Master of Ceremonies

India-born Somen “Steve” Banerjee and young attorney Bruce Nahin founded Chippendales in 1975. Banerjee bought a failing West Los Angeles bar named Destiny II. Changing its name to “Chippendales” the duo hosted exotic dance nights for women. This was a major hit, leading to clubs in New York, Dallas, and Denver. Plus three troupes touring around the US and Europe.

Then things started to go wrong.

Rival nightclubs soon followed; these worrying Banerjee. He tried to burn down at least three of them. Then in 1987, Banerjee hired a hit-man to murder his business partner Nick De Noia. He also plotted to have two other former associates killed. Police arrested Banerjee in 1993; he hanged himself in his cell a year later.

A fascinating tale which I enhanced by:
* listening to the podcast Welcome To Your Fantasy, and
* watching the Curse of the Chippendales documentary.