Following our article on the mansion used in The Story of Joanna (1975) and Through The Looking Glass (1976), this time we look at the restaurant and bar used in countless New York adult films, One if by Land, Two if by Sea.
The venue has changed remarkably little since it was used as a film location in the 1970s and 1980s. We look at two films where it was featured: Armand Weston‘s Take Off (1978) and Chuck Vincent‘s MisBehavin (1978), and feature photos from then and now.
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We were recently sat at the bar of One If By Land, Two If By Sea, a West Village restaurant located at 17 Barrow Street (between Seventh Avenue South and West 4th Street).
It has a long and storied past, and operates inside a historic carriage house built in 1767. It was subsequently purchased by Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States (1801–1805) in 1794 and is still rumored to be haunted by his ghost. In the 1830s, the former residence was converted into a pub and brothel, before eventually becoming a restaurant in 1910.
Today it is often cited as being the most romantic restaurant in New York City, and is also noted for its signature dish, Beef Wellington.
In the 1970s, the owners became friendly with film director John Amero who lived in the neighborhood and drank there regularly between film shoots. Ever keen to find new locations for his films, he negotiated with them to use the restaurant out-of-hours. He also told fellow filmmakers, such as Armand Weston and Chuck Vincent, about this, and the location became both a regular haunt for the filmmakers and a location for their films.
Take Off (1978):
Wade Nichols descends the stairs at the ‘Blue Falcon’, 1978
Wade Nichols at the bar of the ‘Blue Falcon’, 1978
Wade Nichols confronted in ‘Take Off‘, 1978
The ‘Blue Falcon’, 2015
MisBehavin’ (1978):
Jack Wrangler and Kurt Mann in the restaurant, 1978
Jack Wrangler looks up to Eric Stanhope, 1978
The location, 2015
The location, 2015
Lesllie Bovee descends to meet Jack Wrangler, 1978
The location, 2015
Lesllie Bovee and Eric Stanhope, 1978
Lesllie Bovee, Eric Stanhope and Molly Malone, 1978
Lesllie Bovee, 1978
Lesllie Bovee addresses the camera, 1978
Lesllie Bovee‘s table, 2015
The credits to ‘Misbehavin’‘, 1978
One if by Land, Two if by Sea, 2015
I enjoy these posts about the locations used in the movies. I hope someday you can prepare an article about the Grand Island Mansion near Sacramento, California, which used in films such as Insatiable, Coed Fever, Society Affairs and others.
Totally agree Jim – I’ve always been curious about that location too.
And does anyone know where the outdoor hotel / bar sequence at the beginning of ‘Behind the Green Door’ was filmed? Curious minds want to know.
great memories from a great spot in ‘the apple.’ The whole area was a longtime haunt if you knew your way around town.
Thx.
Great post – as always. You guys are the No.1.
I walk past this place all the time – who knew of it’s murky past…! I might be tempted to toast Lesllie Bovee next time I’m on the street. Please tempt her to do one of your podcast interviews! She’s the best.
A great peek into porn and NYC’s past.
Another great glimpse into the adult film past of New York. The ghost of Leslie Bovee lives on!
Thanks Rialto!
I’ve been visiting your site for the last few months now. I think I have read every article and downloaded every podcast.
Thank you, particularly, for this post about New York locations. I know that part of town well and intend to check it out at my earliest convenience.
This project is obviously a labor of love for you and it shows in the high quality of your posts.
Thank you!
Please keep these “locations” articles coming. I have already used several of them as reference when I go out for a LONG lunch walk in Manhattan. I’m the kind of person that would go walk by where The Barefoot Boy discotheque used to be just because Andrea True mentioned it on her song “New York You Got Me Dancing”. Aside from the films themselves & reading about the era, walking by these very places is what I call “taking a time machine” to a time that passed me by because I was too young and far away.
xxxx
Great post. Now I hope you can locate the apartment that “Maraschino Cherry” was filmed in. Because I’ve always wanted to live there. 🙂