Beginning in 2005, the Viper Room housed some of Hollywood's highest-stakes poker games (via Time), with buy-ins starting at $5,000 and often going much higher. Law enforcement arrested Sam Farkas, Mickey Cohen's bodyguard, according to the Green Bench Monthly, on suspicion of robbery. Some Of The Most Violent, Strange, and Tragic Stories from Johnny Depp Maddy Hiltz is someone who loves all things history. Fox accused Depp and four other partners of conspiring to defraud the club of millions. The Hollywood Ghosts of the Legendary Viper Room - YouTube Donovan described the harrowing incident in his memoir Between the Lines: My Story Uncut. At just 23-years-old, River Phoenix was one of the most beloved stars of the 1990s. Friends knew that River Phoenix had been abusing drugs, but his fatal overdose still came as a shock to many people. (Photo Credit: Denny Keeler/ Getty Images). The redesigned Viper Room. When nights wound down at Filthy McNasty's, celebs relocated to the F.M. The 2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle "Pink Panther Dance" scene was filmed at the club,[citation needed] though the club's name was changed in the film to "The Treasure Chest". As for the Melody Room? Inspired by Harlem's 1920s jazz clubs, the Viper Room is one of Los Angeles' most legendary music venues. One of the oldest buildings on the Sunset Strip, it dates back to 1921. 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. I stayed in a supposedly haunted hotel (not on purpose). The day after the Last Call closed, Mickey Cohen received an indictment on charges of tax evasion. By 2001, a court case was on the horizon, with Fox fully prepared to testify against Depp. (The Viper Room) (Sunset Strip) 19932004 . On the surface, everything looked tame. According to Bob Forrest, one of Phoenix's close friends who also happened to be at the Viper Room that night, the group would regularly "smoke crack or shoot coke directly into a vein" then "shoot heroin to get a grip and come down enough to be able to carry on a conversation for a few minutes before you start the cycle again." From his fans across the globe to his famous friends, everyone felt a visceral loss. After calling for medical attention, River later died in the hospital. See inside scandal-ridden history of Los Angeles' club The Viper Room 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. 373K views, 4.8K likes, 1K loves, 474 comments, 1K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from BuzzFeed Unsolved: This infamous club on Sunset Boulevard has been home to countless famous faces in its nearly. Since then, the club famously owned by Johnny Depp has been known as a hotbed for unsavory activity. Soon, the Viper Room's siren call attracted a steady stream of A-Listers and music legends. Situated on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, the Viper Room was both a cultural Mecca and an escape room for the hottest stars of the era. Tributes at The Viper Room honoring River Phoenix the day after his death in 1993. Two of Phoenixs siblings, Joaquin and Rain, were also in attendance. Joaquin, who would go on to star in Walk the Line and Gladiator, desperately called 911 after his brother had seizures on the sidewalk. "Courtney Love says Johnny Depp saved her life outside the Viper Room", "Filthy McNasty, LA club owner of lore", LA Observed, April 21, 2016, "Filthy McNasty, Icon of the Old Sunset Strip, Has Died", Whoville, April 23, 2016, "The History (and Future) of the Sunset Strips Viper Room", West Hollywood, July 5, 2018, Ten Things You Never Knew About Tom Waits, "A Christmas Murder In Hollywood, Part Three: Another Tragic Anniversary", "WeHo residents oppose Viper Room project", "Business Search - Business Entities - Business Programs | California Secretary of State", "Nightclub coils to strike in trademark infringement suits", "New Viper Room Mixed-Use Project Notches $60M Loan", How Johnny Cash became an even bigger star after his death, "24 Rare Photos of Celebrities Inside L.A.'s Infamous Viper Room", "Viper Room Sold on Sunset Strip; Site Could Be Redeveloped", "The real 'Molly's Game': Inside Tobey Maguire's high-stakes underground poker ring", "Watch Ed Sheeran's gender-flipped video for 'Blow', featuring Bruno Mars and Chris Stapleton", "Adam Duritz Went Back to Tending Bar at the Viper Room After Counting Crows Hit It Big", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Viper_Room&oldid=1150166675, The Viper Room is featured in an episode of paranormal series, The Viper Room basement is the setting for the initial set of poker games, In 2021, the Viper Room was the feature of season 1, episode 2 of, This page was last edited on 16 April 2023, at 17:37. A year-and-half after River Phoenix's tragic death outside the Viper Room, another dark episode unfolded, involving Australian singer Jason Donovan. It soon became a hotbed for young celebrities, and just two months