A nightly atmosphere in transformation
The Youth of Tortosa has expressed its dissatisfaction for decades with the low nightlife offer. In the 1970’s and eighties, one of the few places to breathe nightlife was the long street of San Vicente, a dynamic space full of bars and restaurants that included emblematic places such as La Ponderosa and a nightclub that has been engraved in collective memory: the discotheque Harlem.
The birth of the discotheque harlem
In 1976, a young man with great ambition, Jaume Codorniu Querol, known as Mito, dared to open his own nightclub, despite only 20 years old. It was a time when the age was 21 years, so he had to put the documentation on his uncle’s name. This bravery was supported by his family, who became part of his team.
A context of changes and delay
The seventies in Tortosa were a period of contrasts. Several infrastructure projects were being carried out, such as the National Parador of Turismo and the Campredó Industrial Estate, while there was also the shade of closures such as the railway line of the Safan Valley. In addition, the concern for transfer projects of the Ebro to other regions showed a moment of change and tension.
The difficulties of an entrepreneur
Codorniu faced not only the bureaucracy, but also the repression of a police officer who still maintained the roots of the Franco regime. Agents, known as ‘The Gray’, often made the disco raids, creating uncomfortable situations for the owner. One of his most controversial actions was a round to identify minors, which caused great rejection among the public.
A èxit in local social life
Despite the obstacles, the discotheque Harlem managed to consolidate itself as an essential leisure space in Tortosa. In addition to being a meeting place for youth, the nightclub sponsored a futsal team and took an active part in the major festivals, organizing events such as the Gran Carousel Harlem, which attracted prominent performances of the moment.
The transition to new proposals
Over time, Codorniu expanded his business vision with the opening of the beetle, a new premises that combined party room, music hall and disco. This space also experienced moments of tension with the police, who did not hesitate to close it for unreasonable bureaucratic reasons.
A nostalgic end
With the arrival of the 1980’s, the nightlife in Tortosa began to change radically. The sale of the beetle by an external company to transform it into a bingo marked the end of an age. In Harlem, relationships with new partners complicated things, resulting in the closure of the premises. However, the nights’ memoirs in the Harlem and the beetle are still alive in the memory of many tortosins.
The legacy of a generation
The echoes of the discothèque harlem and the beetle resonate in collective memory as symbols of an age of change, hope and freedom. Today, as I walk along the street Long of San Vicente, I reflect on how those spaces have left an indelible imprint on the night culture of Tortosa.
A record that lasts
The experiences of those years, with songs that still accompany us, remind us that music and fun have always been the engine of youth. The story of Harlem and the Beetle is a testament to the resilience of a generation that fought for its own space in a transformation society.
