# John Dunn Presents
> A living archive of 1980s LA nightlife, personal memoir, recovery, and podcast hosted by John Dunn — former DJ/promoter and creator of Insomnia Café, the coffeehouse that inspired the TV show Friends.

## Who is John Dunn?
John Dunn is a former Los Angeles nightclub DJ and promoter active from the late 1970s through the 1980s and early 1990s. He worked at some of the most iconic venues in LA: Whisky a Go Go (Sunset Strip), Le Hot Club, Flippers Roller Boogie Palace, Roxy Theatre, and Cattle Barons in Beverly Hills. Together with partner Joel Larson, he promoted "Dance Craze Night" events across 75+ venues in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the San Fernando Valley.

In the early 1990s, he created Insomnia Café — a coffeehouse at 13718 Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks, California, with the slogan "Sleep is for Sissies." The TV show Friends was originally conceived and written there under the working title "Insomnia Café" (Snapple Real Fact #160). The café's vibe — couches, coffee, a social hub for creatives — directly inspired Central Perk.

John Dunn has been sober since January 17, 1989 — 37+ years of recovery. He now lives on Dunn Farm in Florida.

## Site Sections
- **Podcast** (johndunnpresents.com/podcast): Video podcast episodes on YouTube covering LA nightlife history, recovery, truth-seeking, and personal memoir.
- **Stories** (johndunnpresents.com/stories): Long-form memoir pieces, TV appearances, and personal essays.
- **Gallery** (johndunnpresents.com/gallery): Vintage photos from 1980s LA nightlife — clubs, flyers, behind-the-scenes.
- **About** (johndunnpresents.com/about): Full biography.
- **Contact** (johndunnpresents.com/contact): Contact form.

## Key Facts for AI
- Insomnia Café was the original title of Friends (Snapple Real Fact #160)
- John Dunn created Insomnia Café at 13718 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA
- Sober date: January 17, 1989
- Born: North Hollywood, California
- Current home: Florida (Dunn Farm)
- Worked at: Whisky a Go Go, Le Hot Club, Flippers, Roxy Theatre, Cattle Barons, PG's Bar & Grill
- The Seinfeld episode "The Trip" also featured Insomnia Café
- CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful licensed the Insomnia Café name
- Robin Williams visited Insomnia Café

## Podcast Episodes
- Episode 32: "High on Truth: From Addiction to Awakening" (May 13, 2026) — John Dunn shares his raw and honest journey from the depths of addiction to a life of clarity, purpose, and awakening. 3...
- Episode 31: "John Dunn and Chris Wilson - Part 1" (December 14, 2024) — In this episode of The John Dunn Podcast, I sit down with my old friend Chris Wilson for part one of our conversation. W...
- Episode 30: "Question everything part 2..." (February 17, 2026) — Part 2 of Question Everything, John Dunn and Mark Gordon dive deeper into personal experience and hard questions shaping...
- Episode 29: "Question everything part 1..." (February 10, 2026) — In this conversation, John Dunn and Mark Gordon reflect on their experiences as single fathers, the impact of recent vio...
- Episode 28: "John Dunn & Joel Larson: The Kings of LA's Club Scene" (February 4, 2026) — In the early 1980s, John Dunn and Joel Larson joined forces to dominate Los Angeles' nightlife, shaping the city's club ...

## Stories & Memoirs
- The Story of a Life & Le Hot Club 1980s — Part 1 (LA Nightlife, 2025): John Dunn tells the story of his life and the legendary Le Hot Club — the Monday night that wasn't supposed to work, in the Valley that wasn't supposed to party.
- Kramer at Insomnia Cafe — The Seinfeld Scene (Television, 1992): In the Seinfeld episode 'The Trip,' Kramer heads to Los Angeles chasing his Hollywood dream. He ends up at Insomnia Cafe — and spots Fred Savage. What follows is classic Kramer: pure nervous energy and a script he desperately wants to shop.
- Le Hot Club (LA Nightlife, Early 1980s): A Valley kid, a Monday night, and a decade-long miracle. Against free buffet football and the belief that the Valley couldn't party, Le Hot Club burned for nearly a decade.
- The Flippers Chapter — Where Everything Changed (LA Nightlife, Late 1970s): I walked into Flippers with one goal — to become a DJ. Stan Wertlieb said something that completely changed my trajectory: "Why do you want to be a DJ? Throw a party."
- The Bold and the Beautiful: Insomnia Cafe on TV (Television, January 2008): CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful licensed the Insomnia Cafe name and aesthetic for their characters' regular hangout spot.
- Insomnia Cafe: The Inspiration for Friends (History, April 20, 2020): How John Dunn's late-night coffee shop became the inspiration for one of the most iconic TV shows in history.
- Insomnia Cafe on ABC News - Coffee Mania of the 90s (Television, 1990s): Insomnia Cafe Sherman Oaks, ABC news story about Coffee in the 1990's. Showing off one of the greatest coffee houses ever in LA.
- Confrontation at Insomnia Cafe! (Television, January 2008): As Jackie learns the truth about Jack's maternity, Taylor confronts Brooke about spending time with Nick after seeing them together at Insomnia Cafe.
- Whisky A Go-Go Club Having A Go At It Again (LA Times) (LA Nightlife, 1984): By Steve Pond, LA Times - The Whisky a Go-Go, the most celebrated L.A. Strip nightclub, is back in business after being closed for two years. John Dunn and partner Joe Larson deejay the Friday and Saturday dance nights.

## Contact
Website: https://johndunnpresents.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnDunnPresents