The Ritz

The Ritz was a music club in a former ballroom on East 11th Street 119, known for its 30-foot video screen and dance-oriented concert nights. The space had an open floor where audiences could stand and move while bands performed on stage, with the crowd actively participating in each show.

Jerry Brandt founded the club in 1980 in a hall within Webster Hall and moved it in 1989 to 254 West 54th Street, where Studio 54 had been. The first address remained a center for concerts for four years before operations shifted to the new location.

MTV launched its television network here and broadcast many concerts in the series 'Live at The Ritz,' which aired regularly from this space during the eighties. The recordings showed audiences dancing and singing in front of the large video wall, turning the hall into a symbol of the merging of television and concert culture.

Concerts ran regularly on weekdays and weekends, with crowd size varying widely depending on the band's following. Arriving early gave better sightlines to the stage, as the hall was laid out without fixed seating.

Public Image Limited performed in 1981 behind a white curtain and played music different from what came through the speakers, causing strong reactions in the crowd. Some audience members threw glasses and bottles at the screen, while others tried to get behind the curtain to see the band.