Having reached its peak around 1999–2000 (as evidenced by the total number of events during those years, and the steady decline in the number of events since), the Circuit found itself a smaller part of a much larger whole.
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To keep putting together these increasingly elaborate and costly productions, the prices (cover charge) of circuit parties increased greatly, so that it was not uncommon for a ticket covering the full weekend of parties to cost $400 or more. For example, a pool party might go from noon to 5PM, a " t-dance" from 5PM to 9PM, a main event from 9PM to 4AM, and an after-hours party from 4AM until 12 noon, after which the cycle repeats itself.
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Promoters sometimes turned events from one party into a major series of parties at various venues, transforming a weekend into a three-day or longer continuous party. In the early 1990s, as more and more gay men became attracted to these mega dance-events, the real modern-day circuit party scene emerged and expanded into ever-larger productions, featuring superstar DJs and performers. Because of their economic impact, Circuit parties have been welcomed in some of the more liberal cities where they are held. One economic reality of a well-run circuit party is that the event can bring large amounts of tourist dollars to the locality where the event is held. The White Diamonds Party at Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend Dance parties provided an environment in which gay men processed the experience of HIV/AIDS and served to build particular forms of communal response to the epidemic And many center around other events, such as Southern Decadence and the Folsom Street Fair. Many were named after colors, such as White Party, Black Party, Blue Ball, and Black and Blue Festival. Several benefit parties sprang up around the country, which were run by volunteer organizations that donated their proceeds to AIDS|HIV-related charities, such as Halloween's in New Orleans The success of these early parties gave way to other events hosted in other cities, with each party having its own theme. The early 1980s saw the start of the AIDS crisis, and entire communities were affected. Those in charge of his estate thought about how, if at all, to continue the event and, in the end, decided to retire the concept of the "Red Party" and leave it to history.ĪIDS crisis and growth of parties (1980s–1990s) On the 25th anniversary of the Red Party, the theme of which was to have been "Rome", Mr. Reynolds was a true artist, creating complete party-scapes all in red. The Red Party proved to be so successful, and drew so many outside visitors, that it filled the Valley Dale Dance Hall to capacity and became an annual event, outliving the closure of the bar in the early 1980s. Initially, Reynolds envisioned a one-night party-to-end-all-parties, designed around the theme of the color Red (hence the name "Red Party"), which was to be held at Reynolds' nightclub, “Rudely Elegant.” What was to become another circuit party was founded during the same time period by Corbett Reynolds, a Columbus, Ohio-based artist and nightclub owner in the late 1970s. These parties created the concept of a single party being the focal point for a weekend getaway in the gay community. While open every weekend beginning in September, The Saint's once monthly parties became marathon events that drew gay men from around the world. The Saint, which was constructed inside the renovated space that had once housed the renowned Fillmore East theatre, featured a dome-covered dance floor, the dome being suspended in mid-air, and a complete planetarium mechanism that projected a starscape onto the dome above the dance floor. Some say its like has not been recreated since. This members-only male (with very limited exceptions) club was very technologically advanced. Although Flamingo and 12 West were New York clubs that had theme-centered gay parties, these nightclubs were eclipsed by the opening of the mega-nightclub, The Saint, in the East Village in 1980. They lasted one evening only, and were held in various large venues in metropolitan areas with large gay populations. These proto-circuit parties in the late 1970s, the precursors of what later became circuit parties, were called disco parties. The start of the circuit has been attributed to many different parties that sprang up during the late 1970s and early 1980s.