Abe Hirschfeld, who made a fortune building parking garages, turned a parking garage at 330 East 61st Street into an exclusive fitness club in the 1980s.
In 1979, Vignelli Associates designed a logo, brochure, stationery, and membership materials for what their own brochure deemed “a country club in the heart of the city”
“A unique sporting club offering tennis, squash and racquetball”
“No sport and racquet facility like exists anywhere.”
By 1984, the club was the place to be seen with many celebrity sightings [for example, Cher, Diana Ross, Liza Minelli, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Ashford and Simpson, Brooke Shields]
Quotes from a 1984 NY Times article about the health club’s social scene:
''The Vertical Club is today's Studio 54''
“People join other health clubs to get in shape before they join here''
“Pure Fellini''
“It is better socially than a singles bar because it's not so obvious”'
Here is what the VC brochure promised:
“Court time at your convenience is always assured, because Vertical Club membership is strictly limited. … The congeniality and prestige of the club us maintained by our Admissions Committee, which interviews and approves all applicants.”
Staff are ready “to make each visit to the Vertical Club a delightful leisure experience.”
Courts
“Courts are stacked vertically atop one another. Each level of the vertical club is equivalent to four stories; the building is the height of a 20-story structure.”
“Architect Eugene Ho has created tennis “al fresco” through open, retractable siding on the courts.”
Courtside Restaurant and Bar
“The glass-walled, elevated Courtside Restaurant overlooks our two exhibition tennis courts and glass-sided racquetball court.”
Graphics
“Vignelli Associates are designers of tremendous scope.”
Fee schedule
“Resident + spouse Initiation fee $4000 plus $125/mo”
And speaking of the 1980s, join us next week for our next Open Houses which will highlight artifacts from the archives from the 1980s. Check out our events page on our website for more details [link in bio]
9/25-9/26, 2024 10am-4pm
And in the spring with a completely different displays of 1980s artifact!
3/26-3/27, 2025 10am-4pm
