Jewel’s Catch One

CCH Pounder narrates this fond profile of the Los Angeles disco Jewel's Catch One. Founded in 1973 by Jewel Thais-Williams, it provided a welcoming environment for gay people of color. Before Jewel came along, the venue had catered to an older white clientele. After borrowing money from everyone she knew to buy the club, she went to work, doing everything from shining the floors to bartending. During the day, the regulars would continue to congregate, but at night the club skewed younger and more diverse. Although Catch One attracted plenty of paid customers, police harassment was a regular occurrence, and an arsonist attempted to destroy what Jewel had built. But if their aim was to scare customers back into the closet or to encourage Jewel to close up shop, their efforts were in vain. Filmmaker C. Fitz’s documentary notes that Jewel had other problems, such as a struggle with alcohol dependency. She also lost many friends during the AIDS crisis, but she did her part to provide food and shelter to those in need, and Representative Maxine Waters credits Jewel for encouraging Waters to make AIDS research and awareness a priority. Other speakers remember the amazing outfits, friends and lovers they met, and songs that came to define their lives (Thelma Houston first heard her just-pressed disco classic "Don’t Leave Me This Way" over the Catch One sound system). The club even appeared as a location in box office hits from Pretty Woman to Straight Outta Compton. In addition to Thais-Williams and associates, other speakers include Evelyn "Champagne" King, Bonnie Pointer, Sharon Stone, and Sandra Bernhard. An engaging portrait, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)