Victor Drai (born July 25, 1947) is a Franco-American[1][2] nightclub owner, entrepreneur and film producer.[3] Drai rose to prominence in the 1980s, producing the movies The Woman in Red (1984) and Weekend at Bernie's (1989), before leaving the industry to open a string of high-profile restaurants and nightclubs.[4][5][6]
Victor Drai | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 25, 1947 Casablanca, Morocco |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouses | Yolanda Krupiarz
(m. 2016) |
| Partner | Jacqueline Bisset (1973–1980) |
| Children | 4 (including Dustin Drai) |
| Website | draisgroup |
Early life
editDrai was born in Casablanca, Morocco, to Jewish parents. He dropped out of school at 14 to move to Paris, France, with his family. In 1968, he launched a ready-to-wear line called Vicadam, which featured velvet jeans.[7]
In 1974, Drai met Jacqueline Bisset on a flight from Los Angeles to Paris and the two began a transatlantic relationship.[8] Drai sold the fashion line and relocated to the United States to be with Bisset and began a new business flipping Beverly Hills mansions.[7]
Film production
editIn 1982, Drai and then-girlfriend Kelly LeBrock traveled to Paris where they saw the movie Pardon Mon Affaire. With the help of David Begelman, Drai produced a remake titled The Woman in Red which was released in 1984.[9] Based on that movie's success, Drai then produced a series of comedies including another French remake, The Man with One Red Shoe (1985), and Weekend at Bernie's (1989).[4][10][11]
In 1985, Victor Drai Productions had set up a two-year, non-exclusive pact with MGM/UA Entertainment Co., whereas the first of the film projects were set up for the start of the fall of 1985, and represent the directorial debut of actor Henry Winkler.[12]
Restaurants and nightclubs
editIn 1993, Drai made the decision to open a restaurant, which he felt would be a more family-friendly career.[4] He contracted French chef Claude Segal, who'd replaced Wolfgang Puck at the upscale restaurant Ma Maison in 1985.[13] With Segal, he opened the restaurant Drai's at 730 La Cienega Boulevard on Restaurant Row in Los Angeles.[citation needed]
In 1995, Drai opened a second Drai's in Las Vegas. A couple years later, he started an afterhours club, "That started everything", Drai stated.[14] In December 2013, he opened a steakhouse on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles called Rare by Drai's.[15]
In March 2010, he opened Drai's Hollywood, a rooftop restaurant, pool and nightclub at the W Hotel in Hollywood.[16]
In 1997, Drai opened Drai's restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip.[17] Two years later, Drai added a nightclub to the restaurant, re-branding it Drai's After Hours.[18] In Vegas Seven's 2012 Nightclub Awards, Drai's After Hours won "Best Place to Disappear".[19] He currently operates Drai's After Hours nightclub at The Cromwell Las Vegas.[20]
In 2007, Drai took over La Bete at Wynn Las Vegas and re-branded it Tryst.[21] In 2012, Vegas Seven's Nightclub Awards awarded Tryst "Best Place to Impress".[22] In 2013, Tryst placed #8 in the Top 100 Nightclub & Bar Roster for Nightclub & Bar Magazine.[23]
Drai opened XS nightclub at Encore Las Vegas in 2008.[24] In 2010, XS won Nightclub & Bar Awards for "New Club of the Year" and "Mega-Club of the Year.[25] " In 2013, Nightclub & Bar Magazine awarded XS the "Mega-Club of the Year.[26] " Technomic named XS number one nightclub in the US for 2010.[27] In 2010, Drai was bought out of his managing partnership at Steve Wynn's Tryst and XS to pursue other endeavors.[28]
On March 2, 2017, he opened Drai's Vancouver which was located inside Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver.[29] The club closed down in September 2018.[30]
He opened Drai's Beachclub & Nightclub,[31] on Memorial Day weekend 2014, at The Cromwell Las Vegas.[32] This 65,000-square-foot venue has a party pool and an indoor/outdoor club spread out over two levels on top of the new Cromwell Hotel.[33] Drai also opened a beach club and a nightclub in Dubai and plans to expand his empire to other cities.[34]
Drai is one of sixteen professionals listed in the Nightclub Hall of Fame.[35]
Personal life
editDrai was a romantic and business partner of Jacqueline Bisset's from 1973 to 1980.[36][self-published source] Drai has been married three times. In 1984, he married Kelly LeBrock; their marriage ended two years later in 1986. His second marriage was in 1990 to Loryn Locklin. On April 24, 2016, he married his third wife, Yolanda Krupiarz.[37] Drai has one son, Dustin Drai, who is vice president of entertainment and marketing for Drai's Beachclub, Nightclub and Afterhours; and three young daughters.[citation needed]
Filmography
editHe was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.[citation needed]
Film
edit| Year | Film | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Woman in Red | |
| 1985 | The Man with One Red Shoe | |
| The Bride | ||
| 1989 | Weekend at Bernie's | |
| 1992 | Folks! | |
| 1993 | Weekend at Bernie's II | |
| 2016 | The Last Film Festival | Co-producer |
- As an actor
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn | Himself |
