He became manager and emcee of the club and brought in big bands and well-known performers including The Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots, Sophie Tucker, and fan dancer Sally Rand.

[3] The original Florentine Gardens was a restaurant serving Italian food that also offered dancing and live entertainment – often of the burlesque variety.

The venue seated over 1000 patrons for dinner and was popular with American servicemen on leave in Hollywood during World War II.

[4] Dance performances at the club helped launch the careers of actors Gwen Verdon and Yvonne DeCarlo.

Sixteen-year-old Norma Jeane Baker (Marilyn Monroe) met 22-year-old defense plant worker Jim Dougherty at the Florentine Gardens and the couple held their wedding reception at the venue in June 1942.