Tributes to a man who put Tyneside on cultural map
THE man who brought the swinging sixties to Newcastle as owner of the legendary nightclub La Dolce Vita has been laid to rest.
Marcus Levy, who lost his battle with cancer on December 4 at the age of 79, was responsible for bringing some of the world’s biggest stars to the city.
In the four years he and his brothers David and Marcus ran the notorious haunt, it hosted performances by some of the greatest singers and comedians of the day.
From Dusty Springfield to Bob Monkhouse and from Tom Jones to Tommy Cooper, La Dolce Vita was the centre of Newcastle’s nightlife.
Raised in Gosforth, the three brothers opened the nightclub in February 1963 after visiting similar places during a visit to America.
They set about turning it into an establishment which rivalled famous London venues like The Palladium and The Talk of the Town for its ability to pull in the big names.
Michelle, 65, was married to Marcus for almost two decades, said: “His brothers were in their 40s but Marcus was just 26 and he was the energetic driving force of the trio.
“It wasn’t just about business for him, it was about pushing people’s cultural boundaries – he was putting pop groups like Manfred Mann on the bill when that was still considered radical.
“They were so ambitious – at one point they tried to buy a 78-seater plane and planned to name it La Dolce Vita and fly their guests to clubs around the world.
“They put Newcastle on the cultural map and in a position where it could compete with bigger cities and I hope that legacy still exists.”
Marcus came to socialise with stars like Cilla Black and influencers like Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein but some guests were less welcome.
The Kray twins, infamous London gangsters, loved the club and even praised “those lovely Levy brothers” in a book.
Michelle recalled Marcus’ encounters with the pair: “The brothers knew how to handle those situations well and it was part of the nightclub business.
“They knew when people like the Krays turned up that, even though it was a very anxious time, they needed to entertain them.
“So there would be bottles of drink taken to them all night for free to keep them happy and that meant they were never a threat to them.”
The death knell of La Dolce Vita was a law restricting gambling – its main source of income – which resulted in its closure after just four years.
David Abrahams, a former councillor whose father was also heavily involved in the club business, said Marcus reshaped culture in Newcastle. Marcus with his children, from left: Tania, Marcus, Elliot, Alexa
He said: “My father ran more traditional clubs and gave advice to the brothers when they were starting – a part of which was ‘don’t do it, it’s a hard life’.
“Those brothers completely changed nightlife in Newcastle and the industry we have now, which is responsible for attracting thousands of people to the city, can be traced back to their club.
“Marcus was a genuine and kind man of the utmost integrity and his influence is still being felt.”
Following the nightclub’s closure, Marcus moved to Leeds where he met Michelle and spent the rest of his life.
Michelle paid tribute to the man who “put his love of family and culture at the centre of his life”.
She said: “Marcus was the sort of man who could hold a room full of people absolutely captivated with his stories and one liners all night.
“He was a true orator and a had a genuine compassion which meant if two parties were in dispute, he could always resolve the tension and bring people together.
“In the 1990s, he took up painting and established himself as a respected artist – he always loved culture and he discovered visual art as a way of channelling that.
“He was warm and deeply spiritual man and cherished every minute he spent with his three children, two step-children and 18 grandchildren.” As well as mixing with showbiz stars, his charity work saw him rub shoulders with political giants, including Shimon Peres, former Israeli president and Nobel peace prize winner. Marcus Levey in his early thirties