From Boxing Gym to 1947 Nightclub
The building at 1019 Seymour Street began as the Eagle Time Athletic Club, a boxing gym run by Joe Filippone that hosted after-hours parties in its upstairs "penthouse" space. The Penthouse opened as a nightclub in 1947, founded by the four Filippone brothers, Joe, Ross, Mickey, and Jimmy. It ran for years as a "bottle club" (BYOB) and did not get its liquor licence until 1968, making it one of Vancouver's longest-running businesses.
A Stage for Jazz Legends
In its mid-century heyday the Penthouse hosted touring greats including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Oscar Peterson, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole. During the 1950s it welcomed Black and white performers and patrons to socialize together after shows, an integrated scene uncommon for the era. At its bottle-club peak the club drew up to roughly 600 patrons a night.
Tyrant Studios: Live Music Returns Upstairs
In May 2018, independent company Seven Tyrants Theatre took over an upper-level room above the nightclub and launched Tyrant Studios, a live-entertainment lounge with a stage and full-service bar. Run by Daniel Deorksen, it seats around 50 people and hosts a curated mix of music, dance, comedy, and cabaret most Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The room is modest in decor but praised for its acoustics, which Deorksen attributes to the low ceilings and carpet.
A Landmark Through Fire and Family Stewardship
A fire nearly destroyed the club around 2011 to 2012; in its aftermath historian Aaron Chapman published Liquor, Lust and the Law: The Story of Vancouver's Legendary Penthouse Nightclub, renewing public interest in the site. Owner Danny Filippone has rebuffed property developers and leaned into the venue's heritage, and he was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame (Producer category) in 2025. The club is also widely known for the topical commentary on its marquee signs. Today the Penthouse runs Thursday through Saturday as an adult-entertainment cabaret while Tyrant Studios keeps live performance going upstairs.