Difference between revisions of "Caravan Club"
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Periodical night trips to the great open spaces, including the Ace of Spades, etc | Periodical night trips to the great open spaces, including the Ace of Spades, etc | ||
| − | The Caravan was raided by police after letters from Holborn Council and ratepayers from Endell Street complained the the place was "frequented by sexual perverts, lesbians and sodomites... an absolute sink of iniquity, your prompt attention is respectfully craved". Then the London District Command accused the venue of corrupting service-men and had the place patrolled by the military police who tried to keep it out-of-bounds. | + | The Caravan was raided by police after letters from Holborn Council and ratepayers from Endell Street complained the the place was "frequented by sexual perverts, lesbians and sodomites... an absolute sink of iniquity, your prompt attention is respectfully craved". Then the London District Command accused the venue of corrupting service-men and had the place patrolled by the military police who tried to keep it out-of-bounds. Then came pressure from the [[PMC]] who were surveying 25 venues by special request, and the Caravan was finally prosecuted in 1933, along with dance halls in Baker Street and Archer Street and a ball room in Holland Park Avenue. |
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 01:21, 16 March 2012
The Caravan was a gay club that opened in 1934 at 81 Endell Street, Coventry Garden. Its advertisement flyer read:
After the day's routine pond you evening at
the caravan
81 Endell St.
Entrance in Court
(corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, facing Princes Theatre)
Phone: Temple Bar 7665
London's Greatest Bohemijan Rendezvous
said to be the most unconventional spot in town
All night gaiety – dancing to Charlie
Periodical night trips to the great open spaces, including the Ace of Spades, etc
The Caravan was raided by police after letters from Holborn Council and ratepayers from Endell Street complained the the place was "frequented by sexual perverts, lesbians and sodomites... an absolute sink of iniquity, your prompt attention is respectfully craved". Then the London District Command accused the venue of corrupting service-men and had the place patrolled by the military police who tried to keep it out-of-bounds. Then came pressure from the PMC who were surveying 25 venues by special request, and the Caravan was finally prosecuted in 1933, along with dance halls in Baker Street and Archer Street and a ball room in Holland Park Avenue.
References
Queer London – Perils and Pleasures in the Sexual Metropolis, 1918-1957 Matt Houlbrook, The University of Chicago Press, 2005.
