What Happened to the Reseda Country Club?

By Bailey Pennick Tue., Oct. 16 2012 at 11:44 AM

Bailey Pennick

The Reseda Country Club today

The San Fernando Valley doesn't come to mind when you think "iconic clubs," but in the 1980s the West Valley was the place to see acts like Tom Petty, Merle Haggard, Metallica and U2.

The Reseda Country Club, located on Sherman Way near Reseda Boulevard, has a rich history. Now a church, its notoriety lives on in the film Boogie Nights.

After starting as a Sav-On drug store in the 1950s, the club came together after renowned club owner Chuck Landis (The Roxy, Largo) saw an opportunity to expand into the Valley. When Reseda Country Club opened in 1980 it was billed as a space for country western music -- that's where it got its name -- but it was originally known for punk and new wave, and then rock and roll.

Celebrated promoter Jim Rissmiller managed the venue until 1984, bringing in top acts like B.B King, Iggy Pop, Roxy Music, Captain Beefheart, Slayer and James Brown. The 1,000 person capacity spot also saw Mick Jagger shoot several music videos there and MTV hold events including a New Year's Eve party and an awards show after-party concert by Prince.

The acoustics were highly praised, and the shows were often sold out. U2 had their first Los Angeles concert there, in March of 1981. But Rissmiller left after becoming depressed following business partner Steve Wolf's murder, leaving Landis to push on alone. He introduced more hard rock and metal acts, and the venue also became home to boxing matches half of the week, dividing its audience.

Still, it continued to host memorable concerts, including in 1989 one of the Beastie Boys' only shows in support of Paul's Boutique, footage of which can be seen in the video for "Shadrach." But the club became plagued with neighborhood complaints about noise, crime and rumors of underage drinking.

It was featured in Paul Thomas Anderson's 1997 hit film Boogie Nights as a disco-era club club called Hot Traxx; with its low-lighting, huge dance floor and disco balls it fit the vibe of the movie perfectly; it was shot almost entirely within blocks of the venue.

Tags:

Beastie Boys, Boogie Nights, Reseda Country Club, Restauracion Reseda, Tom Petty. U2

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kb6kgx

Have to agree with "ultramix"s comments. It was NEVER called "Reseda Country Club". It was first "Chuck Landis' Country Club", then "Wolf & RIsmiller's Country Club" and THEN they started booking any crappy garage band just to keep the doors open. It was NEVER, NEVER, NEVER "originally known for punk and new wave"!!!!

tolandis

Close but no cigar. Having designed and opened the business it made money from the start as we owned the property. Rissmiller had other issues. When taken back still made money till the end. Local politicians trying to get re elected used us to limit some hours of operation. Thus causing us not to be able to do a second show on some nights. As you say the decrease in concert bookings, and the upward spiral in liquor liability and other insurance costs made it nonviable. Ten Goose Boxing which included Sugar Ray Leonard at the time is not exactly Mexican boxering whatever that is.

ultramatrix

Article is poorly researched. It was called "The Chuck Landis Country Club" and did very bad business, because Country Music was never big in the Valley. The Palomino Club was the place for them to play. So, Wolf and Rissmiller Concerts rented and took over the Club. It was called "Wolf and Rissmillers Country Club". It also lost money, although it had many national acts! It then became Rissmillers Country Club after Steve Wolf died. A new manager, from the Agora Ballroom in Atlanta was brought in and the Club did a turnaround (documented by U.C.L.A. business school). It did two years of sold out shows, then, the large venue Concert scene did a nose dive! Promoters all over the Country cut back, but Rissmiller had yearly commitments that he had to fulfill. The Country Club was making a profit, but, not enough to overcome the larger venue debt! So, it was handed back to Landis where it became purely local heavy metal with an occasional music video! A booking agent from the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland was brought in and it survived as such for a few more years until Landis died! His son took it over and it quickly went down the drain. It was rented to Mexican boxering or anyone else, but, the venue for music, was over!

regend

1 Like

i saw Bad Brains at this spot

MikeGrossmanmusic

@regend I opened up for that show. I played solo acoustic guitar. Even covered the Bad Brains "The Regulator". Was a thrill of a lifetime for me. Was blown away by the Bad Brains performance. Never witnessed such a display of crowd/band energy before or since. And I have seen plenty of gigs.

ronharner

This series of articles is fantastic. It's great to hear about the old venues. I've been past this place, and it didn't dawn on me that this was meeting place for Jack Horner and Dirk Diggler in "Boogie Nights." Keep 'em coming.

mindyrosario10

What an interesting article. I had no idea how much this venue has changed. Thanks for the info.

hank.truxillo

The opening shot from Boogie Nights can be seen at the end of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RQjrCHcGag

Mooshka

I saw a lot of rock and punk shows there. I remember Racer X (live album), Lita Ford, Michael Schenker, The Dickies, Guns N Roses, Tony MacAlpine to name a few.