Jeff Stryker (a/k/a Charles Peyton), mostly known for his work in gay porn, has been warring with North Hollywood neighbor Paul Kulak and his small folk club, Kulak’s Woodshed, and may succeed (with help from the L.A. Zoning Administration) in closing the establishment.
According to a representative of the 50-seat venue, which features nightly performances and a web simulcast, Peyton has been “the catalyst for our problems with the city”.
Those problems will force the seven-year-old Laurel Canyon Blvd. hootenanny to close if they are not resolved by December 31.
Peyton has an office next door to Kulak’s, from which he manages his businesses (Jeff Stryker Inc, Stryker Productions, and Nightlight Express), which include a website and the distribution of novelties and several videos.
“We’re just trying to celebrate singers and songwriters here,” Paul Kulak told me, relating that for several years Peyton and he were friendly.
Kulak said that Peyton began making complaints to the City of Los Angeles about the venue ever since he was banned from the club in 2004. Kulak had refused Peyton’s offer to perform a song Peyton had written called “Pop It in Your Pooper”, then Peyton began showing up to the club drunk and disorderly.
Kulak remembers that “Pooper” had a good melody but that the lyrics were inappropriate for his venue.
“If music makes your day lighter, more power to you,” said Kulak, “but that’s not the type of material I could have at the club {because} the web simulcast needs to be G-rated.”
Peyton appealed Kulak’s parking variance, and said that the club made too much noise.
Kulak said that during the three appeals Peyton made, in which he also appeared before the Zoning Administration to say that Kulak’s had cost him “hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income” because of the noise, Peyton had played “loud trance music” from his adjacent building.
“We measured the decibel level at 90 db, which was louder, two thick walls away, than the sound we were generating in our own club,” Kulak said. “It was like the Whiskey was next door.”
Kulak proceeded to get two restraining orders against Peyton, who he said threatened him and his patrons as well as urinated on their cars and threw feces.
“Peyton’s vindictive crusade against me and the Woodshed is in retaliation for being banned from the Woodshed for his constant loud and disorderly behavior during performances when he used to visit here a few years ago. You cannot imagine the hateful, venomous and mean spirited determination that possesses him and what lengths this man continues to go to in his efforts to shut the Woodshed down,” wrote Paul Kulak in an e-mail to Woodshed patrons and the L.A. performance community.
It appears that entities formerly supportive of Kulak’s, including its landlord and the erstwhile renter of its parking spaces, are now bowing to city pressure, despite the intercession of City Council member Wendy Greuel. Kulak’s will be forced to close on December 31 unless it gets its parking issue resolved.
As it is, Kulak’s is now known as a “Private Membership Club” due to noncompliance with city regulations. People wanting to attend its free performances must apply through its website.
Kulak’s does not refer directly to its impending closure on its site, nor does Stryker explain his grievance with the establishment on his own site, aside from pointing out that Paul Kulak has indeed pleaded guilty to unresolved violations.
From this vantage point it would be easy to believe that Stryker’s feelings were hurt by his ejection from the venue and that he has done his best to get it closed, bringing to light violations that none of the other businesses in the area have complained about.
Blogger Lurk Ford commented about Stryker’s performance at the 2005 “Night of the Stars” event:
Jeff Stryker (who got a lifetime achievement award) was the biggest jerk of the evening. He appeared to be drunk and he repeatedly (and for no reason) cursed out the host of the evening, Adam Glasser, and threatened to beat him up.
Jeff is a drunk and frequently becomes so obnoxious at these types of events that he gets punched out.
“He seems to crave attention.” Kulak said (about Peyton, not Ford), “and it doesn’t matter if he looks evil in order to get it.”
Stryker/Peyton has not yet responded to interview requests for this story.
UPDATE: Folk as Queer, pt. II (12/14/06)
See also: Jeff Stryker (a/k/a Charles Peyton), Kulak’s Woodshed
Finally Kulak’s is closing down! Charles Peyton is a nice man. Quit attacking his sexual reputation and admit that Kulak is operating illegally! I’m proud of Mr. Peyton that he has helped spur the closing of this horrible venue of amateur musicians.
You are in error that none of the other businesses have complained. I have been fighting Kulaks for three years. I have testified at hearings repeatedly as to the nuisance and damage this night club has caused me. Just because I dont have a website, blog or a name that get you attention doesn’t mean I’m not here. Kulak has gone out of his way to only point the finger at Peyton so he can pretend this is a battle of Porn vs. Music. Of course Music vs. Carpet Store isn’t sexy or provocative. Gr8brit10@aol.com
Stryker is not the only neighbor complaining. I Have been fighting this for 3 years. I have testified numerous times as to the disasterous affects on my business this nightclub has. Kulak only wants everyone to think this is a battle of Porn vs. Music because it generates sympathy. I dont have a blog or website and Carpet vs. Music isn’t sexy.
Gr8brit10@aol.com
Hey, Come on…. Where is my responce? I answered the questions. Hey Blogger Ford, do you want me to kick your ass? I will… đ
Listen, I get drunk at Adult functions because I like to bring the event to life.
It’s acting… Butts cutinto my act, unless you believe mine is so long it hangs out of the bottom of my pant leg naturally??
As for Kulak, he is a puss. I neve went into his wanna be music club, the pooper song was made a year after I started this illegal battle so thre is another false claim. I did not go in so how could I have been thrown out? He likes to pit music against porn so he can gt City Councilwomans help in fighting me. He is over 6 feet tall and works out daily, why would he be scared of me? sure I could kick his ass blind folded with both hands tied behind my back but that is beside the point.
He is a stalker and he wants to be famous, it’s a wonder he has not admitted to the world he offered me his (to be wife Helena) to use in a Porn Movie. She is hot but Porn isn’t for everyone (please do not try this at home, I am a highly trained expert).
Check my site out, I was here for years, I used to do my martial arts workouts on the sidewalk until a bunch of pussies (Kulak and his patrons)decided that too was scary to them and they should not only call the police multiple times on me but also call the media.
The guys a con man, “the music man” I call him (among other things). He is beat, his landlord ordered him to leave Decc 31st and is being sued by my attorneys, the city is going to pay me whopping amounts and he too will pay me money for their discrimination, public nusiance, causing me intentional emptional distress, etc.
As for drinking, I do occassionally and since it is so rare that I drink, it hits me harder then the average person.
You have heard “it’s not over till the fat lady sings” well I am just trying to get the bitch to shut up!
remember I have some great porn out there, watch it.
Jeff Stryker AKA Chuck