California Club

The California Club is a prestigious members-only private social club established in 1888 in downtown Los Angeles, the second-oldest such club in Southern California. Its building was erected in 1930 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.There is an old adage that goes "The people who 'run' Los Angeles belong to The Jonathan Club; the people who 'own' Los Angeles belong to The California Club." The membership is by invitation only. The new members must be invited by at least six existing members of the Club, and pass series of interviews by the Club's Membership Committee.HistoryThe California Club was incorporated on December 24, 1888. The first organizational meeting was held September 24, 1887, "in Justice Austin's courtroom," with N.C. Coleman as chairman and H.T. DeWilson as secretary.The constitution and bylaws of the Union Social Club, of San Francisco, was reported and accepted without any change by the body of gentlemen assembled. There was considerable discussion on the... name of the club, and... it was decided to call it the California Club, of Los Angeles. The section in the bylaws granting army and navy officers all the privileges of members upon half-rate caused considerable feeling among the members. Four votes were taken on the question, and at last it was decided to allow the bylaws to read as they have for twenty-five years in the Union Club.The club's first location was in the second-floor rooms over the Tally-Ho Stables on the northwest corner of First and Fort (Broadway) streets, where the Los Angeles County Law Library now stands. It moved to the Wilcox Building on the southeast corner of Second and Spring streets in 1895, occupying the two top floors, the fourth and fifth. The building was distinguished as the first in Los Angeles to have two elevators — one for the public and the other for members. The men's dining room, reading room, bar and lounge were on the top floor. On the floor below was the ladies' dining room.