Venueobit: Elmer Valentine

Elmer Valentine, the man who founded Whisky-A-Go-go, has died.

Valentine had already had a share in a California club, PJs, but his career took off after he 'borrowed' the Whisky A Go Go name and formula from a Parisian club. The club was wildly successful, as much for the women-in-cages-dancing as for the line-up of bands who played there. Valentine opened branches in other cities, which didn't prove as resilient; he also invested in The Roxy venue in LA, which did.

Elmer Valentine was 85.