the viper room haunted

The passing of Hollywood star River Phoenix cemented the Viper Rooms sordid reputation. Save. The LA-based firm Silver Creek Development will turn the legendary 8852 West Sunset Boulevard into a residential building with cafes, restaurants, and a luxury hotel. Published Jan 15, 2019. In the 1990s and earlier 2000s, the Viper Room was a hotbed of illegal activity involving drugs and high-stakes gambling. That fateful night, a bouncer had escorted Phoenix outside the nightclub where he instantly dropped to the ground. Phoenix had struggled with cocaine and heroin addiction. The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesRiver Phoenix (left) with Liza Minnelli (right) in 1991. And sadly, these two drugs would spell his end at The Viper Room. I must have blacked out again after that - the next memory I have is of being carried out of the club by paramedics on a stretcher. In 2004, Depp signed over his share in the Viper Room to Fox's daughter, Amanda, who sold it in 2008 (via NME). Many people associate 8852 Sunset with Cohen's headquarters, Michael's Exclusive Haberdashery, although the haberdashery sat one block east at 8804 Sunset. Given the history of drugs and rock 'n roll, this is an interesting one to visit. [15] In 2016, The Viper Room began issuing cease and desist notices to bootleg merchandise sellers on eBay and other online storefronts. It also allowed them to take drugs without fans or paparazzi chronicling their benders. Joaquin then made a heart-wrenching 911 call, which was later leaked to the press. (Photo Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty Images), When Samantha saw them out on the street after they were kicked out of the club, Phoenix was convulsing on the pavement outside. Kate Moss's21st birthday wasn't an exception which could be expected from the model whoselook basically, Donovan described the harrowing incident in his memoir, Donovan eventuallyturned his life around,at least partially due to the encouragement of Johnny Depp, who, River Phoenix Tragically Overdosed Outside Of The Viper Room, Slipknot's Corey Taylor Was Thrown In Jail After Purposely Smashing A Viper Room Window, Jason Donovan Was Carried Out Of The Viper Room In A Stretcher During Kate Moss's Birthday Party. Law enforcement arrested Sam Farkas, Mickey Cohen's bodyguard, according to the Green Bench Monthly, on suspicion of robbery. But as Playground to the Starspoints out, despite the evocative name, the Cotton Club had no connection to the wildly famous operation in Manhattan. River Pheonix in 1989, photo by Alan Light. Other performers include Avril Lavigne, Neurotic Outsiders (featuring Duff McKagan, The Penfifteen Club, Steve Jones and John Taylor), Keanu Reeves (who performed there with his band Dogstar in 1997), The Cult, Slash, X, Julliette and the Licks, Concrete Blonde, Green Day, Courtney Love, Hole, Joey Ramone, Tenacious D,[19] and The Strokes. A cop was sitting at a nearby red light and witnessed the whole thing. The most wide-publicized death took place just months after The Viper Room opened. "My heart was racing, my vision was blurring and I was becoming disorientated. According to witnesses, a tabloid cameraman bore the brunt of the attack after Lee allegedly threw him to the ground, damaging the man's hip. Since that day, the club has been in the hands of world-famous actor Johnny Depp, and has been a gathering place for Los Angeles celebrities. I think I'm OD'ing." Born River Jude Bottom on August 23, 1970, Phoenix spent his first days on a farm in Oregon. He was officially pronounced dead at 1:51 a.m. An autopsy report later revealed that the promising young actor had died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin. By then, the actor was already a common sight at drug-fueled parties. Inside The Tragic Death Of River Phoenix And The Downward Spiral That Preceded It. Ghost Adventures (littralement: Aventures de fantmes ) est une mission amricaine diffuse depuis le 17 octobre 2008 sur la chane amricaine Travel Channel et ds 2021 sur Discovery +. Credit: The Viper Room. And Hollywood tours still stop to point out the spot where the tragedy took place. Zak, Aaron, Billy, and Jay. Eventually . Like Phoenix, Donovan maintained a clean-cut image. Last Night at the Viper Room explores the young star's life, including his . In her spare time, Maddy loves playing volleyball, running, walking, and biking, although when she wants to be lazy she loves to read a good thriller. Joaquin, who would go on to star in