The GoGo's played the Fleetwood on Sunday June 17, 1979
w/ the Alleycats, the Germs, the Plugz, the Flyboys and the Crowd
The Fleetwood was located at 260 N. Harbor Drive, in Redondo Beach California.
It was located within the tattered old Redondo Triangle Shopping Center that had long been slated for redevelopment.
This little triangle of land was located directly across from the Redondo Marina. The Redondo Marina was the entry point to Redondo's King Harbor where the yacht/boat people are.
This triangle of land was located just south of the massive Southern California Edison plant. In 1964, the intake outlet line for the generating plant emptied directly into the ocean at Redondo Marina. This placement would affect the quality of fishing from the pier and shore.
The Feetwood was next door to the country/folk club called Sweet Water (located at 264 N. Harbor Drive).
The Fleetwood
When the Fleetwood opened in 1977 it boasted to have the largest capacity (1,200) of all the local South Bay clubs. It had a minimum age of 16 which attracted many a South Bay bored teenagers. No alcohol was served.
It had pretty good lighting, a decent sound system and a big, wide open dance floor. There was even an upstairs area. (This place was once a Stat's craft/decorating store after all!).
The Fleetwood's booking policy leaned toward the more heavy metal bands and label artist such as Nick Gilder, Johnny Winter, Journey and Ultravox.
The Fleetwood would present local/unknown bands on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and top 40 cover bands on the the weekend. It often booked bands that could not get booked anywhere else.
Sampling of Bands that played the Fleetwood
Rick DerringerUltra Voxthe Zippersthe KatsAdam Strange, Viper, UFMau-Maus, Red CrossSatin TonesFearXBagsGearsCircle JerksGun ClubAdolescentsSkrewzDead KennedysMiddle ClassVicious CirclePlugzAgent OrangeBlack FlagSubhumansGoGo's
Beach Punk Scene
The Beach punk music scene emerged in the early 1980's. The songs were usually short, fast and loud. The beach punk crowd had a reputation for being violent and confrontational. They were almost gang-like in their approach. Fights were frequent at many of their meet-ups.
Beach punks were often these big, tough, jock looking guys with swastikas, boots, bandannas, jackets, jeans, zippers, chains, leather spike wristbands, earrings. Scateboarding was also associated with the scene.
They were into slamdancing. This type of dancing could be very violent - with arms swinging and thrashing about. Slamming involved stage diving, moshing, crowd surfing, running in circle while pushing others into the most pit.
Local Redondo Beach bad boys, Black Flag, played the Fleetwood several times.
Needless to say, the Fleetwood was notorious for violence and vandalism. Police raided it several times before it closed for good.
Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach is located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles. It is one of the three beach cities. (The other's being Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach). It's primary attraction is the pier/wharf and the marina/harbor.
Redondo Beach postcard from the 1960's
King Harbor was built in 1966
By the late 1960's, parts of the City went downhill and the City felt the waterfront was in need of a face lift.
The City set out to promote Redondo as a close-in destination place. After all, Redondo Beach has all the resort type activities including; swimming, boating, sport fishing, upscale restaurants and hotels offering beautiful harbor views -and all close to home.
In the '70's some restaurants and shops in the Marina included: The Blue Moon Saloon, The Happy Clam, Captain Kidd's Restaurant & Fish Market, Redondo Sport fishing, Clarke's, Polly's on the Pier, Lady Alex Floating Ship restaurant, the Landing and the Yankee Peddler Bike Rental.
Many restaurants dotted Harbor Drive. Popular eateries that offered patio dining included Beachbum Burt's (605 N. Harbor Dr.), and Castagnola's Lobster House (665 N. Harbor Dr.)
All the City needed now was an upscale hotel with great harbor views.
Redondo Triangle Shopping Center
The Triangle Shopping Center was built in the mid 1950's.
Some of the early tenants of this small shopping center included:
- 202 N. Harbor Drive - Heathkit electronic center. (1966)
- 202 N. Harbor Drive - Greg's Floor Covering
- 236 N. Harbor Drive - Papa Joe's Emporium and Screen Door Factory
- 240 N. Harbor Dr. - Byrne's Tidy Tots children store (1958)
- 258 N. Harbor Dr. - Jerry's Shoes (1961)
- 260 N. Harbor Dr. - Stat's - crafts and seasonal decor
- 290 N. Harbor Dr. - Antique Arcade
- 310 N. Harbor Dr. - Sears (appliance and catalog sale store)
- 360 N. Harbor Drive - Mayfair Market (1969)
The old Triangle Shopping Center was down wind from So. Cal. Edison steam plant and across from the Marina.
photo from 1959
By the late 1960's/early '70's, the little Triangle Shopping Center started to go downhill. The City Redevelopment Agency wanted to redevelop this spot and put up an upscale attractive hotel.
For the next 10 years conditions at the old Triangle Shopping Center continued to decline. The City declared it blighted and slated it for redevelopment.
While the City Redevelopment Plan worked it's way through the California Coastal Commission the City put a moratorium on any property improvement by owners in order to keep property values low - pending the possible eminent domain action.
By the late '70's, the Triangle Shopping Center stood half vacant. Several buildings had been burned-out and vandalized.
In 1977 the Fleetwood moved into the spot at 260 N. Harbor Drive.
In 1981 the California Coastal Commission finally approved the revitalization plans of the City of Redondo Beach.
photo: you-are-here.com
Today the triangle property is occupied by an attractive, upscale hotel, the Crowne Plaza Hotel Redondo Beach, commercial offices and a Gold's Gym.
15 comments:
What a neat little site about local South Bay stuff. I'm 3rd generation Redondo, so I appreciate it.
