LAX Area Icon: The Wild Goose
minnow
Any place that interests me.
Some old time Los Angeles area residents associate "The Wild Goose" with 2 things. First being the name of one iconic actor John Wayne's yachts. For longtime Tuscl (and Z Bone) members, who could forget the Wild Goose topless club, a long time fixture just south of LAX Airport on Aviation Blvd. for over 4 decades. From the time it opened in 1966, until it closed in late 2011, "The Goose" was a LAX icon. It had the feel of a sports bar that just happened to have topless dancers. Low or no cover, inexpensive booze and food (e.g. "Sliders and Dogs") rounded out the scene. "Get loose at The Goose" was a common advertising come on. I went there on a lot of LAX business trips from 1984 - 1990, and an isolated visit or 2 in the new millennium. Lap dances were a rarity then, so I was happy making it an extension of sorts of a sports bar.
MAIN CHAPTER 1984 - 1990 VISITS
Recall that there were no cell phones or I-phones, or wireless/4G/5G internet then. (Only high powered executives, attorneys, or top flight salesmen had a "car phone.") There were no lap dances or contact there, tips were proffered by laying them on stage. Dancers had to really WORK there back then. No loafing around staring at I-pad. With no lap dances, the dancers really had to shine on stage and actually put on a show, have a theme. When not dancing, dancers doubled as servers, bringing customers drinks.
As I recall, cover charge was 2 or 3 bucks, beers about the same. I don't recall any mixed drinks going north of $5. There was no bathroom troll, a couple of pool tables to round out the semi sports bar theme. Food consisted of inexpensive "sliders and dogs." Club would sell club calendars with photos of dancers for each month. I think I still have one from the late 80's, they were PG rated bikini, or skimpy outfit, no bare T & A.
In accordance with the California Girl image, there were few, if any dogs dancing at the Goose, vast majority in shape. Dancer attractiveness wasn't quite up to original Jet Strip (and later Bare Elegance) nude club standards. Some dancers I recall from that era:
GRETA- well toned dirty blonde, mild enhancements. She had various costumes, and themes, such as bringing a loaf of bread and dancing to Weird Al song "Eat It" (his parody beat of Michael Jackson's "Beat It"). At the other end, she didn't leave out any classic rock songs. When DJ played Jan & Dean's "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", Greta entered stage dressed as a granny, replete with long dress, an oversized purse and granny glasses. She barely shuffled along, imitating arthritic granny. Naturally she was a big hit when she chucked her granny outfit on the next song, revealing a very un - granny like physique.
ADRIENNE (sp ??): I'd almost swear she was an Olympic level gymnast by her stage show. This blonde spinner did backflips and other limber/agile feats on stage that would portend good things in lap dance area if they were only available.
BUNNY: This medium - tall lanky dirty blonde could do a real mean jackhammer on stage. Just to show how much times have changed, my initial impression at the time was "damn this chick is a walking ink poster" all because most of her back was inked. Nowadays, she'd merely be average wrt ink.
These times, and this high density club environment was my first encounter with dancers working at multiple clubs. I'd see Greta dancing at the "Original" Jet Strip nude club down the street. I'd see Bunny at Century Nudes.
NEW MILLENNIUM/ SWAN SONG
I visited club in 2008, after a 15 plus year absence. Club was remodeled save for the stage and rest room. Instead of a rent - a - cop taking cover payment outside the club, there was now a club employee in an enclosed booth inside taking cover payment. TWG offered lap dances that were bikini, $20 per dance, no customer initiated contact. The main lap dance area was monitored by a bouncer. There was a small table in 1 corner where some un-monitored dances could be done. Needless to say, that table was often taken. I managed to get that table for one of my 2008 visit dances. While nobody would mistake Goose mileage for COI mileage, it was OK at the time and served it's purpose.
One factor that didn't change from the 80's is that dancers had to put on a good floor show vs just swinging around a pole a bunch. One Latina dancer danced her set to fast paced Latin music. Another dancer redefined the limits of agility, and double jointed contortions. Like the 80's, no stage side contact, tips were laid down by the stage rail.
Shortly after this visit, I posted on another site remarking on The Wild Goose's 4 decades in business, and opined on how 40 years hence (unless a high speed monorail did an eminent domain on the club) people would still be going to the club. Boy was I wrong on that count. On or about December 2011, club closed, supposedly selling out to apartment/condominium organization. It was strange driving by club in 2012, and seeing empty parking lot. People with more recent drives through area, please feel free to post your observations.
