Babe's and Ricky's Inn

Babe's and Ricky's Inn is an insightful film that offers a glimpse into the world of Los Angele's vivacious blues scene. The film, mainly composed of interviews and performances, slowly immerses the audience into the culture and history of the famous blues club that shut down in 2010. Each musician has a unique story that led them to Babe's and Ricky's Inn, and it is these journeys that keep the film captivating.

At the center of everything is Mama Laura, the vibrant matriarch to the Babe's and Ricky's players. Listening to every player one by one describe Mama and the impact she had on their lives is both moving and entertaining. Mama Laura herself personally chose who got to play and when, and if she thought you weren't giving it your all, she made sure you knew. Her instincts were never wrong, and this ensured that only the best was played at Babe's and Ricky's Inn.

Full of charismatic personalities and stirring stories, Babe's and Ricky's Inn tells a unique story about an eclectic group of people brought together by their love of blues and Mama's love for them.

This was a great movie about the LA blues scene, particularly as it revolved around Babe's and Ricky's Inn, a mainstay club. We get to see interviews with many of the musicians, both famous and lesser known, about the purity of the blues culture there. Mama Laura, the owner and manager, a transplant from the deep south, ensured with her smiles and frowns that the musicians stick to the soul of the blues. For this viewer, who was new to this culture, I really felt immersed in another world, one of creation, community and heart. We learn about blues as a way of life, in a style that feels both vital and accessible. There is plenty of great music in the movie, great characters, and excellent interviewing that pulls us in to a unique world. Congrats to the filmmakers and musicians!

I really loved this doc! I've been to "Babe's and Ricky's Inn" a few times and this doc totally captured the spirit of the musicians and the place - I loved the humor and the atmosphere in this doc - go check it out!

I was very impressed to see how "Mama", the woman who owned the club, was a patron to the entire Blues scene and helped so many musicians come up and survive in the tough, non- commercial world of Blues, which I find very under-appreciated. The film had amazing insider footage with her and all her "kids", even describing how they took care of her. It never got insulting or too aggressive, but it was very personal, close and revealing in it's pragmatic ways of how it portrayed the participants. I liked the sound quality a lot and most of the camera work was great. The filmmakers were very sensitive in how they allowed the audience to love each character in their very special way and never tried to upstage them or ridicule them. I can very much recommend this film! Well-Done, everybody

Babe's and Ricky's Inn, is an Amazing film about Blues music. Film is done quite artistically and engages the audience from the very first moment. Ramin Niami's passion for art and music makes watching the film an entertaining and educational experience.

Here is a review of the film by our film critic at Cinema Without Borders, Robin Menken: Ramin Niami's loving tribute to local legendary club owner "Mama" (Laura Mae Gross). "BABE'S & RICKY'S INN" has been opened at the Laemmle's Monica on April 5.

Moving to Los Angles in 1944,Laura Mae Gross worked at a car wash and for Douglas Aircraft Company until 1954 when her husband was robbed and killed.

The single mother decided to go into business for herself. In 1957 she opened "Laura's Bar-B-Q," (near the corner of Wilmington and Imperial Boulevard.) Seven years later in 1964, she took over the Atlantic Club at 5259 Central Avenue, famed during the Central Avenue jazz scene that began in the 40's. She re-named the club after her son and her nephew, and "Babe's & Ricky's Inn" was born.

For over fifty years Mama presided over the hospitable club, which brought generations of blues players and blues lovers together. Originally located on South Central's legendary Central Ave, the club was closed temporarily and forced to reopen.

Now a single mother with young children to support, Laura eventually decided to go into business for herself. In 1957 she opened her first establishment, called "Laura's Bar-B-Q," which was located near the corner of Wilmington and Imperial Boulevard. Seven years later in 1964, she took over the Atlantic Club at 5259 Central Avenue, famed during the Central Avenue jazz scene that began in the 40's. She re-named the club after her son and her nephew, and "Babe's & Ricky's Inn" was born.

