Jewel’s Catch One opened its doors in 1972, as the nation’s first black gay and lesbian disco, located at 4067 West Pico Boulevard, in Los Angeles. Having evolved with the times, the venue now serves as both a high energy dance club and community center welcoming everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation; while raising awareness and financial support for their alternative non-profit medical clinic, the Village Health Foundation.
The clinic, which is situated next door to the disco was opened by Catch owner, Jewel Thais-Williams to provide quality supplemental and medical care to everyone, regardless of ethnic background, sexual orientation, or their financial situation. Jewel and her spouse Rue, also founded Rue’s House, the first residential home in the Nation, for homeless women and children with HIV/AIDS. Rue’s House, no longer needed due to the medical advancements in the AIDS community, closed its doors in 1997 and reopened as The Village Manor currently serving recovering adults with substance abuse issues.
The history of Jewel’s Catch One is legendary. This is the club where Madonna held her CD release party. “Beaches” starring Bette Midler, Keenen Ivory Wayans’s, “I’m Gonna Get You Sucker”, “BAP” (Black American Princess) starring Hallie Berry, Angela Basset in “I Tina”, and Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman”, several episodes of “Cold Case”, and numerous TV shows and videos have also been shot on the premises. The Catch has also played host to numerous famous celebrities and politicians, who have graced us with their presence.
Jewel’s Catch One holds its own, offering dancing and bar life considered urban and hip outside of the traditional dance scene. The weekend nights are set ablaze with a stage and large dance floor on the upper level. While, the lower level rocks with weekly theme parties. Overall, we are multi-level, with three dance floors, and three bars. There’s plenty of room for each night to pull a wide swatch of varied interest crowds through its famous doors.
Her latest trip to North America includes four performances of Phantom Kino Ballett, her project with Sarah Szczesny. Its soundtrack will be released this month.
The weekend-long event at Union—which also includes Omar S and Cassy—will be spread across four stages hosted by the likes Decibel Festival, Dig Deeper, Listed, Desert Hearts, Sublevel and more.
Running from Friday, September 21st through the 23rd at Union, the 40-hour-plus party will feature Omar S, Cassy, Lena Willikens, Sebastian Mullaert and more, spread over four stages with food vendors and visual art as well.