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ROAD ENDS IN EAST HOLLYWOOD FOR FAULTLINE

2021 SPRING-SUMMER

ROAD ENDS IN

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EASTHOLLYWOOD

FOR FAULTLINE

Somewhere, there’s a beautiful over-the- rainbow ending that Judy Garland sang about in “The Wizard of Oz.” But not so for the Faultline, the legendary gay club in East Hollywood once owned by Garland’s husband, Sid Luft. Four clubs shuttered in West Hollywood since the start of the pandemic, diminishing a slice of cultural life.

BY WILLIAM B. TORRES

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, many small businesses suffered and eventually closed their doors to the public.

The LGBTQ+ business community suffered a great deal during the shutdowns. A few iconic nightspots like the Faultline that cater to the gay community are now permanently closed. The legendary gay leather bar called East Hollywood home for decades, located a few blocks from L.A. City

College.

For 26 years, Faultline has been the home to many gays across the homo spectrum, including bears, otters, leather-look, twinks, drags, and jocks. Bears prowl through a club. They are large, hairy masculine types. The otter is a thinner version of the bear. The leather-look sports black handcuffs and leather vests with tight pants. Twinks are thin – the more feminine, beautiful types, while jocks are fit, athletic and strong. Drags are short for drag queens.

Spot Morphs from Red Rouge to Bar for a Cruise

Devion Coleman, a poet, and writer would visit the Faultline from time to time before COVID.

“Every time I would walk into the doors [of Faultline], I would see the gay United Nations inside the bar,” Devion said. “The Faultline was a very welcoming and accepting community.”

When it came to Faultline, Judy Garland would say, “Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore.”

In the 1960s, gay icon Judy Garland bought the building with her then, late husband, Sid Luft. It was named Red Rouge according to ‘wehotimes. com.’ In 1963, Garland placed her handprints and signed her name on the cement floor, behind the club’s back bar.

Since the days of Judy Garland, the actual building has been a haven for the gay community – for over 40 years. After the Red Rouge, the building was called Stud, a Levi/leather cruise bar from 19741988. In 1988, the Stud converted to the Zone, and then in 1989, it was called Griff’s.

In 1994, Shawn Farnworth bought the building on Melrose and named it Faultline.

Larry Wilson lives three blocks from the Faultline and would go over every weekend before the lockdown began.

“Drinks were so cheap at the Faultline, I would just walk over for a drink or two during the weekend,” Larry said. “I would also go over when it was underwear night and have a great conversation with one of the bartenders named Elijah.”

Lively, Uncensored Crowd Makes Tracks to Faultline

Because Faultline was a gay dive bar for over 26 years, it can be an “unrated” environment in the gay community. This means explicit acts were likely to unfold inside the club.

An interview subject who will remain anonymous enjoyed going to the Faultline in the 1990s.

One of his most memorable moments at the Faultline was a New Year’s party, where he became intoxicated and had a very close encounter with a famous porn star named MackSF inside the bar.

“I had to call a cab to get home, and I left without my pants. When I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t remember ‘HOW’ I got home with no pants,” the partier says. “This had to be around 25 years ago. I was in my late 30s, and I’m now 65.”

Not only has Faultline been a haven for the gay community in East Hollywood, but the local businesses also supported the leather bar.

Josh Schneider is a tattoo artist and works at Marginalized Tattoo, a shop next to the Faultline. Schneider would always grab a drink at the Faultline after work.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m straight, I was welcome by the doorman, and bartenders, each time I would go for a drink after,” Josh said. “It was fun culture to be around, and it will be missed.”

LACC faculty, students and East Hollywood residents would pump their gas at the Mobile Station at the corner of Melrose and Vermont. The neon-colored sign of the Faultline was in clear view to any customer pumping gas.

Jose Avalos works at the Mobile gas station. He has been there since 2001, and he says he has always supported Faultline’s customers.

“I never had a problem with the gay community, and the gay community has always been really nice to me every time they would come inside to buy a snack or water after the late hours of the night,” Avalos said. “I was a good friend with the previous owner, Jorge Usatorres. Once a week, Jorge would come inside the gas station and have a small conversation about his job or my wife and kids.”

West Hollywood Gay Clubs Lose Glitter in Pandemic

Almost six miles away from Los Angeles City College the heart of the gay community, West Hollywood, suffered during the pandemic. Danny Rivas works for the city. He is the West Hollywood code of compliance manager and is not shocked that Faultline closed permanently.

