The History Of Ciro's Nightclub On Sunset Boulevard
Today, it's a world famous comedy club--The Comedy Store. In the 1940's and 1950's it was Ciro's nightclub and for much of its life was one of the hottest nightspots in the world.
From the early 1940's until it closed on the eve of the 1960's, Ciro's launched countless entertainment icons along the path to superstardom. It was one of the first major venues to host Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin before they took over the comedy world in 1950. A year later, an unheralded opening act called the Will Mastin Trio stole the show from the headliner. This was due in large part to a young entertainer that would before long outgrow his membership in the group--arguably the most talented entertainer in show biz history, Sammy Davis, Jr. After the car accident that cost Sammy his right eye, it was the site of his return to live performing. Countless other top entertainers performed there, from Sinatra sidekick comic Joe E. Louis to Nat King Cole.
The names that frequented Ciros were a whos who of the American entertainment pantheon, starting at the very top with Frank Sinatra and including other A list stars like Anita Ekberg, Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, George Burns, Jack Benny, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford and too many others to mention. They came to drink, to see and be seen among a collection of other Hollywood illuminati, served by leggy cigarette girls in short skirts and heels.
In a more civilized era, the biggest cities had a network of top level nightclubs that would provide the best entertainment, drinking and dining in a luxurious atmosphere. Some of these venues included the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the Coconut Grove in Miami, the 900 Club in Atlantic City and the Villa Venice in Chicago. Even before its heyday, Ciro's was still among the top tier of nightclubs hosting tars such as Bogart, Lauren Bacall, George Raft and Betty Grable. When the club began to 'cool off' and the clientele began to defect to the jungle themed Mocambo Nightclub, Ciro's fell on hard times and briefly closed until Herman Hoover reopened the club.
Hoover had considerable experience in running a night club. He cut his teeth at New Yorks Silver Slipper, which was a prohibition era joint owned by Arnold Rothstein and Charles Lucky Luciano among others. He would later run Harlem's famed Cotton Club before heading west to Los Angeles in 1936.
On December 26, 1942 Ciro's re-opened to a packed house including Frank Sinatra, Mickey Rooney, Lucille Ball and Cary Grant. The headliner on opening night was Sinatra's longtime friend and opening act, comic Joe E. Louis.
In 1949, Hoover hosted Dean Martin's second wedding at the club and Martin and Lewis debuted at Ciro's a year later. Before long, they were among the biggest stars in the world but always remained indebted to Hoover for their big break. Even when they were making an at the time unprecedented $100,000 a week to perform they insisted that Hoover pay them their original salary for their first gig at Ciro's--$7000 a week. Sammy Davis, Jr. got his start at Ciro's and returned to the stage after his mid 1950's car accident in what may have been the biggest event ever at the club. After an emotional introduction by Frank Sinatra, Davis tore down the house with a scorching performance.
Ironically, it was the growth of Las Vegas that would spell the beginning of the end for Ciros and nightclubs like it nationwide. With coffers flush from gambling profits and mob revenues, the nightclubs just couldnt compete with the money that Las Vegas casinos were able to offer. Headliners didnt have to travel as much to make big money, and they were able to live the life 24/7 in the southern Nevada desert. As Hoover struggled to stay afloat, the IRS caught up to hundreds of thousands of dollars he owed in unpaid taxes. Ciros closed its doors in 1957. Hoover filed for bankruptcy in 1959, and Ciros was sold at public auction for $350,000.
It was also the end of an era for the city of Los Angeles. It remained a vital thoroughfare in the city, but the glamorous array of nightclubs, bars and restaurants gave way to a tacky mishmash of strip clubs, tattoo parlors and fast food restaurants. Although the street would experience yet other revolution in the 1980's, when Wolfgang Puck's Spago put Los Angeles at the center of the culinary universe it was never the same after the passing of Ciro's. It's tradition of launching young talent on the path to superstardom continues to this day, however--the Comedy Store has operated on the same site for nearly 30 years now. If you name any major comedy star, chances are they got their start at the club or at the very least performed there when they were 'nobody'. - 23812
From the early 1940's until it closed on the eve of the 1960's, Ciro's launched countless entertainment icons along the path to superstardom. It was one of the first major venues to host Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin before they took over the comedy world in 1950. A year later, an unheralded opening act called the Will Mastin Trio stole the show from the headliner. This was due in large part to a young entertainer that would before long outgrow his membership in the group--arguably the most talented entertainer in show biz history, Sammy Davis, Jr. After the car accident that cost Sammy his right eye, it was the site of his return to live performing. Countless other top entertainers performed there, from Sinatra sidekick comic Joe E. Louis to Nat King Cole.
