Noisy protest over club’s entertainment

Press, 30 May 1985, Page 5

Noisy protest over club’s entertainment

A noisy and at times heated picket was held outside the Richmond Working Men’s Club last evening in protest against an “erotic” revue at the club.

Protesters shouting antipornography slogans were kept out of the club's carpark and entrance by the police. No arrests were made, although some scuffling between the police and protesters occurred.

A turnout of between 100 to 150 protesters was estimated by a reporter of “The Press.”

A member of Women Against Pornography, Ms Lesley James, said she was pleased with the turnout

and thought the group had made its point. Most of the protesters had left by 8.45 p.m.

The chairman of entertainment at the club, who did not want to be named, said he was extremely disappointed about the protest and the amount of news media coverage about the show, called the “Top Cat Revue.” “This is a show which is no better or worse than dozens of others. It is only one show in a whole series run by the club,” he said.

The club had had a number of telephone calls and letters about the revue in

the last 10 days, he said. “Without exception all the telephone calls have been filth and the letters pornographic.” He declined to give any details of the number of tickets sold but said the revue had been well supported. One elderly club member, who had not been able to afford a $l5 ticket, said the club ran top-class entertainment and if people did not want to watch they did not have to.

"There is nothing wrong with shows like this — you can see all the topless women you want at the beach,” he said.

A younger club member said the protesters were “idiotic.” The show was adult entertainment and members could decide what to watch in their own club.

Several groups supported the picket, including Men Against Sexism and a Lesbian and Gay Action Group. One woman protester said women were tired of entertainment based on the shape of their bodies and their ability to attract and entertain men. “Women are confronted daily with a limited image of their worth. We do not need shows like this to reinforce it,” she said.