The Viper Room Courtesy of Luxigon. At just 23-years-old, River Phoenix was one of the most beloved stars of the 1990s. Jun 24, 2022 11:18 AM EDT In 1993, young Hollywood movie star River Phoenix's life was tragically cut short as he overdosed on drugs at the notorious nightclub The Viper Room. At the time, the Sunset Boulevard venue was partly owned by Johnny Depp. I feel like in virtually every movie that I made, there was a connection to River in some way. Looking to check out the haunts of Los Angeles for yourself, up close and personal? [8], As part of the settlement of a lawsuit involving the disappearance of co-owner Anthony Fox in December 2001, Depp relinquished his ownership of the Viper Room in 2004. Joaquin desperately said to the 911 operators: Hes having seizures! The Viper Room circa 2020. Haunted house. Eventually . The LA-based firm Silver Creek Development will turn the legendary 8852 West Sunset Boulevard into a residential building with cafes, restaurants, and a luxury hotel. Browse 5,793 viper room photos and images available, or search for vip room or los angeles to find more great photos and pictures. The Viper Room has a ton of history, tragedy, and supernatural occurrences that span about 101 years. In early 1993, Johnny Depp met Anthony Fox, who owned a nightclub called The Central in West Hollywood. INSIDE Tour the Haunted VIPER ROOM Bathroom - YouTube And sadly, these two drugs would spell his end at The Viper Room. I knew the symptoms all too well My heart was racing, my vision was blurry and I was becoming disoriented. Luckily, Donovan was okay and survived the overdose. Over the years, mainstream stars including Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera, and Gwen Stefani, appeared with the girl group. The mid-1990s and early 2000s proved an especially vibrant time for performers, including Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Oasis, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run-DMC, Counting Crows, Johnny Cash, and the Pussycat Dolls. The Viper Room in West Hollywood to be redeveloped into 12-story building Few nights proved more happening than Aug. 14, 1993, on the south side of the Sunset Strip. She is passionate about Princess Diana, the Titanic, the Romanovs, and Egypt amongst other things. According to one waitress, she states that the Viper Room regularly hosted games featuring some of Hollywoods most elite stars like DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, and Tobey Maguire. Then I got stuck in a lane of traffic and slid right past him. But while he wasnt able to talk to Phoenix, he did get a look at his face: He was beyond pale he looked white.. Photo courtesy of Fllckr, jennyfersure CC-2.0, Given the death of River and the mobster connections, it would make sense for some interesting ghosts to be hanging around. Nevertheless, Donovan managed to keep his dependency a secret until receiving an invitation from Johnny Depp to then-girlfriend Kate Moss' 21st birthday in 1995. And according to his friend Bob Forrest, Phoenix then went on a massive drug binge with John Frusciante, the guitarist from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After River Phoenixs death, The Viper Room temporarily closed in his honor. But according to the Chicago Tribune, a violent scuffle would put a negative spotlight on the Viper Room on Sept. 29, 1996. THE VIPER ROOM - 257 Photos & 398 Reviews - 8852 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, California - Music Venues - Phone Number - Offerings - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services The Viper Room 398 reviews Claimed $$ Music Venues, Dance Clubs, Bars Closed See hours See all 271 photos Write a review Add photo Offerings View offerings Two of Phoenixs siblings, Joaquin and Rain, were also in attendance. The Viper Room that we know today first opened on the Sunset Strip in 1993. Tragically, this would culminate in his death outside the notorious Viper Room nightclub. The Hollywood Ghosts of the Legendary Viper Room - Facebook He said he felt a constant pressure in his chest whenever he was down at the bottom bar, and that he had even seen glasses fly off of tables on their own. Wikimedia CommonsRiver Phoenix and his younger brother Joaquin, pictured in the early 1980s. Joaquin then made a heart-wrenching 911 call, which was later leaked to the press. Some say Johnny Depp named the place after a Louisiana jazz club, and others say it refers to pot-smoking jazz musicians of that era. The Viper Room does, however, remain open a tantalizing relic of Sunset Strip's debauched and colorful history. While working as missionaries for the controversial group, the family shuttled between Texas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Columbia PicturesRiver Phoenix in Stand By Me, the 1986 movie that helped make him a star. The Viper Room has a reputation for being cursed, and its venom can prove deadly. He was wheeled out of the Viper Room ona stretcher. From drug overdoses to violent scuffles, illegal poker games to whispers of murder, the past two decades have yielded up some of the club's most shocking and salacious rumors, thanks to the Hollywood big names frequenting the joint. Last Night at the Viper Room by Gavin Edwards | Waterstones went back to the Viper the other night great line up of ladies, chose a really sexy lady Brittany stunning blonde E cup really cheeky. GAC investigate the infamous on West Hollywood's . Samantha Mathis felt like something wasnt right. ", 10 Wild, Violent, And Tragic Stories From The Viper Room, The Legendary Bar Owned By Johnny Depp, The Viper Room rose to Hollywood infamy after, The night club's reputation has calmed in recent years aftershifting ownership and focusingon breaking underground talent rather than housing well-known rock stars like, River Phoenix's tragic death cemented the Viper Room's infamous reputation. [16], At Depp's request, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed on the club's opening night.