At 6245 Hollywood Boulevard, you will find The Frolic Room, a legendary bar whose unmistakable neon facade makes it stand out.
The Frolic Room on Hollywood Walk of Fame began its life as a speakeasy in 1930, during the Prohibition era in the United States. It opened as a legal bar in 1934 when Prohibition ended. This joint – in the best sense of the word – with its art deco exterior and dazzling neon sign, has seen enough glamour and seediness to be considered a historical landmark of Hollywood alongside its neighbor, Pantages, although it has not been officially designated as such. The walls inside are adorned with caricatures of Groucho Marx and Albert Einstein, two individuals who probably never drank there, although many other celebrities have and continue to do so.
The bar, open daily from 11 am to 2 am, is the last place where Elizabeth Short, better known as The Black Dahlia, was seen alive. Both Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland also drank here. Howard Hughes owned the Pantages and the bar from 1949 to 1954. It was Hughes who added the colorful and artistic neon sign above the door, which still welcomes patrons today, and hosted the most lavish parties.
The Frolic Room has also appeared on the big screen. In Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino, 2019), it is seen twice. The first time occurs in the brief flashback that reveals the real reason why Cliff (Brad Pitt) has to chauffeur Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio). The Frolic can be glimpsed again later, next to the historic Pantages Theatre, as Cliff drives Rick home from the studio.
The quaint and wonderful interior of the Frolic is featured in the movie L.A. Confidential (Curtis Hanson, 1997) when Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) stops by for a drink.
This classic Hollywood spot is the perfect place to grab a martini and soak in the ambiance and atmosphere of Hollywood.
