Soon after opening, The Saint became the apotheosis of the underground dance world in New York City, its name, inspired in part, from the nearby New St. Mailman purchased the abandoned proscenium theater because it could accommodate his vision of a multi-level extravagant club, including a planetarium, which became The Saint’s trademark. The space had been vacant for a number of years, when, in the late 1970s, entrepreneur Bruce Mailman partnered with designer Charles Terrel to develop and create The Saint. From 1968 to 1971, the space was home to the legendary Fillmore East Music Hall (often referred to as the Fillmore East), which was considered the best showcase for rock music in New York City. Opened in 1926 as a cinema called the Commodore Theater, the building became the Village Theater in 1963, offering burlesque, Yiddish vaudeville, Off-Broadway productions, and live music events.
