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Jean-Pierre Boccara

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Jean-Pierre Boccara is a French-Italian-American entrepreneur and artist known for founding several clubs[1] in Los Angeles, California. Lhasa Club, Lhasaland, Café Largo, and Luna Park were known for bookings across many genres including music, spoken word, comedy, cinema, cabaret, and pre-digital media art shows.[2]

Jean-Pierre Boccara, photo by Robert Charles Mann

Early life

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Born in Tunisia and raised in Paris, Boccara first came to Los Angeles in 1976 as a film student. He directed and produced two short films in Paris, L'Homme Désintégré (The Disintegrated Man) in 1978 and Par Exemple: Le Poison Dans l' Eau (For Example: Poison in the Water) in 1979. Par Exemple: Le Poison Dans l' Eau had its distribution rights revoked after being censored by the French government as "an apology for terror."

The Clubs

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Lhasa Club (1982–1988) in Hollywood

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The three hundred person capacity multimedia space functioned as a stage, art gallery, cinema, special events venue, and café. Named by the LA Weekly "Best after hours hangout" in 1982, "Best avant-garde club" in 1983, and "Best cabaret" in 1984, the club was often covered in media outlets including KCRW, LA Weekly and the LA Times.[3][4][5]

In 1984, a live album entitled The Lives of Lhasa[6] was produced by Boccara, Anna Mariani, and David Yuratich.

In 1987, Boccara began a film of one hundred performers performing short pieces in front of a single camera. Only about a third of the project was completed. Final edited footage was released in 2015 as The Lhasa Club Tapes on the Lhasa Largo LunaPark[7] page on YouTube and Lhasa Largo LunaPark[8] on Facebook.

Lhasaland (1988–1989) at the Musician's Union in Hollywood

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The one thousand person capacity, multimedia two-level concert/party hall presented major national acts including Devo, The Knitters and Depeche Mode. Music and film industry parties included the L.A. Weekly 10th anniversary party.[9]

Café Largo (1989–1992), on Fairfax in Hollywood

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The 120 seat club and restaurant featured comedy, jazz, world music, spoken word, live music and record industry showcases.[10][11] In 1990, the LA Reader said "Largo mixes food and music memorably" and the LA Weekly named it the "Best Supper Club" in 1991. It was sold in 1992 and operated until 2008.

Luna Park (1993–2000) in West Hollywood

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The seven hundred person capacity multi-level nightclub featured two stages with live entertainment, dancing, and a global cuisine restaurant. Cited for "Triple the ambiance" (Daily News, 1994), "Best food in Los Angeles" (Buzz, 1995), "Best food in a nightclub" (L.A. Weekly 1998), "The best nightspot in town, with a great Euro-Asian menu...[12]"(Travel and Leisure 1998), and "Possibly the best music club on the planet" (Los Angeles Magazine, 1999). The LA Times coverage[13] and reviews[14] of the performances were extensive.[15] Henry Rollins, recorded the DVD Henry Rollins - Live in Luna Park[16] featuring Henry Rollins VS Iggy Pop at the venue.[17]

During its seven years span Luna Park hosted Beth Lapides' Uncabaret.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Lecaro, Lina (April 10, 2018). "Rare Video From Legendary Lhasa Club Features Timothy Leary, Henry Rollins, Sandra Bernhard and More". LA Weekly, LP. LA Weekly. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Lhasa Largo LunaPark". glartent.com. Glartent. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  3. ^ "IN THE NEWS: Lhasa Club". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 3, 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  4. ^ Cromelin, Richard (December 21, 1987). "POP WEEKEND : Doors Close, But L.A. Hasn't Seen the Last of Lhasa Club". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  5. ^ Willman, Chris (February 18, 1991). "Pop Music : Lhasa Club Spirit Brought to Life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  6. ^ Guy, Curious (14 February 2010). "The Lives Of Lhasa LP". phoenixhairpins.blogspot.com. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Lhasa Largo LunaPark". youtube.com. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Lhasa Largo LunaPark". facebook. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  9. ^ Hochman, Steve; Spurrier, Jeff (May 15, 1988). "A Reprise for Boccara--at Lhasaland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  10. ^ Smith, Alexandra (July 12, 1989). "A Place for Poetry In Land of Pictures". New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  11. ^ Douglas, Sadownick (December 3, 1989). "The Comeback of a Cabaret : The pioneering owners of a defunct performance art Mecca rekindle the flame at Cafe Largo in the Fairfax District". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  12. ^ Rubin, Chris. "Insider: Los Angeles". travelandleisure.com. Travel + Leisure. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  13. ^ Siegmund, Heidi (October 27, 1994). "LunaPark an Eclectic Venue Without Westside Snobbery". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  14. ^ "IN THE NEWS Lunapark". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014.
  15. ^ Johnson, Hillary (February 13, 1994). "Luna-cy Lurks at Cabaret". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  16. ^ LeVasseur, Rovi, Andrea (2016). "Henry Rollins: Live at Luna Park (2004)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  17. ^ Brandon, Sideleau (13 February 2004). "Henry Rollins Live At Luna Park DVD". punknews.org. Punk News. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  18. ^ Lapides, Beth (October 19, 2018). "Beth Lapides Reveals How UnCabaret Managed to Reach Its 25th Birthday". LA Weekly. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
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