Have you heard of The Lights Out Club? No? Well, for the first 140 years of its existence, society wasn't supposed to know about it. It all began back in 1796, when Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers, had just given the new nation its first sex scandal which had left him temporarily unemployed. He retreated to Manhattan, his home town, to lick his wounds. During that time, he was able to convince six prominent New Yorkers to entertain themselves each week by sharing tales of terror by the light of a solitary candle. For an extra jolt, they would meet in dark, out-of-the-way, often, dangerous places. Their spooky tales were based upon personal experiences, or, true events which had taken place in NYC. As the group grew, the secret membership was by reference only and restricted to New Yorkers. By the 1800s, they were known as The Lights Out Club. To this day, this legendary, influential group has continued on, attracting members from all walks of life, from school teachers to politicians, cops, athletes, vaudevillians, gangsters, authors and Hollywood superstars ...everyone, it seems, has a terrifying story to tell...and loves hearing them, as well. Past members include MARK TWAIN, EDGAR ALLAN POE, ORSON WELLES, LEGS DIAMOND, RODNEY DANGERFIELD, ENRICO CARUSO, NORMAN MAILER, SOPHIE TUCKER, ROD SERLING and dozens more. Now, for the first time ever, THE LIGHTS OUT CLUB has authorized long-time member, DAN BIANCHI, to collect, catalog, record and transcribe its tales to the written page, and, to edit and conserve hundreds of weird stories of New York's ghosts, creatures, haunted houses and strange incidents, all of which have taken place in real NYC locations...and, often concern historical figures and events. Here are eerie tales of old Manhattan which have not seen the light of day since the first night they were told by the light of a solitary candle!
About the Author: DAN BIANCHI has spent over 40 yrs in theater, film and fine arts. Awards include: 3 times BEST DIRECTOR Off Broadway; Billy Rose Musical Theater Award; ASCAP Musical Theater Award; National Endowment Grant; MacDowell Fellowship, The Beckett Prize (twice), The National Writers Guild Screenwriting Award. He's founded four international theater companies, written/directed over 30 of his own plays/musicals, worked as screenwriter in Hollywood, directed 7 motion pictures with members of the Royal Shakespeare Co.. In 2002/3 he founded and ran VIDEOTHEATRE, NYC's only DV dedicated venue screening independent features and shorts. Dan is also a Fine Artist who has exhibited his works at MOMA NYC; MOMA Australia; Brazil; Germany; Museum of Non Conformist Art-Russia, etc. He created RADIOTHEATRE in 2004 and has since produced/written/directed over 80 live stage shows at NYC and tour venues. Since 2004, Dan has been nominated for a 2010 Drama Desk Award, won 2 NY Innovative Theater Awards for Best Sound and Best Music. Radiotheatre has been nominated for 13 NYIT Awards including Best Performance Group five yrs in a row. He is the most produced living playwright in NYC. A born NYer, he lives in Greenwich Village with his wife and daughter.