Palomino Club (North Hollywood) facts for kids
The Palomino Club was a famous music spot in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles. It opened in 1949 and became the most important country music club in the city for many years. It closed its doors in 1995. The Los Angeles Times called it "Country Music's most important West Coast club." It even won an award as the national Club of the Year from Performance magazine.
Later, in the late 1980s and 1990s, the Palomino started to host more rock bands. Many of these bands were connected to SST Records.
Contents
The Palomino Club's Story
Early Days: Country Music Fun
The Palomino Club, located at 6907 Lankershim Boulevard, first opened around 1949-1950. It was started by Hank Penny, a bandleader who played Western swing music, and his partner Amand Gautier. Hank Penny even held "jazz nights" where talented jazz musicians could come and play together.
In 1952, the club was taken over by Amos Emery ‘Pat’ Yeigh, along with Bill and Tom Thomas. By 1956, it had grown into one of the biggest Western nightclubs in the San Fernando Valley. It had a large dance floor and featured many top country music stars. These stars were often seen on radio and television too.
The club became even more popular in 1959. Another big country music venue, Riverside Rancho, closed down. This meant many performers who used to play there started coming to the Palomino. In the early 1970s, the club could hold about 400 people.
The Palomino Club was more than just a famous nightclub. It was also a friendly local bar for working people. It opened early, at 6 AM, and had a happy hour from 8 AM to 10 AM. The bar stayed open during afternoon sound checks. This meant regular customers and fans could watch bands get ready for their shows for free! Often, the artists would play short, unplanned concerts for their fans. The dressing rooms were usually open to the public too. Fans could meet the artists, who were often happy to sign autographs.
During the 1950s and 1960s, almost every famous country and western artist played there. But in the early 1970s, the Palomino started to welcome rock n' roll artists as well.
Rock and Roll Takes the Stage
From the 1970s to the 1990s, the Palomino Club became known for "Cow Punk" music. This was a mix of country and rock. New bands like Lone Justice and The Long Ryders got their start there.
Many famous artists played early shows at the Palomino. They often opened for other bands. For example, Dwight Yoakam played there before he became a big star. Emmylou Harris and her Hot Band often sold out the club. Lyle Lovett was a regular performer too.
Sometimes, very famous artists like Elvis Costello and Neil Young would play special, unannounced concerts. These events caused a lot of excitement in the neighborhood. Huge crowds would gather outside, attracting a lot of media attention.
It was common for surprise guests to join artists on stage. They would sing duets or have jam sessions. One night, George Harrison, John Fogerty, and Bob Dylan joined Jesse Ed Davis and Taj Mahal on stage. They played some of their hit songs together.
Troy Walker, a talented singer, performed at the Palomino every Tuesday night for 17 years.
Many other rock and roll stars played at the Palomino. These included The Everly Brothers, The Pretenders, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Plimsouls, Bo Diddley, The Motels, The Blasters, The Ventures, Albert King, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Quiet Riot (with Randy Rhoads), and Canned Heat.
The Palomino also had a "World Famous Palomino Talent Show" once a week. Many new artists performed there, hoping to become famous. This show eventually became a contest. In its last years, Allan Austin hosted and produced the talent show. He brought in local celebrity judges and found sponsors for prizes.
The club hosted events to raise money for political campaigns. One notable event was for California Governor Jerry Brown's campaign in 1982.
On December 28, 1992, the Palomino hosted a punk rock show. The band Green Day was the main act, along with Jughead's Revenge, Scared Straight, and Strung Out.
The Club's Final Years
After the original owners, Bill and Tom Thomas, passed away, Tom's wife Sherry took over the club. She used to be a waitress there. Under her leadership, the club found it hard to keep its earlier success. The Palomino Club faced financial difficulties. It could no longer attract big-name acts to its small venue. On its last night in 1995, three blues bands from Southern California played the final shows. These bands were Jimmy O, Blue By Nature, and Stevi Lynn & Bordercrossing.
After the club closed, its large neon sign disappeared. Everyone thought it was lost forever. But in 2014, the sign was found in a warehouse in Chatsworth. Scott McNatt, who owned the sign, knew it was historically important. He contacted Tommy Gelinas, a historian, to save and restore it. The Palomino's neon sign has been fixed up. It is now on display at the Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys, California.
Palomino on Screen: Movies and TV
The Palomino was a favorite spot for actors and stuntmen who were just starting out. This included Clint Eastwood and stuntman Hal Needham. When they became famous directors, they remembered the club. They chose it as a filming location for several movies.
The club appeared in movies like:
- Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and Any Which Way You Can (1980), both starring Clint Eastwood.
- Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), directed by John Cassavetes.
- The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2 (1978).
- Hooper (1978), starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field.
- The Junkman (1982).
It also appeared on television shows such as Adam-12 (1974), CHiPs, and T.J. Hooker. The club is also mentioned many times in the first episode of The Fall Guy. Clint Eastwood even played the piano there during a set once!
