{"id":1223,"date":"2014-12-11T05:13:11","date_gmt":"2014-12-11T05:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.morgan-nj.org\/blog\/?page_id=1223"},"modified":"2022-03-13T05:41:06","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T05:41:06","slug":"club-bene-shows-performers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.morgan-nj.org\/blog\/sample-page\/morgans-people-places\/places\/club-bene-shows-performers\/","title":{"rendered":"Club Ben\u00e9 Shows & Performers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Morgan Memories \u2013 Club Ben\u00e9 Shows & Performers<\/h3>\n
\"Club<\/a>

Club Ben\u00e9 Stationary from 1973.<\/p><\/div>\n

I sometimes wonder if Mr. Joseph Beninato, the owner and creator of Morgan\u2019s Club Ben\u00e9, could have ever conceived of just how meaningful and beloved his little piece of Broadway would be years after its last patron visited?\u00a0 Mr. Beninato\u2019s dream of converting his 12 year old 14-lane bowling alley into a theater showing Broadway shows debuted on October 8, 1968 with the opening of the 1959 stage musical \u201cGypsy\u201d staring Carol Bruce in the lead role of Gypsy Rose Lee. \u00a0“Gypsy” was based on the memoirs of Lee in a book by Arthur Laurents (West Side Story, La Cage Aux Folles), with music by Jule Styne (Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, Funny Girl, etc.), and lyrics by the now legendary Stephen Sondheim (West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, many others).<\/p>\n

I encountered references to Club Ben\u00e9 while reading the autobiographies of Regis Philbin<\/a> and John Travolta.\u00a0 In its heyday, Club Ben\u00e9 hosted many big name artists of their time though it was likely not large enough to be able to afford names on the level of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.<\/p>\n

\"Marquee<\/a>

Nighttime Marquee Signs for Club Ben\u00e9 taken by Morgan Resident Camille Thomas. Image Courtesy of Camille Thomas.<\/p><\/div>\n

It is always interesting is to hear someone mention who they saw performing at Club Ben\u00e9.\u00a0 It was always exciting for me in my time in Morgan to see who was on the marquee while making the jug handle around the building to go home.\u00a0 I have never seen a compiled list of performers who performed in or shows which were performed at Club Ben\u00e9 or its successor Krome.\u00a0 Probably the majority of bookings were made by Patrick Schiavino<\/a>, who did the bookings for 20 years starting some time in the very early 1980s.\u00a0Over the years, I had been collecting such a list and published it on this page.\u00a0 Following this page\u2019s initial publication, I received very welcome feedback from this web site\u2019s readers who generously provided me with the names of additional performers which I have added.\u00a0 As I receive more updates, I\u2019ll eventually add them to this page.\u00a0 While what we have thus far may not be complete, indeed we may never be able to see a complete list, it certainly is extensive.\u00a0 I believe it is the most extensive list of Club Bene\/Chrome performers available anywhere.<\/p>\n

If you have some more to add, please make a comment below.<\/p>\n

Watch for the upcoming Morgan-NJ.org page about the history of Joe\u2019s Kozy Bar, Kozy Lanes and Club Ben\u00e9.<\/p>\n

To see more topics about Morgan and the surrounding area, scroll to the top of this page and click on any of the links.<\/p>\n

\"Club<\/a>

Menu from the April 22, 1973 Nancy Wilson Performance at Club Ben\u00e9.<\/p><\/div>\n

Shows:<\/h3>\n