El Chico’s swank nightclub was built in the 1930s and located in the new Art Deco Architectural District at 22nd St and Park Avenue.
In 1982…”the leaders of the MDPL stood helplessly watching a Big Cat bulldozer relentlessly climb a mountain of rubble to tear apart the 1930’s banquets, bars and the noted murals by deco artist Paul Silverthorne …Barbara Capitman, MDPL Director, Bill Bucolo, publisher of Portfolio and Leonard Horowitz, designer said they were tipped off on the demolition after it had already started…they condemned the City, which only last week reviewed the first draft of a comprehensive plan that pledged to protect the new District…” **
Shown is an MDPL archival 1940’s matchbook, “Original PENNY 1¢ COCKTAIL HOUR 5 to 6; JOIN OUR HANG-OVER CLINIC 10 A.M. TILL BETTER”, El Chico’s vintage postcard from FIU Paul Silverthorne Archive, postcard of interior bar at El Chico Club and photograph of artists Paul Silverthorne, who painted the murals on the club walls, and Woody Vondracek in front of El Chico Club; courtesy of Woody Vondracek.
** Quoted from the Barbara Baer Capitman’s Archive.