The names that frequented Ciros were a whos who of the American entertainment pantheon, starting at the very top with Frank Sinatra and including other A list stars like Anita Ekberg, Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, George Burns, Jack Benny, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford and too many others to mention. They came to drink, to see and be seen among a collection of other Hollywood illuminati, served by leggy cigarette girls in short skirts and heels.
In a more civilized era, the biggest cities had a network of top level nightclubs that would provide the best entertainment, drinking and dining in a luxurious atmosphere. Some of these venues included the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the Coconut Grove in Miami, the 900 Club in Atlantic City and the Villa Venice in Chicago. Even before its heyday, Ciro's was still among the top tier of nightclubs hosting tars such as Bogart, Lauren Bacall, George Raft and Betty Grable. When the club began to 'cool off' and the clientele began to defect to the jungle themed Mocambo Nightclub, Ciro's fell on hard times and briefly closed until Herman Hoover reopened the club.
Hoover had considerable experience in running a night club. He cut his teeth at New Yorks Silver Slipper, which was a prohibition era joint owned by Arnold Rothstein and Charles Lucky Luciano among others. He would later run Harlem's famed Cotton Club before heading west to Los Angeles in 1936.
On December 26, 1942 Ciro's re-opened to a packed house including Frank Sinatra, Mickey Rooney, Lucille Ball and Cary Grant. The headliner on opening night was Sinatra's longtime friend and opening act, comic Joe E. Louis.
In 1949, Hoover hosted Dean Martin's second wedding at the club and Martin and Lewis debuted at Ciro's a year later. Before long, they were among the biggest stars in the world but always remained indebted to Hoover for their big break. Even when they were making an at the time unprecedented $100,000 a week to perform they insisted that Hoover pay them their original salary for their first gig at Ciro's--$7000 a week. Sammy Davis, Jr. got his start at Ciro's and returned to the stage after his mid 1950's car accident in what may have been the biggest event ever at the club. After an emotional introduction by Frank Sinatra, Davis tore down the house with a scorching performance.
Ironically, it was the growth of Las Vegas that would spell the beginning of the end for Ciros and nightclubs like it nationwide. With coffers flush from gambling profits and mob revenues, the nightclubs just couldnt compete with the money that Las Vegas casinos were able to offer. Headliners didnt have to travel as much to make big money, and they were able to live the life 24/7 in the southern Nevada desert. As Hoover struggled to stay afloat, the IRS caught up to hundreds of thousands of dollars he owed in unpaid taxes. Ciros closed its doors in 1957. Hoover filed for bankruptcy in 1959, and Ciros was sold at public auction for $350,000.
It was also the end of an era for the city of Los Angeles. It remained a vital thoroughfare in the city, but the glamorous array of nightclubs, bars and restaurants gave way to a tacky mishmash of strip clubs, tattoo parlors and fast food restaurants. Although the street would experience yet other revolution in the 1980's, when Wolfgang Puck's Spago put Los Angeles at the center of the culinary universe it was never the same after the passing of Ciro's. It's tradition of launching young talent on the path to superstardom continues to this day, however--the Comedy Store has operated on the same site for nearly 30 years now. If you name any major comedy star, chances are they got their start at the club or at the very least performed there when they were 'nobody'. - 23812
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a Las Vegas and hospitality industry historian as well as an expert on sports betting. He has served as a consultant for many restaurants and land based casinos. In addition, he's a noted fight sport journalist, and writes extensively on strategies to successfully bet on NFL football, MMA and boxing.
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