later, on Halloween, its most famous tragedy happened. As stories of West Hollywood's mayhem and debauchery reached the ears of legislators, the Greenwich Village Inn became the epicenter of the action. The Viper Room (West Hollywood) - All You Need to Know - Tripadvisor On October 31, 1993, actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose outside the notorious Viper Room nightclub in Hollywood. Rare Photos Inside Johnny Depp's Viper Room in Los Angeles - Esquire If one could hop in a time-traveling DeLorean DMC-12, a night at this divey hotspot might yield a tete-a-tete with young celebs like Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, or Uma Thurman chokers, flannel, and all. Ten days later, he committed suicide in his hotel room in Sydney, Australia. Johnny Depp was one of the owners (he would give up his stake in 2004). When actor Johnny Depp launched The Viper Room in 1993, it automatically became one of the hottest places on the Sunset Strip. Curtis claims Tobey Maguire staged the illegal games. In the early 1990s, no hotter ticket existed than the Viper Room on West Hollywood's notorious Sunset Strip. 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. River Phoenix arrived at The Viper Room in the early morning hours of Halloween, along with his girlfriend and younger brother, Joaquin. Although he no longer has any ownership in the club, he did have a rocky start after he got involved. Viper Room Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Credit: The Viper Room. Despite all its history, The Viper Room is set to be developed into a high-rise starting in 2023. The Viper Room, Upcoming Events in West Hollywood on DoLA (Photo Credit: Rich Fury/ Getty Images). Phoenix collapsed outside of the club in front of his brother and sister, Joaquin and Rain Phoenix;Rainsat onRiver's chest to try and stop his convulsing. Drugs, Dolls and Johnny Depp: The Viper Room's demolition is - Yahoo Parking is $10 in the lot behind the Viper Room or adjoining the Viper Room. I feel like in virtually every movie that I made, there was a connection to River in some way. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesTributes at The Viper Room honoring River Phoenix the day after his death in 1993. From 1951 to 1969, 8852 Sunset operated as The Melody Room, owned by brothers Pete and Billy Snyder, according toVisit West Hollywood. Born River Jude Bottom on August 23, 1970, Phoenix spent his first days on a farm in Oregon. 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. Los Angeless infamous Viper Room, which was once Hollywoods hot spot, is set to be destroyed. But few in attendance could've predicted the future of the smoke-filled joint, as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers inaugurated the location. Inaugurated in 1993, owned partly by actor Johnny Depp who is under watch The Viper Room is known for the drug-fueled debauchery that ensued inside its doors during the '90s. There were also some traces of Valium, marijuana, and ephedrine found in his system. "Have you got anything on you?" Anthony Fox owned it before it was The Viper Room. On Jan. 6, 2002, Fox's vehicle turned up, abandoned in Santa Clara, Calif., approximately 330 miles from Fox's Ventura residence. On the night River overdosed, he drank a speedball a mix of heroin and cocaine dissolved into a drink and chased it with Valium. I am not sure what happened next but I do know that someone had pulled the plug on the music and was calling for an ambulance. River Phoenix died just outside the nightclub. At the time, his parents and four siblings were entirely dependent on Rivers success. Drea de Matteo attends a performance by The Cult at The Viper Room in Los Angeles on . Nightlife, Bars & Clubs. Weird Facts About the Viper Room in Los Angeles (PHOTOS - Thrillist But if you assume the past holds the Viper Room's seediest episodes, think again. By today's standards, the Phil Moore Four marked a veritable yawn-fest, promising "Music with a Sweet Beat," and likely equally "Sweet Dreams." Every Thursday night, the Pussycat Dolls would perform at the club. Though he was wearing shorts, he took the dare, and the window shattered. But he didnt stay there for long. Phoenix collapsed outside of the club in front of his brother and sister, Joaquin and Rain Phoenix;Rain. Donovan eventuallyturned his life around,at least partially due to the encouragement of Johnny Depp, who recommended the singer"take it easy in the future. Station club. But despite the benign sound of Phil and the Fours' show, the Greenwich Village Inn found itself, along with seven other Hollywood hotspots, embroiled in a statewide scandal. at Laherty, West Hollywood, CA 90069. 