Peter Gatien
Encyclopedia
Peter Gatien was the owner of several New York
nightclub
s, including The Limelight
, Palladium, Club USA, and Tunnel
. He was once dubbed as the "King of New York Clubs", during his time in New York City.
, the third of five brothers. His first business venture was a jeans
store in his home town, which he opened with a $13,000 settlement after he lost an eye in a hockey accident. After that, he turned a former country western bar into a rock
club called Aardvark, and booked the band Rush
to perform. In 1976, he read about a bankrupt nightclub in Florida
; the space became the first incarnation of the Limelight. Limelight Atlanta followed. The longest period of time in which The Limelight remained closed was from 1996 to 1998. It reopened from 1998 onward until Gatien sold it in 2001 to a real estate developer.
Gatien produced the 1993 film A Bronx Tale
, which starred Robert de Niro
, after having produced it as a one-man play starring Chazz Palminteri
.
A 1996 federal investigation attempted but failed to link Gatien to the sales of party drugs, especially Ecstasy in his clubs, but his acquittal in 1998 left him with huge legal fees. In addition he was later arrested on tax evasion charges after a series of club raids; he was acquitted of most of the charges. He pled guilty to tax evasion
in 1999, for which he was sentenced to a fine of $1.9 million, and a 60-day prison
sentence. In 2003, he was deported to his native Canada, due to the Department of Homeland Security immigration
laws which order the removal of any alien
(non-citizen) convicted of a felony
. However, because he is part Native American
, Gatien has since been able to visit the United States again.
Gatien currently lives in Toronto
, where he opened a 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²) entertainment venue, CiRCA. By 2009 he was no longer involved with Circa and he has been out of the nightclub business since that time. Circa was forced into bankruptcy and closed its doors in March 2010.
Gatien has a daughter, Jen Gatien, who is a film producer. In 2011 she produced the documentary Limelight (2011 documentary) about New York City night life in the 1990s and the rise and fall of her father's club empire.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s, including The Limelight
The Limelight
The Limelight is the name of a chain of nightclubs that were owned and operated by Peter Gatien, located in Atlanta, Hollywood, Florida, and London, and formerly in New York City and Chicago.-History:...
, Palladium, Club USA, and Tunnel
Tunnel (New York nightclub)
Tunnel was a nightclub in New York City, located at 220 Twelfth Avenue, in the Chelsea district of Manhattan, New York City, in the Terminal Warehouse Company Central Stores Building, which is now part of the West Chelsea Historic District. Tunnel was opened in early 1987 by Peter Gatien, in a...
. He was once dubbed as the "King of New York Clubs", during his time in New York City.
Life and career
Gatien was born in Cornwall, OntarioCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
, the third of five brothers. His first business venture was a jeans
Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
store in his home town, which he opened with a $13,000 settlement after he lost an eye in a hockey accident. After that, he turned a former country western bar into a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
club called Aardvark, and booked the band Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
to perform. In 1976, he read about a bankrupt nightclub in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
; the space became the first incarnation of the Limelight. Limelight Atlanta followed. The longest period of time in which The Limelight remained closed was from 1996 to 1998. It reopened from 1998 onward until Gatien sold it in 2001 to a real estate developer.
Gatien produced the 1993 film A Bronx Tale
A Bronx Tale
A Bronx Tale is a 1993 American crime drama film set in The Bronx during the turbulent era of the 1960s. It was the directorial debut of Robert De Niro, and follows a young Italian-American teenager as his path in life is guided by two father figures, played by De Niro and Chazz Palminteri...
, which starred Robert de Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
, after having produced it as a one-man play starring Chazz Palminteri
Chazz Palminteri
Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri is an American actor and writer, best known for his performances in The Usual Suspects, A Bronx Tale, and his Academy Award nominated role for Best Supporting Actor in Bullets Over Broadway....
.
