This compelling documentary highlights Jewel Thais-Williams, a club owner and activist, whose transformative space centered Black, LGBTQ and AIDS-impacted communities in LA for four decades. Watch the trailer in the comments.

“Jewel’s Catch One’s documents the oldest Black owned disco in America and establishes the legacy of businesswoman, activist, and healer, Jewel Thais-Williams, who stood up against hate and discrimination for 42 years. The story of Jewel and “The Catch” celebrates four decades of music, fashion, celebrity, and activism that helped change the course of our country by breaking down racial, social, and cultural barriers. One of the original safe spaces for both the LGBT and Black communities, The Catch also served as a refuge for many during the AIDS crisis. As her club grew to become known as the “unofficial Studio 54 of the West Coast,” Jewel became a national role model for how to fight discrimination and serve the less fortunate.
​
The film is a lush visual and musical journey highlighted by exclusive interviews with Sharon Stone, Thelma Houston, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Madonna, Sandra Bernhard, Thea Austin, Jenifer Lewis, Representative Maxine Waters and Bonnie Pointer. CCH Pounder narrates this historically important film rich with music from the last forty years.”

** The screening was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Queer Curatorial Fund of the UWM Department of Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres and Carl Bogner. **

Cactus Club Moving Image series (Moving Image) is an experimental film series. Our vision is to create an environment conducive to critical engagement by showing work that takes risks, challenges norms, and opens conversations by showcasing a wide range of artist-driven independent media. As a series, we hope to offer a space for intergenerational attendees to engage with film and expanded cinema made by artists from a variety of backgrounds. To keep a flow of new perspectives, the monthly programs will be curated by Cactus Club staff as well as visionary guest programmers. Moving Image series is brought to you in part by Cactus Club’s Patreon supporters.

Interested in being a guest programmer? Email movingimage@cactusclubmilwaukee.com