Jago Times "English Edition" Best Online Newspaper
The building on 2424 Swiss Avenue in Dallas, once home to the iconic Lizard Lounge and its Sunday alter ego ‘The Church’, now sits boarded up, secured with chains and padlocks. But for two filmmakers from North Texas, the memories of this legendary venue live on.
“The idea for this documentary came about when Austin approached me and said that someone needed to tell the story of this place,” said Timothy Stevens, the director of the new film titled ‘Dark Sanctuary: The Story of The Church’. Austin Hayes served as the producer, and both were regular attendees of the pioneering Deep Ellum goth club.
Stevens reflected on the significance of the venue, likening it to a church due to its inclusive and welcoming community. “This community and this building were part of the reason why I moved to the Dallas area,” Hayes added.
The documentary delves into the stories of the DJs, bands, and individuals who made The Church such a cherished place for its patrons. “Punks, new-wavers, and goths,” the film describes, “Everybody was their super-selves!”
“It was a time of acceptance. When you walked in, you were immediately embraced,” Stevens recalled fondly. “It felt like home,” Hayes chimed in.
In 2020, the Lizard Lounge/The Church closed its doors, with the pandemic serving as the final blow. However, Stevens believes that factors like new construction and rising rents in the area had already begun to spell trouble for the venue even before COVID-19 hit.
The documentary captures the essence of the club, including memorable moments like Moby’s sold-out shows in ’94 that nearly brought the roof down. The film is set to premiere at the Dallas International Film Festival on April 28 at 10:00 p.m. at the Violet Crown-Auditorium 5.
“We realized that The Church was more than just a club,” Stevens emphasized. “I hope viewers take away the message that there’s always a place for them,” Hayes added.