A 1996 federal investigation attempted but failed to link Gatien to the sales of party drugs, especially Ecstasy in his clubs, but his acquittal in 1998 left him with huge legal fees. In addition he was later arrested on tax evasion charges after a series of club raids; he was acquitted of most of the charges. He pled guilty to tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
in 1999, for which he was sentenced to a fine of $1.9 million, and a 60-day prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
sentence. In 2003, he was deported to his native Canada, due to the Department of Homeland Security immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
laws which order the removal of any alien
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
(non-citizen) convicted of a felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
. However, because he is part Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, Gatien has since been able to visit the United States again.
Gatien currently lives in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, where he opened a 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²) entertainment venue, CiRCA. By 2009 he was no longer involved with Circa and he has been out of the nightclub business since that time. Circa was forced into bankruptcy and closed its doors in March 2010.
Gatien has a daughter, Jen Gatien, who is a film producer. In 2011 she produced the documentary Limelight (2011 documentary) about New York City night life in the 1990s and the rise and fall of her father's club empire.
In popular culture
- Gatien and the histories of his clubs were discussed at length in the book The Last Party: Studio 54, Disco, and the Culture of the Night, by Anthony Haden-GuestAnthony Haden-GuestAnthony Haden-Guest is a British-American writer, reporter, cartoonist, art critic, poet, and socialite who lives in New York and London. He is a frequent contributor to major magazines and has had several books published.-Family:...
. Haden-Guest's book chronicles the history of New York nightlife and all the significant people and events that impacted its evolution from Studio 54Studio 54Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
through to the days of Limelight, Tunnel and Palladium. - Gatien was also a prominent character in two books about scandals involving former club promoter Michael AligMichael AligMichael Alig is the co-founding member of the Club Kids, a group of young clubgoers led by long time best friend James St. James and Alig in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, including Disco BloodbathDisco BloodbathDisco Bloodbath: A Fabulous but True Tale of Murder in Clubland is a 1999 memoir written by James St. James about his life as a Manhattan celebutante and club kid. The book specifically chronicles his friend Michael Alig's rise to fame and his subsequent murder of fellow club kid and drug dealer...
by James St. JamesJames St. JamesJames St. James is an American television personality, author, celebutante and former Club Kid of the Manhattan club scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s.James St...
, and Clubland: The Fabulous Rise and Murderous Fall of Club Culture, by Frank Owen. Disco Bloodbath was later made into the movie Party Monster starring Macaulay CulkinMacaulay CulkinMacaulay Carson Culkin is an American actor. He became widely known for his portrayal of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He is also known for his roles in Richie Rich, Uncle Buck, My Girl, The Pagemaster, and Party Monster...
and Seth GreenSeth GreenSeth Benjamin Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show, and the voice of Chris...
, and chronicles the events leading up to the murder of Angel MelendezAngel MelendezAndre Melendez , better known as Angel Melendez, was a Club Kid and drug dealer who lived and worked in New York City. Melendez and his family arrived in New York from Colombia when Melendez was eight years old...
, committed by Michael AligMichael AligMichael Alig is the co-founding member of the Club Kids, a group of young clubgoers led by long time best friend James St. James and Alig in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
. The character of Peter Gatien was played by Dylan McDermottDylan McDermottMark Anthony McDermott , better known by his professional name of Dylan McDermott, is an American actor, known for his role as lawyer and law firm head Bobby Donnell on the television legal drama The Practice and his role in the series Dark Blue as Lt. Carter Shaw. McDermott currently stars in FX...
. - In 2007 Gatien was made into a DunnyDunny (toy)A Dunny is a type of vinyl designer toy created by Paul Budnitz and Tristan Eaton, and produced by Kidrobot from 2004.The toy is based on a rabbit figure with distinctive tubular ears. The origin of the name Dunny came from a combination of street slang and one of the early "Devil Bunny"...
, a type of vinyl designer toy. - Gatien is mentioned in the song "The Fun Lovin' Criminal" by The Fun Lovin' Criminals: "I am always optimistic about human relations, I got more friends than my man Peter Gatien". He is also mentioned in the song "Foundation" by Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, who raps, "Me and my operation, running New York nightscene, with one eye closed, like Peter Gatien".