The World-Famous Cocoanut Grove - Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles - Its Rise and Fall.

Bing Crosby sings his hit song “Out of Nowhere” live at the Cocoanut Grove in 1931 backed by Gus Arnheim and his Orchestra as we look at visuals from the nightclub’s heyday through to its final demise in 2006. (Includes footage from the MGM Short “Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove”)

[@benzo4029]

RIP, dear Cocoanut Grove!
Lovely tribute to Hollywoods grandest old nightclub. You must have seen the fab old tribute at 2reeler! Sweet & Lovely, one of my favorite videos. I like the spinoff video with the Crosby vocal too. Love your rare Arnheim/ Crosby aircheck. "Out Of Nowhere" a 30s classic! Your clever singing Crosby close-ups can be matched to the words exactly now with AI technology. Won't be long before this color footage of Bing will be singing all his old Brunswick and Decca 78s! With perfect matching synced lip movement!
I saw the Ambassador after it was closed. Just like your photo of it fenced off! Your picture showing the dozer took a bit of my soul with it. My fingers clutched that cold wire fence with disgust. 😢 as I thought, Shameful to wreck such a historic Hollywood treasure & landmark.
Thanks for making this fine tribute to a place I cared about. The place that "thrilled your favorite Star, and guided their dancing feet" all those memorable years ago ❤
Well done.

[@DGMPROD]

Thanks so much for your kind comments. I was lucky enough to visit the Cocoanut Grove twice back in 1995 before it was knocked down. It was a shell of its former self but still a wonderful experience to at least walk around in it and stand up on the stage. The recording of Out of Nowhere that was played was not a broadcast but an actual live performance by Bing and the Arnheim band in 1931. There is also an additional song called What is It that has Bing singing with Loyce Whiteman that was recorded on the same evening.

[@zroy9263]

I live less than a mile from where the Ambassador Hotel used to be in Korea Town. It's a hip spot and a great location in the heart of Los Angeles!
I love watching documentaries about historic Hollywood and Los Angeles. The Coconut Grove captures the essence of Hollywood elegance and history.
I'm originally from Brooklyn, New York, but I grew up in the San Fernando Valley.
There's a lot of interesting history and culture in Los Angeles. Such as the historic architecture on Wilshire Blvd, the filming industry, the Sunset Strip, Raymond Chandler, Walter Mosley, and James Ellroy novels, jazz music on Central Ave, and gangsters like Bugsy Siegel, Mickey Cohen and Jimmy Fratiano.
I highly recommend a new book called Tinseltown Gangsters by Jeffrey Sussman for further reading 📚. It is very interesting!

[@DGMPROD]

Thanks for that - I'll check out the book.