In closing, TWG at quite a run, 45 years in operation. There may be some clubs that have operated longer, I'm hard pressed to think of one. Maybe MBOT in San Francisco, or NYC . or FL. But few were as much of an icon for the span of 4 plus decades, or 9 different U.S. Presidents like the Wild Goose was.
MAIN CHAPTER 1984 - 1990 VISITS
Recall that there were no cell phones or I-phones, or wireless/4G/5G internet then. (Only high powered executives, attorneys, or top flight salesmen had a "car phone.") There were no lap dances or contact there, tips were proffered by laying them on stage. Dancers had to really WORK there back then. No loafing around staring at I-pad. With no lap dances, the dancers really had to shine on stage and actually put on a show, have a theme. When not dancing, dancers doubled as servers, bringing customers drinks.
As I recall, cover charge was 2 or 3 bucks, beers about the same. I don't recall any mixed drinks going north of $5. There was no bathroom troll, a couple of pool tables to round out the semi sports bar theme. Food consisted of inexpensive "sliders and dogs." Club would sell club calendars with photos of dancers for each month. I think I still have one from the late 80's, they were PG rated bikini, or skimpy outfit, no bare T & A.
In accordance with the California Girl image, there were few, if any dogs dancing at the Goose, vast majority in shape. Dancer attractiveness wasn't quite up to original Jet Strip (and later Bare Elegance) nude club standards. Some dancers I recall from that era:
GRETA- well toned dirty blonde, mild enhancements. She had various costumes, and themes, such as bringing a loaf of bread and dancing to Weird Al song "Eat It" (his parody beat of Michael Jackson's "Beat It"). At the other end, she didn't leave out any classic rock songs. When DJ played Jan & Dean's "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", Greta entered stage dressed as a granny, replete with long dress, an oversized purse and granny glasses. She barely shuffled along, imitating arthritic granny. Naturally she was a big hit when she chucked her granny outfit on the next song, revealing a very un - granny like physique.
ADRIENNE (sp ??): I'd almost swear she was an Olympic level gymnast by her stage show. This blonde spinner did backflips and other limber/agile feats on stage that would portend good things in lap dance area if they were only available.
BUNNY: This medium - tall lanky dirty blonde could do a real mean jackhammer on stage. Just to show how much times have changed, my initial impression at the time was "damn this chick is a walking ink poster" all because most of her back was inked. Nowadays, she'd merely be average wrt ink.
These times, and this high density club environment was my first encounter with dancers working at multiple clubs. I'd see Greta dancing at the "Original" Jet Strip nude club down the street. I'd see Bunny at Century Nudes.
NEW MILLENNIUM/ SWAN SONG
I visited club in 2008, after a 15 plus year absence. Club was remodeled save for the stage and rest room. Instead of a rent - a - cop taking cover payment outside the club, there was now a club employee in an enclosed booth inside taking cover payment. TWG offered lap dances that were bikini, $20 per dance, no customer initiated contact. The main lap dance area was monitored by a bouncer. There was a small table in 1 corner where some un-monitored dances could be done. Needless to say, that table was often taken. I managed to get that table for one of my 2008 visit dances. While nobody would mistake Goose mileage for COI mileage, it was OK at the time and served it's purpose.
One factor that didn't change from the 80's is that dancers had to put on a good floor show vs just swinging around a pole a bunch. One Latina dancer danced her set to fast paced Latin music. Another dancer redefined the limits of agility, and double jointed contortions. Like the 80's, no stage side contact, tips were laid down by the stage rail.
Shortly after this visit, I posted on another site remarking on The Wild Goose's 4 decades in business, and opined on how 40 years hence (unless a high speed monorail did an eminent domain on the club) people would still be going to the club. Boy was I wrong on that count. On or about December 2011, club closed, supposedly selling out to apartment/condominium organization. It was strange driving by club in 2012, and seeing empty parking lot. People with more recent drives through area, please feel free to post your observations.
In closing, TWG at quite a run, 45 years in operation. There may be some clubs that have operated longer, I'm hard pressed to think of one. Maybe MBOT in San Francisco, or NYC . or FL. But few were as much of an icon for the span of 4 plus decades, or 9 different U.S. Presidents like the Wild Goose was.
Adjudicators
RockAllNight
Visited many times from 1980 to 1985 and about once a year through 2000. I remember the Granny dance. Great times in the pre-lap dance era.
Shortie44
Incoherent
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3 comments
No lap dances, but the gals were really engaged and fun. A big lunch crowd, mainly guys working at Hughes and other aerospace companies on their lunch breaks.
Thanks for bringing back memories