Where Hollywood Came to Sip.

On January 3, 1941, former theatrical agents Charlie Morrison and Felix Young assembled a staff by raiding other nightclubs around the country, and launched the Mocambo on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, its exotic South American theme just a little bit naughty. Lavishly decorated by Tony Duquette, who designed costumes and settings for MGM, the club’s interior featured black-and-white wallpaper, plaster figurines, and glass-in aviaries housing live macaws, cockatoos, seagulls, pigeons and parrots. Their presence initially sparked protests by the local animal welfare league, but Morrison managed to convince them that the birds were having as much fun as everyone else.

The Mocambo was considered “a nightclub’s nightclub,” the place to go when Hollywood was in the mood to party. Terraced balconies of dining tables led down to a big dance floor, with a huge bandstand at one end. It was the hottest dance-till-dawn spot in town, where the average stargazer could rub elbows with the likes of Henry Fonda or Bette Davis, Joan Crawford or Clark Gable, or, or, or.

It was a favorite haunt of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and whenever they came in, the orchestra launched into “That Old Black Magic.” Lana Turner threw a $40,000 birthday party for husband Steve Crane here; Myrna Loy and Arthur Hornblow celebrated their divorce over drinks at the bar. And when Frank Sinatra left the Tommy Dorsey band to become a solo act in 1943, he made his Hollywood debut at the Mocambo.

Errol Flynn made front page news after confronting gossip columnist Jimmie Fidler at the Mocambo. When Flynn punched Fidler – holy Joe! – all hell broke loose. Then, Fidler’s wife retaliated by stabbing Flynn in the ear with a fork, as the band struck up “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Both Lucille Ball and Dezi Arnez were frequent guests at the Mocambo and close friends of Charlie Morrison. The club’s main stage was replicated on the television series “I Love Lucy” as Ricky Ricardo’s Tropicana Club.

Head bartender Johnny Trebach was known for crafting signature cocktails, served in exquisite coupes that complemented the club's glamorous ambiance.

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