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. He saw then-23-year-old Phoenix "disappear in front of my very eyes." For a time, fans blamed Depp for Phoenix's tragic death. Leonardo DiCaprio was also there that night. The next 18 years saw its rise as a mainstay of the L.A. music scene, featuring performances by Billy Ward and the Dominoes, Bobby Troup, Bobby Short, and many more. Anyone who's 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. He reportedly stayed sober for two months while filming the movie Dark Blood in Utah and New Mexico. Samantha Mathis, Phoenix's girlfriend, and his siblings, Rain and Leaf (a.k.a. Mtley Cre drummer, Tommy Lee, and his "Baywatch" beauty, Pamela Lee, had an altercation involving paparazzi outside the club. A piece of West Hollywood history will transition into a multi-use project starting next year. In 1999, Johnny Depp found himself in the middle of a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by his business partner Anthony Fox. Theyre ruining peoples lives.. [4][5] This nightclub was close to shutting down before Chuck E. Weiss, who had performed there for years, suggested to Depp that he should revitalize the spot and rename it "The Viper Room". Save. By the early 1990s, he had become a Hollywood star. 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. A runway in the middle of the club permitted dancers to stray throughout the audience performing. It was announced in 2022 that the old Viper Room will be replaced with a . However, there are rumors that the new complex will feature original Viper Room memorabilia throughout the building. Known as the "vegan James Dean," Phoenix's untimely death shocked many who celebrated the actor as an emblem of healthy living and environmentalism. 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. A nightclub located in Cincinnati, Ohio, was formerly called "The Viper Room". It's been 20 years since River Phoenix died on October 31, 1993 at the Viper Room, where the 23-year-old Oscar nominee drank a "speedball" of heroin and cocaine dissolved into a drink before. Like Phoenix, Donovan maintained a clean-cut image. She was mad that I couldnt see her.. "Twenty years after his death, River Phoenix remains as enigmatic and elusive as ever. He returned to Los Angeles on October 26, 1993. Over the years, speculation has run wild about Depp's supposed role in the disappearance, as well as the possibility of murder. The original building where the club is currently located is slated to be demolished by 2023, to make way for a replacement club, retail and a five star hotel tower. The Viper Room on the Sunset Strip was a popular destination for young celebrities in the 1990s. The Viper Room Curse: Celeb Death & Violence Inside Johnny Depp's LA Club 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. The Viper Room is a nightclub and live music venue located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, United States. See Tune-In Times Previous Episode Witches in Magna Next Episode Asylum 49 While predominantly known as a music venue, the Viper Room also hosts a lower level below the stage and audience area, which is home to a large whiskey bar. In 2001, Johnny Depp found himself embroiled in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit launched by one of his Viper Room business partners, Anthony Fox, according to Medium. But before Phoenix entered Hollywood, his early life was a humble one and quite unconventional. Located at 8852 Sunset Boulevard, The Viper Room's storied address has a surprisingly long history behind it. As Donovan later recalled in his memoir, With Johnny [Depp] on guitar, Michael [Hutchence] started to sing the Van Morrison classic Gloria We were halfway through the song, belting out the chorus, when I realized I was about to go. Zak Bagans and the crew of Ghost Adventures. These are the guys from all corners of the United States that make up the critically-acclaimed Travel Channel hit, Ghost Adventures. In a strange turn of events, DiCaprio actually saw Phoenix in Hollywood on the same night that he died just hours before he left this Earth. [18] In 1997, the Viper Room was also a place of a few early solo live performances by John Frusciante at the time of his bad physical condition caused by drug abuse. The drug routine stayed pretty consistent for all of us. [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 Viper Room Halloween Death Site 1993 Daze with Jordan the Lion 202K views 6 years ago Messed Up Things That Happened At The Viper Room Grunge 652K views 8 months ago The Hollywood. 