Many replicated the multi-cultural and polysexual diversity of the Loft while others were more exclusionary catering to white gay men. In Chicago, the Warehouse was directly linked to the Loft. These included such New York venues as the Tenth Floor, Flamingo, 12 West, Gallery, Reade Street, Paradise Garage, and ultimately The Saint and Studio 54. As long as you had a neutral place where people could come and just enjoy themselves, there was such incredibly good music.”Īccording to author Tim Lawrence, the Loft was the most influential party of its era and the direct model for newly emerging parties and clubs. All this music that was coming from all different directions, it was all over the place. In an undated interview, Mancuso stressed, “Don’t forget, you had the civil rights movement going on, you had gay liberation going on. Guests were multiracial, LGBT and straight, young and old, single and coupled, and of various economic means. Mancuso’s goal was to create an egalitarian and commerce-free safe space that broke down racial, sexual, and economic barriers. Over the course of an evening, approximately 200 guests would attend. Tables were covered with bowls of punch and trays of bananas, raisins, nuts, and gum. Mancuso’s 2,500-square-foot loft was simply decorated with colored streamers and balloons hanging from the ceiling and balloons on the floor.
