Heavy with scenery inspired by Prohibition-era Atlantic City, last week's New York and Atlantic City premiere parties for HBO's new drama Boardwalk Empire offered a curious array of embellishments to the Patina Group's Rockefeller Center properties and One Atlantic. From a custom marquee and paisley-patterned projections to a whiskey tasting and costumed staffers, here's look at more design and production elements from each event.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
As a playful nod to Boardwalk Empire's central character, Nucky Thompson, the producers of the New York premiere party supplied a cigarette girl, who handed out red carnation boutonnieres to arriving guests.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
At Rockefeller Center's Rink Bar, vintage streetlamps, highboys covered in sequined linens, and white vases brimming with enormous arrangements of leafy ferns, feathers, and red roses, set the scene for guests coming from New York's premiere at Clearview's Ziegfeld theater.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Although the doors to the Sea Grill and Rock Center Café were left open for the New York party, Invision Events demarcated each area with a white fringe curtain.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
As an alternative to the dark, speakeasy-style room of the Rock Center Café, HBO turned the Sea Grill into a more upscale, supper-club-like area for the New York premiere party.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Vintage-inspired floor decals helped guide guests through the event's various areas, and paisley-patterned projections added texture to the site of the New York party.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Invision Events custom-designed and produced pillows printed with old beach photographs for the cabanas at Rockefeller Center.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Like the event in New York, the post-screening party in Atlantic City included a marquee-style sign for the show.
Photo: Courtesy of Bill Banks
HBO turned One Atlantic's study into a dimly lit speakeasy space and offered cigar rolling, as well as whiskey tasting hosted by sponsor Canadian Club.
Photo: Courtesy of Bill Banks
Although stormy weather prevented the guests at the Atlantic City premiere party from taking advantage of One Atlantic's terrace, there were plenty of indoor activities to keep everyone busy. M&M Entertainment supplied blackjack tables in a partitioned area of the Atlantic Room.
Photo: Courtesy of Bill Banks
To point guests in the right direction and pose with Boardwalk Empire's stars, like Michael K. Williams (pictured, far left) and Michael Pitt (far right), the organizers of the Atlantic City affair provided showgirls and staffers outfitted in 1920s-style garb.
Photo: Courtesy of Nick Valinote
