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Disco Music > Discotheques and Clubs Index > Dillons
Dillons
1081 Gayley Avenue
Los Angeles (Westwood), California
Know anything about Dillons in Westwood? Let us know by leaving your comments below.
Photos of the Barbra Streisand @ Dillons - Dec. 18, 1976 - A STAR IS BORN premiere party. submitted by Alan Light
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COMMENTS ON THIS DISCO / DISCOTHEQUE / NIGHTCLUB
Dillons had about four levels with different music. One disco, one jazz, one for under 21, and I forgot what the fourth one catered to, maybe soul/r&b. Pretty fun, you'd go up in an elevator with an attendant who would make sure you didn't get off on the wrong floor if you were under 21 like I was (I think I was around 16 or 17). It seemed really cool at the time, getting into a disco. Sometims celebs and performers would be there, usually listening to jazz.
Actually, there were three floors of music; The first floor, sometimes a restaurant, usually vacant.
Second floor was disco (to the very end); The third had various lives as: disco/rock, live bands - rock, pop, and country-western; Fourth floor was the 'New Wave' floor - Though it had a short romp as a jazz club. That failed due to the beat floating up from the lower floors.
memories of an ex-Dillons bouncer
Searse,
Could you provide us with a street address, what the dress code was like... Thank you for posting your memories!
Address:
1081 gayley avenue
los angeles ca
dress code?
Back in '81 - Still disco chic; Women: danskins (think that was the name for those silky dresses); No opened-toed shoes. - Men: Rayon / Silk shirts; Angel Flight style pants.
By late '83: 4th floor: Poser punk - spiked bracelets, bandanas tied 'bout the thighs, ankles, wrists, etc. Kids not brave enough to go to Madam Wong's in Chinatown, or the O.N. Klub in Silverlake or the Zero Club - where that decided to be on a particular night - The 2nd floor: Westside funk a la Rick James. Rap just kicking in ( anyone remember the Egyptian Lover?) -- 3rd floor was more or less a hang out floor - fashion limbo.
Billy Idol lookalikes chatting up with Vanity clones.
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Especially remember Ladies Night on Thursdays and Sundays - Seemed like most of So Cal was there. Had some regulars from Riverside and San Diego that made it their weekend habit.
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Cutting to the chase here, actually a bit more detailed, but don't want to bore people.
I was a "bouncer" there from '81-"84. It was insane. The funniest guy I ever met (his first Name was Eric) was my Supervisor. I learned a lot from that experience. It did have three floors. The Jazz Club's first act was the legendary Joe Williams. It also was the "center" of the New Wave era for a short period of time. I remeber it going down hill in early 1985 when someone was stabbed while waiting to get in. If anyone wants to email me, feel free to do so. I would love to see how everyone is doing. Our "gang" was a tight group full of wanna be bad asses. But we stuck together and that is where those great memories have their meaning. anthony_nfl@hotmail.com
I was a DJ at Dillons on Tuesday nights in 1979. At the time, the 2nd floor was the all disco floor. The 3rd floor has live bands and then piped in the music from the 2nd floor during the band breaks. The 4th floor was another separate disco.
The building is now owned by the UCLA Extension and I've taken classes there. It was a shock to go up that elevator and have the doors open up to -- a hallway.
Searse is absolutely correct on the dress, except he forgot the Madonna craze from'83-85. Dance skin dresses morphed into tights under chiffon and a few bare mid sections. Breast were in belly's were not hip yet. We were THE stop for break dancers with actual talent. A few guys actually got "80's esque movie rolls from showing their talent at Dillons. BTW...what ever happened to Sara, the sexy english chic who was the cashier for a bit or Dori Schrodensac...what a name!!!!
Speaking of DJs - Does anyone remember Guy Ryder or Jeff Green or Judy(last name escapes me)...? During my last 18 months there, I often wore the hats of bouncer, manager, bartender, cashier and DJ - Ocassionally all in one night.....
I remember when Dillons decided to add a New Wave floor as the disco era was fading - - I started working there in Spring of '80 - During the last days when the Dillons' manager was Floyd Butler - anyone remember him from the Friends Of Distinction? Or Dillon's Downtown?
Hey Eric....quit holding out on me. Break out the photos!!! LOL
Dillon's Westwood
I went every Thursday and Sunday nights from 84' on until it closed. Had a lot of fun and made many many great friends. Love to hear from Tony Ferguson and others who may remember me and my friend Julie ! It was such a fun place to go, I will never ever forget Dillon's.
Oh Boy, can I tell you all some stories about Dillons. I spent way too much time hanging out there!
I remember the bouncers running us off to Palms Springs to enjoy ATV and Quad. Does anybody remember this???
