NEW YORK'S OLDEST THEATRE BAR CELEBRATES 75 YEARS!

SAM'S RESTAURANT & DREAM STREET CABARET (263 West 45th Street, NYC - 212-719-5416) is celebrating its 75th year as Broadway's most persistent and beloved theatrical watering hole. To mark the occasion, they are throwing a Holiday Anniversary Celebration including a special holiday cabaret show which will run through out December, featuring Sam's talented staff as well as appearances by some of Broadway's best; a Christmas CD with performances by their staff and profits going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; and performances by some of New York's greatest unsigned bands. A Holiday Cabaret/CD release party was held on Friday, December 6th at 10:00 pm at Sam's.

Established in the late 1920's by German immigrant Louis Bergen, Sam's is New York City's oldest continuously operating theatre bar. Back then, the sign out front simply read "The Theatre Bar and Restaurant" and catered to an ever-growing theatre community. Prohibition was in effect and "Louie's," as it came to be known, was naturally a popular speakeasy. It had the reputation as being a theatre insider's place, where the Broadway community could relax, before or after their shows. In 1947, Bergen retired and left the restaurant to Carl Cassini, his chef, and former chef turned bartender, Pat Sapienza. In 1962, Sapienza's son, Sam, took over management of the theatre bar having worked there since the age of 17. In 1988 the name was changed to Sam's and is currently run by Sam's daughter, Susan Norton and her husband Patrick.

Sam's received a nomination for a 2000 Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) Award, due to renovations done in 1999 and the creation of a performance space. "The Dream Street Cabaret," hosted by Ken Lundie, was born and is still running every Tuesday through Saturday night for the after show crowd, with performances by Lundie, Michael Walsh, Sam's talented singing staff as well as Broadway's special guests that often drop by for a number or two.

A recent addition to the Sam's family is the inclusion of band nights. After the cabaret, patrons are treated to some of the finest local music around, from jazz to rock and roll. Nowhere else in the city can you have a great dinner, watch a very entertaining cabaret and stay for drinks, while listening to great original music!

Up for possible landmark status, Sam's has played host to many stars over the years, including Cy Coleman, Hal Prince, Gene Kelley, George C. Scott, Glenn Close, Jackie Mason, Kathleen Turner, Joan Rivers and Jerry Herman. It has also produced stars, with staff going on to perform on Broadway, television and in films. Sam's is and has always been truly a family restaurant from the front of house to the kitchen staff and is a rare gem in the heart of Broadway!

 

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