Harvey Oral History: judo school, muscle shows and Brooklyn Prep

Harvey Lichteinstein at BAM in 1967

Harvey Lichteinstein came to BAM because no one else was asking him to run a theater. When he arrived in the winter of 1967, BAM was very different than it is now. The Ballroom—soon to be the Lepercq Space (1973), which would host BAMcafé (1997)—operated as a private school. The fifth floor housed a judo academy and the programming included everything from muscle shows to revival meetings. (Check out Larry Scott winning the first Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition on September 18, 1965 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.)

Hear Harvey talk about what was happening at BAM in 1967:

A 1965 BAM brochure:

 

Also on tap in 1965 before Harvey arrived:

The complete Harvey Lichtenstein Oral History, featuring John Rockwell interviewing Harvey, is available at the BAM Hamm Archives.