Walk the Line and Gladiator, desperately called 911 after his brother had seizures on the sidewalk. Filthy McNasty's and the Central effectively set the stage for the mayhem of the 1990s and 2000s, with the Viper Room acting as a harbinger of hard music, illicit drug use, and illegal gambling. In 1995, choreographer Robin Antin put together a modern burlesque group called The Pussycat Dolls. The Viper Room Zak and the crew investigate the infamous Viper Room on West Hollywood's Sunset Strip. Hollywood's Haunted Viper Room By Kristen Winiarski Probably most famous for being the site where River Phoenix lost his life, The Viper Room goes back way before that fateful day in 1993 when he collapsed out front. Creepy Occult Around Los Angeles. The ring often included other actors such as Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matt Damon. After River Phoenixs death, The Viper Room temporarily closed in his honor. A celebrated rock 'n' roll dive The Viper Room on the Sunset Strip was a popular destination for young celebrities in the 1990s. Billed as "Harlem in Hollywood," the club featured an "All-Star Show." People are coming out and laughing at me. At just 23-years-old, River was poised to have a successful acting career alongside Leonardo DiCaprio when he collapsed outside of the Viper Room on October 31st, 1993. His parents John Lee Bottom and Arlyn Dunetz were known for their nomadic lifestyle and financial instability. Known as the "vegan James Dean," Phoenix's untimely death shocked many who celebrated the actor as an emblem of healthy living and environmentalism. The call was later leaked to news stations. Friends knew that River Phoenix had been abusing drugs, but his fatal overdose still came as a shock to many people. Dating back to 1921, it's one of the oldest buildings on The Stripand it didn't start out as a club. That same year, River Phoenix died of a drug overdose right outside the club. The Viper Room is the tenth episode of Season 14 of Ghost Adventures. The artist was admittedly "hammered" when his friend daredhim to kick his foot through the glass window of the famed LA club. While he survived, Austalian actor Jason Donovan had a coke-induced seizure while partying at the club in 1995. [9] The club changed hands multiple times between 2004 and 2016; the club is currently owned by Viper Room Holdings, Ltd. CEO James Cooper.[10][11]. Be the first to get new Haunting Tales and tour updates. While Joaquin and Rain didnt notice anything unusual, Mathis had a feeling that something was off with River. Cooper says the company continues to research the "highest and best use" of the property. But before Phoenix entered Hollywood, his early life was a humble one and quite unconventional. Without further adieu, lets dive into The Viper Room and explore its checkered past! Scala Productions/Sluizer FilmsRiver Phoenix in his last film, Dark Blood, which was released nearly 20 years after his death. Every Thursday night, the Pussycat Dolls would perform at the club. In the early 1990s, no hotter ticket existed than the Viper Room on West Hollywood's notorious Sunset Strip. It started out as a grocery store, but soon turned into a nightclub called The Cotton Club, then the Greenwich Village Inn before becoming The Melody Room in the 1950s. The development, which was announced. Though he was wearing shorts, he took the dare, and the window shattered. The Magic Castle Is Haunted. Tragically, it was what happened on Halloween 1993 with one such young celebrity that's made The Viper Room infamous. On Jan. 6, 2002, Fox's vehicle turned up, abandoned in Santa Clara, Calif., approximately 330 miles from Fox's Ventura residence. The Viper Room has a ton of history, tragedy, and supernatural occurrences that span about 101 years. Anyone whos anyone in Los Angeles has heard of The Viper Room on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood The now-haunted hotspot rose to its infamy after River Phoenix passed away in the bar on Halloween night in 1993 from an overdose. The mid-1990s and early 2000s proved an especially vibrant time for performers, including Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Oasis, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run-DMC, Counting Crows, Johnny Cash, and the Pussycat Dolls. Of course, times have changed since the club's height, and events have made for a precarious future. Old-time gambler Slim Gordon's Hollywood Boulevard club also felt the heat, as did three other less-than-savory establishments located on the