This
is reality television that is really real. Nothing is made up
or faked. What Nelson Sullivan videotaped actually happened. It was real
fun to do then. It's real fun to watch now.
Nelson Sullivan's LEGENDS OF NEW YORK
Nelson Sullivan was in the center of a swirl of creativity that swept through Downtown New York in the 1980s. Fortunately for us today, he was there with his video camcorder creatively documenting the entertainment, the personalities, and the places that produced some of the most exciting stars of today.
Nelson has been described as the "Proust and Nureyev of the cinematograph." Nelson died suddenly of a heart attack on July 4, 1989, but he left behind a treasure of video, clips from which you can enjoy right here.
NELSON'S VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
That clip is from the birthday party Michael Alig threw for Christina in 1988. One of the presents Christina got that night was a hammer and luckily no one was seriously injured during the party.
RuPaul premiered his album "RuPaul Is Starbooty - The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" at NYC's Limelight as a special event for the New Music Seminar. Hosting the premiere party that night were Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, the producers of the album who were also The Fabulous Pop Tarts.
That clip is from a happy day at The World Trade Center when Nelson had a near surrealistic experience with his friend Nazomi and Eddie.
For their New York debut at the world famous Pyramid Club, NOW EXPLOSION had John Sex as emcee and for their finale number "Barbeque" were joined on stage by some local celebrity guests
.
'Nelson & Christina' and 'Amnesia at Gay Day" - 2 videos produced by Robert Coddington from the videos of Nelson Sullivan - will be screened at the 2007 Newfest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in New York City.
The Climage Group of Lausanne in association with Points de Vues of Paris recently released the first of 2 Volumes of Nelson Sullivan's videos. The 2nd volume is scheduled to appear in the Spring of 2006. Volume 1 includes Nelson's Monologue for TV Show - the television program Nelson was preparing to launch, until his sudden death 2 days after this video was recorded stopped that. Nelson's flowing style is of particular interest to the European visual artists. For more information about this new DVD, visit the Climage website.
James St. James - The Twilight Zone Episode
You'd think they'd all be so wicked - those exclusive VIP rooms secreted at the back of the club. But in the Twilight Zone, the reality is many times different.
On November 19, 2005, in Sao Paulo Brazil, the Festival Mix Brasil premiered a new mulit-screen presentation of Nelson Sullivan's videos of New York's spectacular nightlife of the 1980s. Entitled "We're All On The List" and produced by Robbie Coddington, this 70 minute visual treat sweeps its viewers past the velvet ropes into the trendiest of nightclubs with the VIP treatment few in the real world can expect. Offered here is one dazzling glimpse from that presentation especially for you to enjoy.
You need quicktime 7.0.3 for this video to play (but not for the other ones on this site).
David, co-captain of America's most sparkling magazine PAPER, just wrote a fun blog about Nelson. Here's one of Nelson's videos of PAPER's sparkling presentation celebrating their 5th anniversary at Susanne Bartch's Love Ball at Roseland.
Nelson Sullivan's Journal Intime was a feature in the Paris Gay and Lesbian Film Festival October 14-23, 2005
Two of Nelson's Favorites
Nelson loved so much going to the restaurant 7A, at the corner of Avenue A and 7th Street in the East Village a few doors down from the Pyramid Club. There the celebrities of the East Village would gather for food or visiting and almost everybody they wanted to see might come walking by.
Nelson also loved his Aunt Nancy very much. She resided in Kershaw SC, Nelson's childhood home, and lived a solitary existence entertaining herself by riding around in her Pontiac drinking a Sprite or a Pepsi Cola.
As these 2 Nelson videos show, even the simplest things can bring remarkable joy.
Nelson Sullivan has been an engaging subject for many prominent writers. Some of the most informative of their articles are available online for your illumination.
Those Club Kids can have fun anywhere - even (or maybe especially) in the loo. In this video clip, you'll do some late-night hanging out with Michael, James, Keoki, Larry Tee, and and all those other fun people they meet just goofin' around.
Sister Dimension, Tom
Rubnitz, Lahoma, RuPaul and The Pop Tarts are among
the VIP guests as Leigh Bowery celebrates his birthday
at his elegant downtown apartment on 2nd Avenue. Join
Nelson as he records the ecstasy of this fabulous event. Exerpted from the exhibit Nelson
Sullivan's Downtown edited by Steve Lafreniere Click
Here to watch
Glimpses of Leigh Bowery's Birthday Party
The Lady Bunny
Hey - it's the 20th Anniversary
of the arrival of Lady Bunny in New York City in 1983
and now she's a legend there. She and Nelson were video
companions when she got off the bus, and they bickered
off and on ever since. This is the mini-movie they made
one afternoon. Also staring are Bubblicious and Lurleen
Wallis. The music's Now Explosion's. BTW: Lady Bunny
is touring America this Spring 2003 with the Absolut
Out draq queen revue. produced and edited by Nelson Sullivan June 26, 1985
Click
Here to watch
Lady Bunny starring in Bunny Chase
Michael Musto and Albert Crudo
Michael Musto has been
going from chic event to sleeze event with Albert
Crudo for it seems like ages since his informative
gossip column began in the Village Voice and even before.
They always asked Nelson to accompany them for entertainment
and for the videotaping too. This video is a collaboration
as well as an incarnation of what an actual conversation
in the 1980's could be like. videotaped and edited by Nelson Sullivan April 12,
1987 Click
Here to watch
A Coupla White Ninja Vixens Sitting Around
Talking
If
you need to know more about Nelson Sullivan or the
Nelson Sullivan video collection, e-mail Funtone USA.