Los Angeles. Love/Hate Relationship. SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Two Cities. 2021. Part 5. Overly restrictive California and the losses to the LGBT community.
The Gold Coast, which some referred to as "God's waiting room", opened in 1981 at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and La Jolla, across from the infamous Circus of Books Store which has been there since 1960 and created the home of the Vaseline Alley behind the store. It was a classic "dive" bar and attracted a wide-net audience. It was the home of the Red dress party which started as a vow between 2 bartenders, Mark Ferguson and Yves-Claude, with proceeds going to Life Group LA. I've spent time at the Gold Coast at 2 PM and left at 2 AM. While not a regular hangout of mine, it certainly was always a safety net, a piece of West Hollywood that was comfortable to go to when I just wanted to pop in for a drink or even sometimes just use the bathroom. It wasn't pretentious, the drinks were less expensive than most everywhere else in WeHo. there was something comforting that it was just off the path of the epicenter of Boystown, yet only blocks away from San Vicente and Santa Monica.
Gym has been the one true sports bar in West Hollywood for the past decade. It was also located on Santa Monica Boulevard, but a bit east of the center of Boystown albeit very close to a popular Starbucks known for people watching, Trader Joe's and 24 Hour Fitness. While not a "dive" bar, it was less pretentious, and drinks tended to be less expensive than some of the mainstay Boystown establishments. It did, however, have a theme and following and if you were not into sports and it was during particular playoffs or series, this was not the place for you. The bar had a sign saying thanks for 10 years and had been written off as another victim of COVID-19 but it looks like they may have found a new location, this one right in the epicenter of Boystown.
I am trying to think of what I haven't done at Rage over the years. I am trying to decide what I should and shouldn't admit to in writing this blog post. I never came to California until I was over 21, so we can skip under-age drinking (I did plenty of that in New York and other places) but I am quite certain I did some of the small amounts of illicit drugs, like bumps of special K that I played with in the late 90's probably at Rage. I remember getting a blowjob there once. I've definitely been there more than once watching the Pride parade. In later years, when I was a realtor at Coldwell Banker Sunset Strip, I somewhat frequently had lunch there. They had a really nice burger that you could have with either fries or a salad (I would have either depending on how my mood swung that day) and a beer special for something like $12.95, an unheard of price in WeHo. I also would go for Happy Hour waiting out traffic before driving back to Downtown LA. I didn't do as many evening events except occasionally Musical Mondays when it moved to Rage. I recall running into our "adopted son" Frank there one evening I believe shortly before or after he had moved in with us. He smiled and waved but was with some older gentleman that to this day I have no clue about and imagine he wanted it to remain that way. Rage seemed to be needing a reboot of some sort prior to COVID-19 and instead it missed getting on a respirator and didn't have a chance. It has been one of the key nightclubs in the heart of Boystown for 37 years. I believe it was the only real 18+ nightclub in Boystown which unto itself served a valuable purpose.
Oil Can Harrys was more of a small town bar, in many ways, in a very large city. A spacious location on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City for over half a century, it was the pinnacle member of the San Fernando Valley bar scene. The bar was the only real country bar of any note in Los Angeles County and being larger than 43 US states that is unto itself a statement. But I've been there for disco 🕺dance contests, open mic contests, and all sorts of fundraisers where country music wasn't at all the focus. One of the things I clearly remember of both my most recent and even 20+ years ago trips to Oil Can Harrys is the staff always seemed to want to know you in a genuine way. In LA, people most often "read" you to figure out who you are and what can you do for them. I could say this about New York, but I find the difference with New Yorkers - which I still relate to more even though it's hard for me to say I am one after almost 25 years here - is that they meet and evaluate whether someone is worth their time. That sounds the same, but it is not as it isn't superficial. On their website, they talk about their regulars becoming family. It sounds cliche, but I honestly believe that to be the case. I felt invited in and I was virtually never there.
Faultline and The Eagle in Silverlake are in trouble. Oliver Alpuche is a friend and has been fighting endlessly and then some to keep Redline and fellow DTLA bars, Precinct and New Jalisco alive. I will write more about them soon.
I met Leslie Jordan at the Gold Coast when I lived in West Hollywood on Kings Road for a brief year.
ReplyDeleteI don't visit bars that frequently in my Hometown, Los Angeles. Living in DTLA it's a annoying drive; especially during the peak of traffic. We started to collect our own bars in DTLA.
But when I do go I'm seldom disappointed. Stoping in Mickey's to grab a drink or meet a friend; actually to 'watch the go boys, takes me back in time.
I can remember gathering with friends during Pride or celebrating someone's 30th or 40th or 50th birthday. Sometimes I would just to sit by myself with a burger or a drink and watch the boys go by. Never fear there was always a parade of model like boys in their skimpy shorts strutting their stuff.
I have similar memories of other gay meeting places (bars) making new friends and lovers, dancing and drinking, doing charity events, watching drag and more.
Everyone says the bars are no longer needed because we have the Internet. I say fooey to that period. There's nothing that replaces a gaggle of gay friends laughing and cackling and snorting and having a great time...In person.