22-04-2012, 08:17 PM

Nope, Camel's pyramid of light was a yearly event (Well 3 years that I knew of) of massive outdoor club, with laser light shows and all.

Sounds like you grew up in and around the PWV. How did you get to PE?

greg0205

22-04-2012, 08:19 PM

Nope, Camel's pyramid of light was a yearly event (Well 3 years that I knew of) of massive outdoor club, with laser light shows and all.

Yep, the other "pyramid" was that venue on Eloff Street... Can't think what it is now 'tho.

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 08:20 PM

Sounds like you grew up in and around the PWV. How did you get to PE?

After I came back to SA I decided had enough of Rat race... wanted something that was more relaxed, and you can not get a city more relaxed than PE where you have to wait for everything except the traffic.

New York/Munich/Guangzhou made me enjoy the quieter things in life again :)

sand_man

22-04-2012, 08:27 PM

After I came back to SA I decided had enough of Rat race... wanted something that was more relaxed, and you can not get a city more relaxed than PE where you have to wait for everything except the traffic.

And the cost of living down there? I would imagine a lot cheaper than up here? Quite an underrated part of the country, PE. Moving there makes a lot of sense. Municipality down there is not without it's issues though. How the private hospitals there?

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 08:36 PM

And the cost of living down there? I would imagine a lot cheaper than up here? Quite an underrated part of the country, PE. Moving there makes a lot of sense. Municipality down there is not without it's issues though. How the private hospitals there?

Well, don't know yet (Touch wood)

But cost of living is a lot cheaper than the bigger cities for housing thats for sure. If you dont have kids its a cool place(Education in Eastern Cape sucks). I am planning on moving to Knysna or some place that side later this year as all I really need is DSL (Working from home)

MickeyD

22-04-2012, 08:39 PM

Well, don't know yet (Touch wood)

But cost of living is a lot cheaper than the bigger cities for housing thats for sure. If you dont have kids its a cool place(Education in Eastern Cape sucks). I am planning on moving to Knysna or some place that side later this year as all I really need is DSL (Working from home)
Oi... plenty of very good schools here! It's a case of doing your homework when sending your kids to school... :D

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 08:41 PM

Oi... plenty of very good schools here! It's a case of doing your homework when sending your kids to school... :D

Oi dont start selling the place.

I dont want an influx of em vaalies you know. If I wanted to start selling I would bring up the game reserves and all that, but there is a reason I dont.... so shus.

MickeyD

22-04-2012, 08:44 PM

Oi dont start selling the place.

I dont want an influx of em vaalies you know. If I wanted to start selling I would bring up the game reserves and all that, but there is a reason I dont.... so shus.
Oops :o

Yeah, I agree with GodZilla... EC education sucks donkeyballs!

sand_man

22-04-2012, 08:44 PM

lolz... Grey, Dale, Selborne... But I have a daughter...

MickeyD

22-04-2012, 08:45 PM

lolz... Grey, Dale, Selborne... But I have a daughter...
Collegiate, Theodor Herzl, Framesby, Linkside, etc....

Elimentals

22-04-2012, 08:49 PM

MickeyD do you ever go out at sea for fishing?

I am thinking of getting a large boat, but we dont have proper landings hence me thinking of moving to Knysna

To OP, sorry for going OT.

MickeyD

22-04-2012, 08:54 PM

MickeyD do you ever go out at sea for fishing?

I am thinking of getting a large boat, but we dont have proper landings hence me thinking of moving to Knysna
My good buddy has his own deepsea fishing boat. Uses the slipway at the Angling Club in the PE Harbour. He goes out virtually every weekend. I have a free pass but only go out when there's no wind about (which is seldom!).

dirkieman

22-04-2012, 09:06 PM

And you can not bring up Bella's in the 80 early 90's without mentioning Fontana esp eating the chicken on the steps. Was the only Shop back then that was open 24/7 and nothing was better than that Fontana chicken when you had the munchies at 4 in da morning. oh, boy that brings back memories.... those chickens early in the morning was the best.... Damn that was a good place

margob99

12-08-2012, 07:34 PM

Oh. My. God. Found this thread on a "memory trip" surfing back for some of the clubs I used to go to back in the old days in Joeys. I remember Bella Napoli! And DV8! and the big one near the Carlton Centre - 20th Century Fox! Oh my god what amazing memories! There was a great club somewhere near Sandton called Hot n Nasty. And reading this thread, how I wish I'd tried 4th World. LOL!