Poetry readings, and Orson Welles film night, Museum of Modern Art videos, fashion shows, art shows, performance art and the best in punk, new wave and now sounds on a great sound system and in a great dance space.
The Kennel Club was a mutli-leveled fun house; five rooms plus the outdoor deck, and was decorated by Scot Thorne - who seemed to have painted just about every available space, splattering end tables with drops of neon color and smashing tiles to reglue them as the bar top. A huge mirror was painted black and white to make it look busted. Even the pool table was completly covered with glitter. The Kennel also had a staff artist: Mark Scott if I remember correctly. He'd have art students all over the place doing exhibits and helping others with installations or break-downs. This was the first club that took the concept of going out to an art form! Every night people were dressed in their own individual creations - from hair to clothes. It was quite a showplace!When you walked up the staircase at 1215 Walnut - plasic arms and legs protruded from the walls and there was a big version of the 'CHANCE' Monopoly card painted on the wall of the staircase.
The front room was a video lounge (so '80s) and my friend Seth Jacobs and I produced some great parties there - screenings of slash/gore flicks gone wild. Sleeze-A-Rama was the name of the series.
The deck was the best part of the whole club - tucked away in the back part of the building, you would step out and be surrounded by bricks - until you looked up and saw the moon and the stars. Some of the best conversations happened on the deck and it was a great escape from the thump of the club.
The Kennel Club - as all Pennsylvania after-hours clubs are, was a members only space. Pictured above is the very first temporary member card I got from The Kennel Club, as well as my official Member Card for 1985 Pictured here is the back of that card, which obviously was issued new each year.Every club in Philly had a personality. The East Side Club was raw energy and dark. The DCA simply oozed gay and Black Banana was chic. The Kennel Club was artsy - but to me, it was home, sweet home.
4 comments:
I lovvvvvved the kennel club it was my fav too! I remember wanting to pay for a membership, my b/f and I. We were standing in line and the person in the window said someone had to sponsor us. This guy behind us said he would sponsor us. I thought that was the greatest thing in the world and we bought him a drink. We were in a private club with membership cards. I remember the card in my wallet. I seem to recall some stadium like seating there and Divine playing on one of the screens. Behind a bar someone was painting a huge mural. Yea, I loved that place.
It was definately my home away from home. I would have that life and the next morning return to highschool life (boring). Thanks again for capturing the memory perfectly...
such a great place. any photo's to post?
I remenber going to the club. i think the Dance floor was on the second floor. and to get the back room or bar you had to walk through the dance floor to get there. thats was years ago so i might be think of another club.
Ohhhhh, how I LONGED to go to Kennel Club when I was in high school! By senior year, though, I did snag a fake ID and got a membership to Revival. I still have my club card for it!!!
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