As I remember it, one of the bouncers' - Remember 'Coco'? -parents had a house out there. The guys were always shooting off somewhere, distance be hanged, after work. They usually made back to work the next night. Then again....
Created Yahoo! Group for Dillons 'Alumni':
Dillons_Disco@yahoogroups.com
I was at Dillon's the night of Dec. 18, 1976 at the post-premiere party for Barbra Streisand's film A STAR IS BORN. My photos and diary of the evening can be found on flickr.com here: http://flickr.com/photos/alan-light/sets/72157594230520736/ -or- http://tinyurl.com/mqst6
I was there in the late dsco years, 79
I entered a couple dancing contests all over LA.
I used to go to the Under 21 floor with my Girlfriend Valeree at the time. I believe it was 1975 or 1976. Had many fun times there and then once i turned 21 we used to go in a big group and have a blas.Fatburger was around the corner we use to eat a grease burger after drinking and dancing the night awway.
I was wondering what had happened to those night clubs back in the 80's. Dillons, Odissey an 321 were the best ones in town. I used to go on thrusday back in 83 and 84. At the time I was living in Torrance. Me and my friends used to go to Numero Uno Pizza and then to Dillons. Great time.Rap was
After getting off work at Dillons, I would sometimes go to Odessey with some of the Dillons regulars and DJs (Guy Ryder and his wife, Judy, Jeff Green) since it was one of the few after hours clubs in LA back in '82. Does anyone remember the Zero Club or O.N. Klub or Flanigans (Marina del Rey)or the Caribbean Disco Paradise?
Well if you want to go to a decent disco club now days go to our web sight this place is happening...lots of fun.
and it's in the area...I also dj disco
http//www.backtodisco.com
http://www.timesounds.com
I worked at Dillon's as a cocktail waitress in 1979. Floyd Butler was my boss. Jeff was the assistant manager. I usually worked on the disco floor. I also worked on the floor with live bands. I'm trying to remember one of the rock bands that played there.
The name was something like The Bandini Bros. Does anyone remember?
Marci? I remember you! I was hired by Floyd back in 80'. Then Jeff took over as manager not long after, followed by Jim. The third floor was the live bands, but the only band I recollect by name was Roach and The Whiteboys. Then, for a time, that floor tried to milk the 'Urban Cowboy' craze by going C n W for a while. Looking back, some of our Dillon's memories would make a good indie film. What about memorable Dillon's bartenders like Doug or Shane?
Eric - do you remember a bouncer by the name of Luke? I had a lot of respect for him. He taught me to disco.
Do you remember Jinnie - she worked the door.
David Lucas. He among the security crew when I came on. Bobby Hammond, Darryl Pierson, Ralph (forgot the last name)...Some of the bouncers I recall. I kinda remember Jinnie - Cashier at the door; Lived in Venice. I've wondered what became of the rest of the Dillon's cast. Remember Randy? He was manager there for a while. Last I heard he went home to Oregon. The DJs? Where's Guy Ryder or Sue or Jeff Green or Leonard these days?
OMG! I just happened upon this website looking for an Under 21 Club for my daughter to have a bday party at. (too many Sweet Sixteen shows) I was a regular on Thursday and Sunday Ladies Night from 82-84. It was great! My best friend Lila and I would go there all the time. Loved it! Jeez we were total regulars. I was in line waiting to get in when that guy got stabbed. It was total chaos. I used to drive my white VW Bug to park in the back and have Lila jump out and raise that wooden parking arm so we could park for free lol! I lived in Torrance back then. Very Cool!
As a teenager, I attended the "A Star is Born" premiere at Dillons. The crowd was asked to wear white for the benefit for the LA Film Exposition. I remember walking to the disco alongside Marisa Berenson and some other celebrities. Streisand was nowhere to be found inside, despite the photo above. They had some type of private room. I walked past Tina Turner who was being turned away. (She smiled and didn't seem to care.) Other than that, I just remember being too young and aside from grabbing some food, feeling a bit awkward in my white tux. Ryan O'Neal and Peter Bogdonavich were among the other celebrities there that night.
I DO REMEMBER DILLONS, BUT DO YOU REMEMBER ALL THE RED ONIONS, AND TENNESSEE GIN AND COTTON, OFF VENTURA BLVD, AND LE HOT CLUB IN SHERMAN OAKS? I PARTIED HARD FROM 77 THRU 80..IF ANYONE WENT THERE THAT TIME ..PLEASE TELL ME WHO YOU ARE..
Irene, did we dance at Le Hot once? LOL! WOW! This place is a virtual time warp...
Thank you all for the memories...
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