I knew I would find humor in this book based on the catchy double-entendre of a title. Part memoir and part lessons learned in running multiple businesses, this book takes us behind-the-scenes in NYC and Los Angeles (and additional cities and countries) and what it was like to be running some of the well-known nightclubs over the decades. It's a quick read with many compelling anecdotes as well as interactions with famous people (including a humorous story of being mistaken as John Malkovich which he did not realize was the case, yet gave him VIP treatment at one of Bobby Flay's restaurants). I enjoyed learning about the characters and drama required to manage nightclubs and felt I got a good understanding of what it takes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Santa Monica Press for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

Very interesting memoir that covers decades of trendy clubs from an insider who was central to the scene. He provides insight into the business operations of the clubs but scants on what must have been the seamier side of it

Synopsis: (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review)
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Steve Adelman's humorous and engaging memoir reflects on his years as the director of some of the world's most popular nightclubs, including the Roxy, Limelight, Tunnel, and Palladium in the heyday of clubs in New York City during the 1980s and 1990s, followed by Avalon (Boston, Hollywood, and Singapore locations), and the New Daisy Theatre in Memphis. Nocturnal Admissions is a timely, nonconventional look at one of pop culture's most outwardly glamorous, yet misunderstood industries, bringing the reader backstage into the world of nightlife at its highest level.

Wearing the multiple hats of ringmaster, entrepreneur, guidance counsellor, multimillion-dollar dealmaker, and music soothsayer, Adelman chronicles an improbable journey from small town to the big city, filled with a cast of characters he could never have imagined: People named Hedda Lettuce, Jenetalia, Maxi Min, Jiggy, who collide with and around the likes of Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Sir Richard Branson, Leonardo DiCaprio, RuPaul, Rudy Giuliani, and Snoop Dogg, among many, many others.

Navigating city crackdowns, crazed partners, and cultural differences, Adelman relates how he watched his Nana out-dance an ex-NFL lineman, was chastised by Bob Dylan, launched the EDM musical movement, helped create the "mash-up" with Perry Farrell, butted heads with Jerry Falwell, rang in the New Year with Matt Damon's mother, leveraged porn star Jenna Jameson, relied on advice from felons, almost pancaked Prince, and built the world's most lavish nightclub.

Nocturnal Admissions is a hilarious, adrenaline-filled ride through the peak decades of the world's most famous nightclubs and nightlife scenes.

Anthony Haden-Gest wrote the intro to this fascinating book --- brother of Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest (and BIL to the divine Oscar-winning BARONESS Jamie Lee Curtis!) Anthony is also a well-known party animal as well as a long-time denizen of NYC and its party scene.

This is a very specific book that will delight lovers of the NYC club scene (which spread to other cities) and NYC history. It is the ultimate name-dropper book and the drag queen names just made me laugh out loud. (I realized that when I started reading this book that I had read about 3.4 of it last year when it was released!)

Utterly fascinating to read, it is about a microcosm of nightlife that I imagine will never be around again as it seems that the only clubbers these days are rappers with ridiculous names, too much money and too many weapons. Love the sly name of the book as well: I will recommend it to the very specific audience of my library who I am sure will love it as much as I do…it was hard to get into but worth sticking it out and finishing it, months and months later.