We’re heading to El Cid in Hollywood for our next Cocktails in Historic Places® to visit an establishment that dates back to the 1920s. In 1925, the building was converted into a Jail-themed café, complete with tables inside of “jail cells” and waiters dressed as guards and prisoners. Even the stone wall along Sunset Boulevard resembled prison walls complete with a watch tower. Believe it or not there was a second Jail Cafe downtown!
The Jail Cafe opened where El Cid is today, in 1925.
In 1932, the café was bought and turned into the Gateway Theatre, and then between 1950 and 1961, it operated as the Cabaret Concert Theatre. The Cabaret Concert Theatre was a favorite nightspot among television and film producers, talent scouts, agents, and celebrities, who came to eat, drink and enjoy a wide variety of sophisticated revues, plays, and concerts.
On December 7th, 1962, Flamenco dancers Juan Talavera and Margarita Cordova, along with her husband Clark Allen, opened the venue as El Cid. The three wanted to open their own Flamenco hub after working at the Purple Onion for the past six years and decided to remodel the building in the style of a 16th-century Spanish tavern. Talavera described the vibe they were going for as “Spanish, but not just American trying to be Spanish.
Today, El Cid Restaurant offers a romantic blend of dining, history and entertainment that is unique, enchanting and beautiful - and still features the decade old flamenco show every Saturday.
This Cocktails in Historic Places® will require an RSVP, so that El Cid can get an idea of how to staff the evening to best serve our event. RSVP is open to members and those curious to learn more about the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. El Cid opens at 5:30 PM. Our event is called for 5:30 - 8:30 PM, but guests are welcome to stay on as long as they like, or until the bar closes.
There is no fee to attend this no-host gathering. There will be food and beverage for sale at the venue.
Reservations are available for the dinner and show inside, but we will be out on the patio enjoying cocktails and tapas.
WHY WE GATHER:
Traditionally, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles members gather once a month in an historic building with a bar, to socialize and revel in the beauty of historic architecture. It is our duty to patronize businesses in historic buildings! We welcome interested persons to join us. This no-host cocktail gathering is open to members and non-members alike, and no reservations are required to attend.
We look forward to conversations about historic Los Angeles and Flamenco, vintage clothing, music cars, historic home restorations and much more!
DRESS CODE
Vintage or vintage inspired cocktail attire is a plus, but not necessary to join the party. Please no insanely casual modern attire. We like to create an immersive vintage environment and you are guy that that mission! Dress to impress!
PARKING
Area street parking on Sunset Blvd and Myra.
DINING
El Cid is a restaurant bar with a tapas menu and a Flamenco dinner on Saturday nights. See their website for reservations.