The Cultural Relevance of The “21” Club
“Since I’m not drinking, I’ll just have a tequila.” – Earnest Hemmingway famously declared at New York City’s iconic 21 Club.
It started with a bang; a New Years Eve party in 1929 hosted by cousins Jack and Charlie. The guests wore ballgowns and their finest jewels and the men looked sharp in their freshly pressed tuxedos. Well into the throws of prohibition, every guest upon arrival was handed a bottle of champagne, and the night roared on hidden beneath the sounds of New York City undetected. At the time, the now infamous 21 Club, did not have its name and was located on 49th street, but as the celebration raged on into the night, Jack and Charlie would ring in 1930 with the announcement that the club would be moving up three blocks, to 21 W. 52nd Street, thus giving the club a new name and a new home. The most fabulous speakeasy ever was made up of 5 floors of entertainment space, private rooms, dining rooms, and bars and was home to many mischievous moments. Rumor has it Earnest Hemmingway even bedded a woman in the stairwell.
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Despite what the name may allude to, the 21 Club was never a member’s club, but an establishment open to the public and frequented by celebrities, athletes, and politicians. If you wanted to rub shoulders with a John F. Kennedy or Elizabeth Taylor, or Truman Capote, or anyone who is anyone, the 21 Club was your best bet.
Sadly, 21 Club closed its doors on December 11th, 2020, until further notice but to honor the historic establishment we look back on the best speakeasy to ever exist.
21 Club started as a speakeasy during prohibition and once it was located at 21 W. 52nd Street in 1930, they were raided by the police only once. Following that incident, owners Jack and Charlie implemented a new security system that would see the club use secret doors and hidden stairwells. The bar shelves were also redesigned so with a tug on the trigger rod, they would collapse, and the alcohol would go down a chute and into the sewer system.
The wine cellar was technically located at 19 W. 52nd street, which was accessible from 21 through a hidden door, so if ever questioned the establishment could honestly say there was no alcohol on the premises. The wine cellar also held many private wine collections for their famous regulars, including the collections of Sophia Loren, Gerald Ford, and Jackie Kennedy’s second husband, Aristotle Onassis, to name a few.
The 35 jockeys that line the entrance of 21 Club are a reminder of the establishment’s close association and ties to the equestrian world. The first jockey was gifted to the club as a thank you by regular J. Blan van Urk, who had his own private table and a dessert named after him. There are two jockeys dedicated to Secretariat, the greatest racehorse of all time, and many of the other jockeys gifted are from America’s most prominent stables. There are no televisions within the 21 Club but for their annual Kentucky Derby party, they were brought in.
In the Club Bar Room there is a wonderful array of collectables hanging from the ceiling, each one a gift from a regular patron, such as a smashed tennis racquet gifted by John McEnroe, a PT-109 torpedo boat from John F. Kennedy, and others gifted by celebrities and presidents.
If you are looking for a peek into the 21 Club, lucky for you it has been featured in many films and TV shows such as Wall Street (1987), Sex and the City (Season 6, Episode 11), All About Eve (1950), and Pose (Season 1, Episode 2).
We will miss you 21 Club; we hope to sip a martini with you again soon!