Victor Drai Explained

Victor Drai
Birth Date:25 July 1947
Birth Place:Casablanca, Morocco
Spouse:
    Partner:Jacqueline Bisset (1973–1980)
    Children:4 (including Dustin Drai)

    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]

    Early life

    Drai 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.

    Film production

    In 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).[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

    In 1993, Drai made the decision to open a restaurant, which he felt would be a more family-friendly career. 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.

    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

    Drai was a romantic and business partner of Jacqueline Bisset's from 1973 to 1980.[36] 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.

    Filmography

    He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

    Film

    YearFilmCredit
    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

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: Welkos. Robert. 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?. October 24, 2014. Los Angeles Times. July 7, 1994.
    2. News: Weston. Jay. Rare by Drai's Opens on Sunset Plaza Drive. October 24, 2014. The Huffington Post. Rare by Drai's Opens on Sunset Plaza Drive. December 17, 2013.
    3. Web site: Clarke. Norm. NORM Q&A: Nightclub mogul Victor Drai sets sights on new Strip venture. Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 24, 2014.
    4. News: Kaplan. Michael. Vegas' After-Hours King Makes a Comeback. October 23, 2014. VEGAS Magazine. Niche Media LLC. February 27, 2014.
    5. Web site: Odell. Kat. Drai's Restaurant at W Hollywood Shutters, Will Relocate. July 2013. Eater LA. April 24, 2014.
    6. News: Leach. Robin. Photos: Victor Drai's at Cromwell will be 'the most beautiful nightclub you have ever seen'. October 24, 2014. Las Vegas Sun. March 5, 2014.
    7. News: Windeler. Robert. Out of the Shadows. October 24, 2014. People Magazine. 5. August 1, 1977. 8.
    8. News: Lipson. Larry. Drai's Turns Hollywood Clout Into Meaty Success. October 24, 2014. The Daily News. 1996. The Free Library.
    9. News: Archerd. Army. Begelman's suicide shocks, saddens friends. October 24, 2014. Variety. August 9, 1995.
    10. Web site: Victor Drai. IMDb. October 24, 2014.
    11. News: Sweeney. Louise. Film star Tom Hanks: having fun making movies filled with mirth. October 24, 2014. The Christian Science Monitor. September 17, 1984.
    12. News: June 19, 1985. Drai Prods. Enter Two-Year Feature Pact with MGM/UA. 3. Variety.
    13. News: Parsons. Russ. Longtime chef Claude Segal dies. October 24, 2014. Los Angeles Times. November 4, 2011.
    14. Web site: Victor Drai, Nightlife Impresario Behind Vegas Clubs Tryst, XS, Bringing New Concept to BLT Space. August 19, 2013. Wehoville.com. April 24, 2014.
    15. Web site: Chiao. Christine. Rare by Drai's, a New Steakhouse in West Hollywood, Now Open. April 25, 2014.
    16. Web site: Vegas Debauchery on a Hollywood Rooftop. March 8, 2010 . UrbanDaddy.com. April 24, 2014.
    17. Web site: Drai's (Restaurant). Vegas.Napkinnights.com. April 24, 2014.
    18. Web site: Drai's After Hours - The Best After Hours Club in Las Vegas. Drai's After Hours - The Best Las Vegas After Hours.
    19. Web site: Best Place to Disappear: Drai's After hours. Vegas Seven. April 29, 2014.
    20. http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/aug/27/wynn-las-vegas-victor-drai-end-partnership/ Wynn Las Vegas, Victor Drai end partnership
    21. Web site: Elyzabeth. Michele. Victor Drai: He Did It His Way. LATF The Magazine. April 24, 2014.
    22. Web site: 2012 Nighclub Awards. Vegas Seven. April 25, 2014.
    23. Web site: Presenting the 2013 Top 100 NCB Top 10 Profiles. Nightclub & Bar Magazine. April 25, 2014.
    24. Web site: Leach. Robin. Photos: Victor Drai's at Cromwell will be 'the most beautiful nightclub you have ever seen'. Las Vegas Sun. April 24, 2014.
    25. Web site: Woodman. Xania. XS Takes Home Two Nightclub & Bar Awards. 3 February 2010. 25 April 2014.
    26. Web site: 2013 Nightclub & Bar Award Winners Announced. Nightclub & Bar Magazine. 25 April 2014.
    27. Web site: Clarke. Norm. Wynn Las Vegas club named No. 1. February 7, 2010. Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 24, 2014.
    28. Web site: Odell. Kat. Victor Drai and Steve Wynn Part Ways: Waits Brothers at Helm of Wynn's Nightlife Empire. August 27, 2010. Eater LA. April 28, 2014.
    29. Web site: 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.
    30. Web site: Vegas Goodbye, Drai's Vancouver Nightclub Shuts Down Unexpectedly. September 5, 2018. 604 Now.
    31. Web site: Drai's Beachclub & Nightclub | The Best Club in Las Vegas. Drai's - The Best Las Vegas Nightclub.
    32. Web site: Medved. Matt. Drai's Beach Club & Night Club Las Vegas Announces Eric Prydz and More as First Residents: Exclusive. April 10, 2014. Billboard.com. April 25, 2014.
    33. Web site: Feldberg. Sarah. Drai's Beach Club and Nightclub Will Be More Than a 'Music Venue for Million-Dollar DJs'. February 18, 2014. Las Vegas Weekly. April 28, 2014.
    34. Web site: Vegas Nightlife King Victor Drai And Son Dustin Take The Drai's Club Brand Worldwide. Jim. Dobson. Forbes.
    35. Web site: Nightclub Hall of Fame Inductee Victor Drai.
    36. Book: Freden. Marc. Really!?!: A Memoir and Other Observations from a Man Who's Lived Life "Not Quite Famous Enough". 2010. Xlibris Corp. [S.l.]. 978-1450073677. 153–154. October 24, 2014.
    37. News: Leach . Robin . Robin Leach . April 25, 2016 . Victor Drai weds Yolanda Krupiarz in ceremony atop the Cromwell . Las Vegas Sun . https://web.archive.org/web/20160503211119/https://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2016/apr/25/victor-drai-weds-yolanda-krupiarz--atop-cromwell-/ . May 3, 2016.

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