“A lot of businesses don’t own the property, which makes it hard for the bars like Faultline to stay open when revenue isn’t coming in,” Rivas said.

(L) The Faultline was a gay leather cruise bar in East Hollywood. The bar attracted different men from all ages and races. (R) Judy Garland became Hollywood’s golden girl from the 1930s to the 1950s. Garland’s late husband owned the Red Rouge bar, which became The Faultline in the 1990s. 2021 SPRING-SUMMER

The pandemic hit West Hollywood hard. Four Gay clubs and bars closed their door last year: Rage, Flaming Saddle, Gym and Gold Coast Bar.

“The bars closed in West Hollywood because they couldn’t pay the property owner,” Rivas said. “I believe the same thing happened to the Faultline.”

David Cooley is the only business owner in West Hollywood that is also the property owner of the most famous two clubs in the city, The Abbey and The Chapel.

“The Abby opened during a perfect time when West Hollywood wasn’t considered a city,” Cooley said. “The Abbey started as a coffee house.”

Cooley turned a small coffee house into “the greatest gay bar on the planet,” according to MTV.

This was not the first pandemic Cooley had encountered. In the ‘90s, Cooley watched his customers and friends die during the HIV/AIDS crisis.

“Act-Up (Aids Coalition to Unleash Power), would always start their marches at The Abbey and march to Hollywood,” Cooley said. “Even when AIDS was considered a taboo, West Hollywood had always been a safe zone to anyone in the LGBT community.”

While the Abbey survived the AIDS Pandemic, COVID-19 was the biggest challenge The Abbey faced in 30 years.

“We had to open and close four times during the pandemic, which is extremely costly because the health department doesn’t really give you a clear message when you are going to close,” Cooley said. “You can order $40,000 worth of products to get you through the weekend—your poultry, your meats, your bakery, your labor cost, and then within a short notice to say that you are closed. Even when you’re closed, it’s still a huge expense to keep the business running with no income revenue.”

There was a point where Cooley says he thought the Abbey would not make it through the pandemic. With his management team and staff’s help, some who have been with him for close to 30 years, The Abbey will remain open to celebrate their 30th anniversary in May 2021.

“The love and appreciation that our clientele has given us for being open while having a safe environment has been overwhelming,” Cooley said. “Not only can our clients be themselves but COVID safe as well.”

Cooley was fortunate because he owned the real estate and the business where The Abbey is located. At the same time, he will miss his neighbors.

“I’m very sad to see many LGBTQ bars and businesses who cater to a certain clientele have closed their doors forever,” Cooley said. “If you were looking for Latino men, you would go to this bar; if you were looking for hot muscle boys, you would go to this bar. Most of the bars were small and indoors, and unfortunately, they did their best, but COVID got to them, and they are now closed forever.”

End of an Era?

The last co-owner of the Faultline, Ruby De Fresno, told “Q Voice News” she wanted to keep the bar in hopes of reopening after the pandemic was over.

“I’m very excited to keep the legacy of the Faultline alive,” De Fresno told “Q Voice News.” “Preserving the historic bar has always been close to my heart.”

The Collegian Times walked to the famous queer building across the street from the campus. The Faultline sign is gone, and a rental banner is placed in the front door with a telephone number.

A gentleman who goes by the name of Jason opens the door but does not want to be interviewed and only says a few words about the Faultline.

“All the gay stuff is out of the building,” Jason said.

The new co-owner, who identified himself as Diante Jerome Malique III, intends to turn the beloved gay bar located at 4216 Melrose Ave., into a straight bar.

“I don’t want to exclude anyone from the East Hollywood community, which is why I intend to make the bar open to anyone who wants to enjoy a cold draft beer, regardless of any sexual preference,” Malique III said.

As for Wilson who used to go to the Faultline every Sunday for underwear night, he says East Hollywood will not be the same.

“I am definitely going to miss that place, and I hope they find a new home,” Wilson said.

De Fresno has placed all the interior décor in storage in case the Faultline ever finds a new home.

“The Neon penis, neon clock, and the larger-thanlife, iconic Faultline leather men art pieces are being preserved in a storage.” De Fresno said.

While the ultimate fate of the Faultline is unknown, Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to fully reopen California’s economy in June 2021.

When it does open, Cooley says he will compare that day to the Roaring Twenties.

“There is a reason why it’s called the Roaring Twenties, after the pandemic in the early 1900s,” Cooley said. “I want the Roaring Twenties back, and when we declare it, I’m going to have dancers and DJs, and everyone is going to be up and dancing.” ∫

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