L. A. Knockers Village People

Debbie, Leticia, Jennifer, Kim, Jolli, Patti, Becky, Kimberlee

July 7, 2010

The opening number of that legendary show at the Playboy club was a chorus kick line to the tune of the song ‘The Women” by the Village People.
Here’s the line-up: Debbie Petersen/Hard Hat, Leticia Ibarra/Electrician, Jennifer Stace/Military Police, Kim Blank/Boxer, Jolli Neal/Football Player, Patti Nelson/Military Cadet, Becky Jordan/Sailor, Kimberlee Carlson/Cowboy.

And here’s the L. A. Knockers clad in white leotard and vinyl leggings for the dance number “Visions Aurora,” song by Michael Cavanaugh (Jennifer’s son).

Leticia, Kim, Jolli, Kimberlee, Jennifer, Patti, Becky, Debbie

L. A. Knockers Playboy Club

Kimberlee, Jennifer, Jolli, Becky, Patti, Boyd

July 7, 2010

The show at the Playboy Club generated rave reviews, see one below from The Hollywood Reporter, November 16, 1979, by Frank Barron.

“L.A. Knockers. Playboy Club, through Dec. 8
The action is hot in the Playboy Club’s living room these nights, courtesy of a dynamite dance group called the L. A. Knockers.  These eight energetic women combine every sort of dancing style, have marvelous sensuality, plus a knack for comedy that has the audience yelling for more.
The Knockers spoof the Village People’s “Women” in various amusing costumes, as well as Dorothy (“The Wizard of Oz”) meeting Dracula, Superman, King Kong and John Travolta (“Saturday Night Fever”) as she dances her way in ruby slippers through the craziness.  There are right-out-front sizzling dance numbers such as “Taxes”, “Love Vibrations” and “Have a Cigar”.
The show is well choreographed by Jennifer Stace, and the costumes by Boyd Clopton, who also directed, are a standout.  This is just the kind of unique and exciting act that the dying nightclub business needs nowadays to liven things.”

Jennifer, Boyd

One reason why this happened is that the dance routines were very ambitious and elaborate, and to help out Jennifer Stace and her wonderful choreography, director Boyd Clopton stepped in and created these imaginative costumes.

See Boyd Clopton above at the feet of  Kimberlee Carlson as Dracula, Jennifer Stace as John Travolta, Jolli Neal as King Kong, Patti Nelson as Superman, Becky Jordan as Dorothy.

And here with Jennifer Stace, both looking hot in black leather.  Boyd sadly passed away ten years later, in 1989, but Jennifer is still alive and kicking, teaching dance to new generations of students.

L. A. Knockers in motion

Jennifer, Patti, Becky, Lisa, Eileen, Yana

July 9, 2010

In November 1980 we did another photo session in my Hollywood studio to create updated publicity shots for the new line-up.  Some of the costumes are familiar, a few of the dancers have changed.
Kim Blank and Kimberlee Carlson are gone (don’t worry, they will be back, as will Marilyn Corwin), but Yana Nirvana is once again in the L.A. Knockers.
Two new dancers have been added.  Spot them in the revised costumes for the “Women” song by the Village People:
Jennifer Stace as Boxer, Patti Nelson as Military Cadet, Becky Jordan as Cowboy, Lisa Durazo as Sailor, Eileen Molloy as Military Police, Yana Nirvana as Baseball player.

This is the description with the You Tube videos, and Part 2.

The L.A. Knockers – a dynamite female cabaret dance ensemble of the 70’s – 80’s toured the U.S., Japan, and Canada appearing on stage, in films, commercials and videos. Street dances- locking-waacking-disco-funk-ballroom-jazz choreographed and stylized by creator and director, Jennifer Stace and featured Yana Nirvana, Marilyn Corwin, Kimberlee Carlson, Kim Blank, Lissa Kastin, Denice Polk, Joan Wulfsohn, Becky Jordan, Susan Lonergan, Eileen Molloy, Lisa Lecover, Lisa Durazo. Editing by MARILYN CORWIN

L.A. Knockers layout

LA Knockers-L’Espresso

July 9, 2010

And here is a published layout in the Italian Weekly L’Espresso from 1981.
The short text says:
SINGING IN THE FEMININE
They are 6 girls, all of them from California, they sing at dance at the rhythm of disco music.  They are called the L.A. Knockers and they represent the female response to the macho style of the Village People.  A cross between vaudeville and sophisticated avant-garde, with an an eye on the box-office, the Knockers deliver comic gags, shiny glutes and sinful moves in the clubs of Las Vegas and Reno.  Recently even Frank Zappa wanted them to tour with him across the United States.