Hollywood Athletic Club
Encyclopedia
The Hollywood Athletic Club is a nightclub
in the Hollywood
district of Los Angeles
.
Since it was built in 1924, it has had a varied history as a health club
, bar, music venue and billiard room
.
It is located on Sunset Boulevard
.
, the same architectural firm that built the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. At the time is was the tallest building in Hollywood.
When the Hollywood Athletic Club was first built in 1924, Hollywood was entering its greatest and most productive period. The building was the tallest building in Hollywood and loomed above Sunset Boulevard. Membership was originally $150 for initiation fees and $10 for monthly dues.
During its early years as a health club, its membership included Johnny Weissmuller
, Errol Flynn
, Charlie Chaplin
, John Wayne
, Walt Disney
,John Ford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr, Mary Pickford, Cecil B de Mille, Cornel Wilde, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Frances X. Bushman, Howard Hughes, Joan Crawford and Rudolph Valentino
, Mae West
, Walt Disney
, Buster Crabbe and Pola Negri.
When the building was first established, the first two floors and the basement were to be used only for clubbing.
The building later became the University of Judaism, and after they started building at their new location, this building gradually fell into disrepair. The building was up for sale for eight years until one day a well known entrepreneur, concert promoter and investor named Gary Berwin drove by and saw something special in the deteriorating structure. Gary is a preservationist and wanted to save historical buildings and so in November 1978 he purchased the building and then set about the huge task of restoring the building to its former grandeur.
The dream began in 1923 and thanks to the special talent of Berwin who took up the dream of a past generation and gave it new life and meaning for the next generation. He made sure the stuff of Hollywood legends remains with us today.
Berwin also purchased the bungalows and the two-story Spanish-style building situated on Hudson behind 6525 Sunset Blvd. The project was renovated at a cost of approximately $11 million. The restaurant which is a replica of the 14th century Davanzati Palace in Florence, Italy underwent a complete make-over. The beautiful ceilings had been covered over with a false ceiling and after it was removed, Berwin hired carpenters, artists and wood carvers to restore the beams and ceilings to their former beauty.
The Berwin Entertainment Complex quickly became popular with the jet-set and celebrities. Some of the famous tenants included the Beach Boys, Van Halen, Jose Feliciano, Island Records, Baby-O Recording Studios. The list of celebrities who visited the building and partied there are too numerous to mention, but a few of the mentionables are Priscilla Presley, Lisa-Marie Presley, members of the Michael Jackson family, Steven Spielberg, Muhammad Ali (a regular visitor & friend), Mayor Tom Bradley, Sally Field, Princess Stephanie, Dudley Moore, Michael J Fox, Prince Mashour ben Saud of Saudi Arabia, Madonna, Rodney Dangerfield, Melanie Griffith, Jon Voigt, Paul Newman, George Lucas, Jaclyn Smith, Jane Fonda Disney Studios, Alice Cooper, Julio Iglesias, Stevie Wonder, Billy Crystal, Shirley McLane, Gov. Jerry Brown and the list goes on.
Gary donated office space and worked with Mayor Tom Bradley’s office to start a runaway youth program in Hollywood. The building served as a fund-raising entity for the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, the Los Angeles Library Association, and the Thalians. In November, 1983 the State of California recognized Gary Berwin's renovation efforts with the Hollywood Beautification Award. Presented by Senator David Roberti, the award was given in the category of remodelled community property.
At the end of 1984 Berwin decided to take in a partner or sell the building and in February of 1985 a real estate broker named Bill Beachem, representing the Michael Jackson family came by the building and made Gary an offer. The Jacksons who at the time were the #1 entertainment family in the world would buy the building and Gary would retain a percentage as a partner. They intended to use a good portion of the 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) for offices, recording and rehearsal studios. Joe Jackson became an almost daily visitor to the building, the papers were signed, a deposit was put into escrow, phones were ordered and a liquor license sign went up outside stating “Jackson / Berwin Entertainment”.
The Jacksons stipulated in the escrow instructions that while the building was in escrow, they would have final approval of everyone leasing space in the building. During this time period, many famous parties including record executive David Geffen, Studio 54, Maxim’s of Paris, and Princess Stephanie of Monaco all came to the building inquiring about the possibility of renting space for studios and clubs.
Gary Berwin is currently writing a book called “The Jacksons: Too Good To Be True”
David Bowie
performed at the club during his Earthling Tour
on September 10, 1997.
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in the Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
district of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Since it was built in 1924, it has had a varied history as a health club
Health club
A health club is a place which houses exercise equipment for the purpose of physical exercise.-Main workout area:...
, bar, music venue and billiard room
Billiard room
A billiard room is a recreation room, such as in a house or recreation center, with a billiards, pool or snooker table...
.
It is located on Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades...
.
