Siegi Sessler

Siegi Sessler (9 September 1910 - 1 April 1969) was one of London's most famous restaurateurs and club owners of the late 1940s, '50s and '60s.

He started club life after the Second World War, and in 1950, he opened Siegi's Club, at 46, Charles Street, in the heart of London's Mayfair.

Siegi's became the first of the Mayfair establishments, later including The Claremont Club, Annabel's, Tramp, Harry's Bar and The Colony Club.

Well known to be the 'home from home' for Hollywood stars Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope, Crosby, Niven, Brando, Monroe, John Wayne, Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Doris Day, Joan Crawford, Ingrid Bergman and Elizabeth Taylor. It was also the place where studio moguls, producers and directors forged their deals, often under Siegi's watchful eye and Prime Ministers mixed with shipping magnates, sportsmen enjoyed the mutual admiration of singers and authors and artists, mixing seamlessly with Royalty and the not so royal.

It was described by legendary coloumnist, Marjorie Proops, as "a sort of Madame Tussauds for live people... a safe haven for the friendless and a place impossible to leave, without a pocketful of introductions, for all four corners of the globe. You may not have wanted to lunch with Brando in LA, or safari with William Holden, at his Mt. Kenya Safari Club, however once out of the door, you were committed and often compelled to be their house guests, although a stranger...and you may have only popped in for a night cap before bed!"

It was often considered the twin brother of New York's 21 Club, and Siegi, vaunted as London's best dressed man, was as well known for his 'back room' gin rummy games, as he was for his patronage of The London Boys Club Federation, whose Royal Patron was Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for which he raised many thousands of pounds.

Early life

Siegi was born in Kraków, Poland, on September 9, 1910. The eldest of 5 brothers and 2 sisters, he had managed to get to England, and fought in WW2. By 1945, only he and his brother Freddie, had survived.

Post World War 2

At the end of the war, in 1945, he discovered his Uncle, Max, had survived, and opened a restaurant in Swiss Cottage, North London. Taking the office above, he and partner John Mills, began their meteoric rise in London's club world. Their partnership ended with The Milroy Club and issues over Les Ambassadeurs. His first solo venture was the "La Rue", which later became The International Fine Arts Club, in Mayfair.

He spent much time in America, and was responsible for helping many of those who were forced out of Hollywood, by the Macarthy "Witch hunt".

One such incident, was the Writer/Producer/Director Carl Foreman, who at the time of his allegations, was writing the script for "The Bridge on the River Kwai". He later thanked Siegi, by naming a character after him in the classic The Guns of Navarone, although the character in question was an SS officer!

He was the "Best Man" to singer Pearl Bailey, when she remarried and spent much "quality" time in Las Vegas, at The Sands Hotel, and in New York, at the 21 Club, and watching his beloved New York Yankees, or at Madison Square Garden, for many a title fight. In Poland, he had been a professional wrestler.

Siegi's Club

Siegi's Club opened in 1950. Immediately, it became internationally known as one of London's finest restaurants, as well as becoming a favourite hideaway for its extraordinary clientele. Privacy was assured, despite journalists and newspaper moguls, alike, enjoying their 'membership'. This code of conduct, long since passed, was watched over carefully by Siegi himself. Should Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin choose to entertain the lunchtime gathering with a few songs around the piano, the chances are that Sam Spiegel would ask them to "keep it down...I'm trying to work here!", or Groucho Marx would insist on "professional singers entertaining him over his lunch...Auditions by "buskers" gave him gas!"

Keith Richards, in his autobiography, "Life, whilst talking about his brother Freddie, writes...

"Fred's brother Siegi, the only other surviving member of his family of seven children, was in Paris at the Sorbonne when the Germans invaded Poland.He joined the Polish army and later managed to get to England. Freddie joined him in London after the war. Siegi became a famous club owner and restaurateur, co-owner of Les Ambassadeurs, which quickly became a hangout for four-star generals and Hollywood stars who came to entertain US troops. When he opened Siegi's Club in Charles Street, Mayfair, in 1950, he'd become personal friends with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan and Bing Crosby. It became the 'hangout' of Princess Margaret, the Aga Khan and the like. So Siegi (and by proxy Freddie) who knew Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe, were very well connected. It served Freddie well on at least two occasions I know of..."

In 1960, the club enjoyed its 10 year anniversary, and a special edition book marked the event.

Personal life

In 1958, Siegi was married to Barbara Anderson, a Kenya born beauty, who had come to England to be an actress, at the Edison Hotel, in New York. In 1960, she gave birth to only son, Simon Edison Sessler. By 1965, however, ill health had started to take hold. He died on April 1, 1969, at just 58 years old, and was cremated at Golders Green Cemetery.

The club was sold shortly thereafter, to old friend, Mark Birley, owner of Annabel's. It became Mark's Club, which continues to this day to be one of the most exclusive clubs in London.

References

An Affair Of State:The Profumo Affair (Philip Knightly)

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Xb0hAQAAIAAJ&q=Siegi+Sessler&dq=Siegi+Sessler&hl=en&sa=X&ei=iMUYT8PJK4-p8QORzuCzCw&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA

Jet Magazine http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=S7sDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA21&ots=pEUxP8r-YC&dq=Siegi%20Sessler&pg=PA21#v=onepage&q=Siegi%20Sessler&f=false==References==

Ginger:A Salute To A Star (Dick Roberts) http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=R80HAQAAIAAJ&q=Siegi+Sessler&dq=Siegi+Sessler&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2sYYT66eLNHY8QOkuayjCw&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAw

Yes I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis, Jr. by Sammy Davis Jr.

Strictly For Laughs (Joey Adams) http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=deHTAAAAMAAJ&q=Siegi+Sessler&dq=Siegi+Sessler&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2sYYT66eLNHY8QOkuayjCw&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAg

Global Oil Finder: Autobiography of a Petroleum Geologist by Fred W Kelly Jr

Donald Zec on this show business; His provocative, candid, hilarious encounters with the stars by Donald Zec

Cindy and I: The real life adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Joey Adams by Joey Adams

No Cover Charge: A backward look at the night clubs by Robert Sylvester

The American Book Collector http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=24weAQAAMAAJ&q=Siegi+Sessler&dq=Siegi+Sessler&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GsoYT_3RJIn98gOX5MGXCw&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBw

Londoner: by Tudor Jenkins

My Art & Life Among Athletes and Playboys - LeRoy Neiman books.google.com/books?isbn=0762785233

RSVP Elsa Maxwell's Own Story: Elsa Maxwell

Siegi's Club 10th Anniversary Book: (supported by Prince Philip). Published to commemorate 10th year anniversary with many contributions from celebrities, etc.

External links

• Jet Magazine - 4 Dec 1952 - 64 pages - London night club owner Siegi Sessler served as best man in Ferrer's place. The civil ceremony ended so suddenly that Miss Bailey asked: "What happens now ..."
• Barbara Payton - The Private Life and Times of Barbara Payton while in London, Neal allegedly catches her in bed with wealthy night club owner Siegi Sessler. Summer 53, tours the U.S. with Neal in The Postman Always ...
• Keith Richards: "LIFE"

(Related topics for Safari night club. Siegi Sessler, Adventurers Club)

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(News article re: Barbara Anderson)

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