I didn't know there was a Castagnola's on Harbor Drive, but I knew of their place on the Redondo horseshoe pier.
I'm sure you meant to mention that the canneries were in San Pedro (Terminal Island) and that it was predominantly sport fishing that was done on the Redondo side of the Hill.
P.Tierney
Wow. Cool Go-Go's stuff. I like the Go-Go's, but you've clearly got the goods on the band. Can you point me to the earliest of their videos that is online somewhere? I've got people telling me they don't think the Go'Go's were ever a punk rock band and I'm hoping there's some early footage somewhere to help me make my case. If not video then pictures, of which you've loads will have to do. Cheers. (BTW, love the dog!)
Being a lifelong resident of the South Bay, there isn't a time when i'm down on the corner of Beryl and Catalina when i don't look over at the "big hotel" that takes up the place where so much history happened. I remember the Antique Arcade, and Unky Roys on the inside. My grandmother had a booth in the Arcade, and as a little guy i'd run around non stop in there. I remember digging a painting of Custer's Last Stand! I remember the old dudes inside the Arcade telling me that i wasn't supposed to cheer for the Indians, and it made me dig em even more. Great memories! The Fleetwood and all of the GREAT punk shows! Put that into one of the bland and tasteless conference rooms in that "big hotel"...Mickey's Marina Gym was there too! The first place and times that i ever saw big and muscular human beings parading around! It was GREAT! Condemned in the early 80s or some shit like that...some of my standout South Bay memories took place in that little triangle, and none of them had anything to do with that big hotel.
The last night of the Fleetwood was July 3rd, 1980. The Dead Kennedys, Red Cross, Angry Samoans and Disposals.
The Germs played there 3 times, and this was also the venue where Exene was almost stripped naked while on stage, which eventually stopped the show and was shut down.
The Fleetwood was notorious for being rowdy, and was also the club that allowed alot of new punks to come out and see some bands before travelling up into LA or Hollywood and building up that scene which was burnt out by then!!!.
It should be noted that the Fleetwood was originally called Smokestack, and that VAN HALEN and THE RAMONES played there, as well as Don Dokken's first band Airborne, which featured Juan Croucier and Bobby Blotzer of Ratt.
I remember that night when she was stripped virtually naked. People in the crowd were grabbing at her breasts and they ushered her off stage in some other bandmember's leather jacket who later complained to me that he never got it back.
I was also there the last night with the Dead Kennedys. We smuggled dozens and dozens of illegal roman candles and fire crackers into the club and the place was like a warzone with people shooting and throwing the stuff at one another inside the club. It's a wonder the place didn't burn down. I remember some particularly vicious vandals pulled the pipes out of the urinals and flooded the place, and smashed the bathroom sinks on the floor.
It was an insane night that ended with a bunch of people getting arrested at the Denny's down on Aviation.
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I remember Papa Joe's Rock Emporium and Screen Door Factory in Redondo Beach. I know the place burned down in 1971. Does anyone know the owner's name? It escapes me, but I know he dated a girl named Melissa way back then.
ABOUT PAPA JOES ROCK EMPORIUM & SCREEN DOOR FACTORY in Redondo Beach, the owner was James Boyle. I was one of his MANY girlfriends ( I was a waitress there opening night (1970) as well as a go-go dancer. I still have my OUTFIT!! They were all custom made to fit. I am still dancing and the men say I am ravishing.....Boy - those were the good old days♥KB
PAPA JOES ROCK EMPORIUM I was one of the bouncers. The were 2 of us Big John and myself, Little John. Big John later held the world record in the discus. He now is a famous artist in South Africa.
Some of the cocktail waitresses were Pamela, Jerri and Tina. Then there was Tony "the Tiger" an older bald guy who love to dance. Also there was a bartender Jim.
I believe the fire was of questionable origin. Did they ever prove who started it?
Jim Boyle, Papa Joe's article
http://articles.latimes.com/1991-09-19/local/me-3470_1_life-sentences
I recently came across the comments referencing "Papa Joe's Rock Emporium and Screen Door Factory". I must say it was wonderful to hear the remembrances of these good old days.
This is Jimmy Boyle still alive and well. I am currently in the process of writing a book on my life and times and the subject of Papa Joe's plays an integral part in the story. Consequently, I would love to correspond directly with anyone who would care to offer their perspectives on those times, or simply to correspond in general.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Always, Jimmy "Papa Joe"
Remember Papa Joe's Fire fairly well. The place closed for the night. Someone then poured a bunch of gasoline in the joint, disconnected the natural gas line to the water heater, set the place on fire, locked the doors and left. We'll, the fire almost went out due to lack of oxygen.
After waiting about an hour a few blocks away for the fire to erupt, the arsonist went back and using his key, opened the east doors. The oxygen went in and the place exploded, blowing the west wall onto Harbor Dr.
Mr. Boyle's very expensive glass desk in his upstairs office was never found, as it had somehow, like Elvis "left the building" before the fire.
Seem to remember that the arsonist was an employee, who was
A. Not
B. Maybe
C. Probably
D. Without a frigin doubt.
doing an insurance job for the boss.
I think the arsonist got burned and arrested, but don't remember the outcome. I think everyone skated
I worked there for Craig Lindstrom and Sven Holm and promoted many of these shows...It was crazy!
Fights
drugs
Great music
and all that goes with the club scene...Rock and roll fun.
My two favorite memories were Journey and Toyz
Papa Joes was The most fun place at the beach! I remember the band Atlee. I was a waitress there for awhile, I was also a stewardess for United and flew with Jimmy Boyles' WIFE Linda; yes, he was marrried at the time. The place was hopping every night. Sex, drugs and rock and roll baby!!!
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