Friars Club of Beverly Hills

History

From the summer of 1962 to the summer of 1966, John Roselli, Maurice Friedman, Manuel Jacobs, and others rigged high stake gin rummy games at the Friars Club. Over that period, the conspirators earned an estimated $2,000,000 in profits, and six defendants were ultimately convicted on various charges. In the wake of the resulting scandal, the Friars Club formed an ethics committee and removed some members, while others resigned.

In 1987, under court order, the club voted to admit women.

Later years

In 1992, Irwin Schaeffer became president of the Friars Club of California. By 2004, after years of declining membership, the club's assets were sold to a for-profit corporation owned by Schaeffer's son, Darren Schaeffer. After the sale, the club was renamed "The Friars of Beverly Hills" and continued to operate under that name until 2007. However, in 2005, the New York Friars' Club commenced a lawsuit claiming trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, among other claims; in September 2007, the federal district court granted substantial portions of the New York Friars Club's motion for summary judgment, which effectively forced the California club to cease operations under the "Friars Club" name.

The California club changed its name to "Club 9900" for a few months, but as of June 2008, the club was closed, and its landmark building was listed as available for lease. In late January 2011, the building was demolished, despite objections from the Los Angeles Conservancy.

References

References

1. Miller, Daniel. (January 27, 2011). "Iconic Friars Club of Beverly Hills Building Being Razed". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
2. "Friars Club Building (Demolished)".
3. McLauchlin, Jim. "12 Things I Learned Over 20 Years of Lunches With Stan Lee".
4. (30 November 1997). "Compiling a Toast to the Friars' Roasts". Los Angeles Times.
5. (February 25, 1983). "Spilotro Seizes Mickey Mouse Mafia". [[Los Angeles Times]].
6. New York]]'', July 21, 1975, pp. 28-34.
7. (June 30, 1988). "N.Y. Friars Admits First Women". Los Angeles Times.
8. Fixmer, Andy. (July 12, 2004). "New owner set to give major makeover to Friars Club". [[Los Angeles Business Journal]].
9. Salkin, Allen. (October 3, 2007). "East Coast Friars Win Legal Battle". [[The New York Times]].
10. Waldow, Mitch. (June 27, 2008). "Farewell to the Friars".
11. "MyFoxLA".
12. Silver, Kathleen A.. "9900 Club at Charleville Drive". Colliers International.
13. Grovers, Martha. (January 28, 2011). "Building that once housed the famed Beverly Hills Friars Club is being razed". [[Los Angeles Times]].
14. Roderick, Kevin. (January 26, 2011). "Friars Club in Beverly Hills coming down". LA Observed.