FIREBIRD CAFE OFFICIALLY CLOSES

CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE SPECIAL REPORT - 02/04/02

Last night I attended the final performance of cabaret at THE FIREBIRD CAFE (363 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-586-0244 - http://www.firebirdrestaurant.com/). Before the show I was informed by booking manager Jim Pallone that the club would be closing after the performance. This announcement came after several weeks of uncertainty, awaiting decision of the owners and management.

In September, 1997, CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE reported:

"The buzz is that a new cabaret space is opening soon right on my block (Restaurant Row - West 46th St. between 8th & 9th). It is all hush-hush and I have been walking up and down the street trying to figure out where it will be located. (Firebird? The Russian Restaurant with a flair for show-biz? They have a Russian-dressed guard outside with a fake gun and holster.) It is supposed to be downstairs of one of the restaurants, rumored to be up-scale, and the booking manager is supposed to be a cabaret power. More on this soon."

Well, a few months later, the club did open as a part of THE FIREBIRD under the leadership of Donald Smith of the MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION, who served in the areas of Public Relations and consulted on booking. It opened with great fanfare, and was seen as a great boost for the cabaret community in NYC, which had lost two upscale cabaret rooms, the famed RAINBOW & STARS CABARET as well as THE CABARET AT THE RUSSIAN TEA ROOM.

Some months after another famed cabaret, EIGHTY EIGHT'S, closed, Erv Raible, former owner and booking manager, was hiired by THE FIREBIRD to attempt to turn around cabaret room, which had apparently failed to return the profits that the owners had expected. However, new management which apparently had no love for cabaret, as well as tighter fiscal policies, soon saw Mr. Raible resign in frustration.

Jim Pallone, a one-time cabaret performer who had been serving as maitre de in the cafe, took over management of the room. His dedication to cabaret alone kept the room open for two more years, but as days were cut from the schedule, and audience minimums were enforced, causing the cancellation of several performances, it became even more difficult to make the space profitable.

Mr. Pallone would not speculate as to his own future at THE FIREBIRD. He continues as an employee. We wish him all the best.

 

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