History
The building at 6525 Sunset Blvd has been known as the Hollywood Athletic Club, University of Judaism, Berwin Entertainment Complex, and Hollywood Landmark. It was built in 1924 by Meyer & HollerMeyer & Holler
Meyer & Holler was an architecture firm based in Los Angeles, California noted for its opulent commercial buildings and movie theatres, including Grauman’s Chinese and Egyptian theatres, built during the 1920s...
, the same architectural firm that built the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. At the time is was the tallest building in Hollywood.
When the Hollywood Athletic Club was first built in 1924, Hollywood was entering its greatest and most productive period. The building was the tallest building in Hollywood and loomed above Sunset Boulevard. Membership was originally $150 for initiation fees and $10 for monthly dues.
During its early years as a health club, its membership included Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller was an Austro-Hungarian-born American swimmer and actor best known for playing Tarzan in movies. Weissmuller was one of the world's best swimmers in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal. He won fifty-two US National Championships and set sixty-seven...
, Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
, Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
,John Ford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr, Mary Pickford, Cecil B de Mille, Cornel Wilde, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Frances X. Bushman, Howard Hughes, Joan Crawford and Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
, Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
, Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
, Buster Crabbe and Pola Negri.
When the building was first established, the first two floors and the basement were to be used only for clubbing.
The building later became the University of Judaism, and after they started building at their new location, this building gradually fell into disrepair. The building was up for sale for eight years until one day a well known entrepreneur, concert promoter and investor named Gary Berwin drove by and saw something special in the deteriorating structure. Gary is a preservationist and wanted to save historical buildings and so in November 1978 he purchased the building and then set about the huge task of restoring the building to its former grandeur.
The dream began in 1923 and thanks to the special talent of Berwin who took up the dream of a past generation and gave it new life and meaning for the next generation. He made sure the stuff of Hollywood legends remains with us today.
Berwin also purchased the bungalows and the two-story Spanish-style building situated on Hudson behind 6525 Sunset Blvd. The project was renovated at a cost of approximately $11 million. The restaurant which is a replica of the 14th century Davanzati Palace in Florence, Italy underwent a complete make-over. The beautiful ceilings had been covered over with a false ceiling and after it was removed, Berwin hired carpenters, artists and wood carvers to restore the beams and ceilings to their former beauty.
The Berwin Entertainment Complex quickly became popular with the jet-set and celebrities. Some of the famous tenants included the Beach Boys, Van Halen, Jose Feliciano, Island Records, Baby-O Recording Studios. The list of celebrities who visited the building and partied there are too numerous to mention, but a few of the mentionables are Priscilla Presley, Lisa-Marie Presley, members of the Michael Jackson family, Steven Spielberg, Muhammad Ali (a regular visitor & friend), Mayor Tom Bradley, Sally Field, Princess Stephanie, Dudley Moore, Michael J Fox, Prince Mashour ben Saud of Saudi Arabia, Madonna, Rodney Dangerfield, Melanie Griffith, Jon Voigt, Paul Newman, George Lucas, Jaclyn Smith, Jane Fonda Disney Studios, Alice Cooper, Julio Iglesias, Stevie Wonder, Billy Crystal, Shirley McLane, Gov. Jerry Brown and the list goes on.
Gary donated office space and worked with Mayor Tom Bradley’s office to start a runaway youth program in Hollywood. The building served as a fund-raising entity for the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, the Los Angeles Library Association, and the Thalians. In November, 1983 the State of California recognized Gary Berwin's renovation efforts with the Hollywood Beautification Award. Presented by Senator David Roberti, the award was given in the category of remodelled community property.
At the end of 1984 Berwin decided to take in a partner or sell the building and in February of 1985 a real estate broker named Bill Beachem, representing the Michael Jackson family came by the building and made Gary an offer. The Jacksons who at the time were the #1 entertainment family in the world would buy the building and Gary would retain a percentage as a partner. They intended to use a good portion of the 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) for offices, recording and rehearsal studios. Joe Jackson became an almost daily visitor to the building, the papers were signed, a deposit was put into escrow, phones were ordered and a liquor license sign went up outside stating “Jackson / Berwin Entertainment”.
The Jacksons stipulated in the escrow instructions that while the building was in escrow, they would have final approval of everyone leasing space in the building. During this time period, many famous parties including record executive David Geffen, Studio 54, Maxim’s of Paris, and Princess Stephanie of Monaco all came to the building inquiring about the possibility of renting space for studios and clubs.
Gary Berwin is currently writing a book called “The Jacksons: Too Good To Be True”
David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
performed at the club during his Earthling Tour
Earthling Tour
The David Bowie Earthling Tour opened on 7 June 1997 at Flughafen Blankense - Lübeck, Germany continuing through Europe, North America before reaching a conclusion in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 7 November 1997.-History:...
on September 10, 1997.