Located in Los Angeles's Cheviot Hills neighborhood, Hillcrest was founded by Samuel Newmark, Louis Issacs, Karl Triest, and Joseph Y. Baruh, and opened in 1920 as the first country club for the city's Jewish community.

"[2] The property includes tennis courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and an 18-hole golf course, as well as a clubhouse with dining and meeting facilities for its members and their guests.

[7] Hillcrest was established in the early days of the movie industry in Hollywood, when Jews were not permitted to join non-Jewish country clubs.

[10] According to various accounts, MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer reportedly punched producer Sam Goldwyn in the nose while they were either in the showers or the steam room at Hillcrest.

In December 1963, he was roasted at Hillcrest by Jewish comedians who were members of the club, along with guest roasters Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

"[13][14] Singer and actress Dinah Shore, an avid golfer and later inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame, was the first female member of Hillcrest.

[2] Other members of the Round Table included the Ritz Brothers, Al Jolson, Harpo Marx, Eddie Cantor, Lou Holtz and Irving Brecher.

[19] He once noted: "As you may recall, the Hillcrest is the only country club in all of Greater Los Angeles that will accept Talmudic scholars such as myself as members.

Imagine sitting at a table with that group, each one trying to out-funny the other, and all but Harpo, Chico and Danny Kaye puffing on long, fragrant Havanas.

[2][11][26] Other notable non-Jewish members over the years have included: Frank Sinatra, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley, actor Jack Lemmon,[2] Sidney Poitier, and Oscar-winning film producers Darryl F. and Richard D. Zanuck.