How in the Tony Manero did I ever miss this?

Just a few short days ago, I’d never even heard of Gianluca Mech. And then I came across an article on his Italiano Diet products, and scales fell from my very own eyes, even if no lbs have fallen from my actual scale. Of course, I haven’t started on the Italiano Diet quite yet. It’s a bit expensive and I’m a tiny bit dubious. But if Ivana Trump – that’s Ivana (no k) Trump – endorses a product, it must be well worthwhile.

But there’s more to Gianluca Mech than the Italiano Diet.

Why just last December, he threw a big disco-inferno level party to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Saturday Night Fever.

Is it really possible that Saturday Night Fever came out 40 years (and change) ago? Whether you’re having fun or not, as long as your stayin’ alive, time most assuredly does manage to fly.

I don’t believe I’ve seen it since then, but I did enjoy Saturday Night Fever when it came out, one of a flurry of dance-related movies that appeared on the scene in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Flashdance, White Nights, and my personal favorite, Dirty Dancing. (Give me Patrick Swayze – dead or alive – over John Travolta any old day.)

Maybe there are always dance-themed movies – the 1930’s Fred and Ginger and all those Golddiggers, the 1950’s had Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris, but that period in the 1970’s and 1980’s seemed especially full of them.

Anyway, Saturday Night Fever was a big deal, as was disco at the time.

I was not a particular fan and never stepped toe inside of a disco. I did enjoy some of the music (including the BeeGees and Donna Summer). I did have a couple of Huckapoo shirts. And I did know how to do The Hustle. Other than that…

But Bay Ridge, Brooklyn was prime disco territory, and that was the setting for Saturday Night Fever. The disco scenes were filmed at the 2001 Odyssey, which is now a Chinese restaurant – a sign not only of the demise of disco as an arts and entertainment category, but of a shift in the neighborhood from predominantly Italian-Irish-German to heavily Chinese.

The Bamboo Garden, site of the old 2001 Odyssey (in itself a marvelously dated name) got a one-night makeover for Gianluca Mech’s party. A $200K makeover. Which seems like a lot of money to spend on a party. But he had his reasons. He wanted:

…to honor a movie that he said changed his life after he sneaked in to see it with his sister in Italy when he was 8 years old.

“When I feel a little tired, when I feel I cannot have success with what I want to do, I watch this film once more and I feel strong again,” said Mr. Mech, who sported a custom-made Dolce & Gabbana designed version of the white three-piece suit made famous in the movie by Mr. Travolta. (Source: NY Times)

I really do love that Gianluca Mech can pinpoint something – a movie, yet – that changed his life. When I was that age, I was watching Darby O’Gill and the Little People. Which in no way changed my life, other than the fact that, on occasion, the ditty “My Pretty Irish Girl” as sung by Sean Connery, appearing in what I suspect was his one and only Disney film, inserts itself into my brain as the daily earworm.

By the way, Gianluca’s Tony-inspired suit cost $5K. But if you’ve got $200K to drop on disco balls and other accoutrements, well, what’s another $5K. I suspect that Tony Manero’s three-piecer didn’t cost any $5K back in the day, but everything’s gotten more expensive.

…the house on 79th Street that served as Manero’s home in the movie is now on the market for $2.5 million.

I’m a betting that $2.5 is an increase of several orders of magnitude.

Gianluca Mech was joined in his party by a bunch of locals from the old days, including folks who appeared as extras in the dance scenes, and for whom the disco era was one of life’s highlights. The party was a prime way for them to call back up the good times (i.e., when they were in their twenties). And when:

“It was all about dancing for us and getting a new outfit every week.”

I don’t know how in Tony Manero I missed this story last December when it came out. Must have been too busy putting up my Christmas tree or something. And my awareness of Gianluca Mech was nonexistent, so I wouldn’t have necessarily been following his where- and what-abouts. But now that I know there’s more to him than the Italiano Diet, the endorsement of Ivana Trump, and his family’s herbal supplement business, well, I’ll be on the lookout.

At least for as long as I’m ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin’ alive…