The first time she stepped foot inside The Jubilee in the ‘70s, she made the faux-pas of ordering a glass of sherry. Longworth and Howard demonstrate “joy collectivators” made by Howard. “On the other hand, it was just a total place of freedom,” Hoke told The Oaklandside. 14th bar and murdered someone after discovering his wife was involved with a woman. According to Hoke, that security system was established after an angry husband burst into E. The doors stayed locked, and there was a peephole through which prospective customers were eyed warily. “You couldn’t just walk into The Jubilee,” recalled Barbara Hoke, an Oakland resident whose social life was centered at the bar for years. Owned by Betty Arnesen and Velma Souza, The Jubilee was a working-class, no-nonsense establishment where women came to play pool and knock back a few. It quickly became a second home for a tight-knit community of lesbians, who formed their own softball team. 14th Street (now International Boulevard). The Jubilee moved there in the mid-’70s, from its previous location on E. Want your home featured next? Let us know more by filling out this quick form.
