Florentine Gardens

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]

Advertisement for grand opening, 1938
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 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.
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