DO YOU REMEMBER THE COCOANUT GROVE AT THE AMBASSADOR HOTEL IN LOS ANGELES

The Cocoanut Grove opened on 21st April, 1921 and quickly became the top spot in Hollywood. The interior contained palm trees (said to have been props from Rudolph Valentino's classic 1921 film The Sheik) with stuffed monkeys hanging from them and a blue ceiling painted with twinkling stars. The Cocoanut Grove became Hollywood's premier nightclub and on any given night a host of the most famous celebrities of the day could be found partying the night away. The list of stars who stayed and lived at the Ambassador Hotel reads like a Who's Who of the Rich & Famous. In 1930, the Academy Awards were presented at the Grove. It was the third Academy Awards presentation but the first time that a gold statuette called "Oscar" was introduced. The first Golden Globe awards were given out here in 1944. Many parties have been held here for many Hollywood legends. Joan Crawford won over a hundred dance trophies at the Cocoanut Grove, competing in their dance competitions. Judy Garland made a spectacular comeback concert here after several years of illness and the album Judy Garland at the Grove was recorded here live. After a run of 68 years, the Ambassador Hotel and Cocoanut Grove closed forever in 1989 leaving us with fond memories of Hollywood's Golden Age.