 Florentine Gardens, Jan 1939 | |
| Location | 5955 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, California United States |
|---|---|
| Type | Nightclub |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1938 |
| Opened | 1938 |
| Renovated | 1981 |
| Closed | 1948; transformed into The Cotton Club; Returned to the Florentine Gardens in 1982 |
| Website | |
| https://www.florentinehollywood.com/ | |
The Florentine Gardens was a nightclub in Hollywood, California, at 5955 Hollywood Boulevard, opened on December 28, 1938, by restaurateur Guido Braccini.[1] The building was designed by architect Gordon B. Kaufmann[2] and featured a European garden motif. Manager and emcee Nils Granlund. Nils Thor Granlund (known as N.T.G.) had been a radio announcer, as well as a promoter and producer of live shows in New York. He became manager and emcee of the club and brought in big bands and well-known performers including The Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots, Sophie Tucker, and fan dancer Sally Rand.[3]
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The original Florentine Gardens was a restaurant serving Italian food that also offered dancing and live entertainment – often of the burlesque variety. The venue seated over 1000 patrons for dinner and was popular with American servicemen on leave in Hollywood during World War II.[4] Dance performances at the club helped launch the careers of actors Gwen Verdon and Yvonne DeCarlo. Sixteen-year-old Norma Jeane Baker (Marilyn Monroe) met 22-year-old defense plant worker Jim Dougherty at the Florentine Gardens and the couple held their wedding reception at the venue in June 1942.[5]
The club closed in 1948 and new owners renamed it The Cotton Club.[6] It later became a club featuring scantily clad dancers, was a Salvation Army outpost,[7] a dental school, salsa club, and hip hop club.[8] Avalon Attractions started booking acts at the “New Florentine Gardens” in 1981, featuring such acts as Chuck Berry, X, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Fear, and The Blasters.[9]
Owner Kenneth MacKenzie fought efforts by the City of Los Angeles to demolish the club in 2005 to build a new fire station.[10][11][12][13]
Notable performers
References
- ↑ Wanamaker 2009, p.92
- ↑ Wanamaker 2007, p.121
- ↑ Williams 2005, p.265
- ↑ Geary 2016, p.149
- ↑ Alleman 2005, p.89
- ↑ Williams 2005, p.166
- ↑ Alleman 2005, p.89
- ↑ Rasmussen, Cecilia (October 10, 2004). "Club Shone Brightly in Its Heyday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ↑ Hilburn, Robert (20 May 1994). "X's Zoom Marks the Wedding Spot". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ Geary 2016, p.150
- ↑ "Panel's Decision Angers Club's Backers". Los Angeles Times. October 29, 2003. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Steve Hymon (August 4, 2005). "L.A. Fire Station Plan Would Spare Razing Florentine Gardens Building". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ Steve Hymon (October 11, 2005). "Property Owner Ready for Fire Fight". Los Angeles Times. p. A13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ John L. Scott (September 13, 1944). "'Girls Are Back' at Florentine Gardens". Los Angeles Times. p. I-10 – via Newspapers.com.
- Williams, Gregory (2005). The Story of Hollywood: An Illustrated History. BL Press LLC. p. 166. ISBN 9780977629909.
- Wanamaker, Marc (2009). Hollywood 1940-2008. Arcadia Press. ISBN 9780738559230.
- Wanamaker, Marc (2007). Early Hollywood. Arcadia Press. ISBN 9780738547923.
- Geary, George (2016). L.A.'s Legendary Restaurants. Santa Monica Press. ISBN 9781595800893.
- Alleman, Richard (2005). Hollywood : the movie lover's guide : the ultimate insider tour to movie L.A. Broadway Books. ISBN 0767916352.