NARRATOR: DC's bar and club scene reached a peak in the mid-80s.

MILTON: There was this club called The Fox Trap, and it was the place to go for the Buppies.

ROBERT: That was the quintessential place where high income, sophisticated people go.

MAUREEN: You dressed up to go there.

You dressed up your behavior, too, and your manners, in most cases.

NARRATOR: Because The Fox Trap wasn't just a nightclub, it was a DC institution, where members of the Black congressional caucus rubbed shoulders with African-American business leaders and celebrities.

MAUREEN: There was always an interesting event going on.

A lot of them were fundraiser's.

A lot of them were what we would call just networking events.

It was very important for young Black professionals to feel a sense of solidarity and to share their experiences.

It was a great way to socialize and also to meet new people.

MILTON: It, it was nice, but, but, you know, it was, it was important step in the process.

NARRATOR: DC's super discos were also experiencing unparalleled popularity.

DARIN: The Pier, the Lost and Found, the Other Side.

It was a blast.

A fricking hoot.

Insane.

Redskins came in their Redskins jerseys.

You'd run into extremely famous people, and they all merged together.

NARRATOR: For more clips and to watch the full program visit weta.org/decades.