Funhouse

The Story

This place was one of the most important clubs in New York's dance scene in the early 80s. The Funhouse gathered almost 3,000 people every weekend for DJ John "Jellybean" Benitez's legendary marathons, lasting up to 14 hours, mixing disco, electro, freestyle, and the city's latest sounds. It was here that Jellybean met a young Madonna, still at the beginning of her career, and the connection between the two would change the history of pop. Benitez remixed and produced songs from her debut album, including "Holiday," the singer's first big hit. The club also hosted artists like New Order, who filmed part of the "Confusion" music video here in 1983, and helped solidify the dance culture that would influence an entire generation. The Funhouse closed in 1985 but is still remembered as one of the places where Madonna's journey began to gain momentum before conquering the world.

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