same stretch of turf, the Susie-Q, Bradley's, and the Swing Club. But if you assume the past holds the Viper Room's seediest episodes, think again. But few people realize just how historic its location at 8852 Sunset really is. As Filthy McNasty's, the establishment attracted eclectic public figures like Elvis Presley, Phyllis Diller, Mick Jagger, Evel Knievel, and Tom Waits. Madeline Hiltz 1/19/2023. In addition to the drama Phoenix, one of the former co-owners, Anthony Fox, died in his office in 2001, while Michael Hutchence and Timothy Leary both died shortly after performing within the walls of the Viper. His official cause of death was an overdose of cocaine and heroin. The club was also a renowned mobster hangout and as we all know, where theres sketchy history, there are probably ghosts. Cuando se inaugur, el 14 de agosto de 1993, The Viper Room era el lugar ms popular de la ciudad. Although he no longer has any ownership in the club, he did have a rocky start after he got involved. During their investigation, they heard disembodied voices saying Im confused. They told the ticket-booth operator Rita about them, and she claims that this voice belonged to the ghost of River Phoenix, who passed suddenly and tragically at the club. If they could get beer on tap, get way better bands to perform and for the love get rid of the cheesy smoke machine things would be looking up for The Viper Room. There, River started auditioning which led to some appearances on TV shows. At the same time, an increasing collection of brazen establishments drew Hollywood crowds. One of the most famous girl groups of all time originated at The Viper Room. "Have you got anything on you?" To see such a promising young actor die so suddenly was heartbreaking, especially for his loved ones. Johnny Depp was one of the owners (he would give up his stake in 2004). In the late 1940s, Los Angeles experienced significant growth during the post-World War II manufacturing boom. River Phoenix at the 1989 Golden Globes (Photo Credit: Barry King/ WireImage/ Getty Images). In 1969, it became "Filthy McNasty's". After learning about River Phoenixs death, read about the tragic demise of Amy Winehouse. I knew something was wrong that night, something I didnt understand, she said. I tried to steady myself but my legs buckled under me and I fell to the floor.". After the tragedy, his brothers 911 call was broadcast all over the world. So, what do you think? One bartender who had worked at the Viper Room for sixteen years said that he felt like the bottom bar had a different energy than the top a more malevolent one. Although photos of the hedonistic event prove rare, tales (and fashion) from the party remain the stuff of legends, according to Vogue. Mar 29, 2022. By today's standards, the Phil Moore Four marked a veritable yawn-fest, promising "Music with a Sweet Beat," and likely equally "Sweet Dreams." My heart was racing, my vision was blurring and I was becoming disorientated. The LA-based firm Silver Creek Development will turn the legendary 8852 West Sunset Boulevard into a residential building with cafes, restaurants, and a luxury hotel. But perhaps the nail in the coffin remains the fact that trendy bands and A-List celebs grace the club less often these days. He chased it with Valium. Despite the much-publicized death, the Viper Room persisted as a star-studded hangout throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. In Last Night at the Viper Room, acclaimed author and journalist Gavin Edwards vividly recounts the life and tragic death of acclaimed actor River Phoenixa teen idol on the fast track to Hollywood royalty who died of a drug overdose in front of West Hollywood's storied club, the Viper Room, at the age of 23.. Last Night at the Viper Room explores the young star's life, including his . River Phoenix and his younger brother Joaquin, pictured in the early 1980s. Photo: Getty Images North America. While he rarely spoke about the Children of God in public, his mother once quoted him as saying, Theyre disgusting. On the guest list was Australian soap star-turned-singer Jason Donovan, who returned to his hotel room throughout the night to snort lines of cocaine andeventually collapsed with cocaine-induced seizures. On October 31, 1993, actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose outside the notorious Viper Room nightclub in Hollywood. But according to the Chicago Tribune, a violent scuffle would put a negative spotlight on the Viper Room on Sept. 29, 1996. They soon changed