“THE ERA OF JEWEL’S CATCH ONE IS ENDING. .. JOIN US FOR THE NEW THINGS THAT WE WOULD BE BRINGING TO LOS ANGELES.”
“September 27 will be a day to remember. Join us to say our farewell to Jewel’s Catch One as we know it.”
Those messages went out on the Jewel’s Catch One Facebook page along with an invitation to “celebrate the end with us” at a Smokin’ Saturdays event this Saturday. Apparently the business is up for sale.
Opened in 1972, Jewel’s Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd. at Norton, was “the nation’s first black gay and lesbian disco” and became “a high energy dance club and community center,” as its description on Facebook put it.
The club was opened by Jewel Thais-WIlliams, who also founded the Village Health Foundation. On her LinkedIn profile, Thais-Williams describes the Catch like this:
The Catch” serves as a community center especially for African American Gays, Lesbians, Bis, Tries, & Otherwise. Everyone is welcome. It is known world wide for its networking, socializing, jamming beats, & dancing. Because it was deemed an underground in spot, celebrities such as Madonna, Sandra Bernhard, Phyllis Hyman, Chaka Khan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Gregory Hines, & many more were known to bust moves on its multiple dance floors.
“The Catch” has also always been involved in community outreach to the underserved, helping recovering alcoholics & addicts and those with HIV/AIDS and as well as providing shelter & food for the homeless & for at-risk youth. And of course, it is the largest supporter of The Village Health Foundation which provides mental & physical health services to all who walk through the door, regardless of ability to pay.
