Florentine Gardens
| 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 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]..
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 Jean 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 of 1942[5].
The club closed in 1948 and new owners renamed it The Cotton Club [6]. It later featured scantily clad dancers and was a Salvation Army outpost[7]. Avalon Attractions started booking acts at the “New Florentine Gardens” in 1981[8]. Owner Kenneth MacKenzie fought efforts by the City of Los Angeles to demolish the club in 2005 to build a new fire station[9]..
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
- ^ Hilburn, Robert (20 May 1994). "X's Zoom Marks the Wedding Spot". Los Angeles Times.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ Geary 2016, p.150
- 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.
- Music venues in California
- Hollywood history and culture
- Jazz clubs in Los Angeles
- Music venues completed in 1938
- Music venues in Los Angeles
- Nightclubs in Los Angeles County, California
- Restaurants in Hollywood, California
- Restaurants in Hollywood history
- Buildings and structures in Hollywood, California
- Landmarks in Los Angeles
- 1938 establishments in California
- Defunct restaurants in Greater Los Angeles
- Restaurants established in 1938
- Commercial buildings in Los Angeles