My conclusion about life at this late age is that things go in cycles only with variations or “there is nothing new under the sun.”
And that´s what I thought on Thursday evening when I attended opening night at what once was my and others (who reside in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro) beloved Cinema Roxy (1938-+2021 covid pandemic), which has now become Roxy Dinner Show.
As a spotlight flashed nearby in the skies and spectators on the sidewalk stood by awaiting possible entertainment stars to enter, the event was indeed a happening.
Among the invited celebrities were Ricardo Amaral ,83, who was once considered the “King of the Night,” due to his creation of nightspots and “discotheques” frequented by the rich and famous.
There was also Ancelmo Gois,76 a dying breed of famous print social columnists for Rio´s O Globo newspaper, Belo (Marcelo Pires Vieira),50, pagode singer and cavaquinho player (the Brazilian equivalent of the banjo) and even—among others– a member of the clergy of Rio de Janeiro, the local Archbishop of Rio.
Local media reports added that actress Betty Faria and Brazil´s ex-Cultural Minister, singer -composer Gilberto Gil were also there but they must have arrived late in the Carioca way because although this observer entered at 7 pm for this “historic” evening (with a crowd asking is that bespectacled American famous?) showtime only began 10:40 pm / 22:40 hs (or when my patience ran out).
But getting back to my conclusion in life about cycles, for years the Golden Room opening in 1938 of Rio´s Copacabana Palace hotel was the stage for such distinguished entertainers as Nat King Cole, Yves Montand, Marlene Dietrich and Sammy Davis Junior. To my generation all were great names in so-called show business but in our current epoch of rap, etc. music these names are probably all unknown to the younger generation.
And in the so-called “good old days” of yesteryear (before crime waves in Brazil) Copacabana and Rio de Janeiro were known for its intense night life as so well described by the brilliant Brazilian journalist, biographer and member of the Literary Academy Ruy Castro in “A Noite do Meu Bem” (or literally “My Night My Dear “)
The shows, dinners attracted conspicously local husbands on a night out with their mistresses, according to Castro, and cheek to cheek dancing until the wee hours of the morning.
Are these days returning to Copacabana after the opening of Roxy Diner show?
Amidst a round of interviews in the corridors near the rock marble floors of the renovated dinner show inner palace, this observer managed to corner the originator of the idea to turn our beloved movie house Roxy into a show place, or Alexandre Accioly,62.
As a tall sculptress blonde (who turned out to be Accioly´s wife) posed in various photogenic positions for the bright lights of local paparazzi, Accioly told me me that “No, Roxy Dinner Show would not be a successor of another beloved show spot Canecao, which hosted the best in Brazilian entertainment but simply a show spot for tourists.”
In the past Accioly has also said Roxy Dinner Show would be “Rio´s equivalent of the Moulin Rouge of Paris.”
Smiling and taking my calling card, Accioly then gave me the traditional Carioca greeting/goodbye “Aquele abraco,” (“that hug”) or the name of his first spectacle at the Roxy Dinner Show.
PS—Millionaire Accioly is the businessman who owns one of the most successful enterprises in Rio de Janeiro, Bodytech (a swimming pool, workout academy etc.) which coincidentally is right near Roxy Dinner Show.