Dan's Papers - August 31, 2007 - For One Night, the Star Room Celebrates its Days as "The Swamp"

If the walls at Star Room could talk, they would certainly have a lot to say about the night club scene over the past 30 years in the Hamptons. Most recently, the Star Room has seen the likes of Russell Simmons' Art For Life after party, appearances by Akon, Team Face Lift, the cast and crew of "The Sopranos," Heather Graham and the CAKE party with Li'l Jon. But no party could have upstaged the dynamic flow of energy exhibited last Sunday night at the Club Swamp reunion.

Long before the Wainscott hotspot welcomed the Gotti brothers, the former Club Swamp at this same location welcomed a different type of brotherly love - the gay type. Club Swamp, which opened its doors in 1976, and for the next quarter century was the social Mecca for all gays and lesbians on the East End and since its closing six years ago, no gay club has sprung up in its place, although you might consider Almond and its sister restaurant Almondito, gay meeting places, though they lack a dance floor and disco ball. Indeed, Club Swamp back in its day was the very epitome of such a club, thriving at the drop of a Donna Summer tune or Madonna beat back in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

As I got wind of the Club Swamp reunion, I knew that between Tom House, the party organizer, novelist and bartender, and DJ Karin Ward, who spins a mix of Disco, House, Trance and Pop in New York City, Miami, D.C., and here in the Hamptons, this reunion would surely be unforgettable.

So, I clicked my heels and rolled up to Club Swamp. As I approached the gateway, the lights and balloons outside the club were a mix of welcoming blue, green and yellow hues. I could see from where I stood in line outside the club that the entire place was packed. There were echoes of drink glasses clinking and laughter spilling out into the parking lot. I've frequented the Star Room many times this summer and throughout the past few years and this was the first time that I can honestly say the "clubbers" were not pretentious or serious - involving who you know - in order to get in. People were laughing, leaning on one another's shoulders and escorting each other up the steps to the dance floor - was I still in East Hampton? Sabrina Mashburn, my colleague here at Dan's Papers, attended the party with me and explained that it felt like the "last days of disco, but everybody was actually having fun."

The crowd consisted of mostly well-dressed men, some with shirts and others without, but there was still a strong presence of women, business owners and photographers. Although many of the party-goers were well into their 40s, 50s and 60s (and I did happen to spot a few in their 70s and 80s) it was touching to know that several of the couples had met at Club Swamp back in its heyday and are still together to this day.

Tom House, who hosted the reunion bash and whose 20th summer behind the esteemed bars at 378 Montauk Highway is rapidly approaching, has seen the club change hands over four different owners since he began honing his "shaken not stirred" skills in 1988. His motivation for creating the Club Swamp reunion revolved around the fact that he wanted to celebrate his 20th year by throwing a party for all the Swamp lovers - irrespective of the fact that the gay community lacks an established nightlife scene. Fun collages of Tom and various Club Swamp regulars were tacked up on the back wall and gave those at the reunion a sense of nostalgia and a sense of longing to recreate the scene that faded from the walls of the Star Room. Tom House remarked that he was "thrilled with how well the night went and that it was nice to see old friends in such a friendly atmosphere."

There are, however, other gay groups on the East End such as the East End Gay Organization, which was established in 1977, and is one of the largest, best organized, all-volunteer, membership and community-based non-profit human rights organizations in the country. They are the proud voice of the GLBT community on the East End of Long Island, and have helped its members gain equal rights through educational, communications, advocacy, health and cultural programs. Yes, the EEGO does all this, but it still leaves gay residents without an established place to party and let loose.

Even though this event was one-night-only, other gay parties are sparking on the East End, produced under the label of "A Swamp Production." On September 2 at Le Flirt, located at 44 Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton, there will be a Women's Tea Dance from 6-10 p.m. Later that night at 10 p.m. until close, there will be Men's Night with exotic dancers. Both parties will have music provided by DJ Karin Ward. For more information visit www.djkarinward.com

The Club Swamp reunion continued throughout the night with the sounds of banging tambourines and lively dancing.