104 Reviews. Both have origins in the New Orleans jazz scene of the 1920s and 1930s. Some people speculated in-fighting between gangsters produced the mysterious blaze. In the 1990s and earlier 2000s, the Viper Room was a hotbed of illegal activity involving drugs and high-stakes gambling. The Viper Room I tried to speak but couldn't. The development, which was announced. First, smoke crack or shoot coke directly into a vein for that ninety-second, electric brain-bell jangle., Then shoot heroin to get a grip and come down enough to be able to carry on a conversation for a few minutes before you start the cycle again.. Kate Moss's21st birthday wasn't an exception which could be expected from the model whoselook basically inspired the term "heroin chic.". The Viper Room has been through a lot of changes and names over the years, moving from a bar to a music venue to an adult club, until Pirates of the Caribbean actor Johnny . August of 1993 is when it finally became The Viper Room after Johnny Depp became a co-owner and majority stockholder. Published Jan 15, 2019. Advertisements urged visitors to "Take a Trip to the Strip" for entertainment by the Phil Moore Four. But as Playground to the Starspoints out, despite the evocative name, the Cotton Club had no connection to the wildly famous operation in Manhattan. Johnny Depp was one of the owners (he would give up his stake in 2004). Hollywood's Haunted Viper Room - American Ghost Walks The Cotton Club enjoyed a limited run. It wasnt uncommon to see A-list stars, including Charlize Theron, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Anniston, Pamela Anderson, and a young Leonardo DiCaprio, all rubbing shoulders at The Viper Room on any given evening. Fans have left flowers, candles and notes at the spot where he collapsed on November 1, 1993 in Los Angeles, California. Looking to check out the haunts of Los Angeles for yourself, up close and personal? HOME PLAYMATES RATES DISCRETION TOUR SCHEDULE WHAT'S HAPPENING Scala Productions/Sluizer FilmsRiver Phoenix in his last film, Dark Blood, which was released nearly 20 years after his death. His parents John Lee Bottom and Arlyn Dunetz were known for their nomadic lifestyle and financial instability. Number of pages: 288. Wikimedia CommonsRiver Phoenix and his younger brother Joaquin, pictured in the early 1980s. They also argued that the businesses offered hangouts for immoral and perverted individuals. 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. She is passionate about Princess Diana, the Titanic, the Romanovs, and Egypt amongst other things. London Fog was a lesser-known nightclub halfway up the same block from the Whisky a Go Go where the Doors had their first regular gigs for four months in early 1966.[21]. The Viper Room (episode) | Ghost Adventures Wiki | Fandom The Viper Room has undergone several changes in ownership, and continues to host music of multiple genres, including metal, punk rock, and alternative rock. The Viper Room - Cloudedskiez - Archive of Our Own But the building boasts a rich heritage as one of the oldest commercial buildings on the Sunset Strip, erected in 1921. Few nights proved more happening than Aug. 14, 1993, on the south side of the Sunset Strip. Depp was a part-owner in The Viper Room, with his business partner Anthony Fox having the other share. Taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Donovan found himself at the same facility where Phoenix had been pronounced dead. Dating back to 1921, it's one of the oldest buildings on The Stripand it didn't start out as a club. A pesar de la minscula capacidad del lugar con forma de cueva de solo 250 personas, el cartel estelar de esa primera noche cont con Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Evan Dando de Lemonheads y el vocalista de Pogues, Shane MacGowan. Johnny Depp Interviews Hunter S. Thompson at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, California on September 7, 1996. Some claim that the bar is the site of a portal, an opening to the spirit world that cant be seen. 945 Fairfield Rd, Yeerongpilly QLD 4105 07 3426 8126 Open Hours: 24/7 . [14] On April 16, 2011, a nightclub named "The Viper Room" opened its doors in the city of Nijmegen in the Netherlands. 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. 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. I knew something was wrong that night, something I didnt understand, she said. Initially, Depp said it was hard returning to the Viper Room and haunting walking past the spot where Phoenix died. The other part owner was Sal Jenco who starred in 21 Jump Street with Depp. While Joaquin and Rain didnt notice anything unusual, Mathis had a feeling that something was off with River. 24 Rare Photos of Celebrities Inside L.A.'s Infamous Viper Room According to an article in Vanity Fair penned by Bloom, she soon took full control of the high-profile games, becoming the mastermind of the operation and inspiring 2017's Molly's Game, starring Jessica Chastain. [15] In 2016, The Viper Room began issuing cease and desist notices to bootleg merchandise sellers on eBay and other online storefronts. Sadly, River Phoenixs death in 1993 wasnt a complete surprise. 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. The Viper Room To Be Torn Down And Remodeled As Part Of A12 - KIIS FM It grew from a farm-to-market route into a vital artery connecting Hollywood to Beverly Hills. I didnt see anyone doing drugs but he was high in a way that made me feel uncomfortable. Just a couple of hours later, he would be dead. In 1969, it became "Filthy McNasty's". Despite his untimely death, River Phoenix left a huge mark on the world not only as a talented actor but also as a passionate animal rights activist and environmentalist. