Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Variety Arts Center
Friday Morning Club
— 1924 —
Photographed By Craig Baker
1. Friday Morning Club Marker
Perpetuating the spirit of the cultural involvement of Los Angeles women.
Declared Historic-Cultural Monument No. 196 by the Cultural Heritage Board, Municipal Arts Department, City of Los Angeles.
Erected 1978 by City of Los Angeles. (Marker Number 196.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Women. In addition, it is included in the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.
Location. 34° 2.726′ N, 118° 15.798′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. Marker is on Figueroa Street south of 9th Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 940 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles CA 90015, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Variety Arts Center (within shouting distance of this marker); The Original Pantry Cafe (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mississippi Blues & The Grammy Awards (approx. 0.2 miles away); Staples Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
this page online
Regarding Variety Arts Center. In 1891, Caroline Severance founded the Friday Morning Club, L.A.’s first women’s political club, whose membership eventually peaked at 3,800.
James & David Allison designed the 6-story building in 1924 - They also designed UCLA’s Royce Hall.
Originally the club’s executive offices were on the ground floor. The second floor included lounges and a library. The auditorium is on the third floor. The fourth floor had a lecture hall and a dining area for 500 people. The fifth floor had an art gallery and two small club rooms.
The main theatre had 1,200 seats. The smaller theatre on the third floor, originally called the Lecture Hall, seats 250. The idea was that the main theatre, leased out for live performances, would generate revenue to help support the rest of the building. It was known as The Playhouse, then Times Theater, and later the Variety Arts Center. Clark Gable made his acting debut in May of 1925 in a
Photographed By Craig Baker
2. Friday Morning Club Marker
The marker is below the first-floor window.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
In recent years the building has sat empty while owners consider reopening it as a church.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 243 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
