The Great Escape: Night Life

Received a nice call from the owner of 7969, Steve Goldberg, who thanked me for giving the West Hollywood nightclub’s new/old Saturday night joint, Grandville, a mention in a recent column. Just doing my part for the war effort.... Seriously, when times get hard, music and night life get good. When I walk into Star Shoes, Vine or the Well on a soft Wednesday night, and people are huddling together, looking for warmth in the company of friends and strangers, I can almost hear the theme song to “Good Times.” Actually, I was at Club Seventeen, a Friday night dance club at Goldfingers in Hollywood, and deejay Apollo Star actually played the “Good Times” theme song, an excellent morale booster.

With L.A.’s longest-running fetish club, Sin-A-Matic, folding up shop three weeks ago to make way for the sexy Grandville reunion, fans of Sin-A-Matic still can get jiggy wid it at the Fifth Annual Masquerade Ball at the Hollywood Athletic Club on Oct. 27.

Along with Sin-A-Matic and Coven 13 dance rooms, the Masquerade Ball will include performances by Richard O’Brien, writer of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (he also played Riff Raff in the film), and the bands Godhead, Sex With Lurch and SPF 1000. In addition, Marilyn Manson’s girlfriend, Dita, a cabaret-style burlesque dancer, promises a revue that includes butterflies, spider webs and her boyfriend on piano.

Wow. Divine’s mum will be signing her new book, “My Son Divine,” at next month’s Club Make-Up, which includes an all-star tribute to the legendary queen.... Got something in common with Tattoo Mania’s Mark Mahoney: We both like Mark McGrath, who kept Mahoney working until 6 a.m. last week. I just wanna fly, too, man....