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. These construction projects include hotels such as the Edition, the Jeremy, and a planned Arts Club owned by Gwyneth Paltrow, as showcased by Architectural Digest. Artists from Tom Petty to the Heartbreakers have performed in this iconic space. At the beginning, it was home to a small grocery store. 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). I tried to steady myself but my legs buckled under me and I fell to the floor. But a tragic event brought the club permanent infamy just two-and-a-half months after opening. Joaquin), witnessed the heartbreaking event, reports The Guardian, unable to save him despite CPR and a call to 911. While working as missionaries for the controversial group, the family shuttled between Texas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. On October 31, 1993, River Phoenix died from a drug overdose outside Johnny Depp's nightclub, the Viper Room. The Viper Room circa 2020. Over the years, mainstream stars including Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera, and Gwen Stefani, appeared with the girl group. [River] stayed with John for the next few days, and probably didnt get a minute of sleep, Forrest wrote in his book Running with Monsters. She received her Bachelors of Arts in history and her Masters of Arts degree in history both from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. 10 Insane Stories About The Legendary Viper Room in Hollywood - Ranker It shatters and I turn around and there is a cop car sitting right at the red light. That same year, the original blockbuster Spiderman, Tobey Maguire, approached The Viper Rooms co-owner Darien Feinstein about hosting high-stakes poker games in the basement of the club. He was wheeled out of the Viper Room ona stretcher. The Viper Room in West Hollywood. In 1972, River Phoenixs parents decided to join the Children of God cult. The games took place downstairs, overseen by Molly Bloom, a 26-year-old cocktail waitress. But no matter what becomes of the Viper Room down the road, one thing's for sure. Billed as "Harlem in Hollywood," the club featured an "All-Star Show." Before long, he was starring in other major films like 1988s Running On Empty and 1991s My Own Private Idaho. It is one of the oldest built remaining structures on the Sunset Strip. The iconic Viper Room opened by Johnny Depp and former actor Sal Jenco in 1993 will become a. Famous for his acting talent as well as his good looks, Phoenix seemed like he was destined for greatness. The Viper Room that we know today first opened on the Sunset Strip in 1993. Mar 29, 2022. Unsolved: Supernatural S06E04 - The Hollywood Ghosts of the - Reddit The original Viper Room is fading to black. That Night at the Viper Room - Vanity Fair River Phoenix at the 1989 Golden Globes (Photo Credit: Barry King/ WireImage/ Getty Images). Joaquin then made a heart-wrenching 911 call, which was later leaked to the press. The 23-year-old Oscar nominee was poised to have a career on par with '90s contemporaries like Leonardo DiCaprio when he, Prior to Phoenix's passing, the troubled actor allegedly went on a, On the night River overdosed, he drank a speedball a mix of heroin and cocaine dissolved into a drink and chased it with Valium. The club changed its name to "The Poison Room" on January 1, 2006, after they were told by the West Hollywood Viper Room to stop using the name. 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. Viper Room History: River Phoenix Death & More - RadarOnline Johnny Depp Had a Hard Time Returning to the Viper Room After River In the early morning hours of October 31, 1993, actor River Phoenix went to The Viper Room, along with his girlfriend, Samantha Mathis, and his 19-year-old younger brother, Joaquin Phoenix. It was a place that epitomized sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, even after the club's ownership changedhands. As early as the 1920s, nightclubs and casinos took advantage of this legal limbo, providing the perfect foothold for gangsters. The call was later leaked to news stations. Caught on tape, Lee would later settle the lawsuit, according to Deseret News. 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. En el cine The Viper Room ha sido un protagonista asiduo: en la pelcula de 1983 'Valley Girl', el edificio (que entonces albergaba un club nocturno llamado The Central) se utiliz para escenas en las que apareca la banda de la nueva ola, los Plimsouls.En la pelcula de Oliver Stone 'The Doors' (1991), el edificio hizo las veces del local London Fog, que se encontraba tambin en .

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