Brave Dog: a theoretical pre-history

presents a visual history and postcard collection of...

...a club that was created for the underground art and music community which thrived during a brief 18 month lifespan from late 1980 through early 1982 in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles.

The project was designed and built within a vacant storefront by Clare Glidden and Jack Marquette. The postcards shown here were the primary means of promoting the weekend "parties" and were mailed to a list that grew to approximately 900. When the club was "raided" in April of 1982 and forced to close (due to its owners' inability to obtain licenses), the mailing list was enthusiastically offered to Jim Van Tyne who had frequented Brave Dog (and loved the crowd and many of the bands featured) to help promote his THEORETICAL project that opened in the Summer of 1982.

	Just 4 blocks east of City Hall! And next to the infamous punk afterhours hangout Atomic Cafe.


	Clare actually kissed every copy of this card...
	Note: "Anthym" was a band consisting of 4 Fairfax High school students who were later to become known as "Red Hot Chili Peppers."



	Sometime in early 1982 the club ran into extreme difficulties with the City and County bureacracy. It's application for a beer/wine license was declined. The County Health Dept. was demanding many changes on improvements that had already passed by City building inspectors. They even demanded that the flat black walls be painted in pastel semi-gloss...





	It was decided to continue operating under the defensible contention that "private parties" were "private" affairs. Nevertheless the City did send in undercover officers who claimed that they were not invited guests and had the place raided, charging the owners with a long list of violations based upon their contention that the place was a public operation and required all the licenses they refused to grant. Lawyers were willing to challenge the City's position, but a lengthy and expensive court battle would have to be waged with a very uncertain outcome. The City made an offer— close with the promise to never re-open at that address (paying one of six fines) and all charges would be dropped. Done deal. Dead Dog.