Introduction | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | 
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My attachment to ‘21’ goes back more than fifty years when I was in college. My Dad and Charlie Berns were good friends and I, as recipient of that relationship, was the only freshman at Dartmouth with a room decorated with giant dummy bottles of Ballentine Scotch courtesy of ‘21’ Brands. My first “official” visit to ‘21’ during those years was very brief. Chuck Andersen took one look at our rag-tag bunch of college boys and ushered us right out the door.

I began the long journey from the bar to “my” table in 1961. After graduate school, I began my career at Revlon, then around the corner at 666 Fifth. My boss would occasionally take me for a drink after work and we would stand at his favorite spot at the end of the bar by the entrance. Lots of pretzels, cigarette smoke, Scotch & branch water, and a brass bell that hung there, that he would ring to call for another round.

Over the years I “graduated” from drinks to table and counted among my acquaintances, Chuck, Monte, Peter (maitre d’), Walter, Henry, Terry, Bruce and, of course, Jerry and Pete. Bob Kriendler, at a Christmas gathering, requested, in no uncertain terms that we depart, as one of the group rested his weary head on the table.

I remember New Year Eves, resplendent in white tie and tails, courting various lovelies, my son’s and daughter’s coming-of-age parties in the Winchester and Jack Rooms, attending my childhood friend’s wedding in the Puncheon Room during which he announced his bride’s pregnancy, my on-going monthly lunches with my dear friend Tom Werblin, and most of all the lunches, dinners and special occasions with my lovely Debbie for over three decades.

I manufactured Parfum ‘21’ for a number of years, not one of the major items at the cigar stand as it turned out, but much fun. Bruce’s son got my son’s electric trains when my son Marc grew out of them. He and my daughter-in-law joined us for dinner for my birthday in December 1998 and just barely missed delivering our granddaughter in the bar room.

Although today’s dress code has changed (Sheldon must be appalled!), the menu still runs to the classic. Old friends are gone, but newer ones, Bryan and Roger, continue the special ambiance. ‘21’ is our very special place.

It has nearly been a life-long love affair and will continue to be in the years ahead. “Thanks for the Memories.” 

Bob Jaffe

We live in an era of fancy clubs with velvet ropes and V.I.P rooms that separate anybody of importance from the common man. The ‘21’ Club was different. Throughout its history, ‘21’ was a meeting place where celebrities stood toe to toe with your average New Yorkers who got to rub elbows with the special people at ‘21’.

One of my fondest memories at ‘21’ was the night my wife, Dickie, and I were having dinner with Mayor Wagner and an unaccompanied Frank Sinatra. Mayor Wagner and I were deep into a long (and probably boring) political discussion. Frank Sinatra was left to entertain my wife for an hour or so. I looked over at one point and Frank is spoon-feeding rice pudding to my starry-eyed wife. Frank turns to me and says “Don’t worry Gerry, it’s the best rice pudding in the world.”…And it was.

Over the years, if I ever needed to find someone in a hurry, there was a good chance I would fine them at the end of the bar at ‘21’ at 5:30. This was the place where business was conducted; good friends met and enjoyed each other’s company; where special nights began.

‘21’ Club was also the spiritual home of one of the great do nothing organizations of all time – the Skeeters. Founded in 1951 by Ted Husing, its charter states:

“Following a course opposite to custom, there are no by-laws, rules and regulations or formal declaration…no causes or good intentions, no politics, no competitive jealousies or credos.

It is an organization which exists because of the affection each member holds for all other members. It feeds on enjoyment of exclusive companionship during visits to various race tracks, sports events and at banquets.”

To honor the Skeeters who have passed on, we hope to continue this illustrious tradition of doing nothing but enjoy each other’s company. These members include: Toots Shor, Ed McMahon, Bob Considine, Sonny Werblin, Paul Screvane, General Jimmy Doolittle, Pete Rozelle and Humphrey Bogart. They have moved on to another watering hole.

Gerald Cummins

In my world ‘21’ is synonymous with the most august of organizations – the “Skeeters”. For over 57 years the Skeeters have watered and dined at ‘21’. The Skeeters are an invitation only collection of gentlemen of achievement whose only ostensible reason for being members is to enjoy life in each other’s company at various race tracks, sporting events and banquets. Such luminaries as football great Paul Hornung, baseball legend Rusty Staub, the great writer Gay Talese, the Cummins boys – President Jerry and Dick, Governors Carey and Byrne, our esteemed scrivener John Hennessy, the great Joe Cohen, Knight of the British Empire Bill Flynn, Sportsman Tim Rooney, raconteur Marty McLaughlin, et al. epitomize the spirit of 21 particularly at our annual black tie dinner in the Remington Room. Class, style, great stories and jokes plus a wonderful joie de vivre characterize these gatherings. One can easily imagine a similar gathering over 50 years ago with Damon Runyon, Bill Tilden, Ed Sullivan, Robert Benchley, and Ben Hecht in attendance. The spirit of those early days of 21 survives very well to this day and there is no better example than our contemporary “Skeeters” continued attachment to 21.
William F. Plunkett Jr

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