1961 The law requires that cabarets only be permitted in manufacturing and commercial zones like the meatpacking district.

1967 The law is amended to remove the requirement that musicians playing in clubs "be of good character."

1978 The law requires that sprinkler systems be installed in clubs seating more than 75 people.

1986 Chevigny wins a case on behalf of the musicians' union (Chiasson v. New York City Department of Consumer Affairs). State Supreme Court Justice David Saxe strikes the three-musician limitation, which he says "nearly eliminated certain types of music, such as Dixieland and bluegrass music [and] also had a negative impact on jazz."

1989 The city tightens zoning restrictions as commercial zones become gentrified. With the exception of grandfathered spaces, areas that were previously considered as-of-right—Tribeca, Soho, and the flatiron district—are judged to be off-limits for cabarets.

2002 While there are 4811 liquor licenses in Manhattan, only 276 are licensed cabarets—down from 12,000 in 1961—with an additional 40 venues up for renewal.

Return to "The Safety Dance: You Can't Dance If You Want To" by Tricia Romano