Florentine Gardens facts for kids
Florentine Gardens, Jan 1939
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| 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 famous nightclub located in Hollywood, California. It first opened on December 28, 1938. The club was started by a restaurateur named Guido Braccini. Its building was designed by architect Gordon B. Kaufmann. The design made the club look like a beautiful European garden.
The club's manager and host was Nils Granlund, also known as N.T.G. He was a radio announcer and a producer of live shows in New York. Granlund brought many popular acts to the Florentine Gardens. These included big bands and famous performers like The Mills Brothers and Sophie Tucker.
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Early Days of the Florentine Gardens
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When it first opened, the Florentine Gardens was an Italian restaurant. It also offered dancing and live entertainment. The club could seat over 1000 people for dinner. It became very popular with American soldiers visiting Hollywood during World War II.
Many dancers who performed at the club later became famous actors. These included Gwen Verdon and Yvonne DeCarlo. A young Norma Jeane Baker, who later became Marilyn Monroe, met her future husband Jim Dougherty at the Florentine Gardens. They even had their wedding reception there in June 1942.
Changes and Rebirth of the Club
The Florentine Gardens closed its doors in 1948. New owners then renamed it The Cotton Club. Over the years, the building changed hands many times. It became a club with various dance shows. It was even used as a Salvation Army outpost, a dental school, and later a salsa club and a hip hop club.
In 1981, the club returned to its original name, "The New Florentine Gardens." It started hosting new types of acts. Famous bands like Chuck Berry, X, and Dead Kennedys performed there. On Friday nights between 1982 and 1983, it hosted KROQ Nights. These were popular dance music nights with DJ Richard Blade.
Protecting a Piece of History
In 2005, the owner Kenneth MacKenzie had to fight to save the club. The City of Los Angeles wanted to tear it down. They planned to build a new fire station in its place. However, the club was eventually saved.
Famous Performers at Florentine Gardens
Many talented artists performed at the Florentine Gardens over the years. Here are some of the notable names:
- The Mills Brothers
- Yvonne DeCarlo
- Gwen Verdon
- Sally Rand
- Sophie Tucker
- Ozzie Nelson
- Joe E. Lewis
- Ethel Waters
- The Ink Spots
- Henny Youngman
- Fats Waller
- Lily St. Cyr
- Al Jolson
