Vintage 1940's Florentine Gardens Matchbook

Never used and in full saturated color, this stunning matchbook from the Florentine Gardens on Hollywood Boulevard!

Still standing strong and ready for bookings, The Florentine Gardens was originally designed by architect Gordon B. Kaufmann and opened by restaurateur Guido Braccini in 1938.

The war years were especially good for Florentine Gardens because thousands of servicemen flocked to Hollywood for entertainment, and they let all servicemen in for free, reserving a special section for them where they could be surrounded performers and fun.

By 1948 the war was over and the club filed for bankruptcy because they were no longer able to fill the seats and it eventually became the Cotton Club, featuring black entertainers  until they closed in 1954.

It later served as a dental school, a salsa-rock club and then finally re-opened in 1980 as Florentine Gardens, where it stood as a popular dance club until the early 2000's. There was an attempt in 2005 when the city (and the "Community Redevelopment Agency") tried to buy and tear the property down to build a new fire station, but the plan was luckily opposed by preservationists and thankfully did not come to fruition.

• Vintage 1940's
• Measures 2" x 1.5" Shut
• PLEASE NOTE: While our original vintage matches are in excellent condition, they are over 70 years old, and all "flaws" should be considered part of their character.