Ep 8. The Cotton Club Murder

The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade is a true crime series that explores the most shocking and sinister crimes of the 1980s. In season 2 episode 8, titled The Cotton Club Murder, we delve into the unsolved murder of Roy Radin, a notorious theater producer who was shot to death outside the legendary Cotton Club in New York City in 1983.

Radin was a flamboyant and controversial figure in the entertainment industry, known for producing lavish shows filled with scantily clad dancers and dazzling pyrotechnics. He had numerous enemies and had been involved in shady business deals, leading investigators to suspect that his murder was connected to organized crime.

The episode features interviews with Radin's friends, colleagues, and family members, as well as law enforcement officials who worked on the case. We learn about the fascinating and complex web of suspects and motives, including the involvement of a notorious mobster and a young actor who was rumored to be in debt to Radin.

The Cotton Club Murder also offers a glimpse into the seedy underbelly of 1980s New York City, a time when crime and corruption were rampant and the city was still struggling to recover from the financial crisis of the 1970s. The episode uses archival footage and photographs to immerse viewers in the gritty and glamorous world of the Cotton Club and the larger-than-life personalities that inhabited it.

As with all episodes of The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade, The Cotton Club Murder presents a compelling and well-researched account of a tragic and mysterious crime. True crime enthusiasts and fans of 1980s pop culture will find plenty to love in this episode, which offers both a fascinating glimpse into a fascinating era and a chilling murder mystery that continues to captivate investigators to this day.