Corona to Go to Court on Wrestling, Dancing Issue

The City Council, meeting in closed session late Wednesday night, decided to go to court rather than reverse itself and allow female oil wrestling and exotic male dancing at a bar on Corona’s east side.

The council had voted a month ago to deny a required entertainment permit to Andrew Papac, owner of the Black Stallion restaurant and Bootleggers bar on Magnolia Street. But Papac sought and last week received a court order directing the council either to issue an entertainment permit or appear to explain its action.

The council chose the latter course Wednesday, instructing the city’s attorneys in the Riverside firm of Best, Best and Krieger to appear in Riverside County Superior Court for the May 13 hearing set by Judge J. David Hennigan.

“The City Council’s argument (is) that we are trying to follow the advice of our police chief and avoid a situation that would be a public nuisance,” said Councilman Gary Miller.

A 4-1 vote last month to deny the entertainment permit followed the recommendation of acting Police Chief Sam Lowery, who said similar entertainment had caused “a considerable police problem” in other communities and would create a burden on Corona police that “the community cannot afford.”

But Walter Ingalls, Papac’s attorney, claims the City Council has no authority to deny his client’s request, because the proposed entertainment is not illegal. The city ordinance requiring an entertainment permit is “patently unconstitutional,” violating First Amendment guarantees of free expression, he said.

“There’s no grounds for denying this license,” Ingalls said Thursday, “and the city cannot regulate this kind of conduct.”

Papac’s petition seeks reimbursement for his attorney’s fees, as well as an order allowing the female oil wrestling and exotic male dancing at his tavern.