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Leviticus was a popular nightclub in midtown Manhattan (NY Amsterdam News, July 21, 2016, in an article about Vaughn Harper's funeral) that opened in November 1974 at 45 W. 33rd Street in Manhattan and featured disco music until its closing in October 1988. In 1978, when the image of disco began to fade, Leviticus sought to re-invent itself with a new name, Leviticus International, and by featuring live acts in addition to disco dancing. Acts included Cuba Gooding and the Main Ingredient, Blue Magic, Stevie Wonder, Bootsy Collins, Phyllis Hyman, Mtume, Ashford & Simpson, Taste of Honey, Curtis Mayfield, and the Pointer Sisters among others. Vaughn Harper served as MC and introduced the groups and Jimmy Simpson, Valerie Simpson's brother, was a frequent DJ.

Leviticus was founded by The Best of Friends,Inc., an organization that also owned Justine's on W. 38th Street, Bogard's on E. 48th Street, Orpheus on Washington Ave. in Brooklyn and Lucifer's on Linden Blvd. in Queens.

Leviticus, along with the other clubs, had a strict dress code: jackets required, no sneakers or jeans and men had to remove hats. Drug use was not tolerated. If a patron was caught using drugs, they would be banned. The Best of Friends avoided radio advertising to promote their clubs. Rather, they relied on personal contacts and their own mailing list in order to insure an inviting atmosphere for guests.

Many celebrities visited Leviticus and other clubs owned by The Best of Friends, including Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Wonder, fashion designer Valentino, many of the New York Knicks and popular radio personalities Frankie Crocker and Ken "Spyder" Webb. Vaughn Harper was the MC at Leviticus, but even after he became a successful radio personality, he occasionally came back to Leviticus to serve as MC.

Leviticus also was the site of the first political fundraisers for uptown politicians. NYC Mayor David Dinkins, Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton, and Harlem Congressman Charles Rangel held fundraisers at Leviticus or Othellos. Leviticus closed in 1988 after a 14-year run.

History Leviticus was owned and operated by The Best of Friends, Inc. (TBOF), a group of 8 young men who promoted disco-like events from 1970 - 1973 in various NYC clubs. Events were held weekly on specific nights at La Martinique, the Ginza, Casa Blanca, Barney Googles and Al Mounia. TBOF played records on high quality sound systems in such a way that the beat was continuous with no break between songs. The music was consuming. The technology to play continuous music existed for several years, but TBOF helped popularize it via their many weekly events. Patrons dressed up to attend these events because there was the dress codeThe dress code, which was designed to encourage good behavior in the clubs.

The Best of Friends, Inc. The Best of Friends (TBOF) was a social club founded in 1968 when most of the members graduated from college. Members included Tony Cooper, Danny Berry, Charles “CP” Perry, Andre Smith, Wayne Scarbrough, Mal Woolfolk, Harry Felder and Noel Hankin. The purpose of the organization was to give dances as a way to enhance the members' social lives. Dances were held at hotel ballrooms and halls, mostly in midtown Manhattan.

In May 1970, TBOF organized dance parties at the Ginza located at 40 E. 58th Street in Manhattan. These events were held every Thursday and attracted a young, diverse crowd, but mostly African Americans. After a few months TBOF expanded to La Martinique located at 45 W. 57th Street where dance parties were held every Friday night. Additional nights and several other venues were soon lined up to meet the growing demand. By 1972, the schedule of dance parties included 11 events per week as follows:

·Ginza (midtown east)–Thurs., Fri., Sat.

·La Martinique (midtown west) – Wed., Fri., Sat., Sun.

·Casa Blanca (upper west side) – Thurs. & Mon.

·Barney Google (upper east side) – Sun.

·Al Mounia (midtown south) – Thurs.

These dance parties all featured continuous music that matched the beat from one song to the next so that dancers never missed a step. This created a high level of energy and excitement that laid the foundation for what would be labeled “disco” by the mid-70s. TBOF began opening their own clubs in 1973 starting with Lucifers in Queens followed by Leviticus and Othellos (later renamed Justine’s)in midtown west. Orpheus on Washington Ave. in Brooklyn was added next and finally Bogard’s on E. 48th Street in Manhattan.

TBOF dissolved in 1988 when Leviticus was closed.