Copacabana (nightclub)

Copacabana is a famous New York City nightclub. Many entertainers, among them Danny Thomas and the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, made their debuts here. The 1978 Barry Manilow song "Copacabana" is named for and about the nightclub, and part of the 2003 Yerba Buena song "Guajira" is set there.

Related Topics:
New York City - Nightclub - Danny Thomas - Martin and Lewis - 1978 - Barry Manilow - Copacabana - 2003

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This nightclub achieved a degree of notoriety due to a May 16, 1957 incident involving members of the New York Yankees. One evening, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra, Johnny Kucks and Billy Martin of the Yankees, along with the wives of the former five arrived at the nightclub to celebrate Martin's birthday. Sammy Davis, Jr. happened to be the headliner. During the performance, a group of bowlers, apparently intoxicated, starting to interfere with Davis' act, even hurling racial slurs at him. This behavior incensed the Yankees, especially Martin, since his club roommate was catcher Elston Howard, the first African-American to join the Yankees. Tensions erupted between the two factions, and the resulting fracas made newspaper headlines. Several of the Yankees were fined. One of the bowlers sued Bauer for felonious assault, but Bauer was found not guilty. Yankee general manager George Weiss believed Martin's presence on the team was a bad influence on the younger members of the team, particularly Mantle, so he made arrangements to trade Martin to the Kansas City Athletics (Martin believed Weiss disliked him and was just looking for an excuse to trade him). In the 1970's Martin returned to the Yankees as manager, although he had a tempestuous relationship with new owner George Steinbrenner.

Related Topics:
1957 - New York Yankees - Mickey Mantle - Whitey Ford - Hank Bauer - Billy Martin - Sammy Davis, Jr. - Headliner - Bowlers - Intoxicated - Racial slurs - Catcher - Elston Howard - African-American - Newspaper - Felonious assault - Not guilty - George Weiss - Kansas City Athletics - George Steinbrenner

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The Copacabana club is located on 34th Street and 11th Avenue on the west side of Manhattan.

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