their last name to Phoenix, converted to veganism, and moved to California. I went on a tour that went past the Viper Room at one point and the tour guide gave out tickets to the venue (I couldn't go because not 21 but kept the ticket). In 1972, River Phoenixs parents decided to join the Children of God cult. It changed hands and took on various different incarnations over the years, including a stint as a strip club owned by mobster Mickey Cohen. The Cotton Club enjoyed a limited run. Celebrities Connected to . His brother, Joaquin, called 911. The Pussycat Dolls performed at The Viper Room until 2001. The Viper Room officially opened in 1993. In theory, at least, The Viper Room will re-emerge from the rubble. Samantha Mathis felt like something wasnt right. As stories of West Hollywood's mayhem and debauchery reached the ears of legislators, the Greenwich Village Inn became the epicenter of the action. But the charges against Farkas would be dropped, and in 1958, he married the mob boss' ex-wife, Lavon (a.k.a. He said: Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.'. 8852 Sunset Blvd. While working as missionaries for the controversial group, the family shuttled between Texas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. By September 1950, the modest building reopened as the Last Call, a strip club specializing in a "Rendezvous of the Stars" and "Strip-Capades." THE VIPER ROOM - 257 Photos & 398 Reviews - 8852 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, California - Music Venues - Phone Number - Offerings - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services The Viper Room 398 reviews Claimed $$ Music Venues, Dance Clubs, Bars Closed See hours See all 271 photos Write a review Add photo Offerings View offerings Despite all its history, The Viper Room is set to be developed into a high-rise starting in 2023. [20], In the 1983 film Valley Girl, the building (then housing a nightclub called The Central) was used for scenes featuring the new-wave band the Plimsouls. Few nights proved more happening than Aug. 14, 1993, on the south side of the Sunset Strip. Born Wilfried Bartsch in Berlin, McNasty and his brother, Wolfgang, relocated to America in 1956, finding work in the restaurant business before acquiring and revamping the Melody Lounge. After the tragedy, his brother's 911 call was broadcast all over the world. At first, she thought the two men were fighting, but then she saw Phoenix drop to the ground and go into convulsions. This was soon replaced by "The Greenwich Village Inn", the "Rue Angel" and finally "The Last Call" during the 1940s. There was almost another near-overdose at The Viper Room in January 1995. With a famous owner, the tragic death of a beloved actor, and the unsolved disappearance of a business partner, the nightclub is filled with sinister energy. The night club's reputation has calmed in recent years aftershifting ownership and focusingon breaking underground talent rather than housing well-known rock stars like John Frusciante, who performed a bizarre, drug-fueled set in the '90s, and Queens of the Stone Age, who played for free after they already hit it big. Murders That Go Unsolved. [16], At Depp's request, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed on the club's opening night.[17]. It is one of the oldest built remaining structures on the Sunset Strip. #5 of 35 Nightlife in West Hollywood. Though he was wearing shorts, he took the dare, and the window shattered. Despite the hullabaloo, the subcommittee's recommendations went unheeded for one very intimidating reason the influence of organized criminals, including Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen. Tragically, this would culminate in his death outside the notorious Viper Room nightclub. Columbia PicturesRiver Phoenix in Stand By Me, the 1986 movie that helped make him a star. The Viper Room opened on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood in 1993. Credits: Culture Trip Learn more Following the tragic event, Depp closed the Viper Room every October 31 in commemoration of Phoenix's death, reports LA Magazine. A few days later, on October 30, 1993, River decided to visit The Viper Room with his girlfriend Samantha Mathis, his brother Joaquin Phoenix, and his sister Rain Phoenix. Over the years, it attracted a steady crowd of recognizable faces, including Uma Thurman, Mick Jagger, Tommy Lee, Pamela Anderson, Charlize Theron, Pink, Juliette Lewis, Cameron Diaz, and more. They went into a quieter area and were able to