What was the name of the punk venue in Los Angeles that opened in 1977?

The Los Angeles punk venue that opened in 1977 was The Masque.

Founded by Scottish-American promoter Brendan Mullen, The Masque opened on August 18, 1977, in the basement of the Shane Building at 1655 North Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood. It was a small, improvised club, but its location and atmosphere made it a crucial meeting place for the emerging Los Angeles punk scene.

Bands associated with performances there included X, the Germs, the Bags, the Dickies, the Weirdos, the Screamers, the Go-Go's, and the Zeros. Because of its importance to West Coast punk, The Masque was often nicknamed the 'CBGB of the West,' referencing New York's influential punk venue.

The club existed only briefly, closing in 1978, though accounts also describe intermittent activity into 1979. It is easy to confuse The Masque with established Los Angeles venues such as the Roxy, the Troubadour, or the Whisky a Go Go. Those clubs hosted important rock shows, but The Masque was the landmark specifically tied to early LA punk.