Johnny Gold

Jesse John Gold (25 June 1932 – 7 October 2021) was a British nightclub owner and operator. After education at Brighton College and National Service with the 6th Royal Tank Regiment Gold worked briefly in his father's bookmakers. He moved to London in the mid 1950s and was hired by Oscar Lerman to run the Dolly's night club. In 1969, with Lerman and Bill Ofner, he founded the nightclub Tramp. Gold thought the club might survive only 2 to 3 years but it became popular with celebrities. He sold his stake in 1998 but remained until 2003 as "greeter-in-chief". Gold retired to the Bahamas. Early life Jesse John Gold was born on 25 June 1932 in Stamford Hill, London. He was the son of Sam Gold, a Jewish bookmaker and former milliner. At the age of seven, Gold's family moved to Brighton, Sussex. He attended the private Brighton College from 1940 to 1945 as a boarder, rather than a day boy, because he "wanted to feel more part of it". He performed poorly in academic subjects, preferring field sports and boxing. After school he spent 1950–52 on National Service in Germany with the 6th Royal Tank Regiment. On returning to England, he worked in his father's betting shop. By the mid 1950s, Gold had moved to London to work in the clothing industry. He frequented the Nightingale and Crazy Elephant clubs where he met American actor John Wayne who helped him to pick up women. He met Oscar Lerman through his attendance at clubs. Lerman had founded the Ad Lib Club in 1964 and subsequently hired Gold to run his Dolly's club despite his lack of experience. Dolly's became fashionable and was frequented by some of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kray twins, David Bailey, George Best and Keith Moon. Tramp Gold, Lerman and Bill Ofner joined as business partners to open Tramp, a nightclub on London's Jermyn Street, in December 1969. Gold had primary responsibility for running the club. It was positioned as an alternative to the smart supper clubs then in fashion and was named after Charlie Chaplin's comedic film persona. Tramp started with 300 celebrity members, each paying an annual fee of 10 guineas. Gold thought the club might last only two or three years before the celebrities moved on to another venue but was surprised by its continued popularity. He cultivated a reputation for discretion, banning photographs inside and preventing paparazzi and gossip writers from entering.