capture voices on tape that Viper Room employee Rita Fiora believed to be River when he said, I get confused.. The Viper Room. When nights wound down at Filthy McNasty's, celebs relocated to the F.M. Jennifer Anniston and a friend arrive at The Viper Room, 1999. Watch your inbox for new Haunting Tales and tour updates. But few in attendance could've predicted the future of the smoke-filled joint, as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers inaugurated the location. She has experienced paranormal situations herself with grabby ghosts pulling her leg, and another time when a ghost texted her from a dead number and got upset that she couldnt see her. But no matter what becomes of the Viper Room down the road, one thing's for sure. August of 1993 is when it finally became The Viper Room after Johnny Depp became a co-owner and majority stockholder. According to one waitress, she states that the Viper Room regularly hosted games featuring some of Hollywoods most elite stars like DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, and Tobey Maguire. Just days before Fox was scheduled to testify in late 2001, The Charley Project reports that Fox went missing along with a .38 caliber revolver and his pickup truck. But a tragic event brought the club permanent infamy just two-and-a-half months after opening. Before the club is set to be demolished early next year, it is worth remembering the tragic Halloween night nearly 30 years ago - staff claiming ghosts from the past still haunt the venue. Like the Cotton Club, the Greenwich Village Inn bore a famous name a callback to the Greenwich Village Caf located in the 1920's Christie Hotel (the first "modern" luxury hotel, according to the Los Angeles Times). [7], Despite the death of River Phoenix the year the venue opened, the club became and remained a hangout for Hollywood's most popular young actors and musicians. The Sunset Strip was born. He later died in the hospital. It was opened in 1993 and has been famous in the news for various reasons at various times. Johnny Depp Was Blamed For River Phoenix's Death. Before long, he was starring in other major films like 1988s Running On Empty and 1991s My Own Private Idaho. But a fire engulfed the rear of the building on Jan. 9, 1950, causing $10,000 in damages, writes Playground to the Stars. Until February 2009 there was a nightclub with the same name in Melbourne, Australia; it was closed down due to a spate of violent incidents that included two shootings as well as license breaches and the arrest of a co-owner on drug charges. https://www.ranker.com/list/what-has-happened-at-the-viper-room/mariel-loveland, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Viper_Room, https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-adventures/photos/ghost-adventures-the-viper-room. Visitors to the club today say yes, and the stories that still emanate from this serpentine structure surely corroborate those claims. A year-and-half after River Phoenix's tragic death outside the Viper Room, another dark episode unfolded, involving Australian singer Jason Donovan. Depp wanted to open a venue where he could hang out with his famous friends and where he could play guitar away from the prying eyes (and lens) of the paparazzi. From drug overdoses to violent scuffles, illegal poker games to whispers of murder, the past two decades have yielded up some of the club's most shocking and salacious rumors, thanks to the Hollywood big names frequenting the joint. [6] Tom Waits also had a hand in redeveloping the spot. Since then, the club famously owned by Johnny Depphas been known as a hotbed for unsavory activity. Over the years, it attracted a steady crowd of recognizable faces, including Uma Thurman, Mick Jagger, Tommy Lee, Pamela Anderson, Charlize Theron, Pink, Juliette Lewis, Cameron Diaz, and more. Weight: 245 g. Dimensions: 203 x 135 x 16 mm. After calling for medical attention, River later died in the hospital. By June 1946, the grocery store vanished, replaced by the Cotton Club, an establishment that made no bones about attracting and entertaining America's most notorious criminals. I wanted to reach out and say hello because he was this great mystery and wed never met, said DiCaprio. But he didnt stay there for long. Budding superstar River Phoenix died aged 23 outside the venue on Halloween night in 1993 as his brother Joaquin watched on. [25] The other part owner was Sal Jenco who starred in 21 Jump Street with Depp.

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