Endangered Hollywood

While the debate continues to rage over the fate of the Ambassador Hotel (most recently, LAUSD board member David Tokofsky has introduced a last-minute proposal to preserve the historic site), other remnants of 1940s and 1950s-era Hollywood continue to disappear.

We wrote last year about the potential fate of the Florentine Gardens nightclub, where the city has proposed building a new fire station. The club -- which now caters to a hip-hop clientel only on the weekends -- was profiled this Sunday by L.A. Times columnist Cecilia Rasmussen:

During Hollywood's Golden Age, Florentine Gardens nightclub more than held its own against the Cocoanut Grove, Mocambo's, Ciro's, the Clover Club and the Trocadero.

The Gardens on Hollywood Boulevard drew tourists by the busload, helping Hollywood forge its reputation as the world's entertainment capital. It also drew local working people who saved up to go out on the town, paying a cover charge of $1.25 — or $2.50 for dinner too.

Here, future actress Yvonne De Carlo danced until her toes bled. Sophie Tucker, known as the "Last of the Red Hot Mamas," belted out "Some of These Days." Al Jolson dropped to one knee and, with outstretched arms, sang "Mammy." And in 1942, Norma Jean Mortensen and her first husband, Jim Dougherty, said "I do" — before Mortensen abandoned spouse and name to become Marilyn Monroe.

The LA Weekly wrote about the club's likely demise here in August.