Jump to content

Florentine Gardens: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Sexbeatle (talk | contribs)
447 edits
No edit summary
Line 18: Line 18:
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.<ref>Geary 2016, p.149</ref> 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.<ref>Alleman 2005, p.89</ref>
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.<ref>Geary 2016, p.149</ref> 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.<ref>Alleman 2005, p.89</ref>


The club closed in 1948 and new owners renamed it The Cotton Club.<ref>Williams 2005, p.166</ref> It later became a club featuring scantily clad dancers, was a Salvation Army outpost.,<ref>Alleman 2005, p.89</ref> a dental school, salsa club, and hip hop club.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Rasmussen| first1=Cecilia| title=Club Shone Brightly in Its Heyday| access-date=19 November 2020| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=October 10, 2004| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-oct-10-me-then10-story.html}}</ref> Avalon Attractions started booking acts at the “New Florentine Gardens” in 1981.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Hilburn| first1=Robert| title=X's Zoom Marks the Wedding Spot| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=20 May 1994}}</ref>
The club closed in 1948 and new owners renamed it The Cotton Club.<ref>Williams 2005, p.166</ref> It later became a club featuring scantily clad dancers, was a Salvation Army outpost.,<ref>Alleman 2005, p.89</ref> a dental school, salsa club, and hip hop club.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Rasmussen| first1=Cecilia| title=Club Shone Brightly in Its Heyday| access-date=19 November 2020| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=October 10, 2004| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-oct-10-me-then10-story.html}}</ref> Avalon Attractions started booking acts at the “New Florentine Gardens” in 1981, featuring such acts as [[Chuck Berry]], [[X (U.S. band)|X]], [[Dead Kennedys]], [[Circle Jerks]], [[Fear (band)|Fear]], and [[The Blasters]].<ref>{{cite news| last1=Hilburn| first1=Robert| title=X's Zoom Marks the Wedding Spot| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=20 May 1994}}</ref>


Owner Kenneth MacKenzie fought efforts by the City of Los Angeles to demolish the club in 2005 to build a new fire station.<ref>Geary 2016, p.150</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Panel's Decision Angers Club's Backers|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 29, 2003|page=B3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63791946/panels-decision-angers-clubs-backers/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=L.A. Fire Station Plan Would Spare Razing Florentine Gardens Building|author=Steve Hymon|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 4, 2005|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-04-me-florentine4-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Property Owner Ready for Fire Fight|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Steve Hymon|date=October 11, 2005|page=A13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63792157/property-owner-ready-for-fire-fight/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
Owner Kenneth MacKenzie fought efforts by the City of Los Angeles to demolish the club in 2005 to build a new fire station.<ref>Geary 2016, p.150</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Panel's Decision Angers Club's Backers|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 29, 2003|page=B3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63791946/panels-decision-angers-clubs-backers/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=L.A. Fire Station Plan Would Spare Razing Florentine Gardens Building|author=Steve Hymon|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 4, 2005|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-04-me-florentine4-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Property Owner Ready for Fire Fight|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Steve Hymon|date=October 11, 2005|page=A13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63792157/property-owner-ready-for-fire-fight/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Revision as of 23:18, 10 April 2022

Florentine Gardens
Florentine Gardens, Jan 1939
Location5955 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, California
United States
TypeNightclub
Construction
Built1938
Opened1938
Renovated1981
Closed1948; transformed into The Cotton Club; Returned to the Florentine Gardens in 1982
Website
https://www.florentinehollywood.com/

The Florentine Gardens is 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]

Advertisement for grand opening, 1938

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

  1. ^ Wanamaker 2009, p.92
  2. ^ Wanamaker 2007, p.121
  3. ^ Williams 2005, p.265
  4. ^ Geary 2016, p.149
  5. ^ Alleman 2005, p.89
  6. ^ Williams 2005, p.166
  7. ^ Alleman 2005, p.89
  8. ^ Rasmussen, Cecilia (October 10, 2004). "Club Shone Brightly in Its Heyday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  9. ^ Hilburn, Robert (20 May 1994). "X's Zoom Marks the Wedding Spot". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ Geary 2016, p.150
  11. ^ "Panel's Decision Angers Club's Backers". Los Angeles Times. October 29, 2003. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Steve Hymon (August 4, 2005). "L.A. Fire Station Plan Would Spare Razing Florentine Gardens Building". Los Angeles Times.
  13. ^ Steve Hymon (October 11, 2005). "Property Owner Ready for Fire Fight". Los Angeles Times. p. A13 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ John L. Scott (September 13, 1944). "'Girls Are Back' at Florentine Gardens". Los Angeles Times. p. I-10 – via Newspapers.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Florentine_Gardens&oldid=1082019082"