The Action
The Action was a club at 8265 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, later renamed The Chez.
In 1965, Zappa and The Mothers played their first gig at The Action.
The location is "advertised" by Zappa in the artwork of Freak Out! under the header Freak Out! Hot Spots : "The Chez, which used to be The Action, which was the first place we worked when we emerged from the sticks and came to Hollywood is now High Class. A must: 8265 Santa Monica Blvd (phone 656-3576)."
In The Real Frank Zappa Book, Zappa described it again: "The Action was a place where actors and television personalities went to hang out with hookers; the Whiskey was the permanent residence of Johnny Rivers, who played there for years; and the Trip was the big showplace where all the recording acts played when they came to town— Donovan, the Butterfield Blues Band, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs; bands like that all played there." It was at this venue where Zappa had his infamous encounter with a drunk John Wayne.