[17]. How could local business owners get away with the mischief? Curtis claims Tobey Maguire staged the illegal games. At the beginning, it was home to a small grocery store. On the night River overdosed, he drank a speedball a mix of heroin and cocaine dissolved into a drink and chased it with Valium. Following the tragic event, Depp closed the Viper Room every October 31 in commemoration of Phoenix's death, reports LA Magazine. Last Night at the Viper Room Audiobook - audiobookstore.com In its place will be a 12-story mixed-use high rise at the corner of Sunset and Larrabee in West Hollywood. It wasnt uncommon to see A-list stars, including Charlize Theron, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Anniston, Pamela Anderson, and a young Leonardo DiCaprio, all rubbing shoulders at The Viper Room on any given evening. And I think that weve all felt his presence and guidance in our lives in numerous ways.. The original building where the club is currently located is slated to be demolished by 2023, to make way for a replacement club, retail and a five star hotel tower. https://www.ranker.com/list/what-has-happened-at-the-viper-room/mariel-loveland, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Viper_Room, https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-adventures/photos/ghost-adventures-the-viper-room. Some Of The Most Violent, Strange, and Tragic Stories from Johnny Depp I didnt see anyone doing drugs but he was high in a way that made me feel uncomfortable I was in way over my head. On the evening of October 30, Mathis went to the bathroom. I think I'm OD'ing." At just 23-years-old, River was poised to have a successful acting career alongside Leonardo DiCaprio when he collapsed outside of the Viper Room on October 31st, 1993. This was soon replaced by "The Greenwich Village Inn", the "Rue Angel" and finally "The Last Call" during the 1940s. By today's standards, the Phil Moore Four marked a veritable yawn-fest, promising "Music with a Sweet Beat," and likely equally "Sweet Dreams." The Infamous Viper Room. Law enforcement arrested Sam Farkas, Mickey Cohen's bodyguard, according to the Green Bench Monthly, on suspicion of robbery. His skin reportedly turned grey, and after telling his friend he thought he was overdosing, he collapsed outside of the club in front of his siblings. Despite all its history, The Viper Room is set to be developed into a high-rise starting in 2023. In 2018, the Los Angeles Business Journal reported that the Viper Room sold along with three other Sunset Strip properties for a whopping $80 million to REM Finance, Inc., of Scottsdale, Ariz. Properties included the blocks of 8850 to 8860 Sunset Boulevard and 8874 to 8878 Sunset Boulevard. Weight: 245 g. Dimensions: 203 x 135 x 16 mm. Last Night at the Viper Room explores the young star's life, including his . In addition to the drama Phoenix, one of the former co-owners, Anthony Fox, died in his office in 2001, while Michael Hutchence and Timothy Leary both died shortly after performing within the walls of the Viper. Famous for his acting talent as well as his good looks, he seemed like he was destined for greatness. By the decade's end, the Greenwich Village Inn closed, and the Rue Angel briefly filled its spot. Before the club is set to be demolished early next year, it is worth remembering the tragic Halloween night nearly 30 years ago - staff claiming ghosts from the past still haunt the venue. River Pheonix in 1989, photo by Alan Light. US Ghost Adventures offers entertaining, historic, and authentic ghost tours of the United States During their investigation, they heard disembodied voices saying Im confused. They told the ticket-booth operator Rita about them, and she claims that this voice belonged to the ghost of River Phoenix, who passed suddenly and tragically at the club. After traveling all over Australia and visiting many establishments the Viper Room is still the best experience bar none. Actors Johnny Depp and Sal Jenco owned the nightclub. SOME OF THE MOST VIOLENT, STRANGE, AND TRAGIC STORIES FROM JOHNNY DEPPS BAR, THE VIPER ROOM. View The Gallery 1 / 11 Ghost Adventures Crew The Viper Room Gets A Makeover: New Development Project To - Forbes But Rivers tragic passing wasnt the first. One of the oldest buildings on the Sunset Strip, it dates back to 1921. Coupled with the infamous hit on Bugsy Siegel a few years earlier in 1947, this meant an end to the stranglehold the mafia had over West Hollywood. Dana Plato Was A Beloved Teen Idol In The '70s And Early '80s Then She Was Found Dead At 34, Researchers In New Zealand Have Identified The Largest Penguin In History, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. In early 1995, Australian singer and actor Jason Donovan suffered a drug-induced seizure at the club, but survived, as well as singer Courtney Love, who was given CPR by Depp after an overdose. The Viper Room - Cloudedskiez - Archive of Our Own The games took place downstairs, overseen by Molly Bloom, a 26-year-old cocktail waitress. at Laherty, West Hollywood, CA 90069. In the early 2000s, the Viper Room was the host to a high-stakes game where a $50,000 buy-in was considered modest. Together, Maguire and Curtis allegedly hand-picked players, eventually making off with millions. - Wikipedia Unfortunately, his childhood was also full of trauma. During a 21st birthday party hosted for supermodel Kate Moss, Neighbours star Jason Donovan suffered a cocaine-induced seizure at the club. Madeline Hiltz 1/19/2023. when members of the band the Brian Jonestown Massacre began brawling with each other on stage while performing. The Viper Room, Johnny Depp, and the scandals. - Mamamia For those whove followed Joaquin Phoenixs career, its no secret how closely he holds his older brothers memory. Weird Facts About the Viper Room in Los Angeles (PHOTOS - Thrillist While on a filming break, Phoenix returned to Los Angeles. Daily Themed Crossword Clues and Answers for May 2 2023 Inspired by Harlem's 1920s jazz clubs, the Viper Room is one of Los Angeles' most legendary music venues. Inside The Tragic Death Of River Phoenix And The Downward Spiral That Preceded It.