Jean-Pierre Boccara

Jean-Pierre Boccara is a French-Italian-American entrepreneur and artist known for founding several clubs in Los Angeles, California. Lhasa Club, Lhasaland, Café Largo, and Luna Park were known for bookings across many genres including music, spoken word, comedy, cinema, cabaret, and pre-digital media art shows.

Early life
Born in Tunisia and raised in Paris, Boccara first came to Los Angeles in 1976 as a film student. He directed and produced two short films in Paris, L'Homme Désintégré (The Disintegrated Man) in 1978 and Par Exemple: Le Poison Dans l' Eau (For Example: Poison in the Water) in 1979. Par Exemple: Le Poison Dans l' Eau had its distribution rights revoked after being censored by the French government as "an apology for terror."

Lhasa Club (1982–1988) in Hollywood
The three hundred person capacity multimedia space functioned as a stage, art gallery, cinema, special events venue, and café. Named by the LA Weekly "Best after hours hangout" in 1982, "Best avant-garde club" in 1983, and "Best cabaret" in 1984, the club was often covered in media outlets including KCRW, LA Weekly and the LA Times.

In 1984, a live album entitled The Lives of Lhasa  was produced by Boccara, Anna Mariani, and David Yuratich.

In 1987, Boccara began a film of one hundred performers performing short pieces in front of a single camera. Only about a third of the project was completed. Final edited footage was released in 2015 as The Lhasa Club Tapes on the Lhasa Largo LunaPark  page on YouTube and Lhasa Largo LunaPark  on Facebook.

Lhasaland (1988–1989) at the Musician's Union in Hollywood
The one thousand person capacity, multimedia two-level concert/party hall presented major national acts including Devo, The Knitters and Depeche Mode. Music and film industry parties included the L.A. Weekly 10th anniversary party.

Café Largo (1989–1992), on Fairfax in Hollywood
The 120 seat club and restaurant featured comedy, jazz, world music, spoken word, live music and record industry showcases. In 1990, the LA Reader said "Largo mixes food and music memorably" and the LA Weekly named it the "Best Supper Club" in 1991. It was sold in 1992 and operated until 2008.

Luna Park (1993–2000) in West Hollywood
The seven hundred person capacity multi-level nightclub featured two stages with live entertainment, dancing, and a global cuisine restaurant. Cited for "Triple the ambiance" (Daily News, 1994), "Best food in Los Angeles" (Buzz, 1995), "Best food in a nightclub" (L.A. Weekly 1998), "The best nightspot in town, with a great Euro-Asian menu... "(Travel and Leisure 1998), and "Possibly the best music club on the planet" (Los Angeles Magazine, 1999). The LA Times coverage and reviews of the performances were extensive. Henry Rollins, recorded the DVD Henry Rollins - Live in Luna Park  featuring Henry Rollins VS Iggy Pop at the venue.

During its seven years span Luna Park hosted Beth Lapides' Uncabaret.