ManRay was a nightclub in Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States.
The original ManRay nightclub at 21 Brookline Street, Cambridge, MA in Central Square was once at the epicenter of all things alternative in the Greater Boston area. Originally Simeone's Restaurant, the location was bought in 1979 then 4 years later in 1983 it was first opened as a gay nightclub called Campus. In 1985, a second part of the location was opened as "Man Ray", named after the American Data artist, Man Ray. Eventually, the two sectors merged together and became the modern day ManRay space as had been famously known. This new nightclub billed itself as an "art bar" and often featured gallery shows by local artists in its lounge area. ManRay initially gained national attention when it was featured in an article in Life Magazine and then a televised segment by Geraldo Rivera.
The nightclub catered to a variety of alternative lifestyles. Its longest-running night was Campus, a night "for gay men and their friends". Also popular was New Wave Night every Saturday, which featured DJs Chris Ewen and Gary Conzo playing New Wave and Disco anthems, respectively. ManRay also hosted live music acts such as Alien Sex Fiend, Peter Murphy and Nirvana.
ManRay gained a reputation as a hotbed of strangeness in the early 1990s when it became home to the Goth, Fetish, and BDSM scenes in the Boston area. A weekly goth night on Wednesdays and alternating Fetish and BDSM night events on Fridays would be geared to one, the other, or both subcultures, resulting in a local scene that was unique in its cross-pollination. Events with names such as Crypt, Hell, Fantasy Factory, and Ooze earned ManRay a place in local lore as a destination not for the timid or squeamish. Strict dress codes enforced and a tight-knit community that looked out for its own greatly helped to bolster ManRay's image as an otherworldly locale full of dark secrets.
On July 30th, 2005, after more than 20 years, ManRay was forced to close its doors. The owner of the building (not the same as that of the nightclub) decided to take advantage of the high property values and demolish the building in order to construct condominiums. The final week at the club was an intense series of farewell events, one each night for the different subcultures to which it catered.
The owner of ManRay, Don Holland, had been actively seeking a new location to re-open ManRay nightclub, one preferably in or near Central Square, for many years following the closing of the original location. With dire hope to re-open in the near future, years and years had gone by heading into the decade of the 2010s with unattained announcements that the nightclub was going to reopen yet never with any success.
Finally, after seventeen and a half years later, on Saturday night, January 14, 2023, ManRay nightlub reopen at a new location conveniently on 40 Prospect Street, Central Square, Cambridge, MA. Sadly, only six months later, original owner and mastermind behind the prestigious, acclaimed, iconic, and legendary original ManRay nightclub, Don Holland, passed away on July 18, 2023.