Above Photo: The Chateau Marmont, an iconic fixture on the Sunset Strip, it has been a much-frequented destination for rock stars and others in the music-biz, for many years.
The Sunset Strip has always been known for its famous nightclubs especially in the 1930s & 40’s. The Players, 8225 Sunset Boulevard, The Trocadero, 8610 Sunset Boulevard, Ciro’s, 8433 Sunset Boulevard, and The Mocambo, 8588 Sunset Boulevard, owned by Charlie Morrison and Felix Young, was very popular with the film-crowd at the time. The “Strip” was made an unincorporated area under the jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles and patrolled by Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department who were more lenient than the L.A.P.D at least in those days. The Garden of Allah became an unofficial club for many in the “Hollywood set” in the late thirties and forties; Robert Benchley and other cronies held court in one or more of the bungalows built around the central pool, and a decadent slice of the film crowd clientele frequenting The Garden of Allah were known to throw quite scandalous and wild parties until the wee hours of the morning.
A few famous restaurants on the “Strip” at that time were LaRue, Bit of Sweden, Scandia, and Frascati Grill (it took over the original Scandia location when Scandia moved to a much larger space across the street and just east of Doheny).
The Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Boulevard was a rundown club but well-known to a certain set on the Strip. Owned by Johnny Depp, it is where actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose on Halloween morning 1993.
The Whisky initially called “Whisky-à-Go-Go” until the original club in Paris, opened in 1947, sued them for using their name, and they were forced to rename it The Whisky, 8901 Sunset Boulevard, at San Vicente 310-652-4202. The Beatles dropped in on their first visit to L.A. and and an unruly and drunk George Harrison caused a minor brawl by throwing his drink at a photographer. Jim Morrison and The Doors started out as the house band in 1966. So did the Who, The Kinks, The Byrds, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and in fact, Jimi Hendrix also played there. It was the birthplace of go-go dancing in Hollywood in the 1960’s, and the club is still going strong with heavy metal bands.
The Roxy, 9009 Sunset, at Hammond St., 310-276-2222 perhaps Hollywood’s best rock club; and definitely the most popular club for celebs; where Rod Stewart met his future wife, supermodel Rachel Hunter. Over the years, it has seen performances by David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Prince. The little bar, On the Rox, 9009 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-278-9457, located directly above the club garnering a sordid history as well as being a hangout for, too many to mention, rock and roll celebrities including John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, and Alice Cooper.
Sky Bar
8440 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Tel. 323 848 6025
Opening Hours:
Open to guests 10 am – 2 a Daily
Open to public 8 pm – 2 am Daily
Sky Bar is in an open air, ivy-covered pavilion perched above the pool in the Mondrian Hotel. It has been a hot spot for years. Redesigned by Tim Andreas of Banjo, Skybar is fitted-out with custom-designed furniture handmade in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
House of Blues Sunset Strip
8430 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
323-848-5100
Lounge Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 6:30 p.m. – 2:00 a. m. (Please call to confirm.)
Monday & Tuesday Hours may vary depending on the entertainment in the Music Hall
Foundation Room Host Stand at 323-848-5125
The Sunset Strip Foundation Room – I hope that it still lives up to the days when Nigel was at the door!
The Troubadour is located at 9081 Santa Monica Blvd (just east of Doheny). The club opened in 1957 and Lenny Bruce is arrested on obscenity charges shortly after. In 1968 Joni Mitchell made her Los Angeles debut. Elton John performed his first show in the United States on August 25, 1970; he was introduced by Neil Diamond. In that same year, a drunken John Lennon heckled the Smothers Brothers here and was thrown out of the club along with his friend, Harry Nilsson. Randy Newman started out here as well as Cheech & Chong. Elton returned to do a series of special anniversary concerts in 1975. Later, the club became associated with heavy metal bands such as Mötley Crüe. Doug Weston, Troubadour’s owner passed away in 1999. 310-276-6168.
Villa Nova, Rainbow Bar & Grill
310-278-4232
9015 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Before becoming the Rainbow the restaurant was owned by film director, Vincente Minnelli and later it was bought and run by Alan Dale.