William Wilkerson - Nightclubs and The Sunset Strip

Nightclubs and The Sunset Strip

Wilkerson wasn't content with establishing himself as a magazine publisher. He wanted to become a night club proprietor as well. There were, in his opinion, two very good reasons for launching new ventures in Hollywood at the onset of the Great Depression. Judged by his standards, existing venues were "pedestrian". They lacked ambiance, glamor and sophistication. The second and most compelling reason was that people in the entertainment industry had money to spend - lots of it.

The inspiration for these Hollywood ventures came from his New York speakeasy triumphs during the Prohibition 1920s, and his many trips to Europe. Wilkerson's beloved Parisian nightspots became the model for a string of highly profitable nightclubs, cafes and restaurants.

While the movie industry dominated the town, Hollywood's social center was the fabled Sunset Strip, where the stars went to see and be seen. Wilkerson's nightspots - Vendome, Cafe Trocadero, Sunset House, Ciro's, LaRue, and L'Aiglon - contributed much to the Golden Era's dazzling glamor. During this time, Wilkerson became the nations most successful restaurant and nightclub impresario.

Here is a list of restaurants, nightclubs and hotels that Wilkerson started:

• Vendome Wine & Spirits Co. (1933)
• Cafe Trocadero (1934)
• Sunset House (1936) (haberdashery & barbershop)
• The Arrowhead Springs Hotel (1939)
• Ciro's (1940)
• LaRue (of Hollywood) (1943?)
• The Flamingo Hotel (1945)
• L'Aiglon (1947)
• LaRue (of Las Vegas) (1950)