In 1995 her landlord decided to expand his adjacent liquor store into the space that Laura had rented for thirty-two years, and forced Laura out by tripling her rent

The original club closed on Sunday, April 7th, 1996 after a massive jam session, the fittings were put in storage. Jonathan Hodges, a movies prop master who had been playing at the club on Sunday afternoons became Laura's partner and saved the club. With help from Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas' office, they leased a defunct restaurant in the Leimert park area. In August, 1997, sixteen months after leaving Central Ave, Babe's & Ricky's Inn opened its doors once again. .

Over the years, Mama faced other challenges. She attracted local and international patrons, who flocked to the down home club despite the increasing crime in her surrounding area.

ASCAP randomly targeted Laura for $9,000 in supposed "live performance" dues. Thankfully, with a little help from her friends, mostly R&B songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, the club was able to stay alive.

Greats like John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Albert King, Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters jammed with local players who now carry on their tradition.

Feisty Mama Laura, who is celebrated and remembered by grateful musicians on camera, ran things her way. She told musicians what she wanted to hear, and they played to please their muse.

The Mississippi native, who died at 89 in 2009, mentored young player, fed and housed other players and made sure they played the kind of blues she loved. her mantra, "practice, practice, practice and them practice some more". Her house band became "Mama's Boys', headlined by Johnny Mastro which is well known here and abroad.

Her melting-pot environment welcomed anyone who loved the music.

The rambunctious film premiered at the 2013 Pan African Film Festival, where it won the Festival Programmers Award at the 2013 Pan African Film Festival. A post screening jam session at the festival was one of the more memorable nights in recent Los Angeles Blues history. Guitar Shorty, Deacon Jones, Ray Bailey, Richard Martin-Ross, Suzanne Thomas, Dennis Jones and Peter Tork were some of the artists who performed.

Producer/director/cinematographer Ramin Niami and co-producer Behrooz Arshadi ("The Persian Blues Brothers") shot hours of footage during the club's final days. The club closed in April of 2010. A graceful edit gives the film a lived-in intimacy, and well it should because the filmmakers made themselves part of Mama's scene.

Talking heads and performers include old masters and the next generation: Gregg Wright, Roosevelt Stringfellow "Chu Chu" (and the Lovely band), monster player Richard Martin-Ross, South Side Slim, Keb' Mo, legendary Blues belter Mickey Champion, Barbara Morrison, Fereckiea White, Lady G.G., Sherry Pruitt, Peter Tork and Mike Stoller, Alvin Johnson, African-Korean singer-guitarist Suzanne Thomas, Sonny Green ("American Blues Legends 2008" ) Charlie Chan, George Dezz, Bobby Bryan, Shawn Barry, Andrea Balestra, Dennis Jones, Zac Harmon, Ray Bailey, and club partner Jonathan Hodges .

THIS MUSICAL MUST SEE is the next best thing to making the scene

I have to admit, I like the blues well enough, but am not a die-hard fan. However, after seeing Ramin Niami's documentary about the oldest blues club in LA, Babes & Ricky's Inn, I have a new found appreciation for the genre and its players. A slice of musical and cultural history of Los Angeles in a very special place run by a very special lady affectionately called 'Mamma' by everyone. Laura Mae Gross emigrated out west from the Deep South in a time when life was not easy for African Americans and especially women. She loved blues music so much she opened a club and fostered (sometime literally) musicians of all ages helping build their craft and often their self esteem too. She took in the wandering and coached them diligently, reminding them to "practice, practice, practice and them practice some more". She also told them to listen. In a sense she was encouraging them to drop in on every aesthetic level of their being until they could embody the music with their instrument. There was an infectious, inviting vibe Babes & Ricky's had and Mamma was the spark. Everyone who played there, played for the love and to please Mamma because they knew if she liked it, they got it right.

Everyone played there from Eric Clapton to Muddy Waters and certainly a very long list of others over the span of several decades. All ages, colors and nationalities have been to Babes & Ricky's. I don't think there was anyone I'd mentioned this place to that hadn't been there at one time or another; whether they were blues fans or not. It was a place to experience even if you aren't an aficionado. Veteran documentarian Niami's edited with such a steady rhythm it doesn't really feel like a documentary, but intimate conversations the audience is dropping in on. This is a peek into a place and time where color, race or socio-economics don't matter and the love for blues (and Mamma) is the focus. I think this film serves as an important archive of local history that reached so many people over 54 years from a little club in an Afro-American neighborhood of Los Angeles.