The new Disney+ series Welcome To Chippendales chronicles the 1980s and 1990s emergence of America’s first major male strip troupe. But more than a tale of how the program became a hit, it is a tale of the founder Somen “Steve” Banerjee’s dark side.
In 1979, a former caretaker from Bombay who had relocated to Los Angeles in quest of the American dream became the improbable founder of a male stripping business.
The Chippendales are conceived. In the 1980s, when the dancing ensemble became a global phenomenon, the genuine tale of what was happening behind the scenes was even more enlightening.
CMN
Murder-for-hire narrative behind the male-stripping cultural phenomena
The story of determination and entrepreneurship of company founder Somen “Steve” Banerjee developed into a tale of vicious competition and greed, culminating in arson and hired assassins. “Anyone or anything that stood in Banerjee’s way, he would hire someone to kill or burn the competition,” according to a Los Angeles FBI agent referenced in an indictment from the 1990s.
Robert Siegel (The Wrestler, Pam & Tommy) has written the drama Welcome To Chippendales, which stars Kumail Nanjiani, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Zack Palmisano, Colin Seifert, and Annaleigh Ashford.
Siegel tells, “It’s a fantastic true crime narrative.” “The crime was intertwined with sex, narcotics, and male stripping. It’s a strange, enjoyable world. However, there is much substance. It was a chance to examine all these major themes, including racism, capitalism, what it means to be an outsider, the American dream, and immigration.
“And the protagonist… just to plop this conservative, extremely buttoned-up, nerdy Indian immigrant, into the untamed world of Los Angeles, drugs, and stripping.
He followed the traditional immigrant path of coming to America, working hard, applying his entrepreneurial abilities to develop a business, and achieving success. He did exactly what is considered to be the standard immigrant success story. But he applied it to something so scandalous and frightening.”
Banerjee immigrated to the United States in the 1960s and ran a gas station before purchasing the Destiny II club in 1975. Before the concept of male striptease – “for females only” – was conceived. The pub purportedly offered female mud wrestling and exotic dancing.
The Chippendales became a phenomenon, with the dancers readily recognizable by their uniform of the bow tie, collar, and cuffs. A reversal of the iconic Playboy trademark authorized by Hugh Hefner.
“Disneyland for girls”
According to a Los Angeles Times archive story, “the club began attracting overflow groups of ladies who. For a $20 cover charge, could gawk and kiss sweaty, tanned, well-muscled young males in G-strings.”
The Chippendales had their own “Man of the Month” calendar by 1981. Banerjee described the event in an interview with the Los Angeles Times as “Disneyland for ladies.” New clubs were established in New York, Dallas, and Denver.
However, the Chippendales’ success spawned imitations. According to a government sentencing memorandum, as reported by the LA Times. “Banerjee’s anxiety about those competitors led to three arson attempts”. Two attempts resulted in minor damage to two competitor bars, while the third was abandoned.
Trouble was also growing between Banerjee and Nick De Noia, the TV director, and choreographer who helped transform the show into the massive stage spectacle that it became. In 1983, De Noia scrawled on a napkin that he had the right to take the Chippendales on the road and to own the show forever. Banerjee reportedly signed it without fully comprehending what it meant.
A racial discrimination complaint was filed in 1983, and an error during the 1987 calendar print run resulted in February having 31 days, costing the corporation approximately $300,000 (approximately £245,000 today).
Charges of murder-for-hire, solicitation of murder, and arson
In 1987, De Noia was shot in the face while seated at his Manhattan, New York, office desk. Banerjee was not officially implicated in his role for several years. But by the time he was charged with murder for hire in 1993. He was also accused of conspiring to kill two Chippendales dancers.And a producer who had allegedly defected to rival companies.
Candace Mayeron, who worked on the performance and the touring production with De Noia after he broke ties with Banerjee, claims she had not the slightest doubt as to who was responsible for the murder.
“Steve and Nick had reached an impasse,” she told Elle in 2021. “Nick was a New Yorker who frequently appeared on television to discuss Chippendales. He began to be known as “Mr. Chippendales.” I believe that contributed to Steve’s animosity toward Nick. Their verbal battles turned violent. Nick and I were together for so long that I never knew he had other adversaries. It was not too difficult to connect the dots.”
According to official reports, Banerjee was charged under the US federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for a pattern of racketeering activities that includes murder for hire, a solicitation to commit murder, and arson.
In the hours preceding his 1994 sentencing, Banerjee was discovered dead in his prison cell, having committed suicide.
Company’s financial catastrophe
Siegel researched the case using news articles and court documents from the period. In addition to books and podcasts that examine what transpired.
He states, “There are very few interviews with Steve.” “I mean, almost none. Therefore, we had to piece together what little information we had… court documents and articles about the crimes, the arsons, and the club’s financial difficulties.
“There were publications about the lawsuit alleging that the club discriminated against black customers based on race. Steve linked whiteness with sophistication, and he did not want blacks in the club.”
Siegel was most astonished to learn what transpired with the 1987 calendar and how it precipitated Banerjee’s fall from power.
“This complete disaster causes the company’s financial catastrophe and causes [Banerjee] to lose his mind. It’s essentially the final nail in his coffin. I discovered afterward that he hailed from a printing family.
“He left India, turned his back on the family company, and immigrated to the United States. And ultimately, a printing error proved to be his undoing.”
