Club Universe
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Club Universe (also known as Pleasuredome on Sundays) was a trend-setting circuit party style gay nightclub in SoMa San Francisco, California, from October 1994 to July 2002 begun by Ty Dakota and Audrey Joseph. It was located at 177 Townsend Street, and connected directly to the King Street Garage on the other end of the block on King Street. Club Universe was the longest running and most successful Saturday night gay mega dance in San Francisco.
Some famous musicians performed there, including, Motörhead, Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, B-52's, Jody Watley, and Deborah Harry. DJs who have had performed there included Black Stone, David Harness, Mark Farina, David Morales, Pete Burns, Jeff Johnson, Neil Lewis and Pete Avila. Many more who influenced, and are still influencing, club music and culture today performed there such as gender illustionist Heklina. Each week a new theme would be brought in for Saturday night such as a beach scene, completed with go-go dancers in lifeguard outfits sitting on lookout chairs. There were many different club productions at Townsend and the King Street Garage that promoted diversity and unity not only within the gay community, but in all of San Francisco's various scenes. Some of those parties were Club Asia (showcasing Asian club culture), Futura (showcasing Latin club culture) and Sundance Saloon (featuring country and western two-step and line dancing.).
Club Universe's final event took place on San Francisco Gay Pride Day in 2002( As Pleasuredome, as Gay Pride Day falls on Sunday). More than three thousand club goers and circuit boys turned out for this memoriable farewell. The club's warehouse building was demolished in 2004. An office building now occupies the site. Due to popular demand by the gay community in San Francisco, Audry Joseph opened a new Saturday night dance party in April, 2003 at 444 Jesse Street in the style of Club Universe. The new club and party were both named "Mezzanine". After the decline of attendance since 2004, the new club management renamed the party Industry (Club). As of 2005, the party now only occurs on holiday weekends and for special events.
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