References
edit- ^ Welkos, Robert (July 7, 1994). "Drai's Restaurant: Parlez-Vous le Show Biz? : Industry: Hollywood powerbrokers flock to Victor Drai's West Hollywood restaurant. But is it for the former producer's Southern France-style food?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ Weston, Jay (December 17, 2013). "Rare by Drai's Opens on Sunset Plaza Drive". The Huffington Post. Rare by Drai's Opens on Sunset Plaza Drive. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ Clarke, Norm. "NORM Q&A: Nightclub mogul Victor Drai sets sights on new Strip venture". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ a b c Kaplan, Michael (February 27, 2014). "Vegas' After-Hours King Makes a Comeback". VEGAS Magazine. Niche Media LLC. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ Odell, Kat (July 2013). "Drai's Restaurant at W Hollywood Shutters, Will Relocate". Eater LA. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ Leach, Robin (March 5, 2014). "Photos: Victor Drai's at Cromwell will be 'the most beautiful nightclub you have ever seen'". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ a b Windeler, Robert (August 1, 1977). "Out of the Shadows". People Magazine. Vol. 8, no. 5. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ Lipson, Larry. "Drai's Turns Hollywood Clout Into Meaty Success". The Daily News. No. 1996. The Free Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ Archerd, Army (August 9, 1995). "Begelman's suicide shocks, saddens friends". Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Victor Drai". IMDb. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ Sweeney, Louise (September 17, 1984). "Film star Tom Hanks: having fun making movies filled with mirth". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Drai Prods. Enter Two-Year Feature Pact with MGM/UA". Variety. June 19, 1985. p. 3.
- ^ Parsons, Russ (November 4, 2011). "Longtime chef Claude Segal dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Victor Drai, Nightlife Impresario Behind Vegas Clubs Tryst, XS, Bringing New Concept to BLT Space". Wehoville.com. August 19, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ Chiao, Christine. "Rare by Drai's, a New Steakhouse in West Hollywood, Now Open". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ "Vegas Debauchery on a Hollywood Rooftop". UrbanDaddy.com. March 8, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ "Drai's (Restaurant)". Vegas.Napkinnights.com. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ "Drai's After Hours - The Best After Hours Club in Las Vegas". Drai's After Hours - The Best Las Vegas After Hours.
- ^ "Best Place to Disappear: Drai's After hours". Vegas Seven. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
- ^ Wynn Las Vegas, Victor Drai end partnership Amanda Finnegan August 27, 2010. Las Vegas Weekly.
- ^ Elyzabeth, Michele. "Victor Drai: He Did It His Way". LATF The Magazine. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ "2012 Nighclub Awards". Vegas Seven. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ "Presenting the 2013 Top 100 NCB Top 10 Profiles". Nightclub & Bar Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ Leach, Robin. "Photos: Victor Drai's at Cromwell will be 'the most beautiful nightclub you have ever seen'". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ Woodman, Xania (February 3, 2010). "XS Takes Home Two Nightclub & Bar Awards". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ "2013 Nightclub & Bar Award Winners Announced". Nightclub & Bar Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ Clarke, Norm (February 7, 2010). "Wynn Las Vegas club named No. 1". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ Odell, Kat (August 27, 2010). "Victor Drai and Steve Wynn Part Ways: Waits Brothers at Helm of Wynn's Nightlife Empire". Eater LA. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ^ "Drai's Vancouver, the city's newest ultra lounge, will make its grand entrance into Vancouver's nightlife scene | Mar 2, 2017". March 6, 2017.
- ^ "Vegas Goodbye, Drai's Vancouver Nightclub Shuts Down Unexpectedly". 604 Now. September 5, 2018.
- ^ "Drai's Beachclub & Nightclub | The Best Club in Las Vegas". Drai's - The Best Las Vegas Nightclub.
- ^ Medved, Matt (April 10, 2014). "Drai's Beach Club & Night Club Las Vegas Announces Eric Prydz and More as First Residents: Exclusive". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ Feldberg, Sarah (February 18, 2014). "Drai's Beach Club and Nightclub Will Be More Than a 'Music Venue for Million-Dollar DJs'". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ^ Dobson, Jim. "Vegas Nightlife King Victor Drai And Son Dustin Take The Drai's Club Brand Worldwide". Forbes.
- ^ "Nightclub Hall of Fame Inductee Victor Drai".
- ^ Freden, Marc (2010). Really!?!: A Memoir and Other Observations from a Man Who's Lived Life "Not Quite Famous Enough". [S.l.]: Xlibris Corp. pp. 153–154. ISBN 978-1450073677. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ Leach, Robin (April 25, 2016). "Victor Drai weds Yolanda Krupiarz in ceremony atop the Cromwell". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on May 3, 2016.