Original Listing Description

The Catalyst Club, Santa Cruz’s Iconic Music VenueJanuary 27, 2017/in Santa Cruz, Things To Do in Silicon Valley/by Dawn ThomasThose who are music aficionados and enjoy seeing their favorite bands play live are sure to know about the iconic Catalyst Club in Santa Cruz. For over 50 years, the Catalyst has been just that for the Bay Area: a place to embrace and express change while experiencing the top musical performers of the past 5 decades.History of the Catalyst ClubIt all began in 1966 in the Old St. George Hotel. Al and Patti DiLudovico, U.C.S.C. Administrator Bryan Stockey and Santa Cruz community leaders financed the opening of the Catalyst Coffee House and Delicatessen by selling shares to help fund its creation. UC Santa Cruz was brand new and the Catalyst was a place for students and faculty as well as residents, politicians, authors and musicians to socialize and express themselves Inexpensive food and coffee was served up alongside poetry and book readings, chess games and musical performances. The Catalyst appealed to the ‘hip hippie’ crowd of the day.Three years later, the Catalyst was sold to Randall Kane, an eclectic businessman easily identifiable by his trademark rainbow suspenders. Born in Minnesota, his family moved to Ohio when he was 9. At 18, spurred by what he’d seen happen at Pearl Harbor, he joined the Army, serving for 5 years and upon being discharged, earned an English Literature degree from Ohio State University.Kane moved to California in 1954 and was Dean at the San Francisco Institute of Art for 3 years. Passionate about art and adventure, Kane decided to embark on his own entrepreneurial venture and purchased the Catalyst Coffee House, transforming it to a premiere venue for live music. His first order of business was moving it to downtown Santa Cruz on Pacific Avenue in what is now the Bookstore Santa Cruz location. Years later, it moved once again to its current location, the former site of a bowling alley.“[Kane] gave birth to The Catalyst. It was the best nightclub around because he wanted it to be,” said Gino Krum, who worked 10 years as a bartender for Kane. “The Catalyst changed everyone in this town, and so did he.”States Gary “Bo” Tighe who viewed Kane as a father figure, “He’s a Santa Cruz icon. He was definitely a unique person.” Tighe booked performers for The Catalyst since 1978.

Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Grateful Dead collectors and appraisers.