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The idea began on Saturday afternoons at "The Mineshaft" bar. John V., Mark M., John P. exposed themselves and masturbated. John P becomes the manager of the re-opened "J's" (formerly "Hell"-a disco) and meetings began in 1980.
1980 — February: "J's", "Hellfire" (under J's)
1981 — "International Stud" 1982-- "The New York Jacks" becomes our name.
1983 — Candle II, River Club parties, The Poconos in August
1984 — April: "River Club" (formerly 12 West disco), May, "Mindshaft" (Upstairs), 127 Prince Street (downstairs),
1985 — August: Hauska House (PA), New Years Eve--127 Prince Street, November: Mineshaft closes, December: The Stable (across from J's) with peanut shells on the floor!
1986 — February: The Stable becomes "Locker Room"
1987 — "Locker Room", Mondays 1989-- 135 West 14th parties begin 1990-- Summer: Hillside Campground, Oct: "J's Hangout" on Mondays, Wall street Sauna parties
1993 — Mondays and Thursdays at J's, 269 Bowery parties, Valinor farm, PA in the summers
1996 — adding Sundays at "Manhole" under J's. "El Mirage" Special events.
2002 — September: "J's Hangout" closes, move to the "Manhole" 2003-- February: "Studio 253" (El Mirage) Mondays, December: "El Mirage", Thursdays. "Axis" in Brooklyn (never takes off)
2005 — March: Only Mondays at "El Mirage", Rivendell Farm, PA (summer)
2007 — January: 511 West 38th street (10th-11th). April: 122 West 29th street, 3rd fllor on tuesdays 8-11:30 (with Lou Maletta)
2008 — April: 367 West 36th street, Tuesdays 8-12, October: 355 West 39th street 3rd floor, Sundays 4-8. (When 39th street closes the Jacks are without a home for about 6 months)
2009 — March: Paddles, Tuesdays 7:30-11
2010 — added 4-7 at a new location in midtown, Paddles on Tuesdays switches to 7 PM.
2015--October 30th. We hosted a cocktail reception at Leslie Lohman art gallery which was a huge success that drew lines down the block. We showed some art work done for the Jacks back in the 80s and had an extensive display of our history. The New York Jacks has proven to be a valuable institution for so many men over the years as a safe space to express their sexuality and we were gratified at the strong interest that was shown that night.
2020 --The Pandemic forced the Jacks along with most of the country to close down for a year and a half. We opened again briefly in 2022 and had to close again during the spread of monkey pox virus.
2022--We were finally able to re-open at our Sunday space in November to a grateful crowd longing to be back to normal. However, Paddles did not reopen.
2023--We relocated to a new space in October that is exclusively ours so we have more control over set-up and clean-up; a comfortable atmosphere that fosters a feeling of postive vibes for masturbation and friendship. We are excited as we watch the club grow and attract new followers who all seem to love that we are still around to offer a safe space for one of our favorite activities.
Maintaining a club like ours is challenging as our nomadic history will show but the appeal of the activity is strong and the internet has expanded our reach around the world. As long as men like to masturbate together we hope to continue to supply the venue.