"Coconut Grove" club and Ambassador hotel

[Alan]

This is probably old news for most (if not all)...i just got a delayed "hey" that may have been related to JB alert in my mind;

I skimmed an article in my local paper this morning noting that the VERY historically related Ambassador Hotel &-its Cocoanut Grove club finally got a rebuild go-ahead; there will be some conservation, but otherwise, used as much needed new school house land.

I know the article referred to it's hollywood and political past, but doesn't it also have JB show tie-in(s)?

I'm glad to hear that the land is going to a good cause...rather than what i have read is more typical of past classic Hollywood landmarks.

Alan

[Mike]

Did Jack perform there? Who knew. He probably went to the Grove on occasion I suppose. The hotel is completely dilapidated now. Yes, they really need to build school/s there. There was wrangling over the use of the land for many years, but now the issue seems to be settled. The hotel will probably be torn down any day now if it doesn't fall down on it's own before then. I don't know what they're planning on doing with the "pantry" area where Bobby Kennedy was assassinated. Nobody else seems to know either. My father who was a political junkie took me to the hotel in the early 60's when I was a kid and I saw then Vice-President Johnson walk thru the lobby. Jimmy Durante who was in his entourage also walked by me. Now... if I could just fnd out out if Gisele MacKenzie ever played the Grove. Anybody know?

[Alan]

I posted about the Coconut Grove only becouse i believe it was mentioned during the radio show (?)...not to imply that JB ever performed there.

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

The Sportsmen appeared at the Grove in the late 40s and early 50s, so there's a tie-in

[Mike]

Demolition of the Ambassador has begun. There is talk of the pantry area being preserved and/or being incorporated into the school/s that are planned for the site. Mike

[Roman]

Phil Harris performed there regularly from the time he came to Los Angeles through at least the 1960s. There's an album you can find on Amazon and Ebay of Phil's performances from the early 1930's at the Coconut Grove. I also read that he was at the Coconut Grove when Walt Disney called to offer him a part in the Jungle Book.

[Roman]

For those interested in Phil's album, the name of it is Echoes from the Cocoanut Grove () and you can buy it on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002 ... nce&n=5174). There are 20 selections on this CD which were recorded in 1932-33 before Phil joined Jack's show. Great early 30s jazz performances if you get the chance to listen.