Chasen's entrance from Beverly blvd. Oct. 1997

Chasen's was a famous restaurant in Beverly Hills, CA that was a favorite hangout for everyone from entertainment luminaries to world leaders. Located at 9039 Beverly blvd. in Bevery Hills, it was the site of the Academy Awards governor’s ball for many years and was also famous for it’s chili. In 1962 Liz Taylor had several orders of Chasen’s chili flown to the set of Cleopatra while filming in Rome. Many of its regular customers had booths named in their honor. The Ronald Reagan booth, now on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library museum, was where Reagan proposed to Nancy Davis. Four decades later he brought Margaret Thatcher there. Other well known people that had a booth were Frank Sinatra, Alfred Hitchcock, Jimmy Stewart and Groucho Marx, to name a few. For other uses, see: Beverly Hills (disambiguation). ... Academy Awards The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent film awards in the United States and most watched awards ceremony in the world. ... Chili (also spelled Chilli) may be: Chile pepper, the fruit and plant of any one of several species of the genus Capsicum Chili con carne, a spicy stew-like dish traditionally made with chile peppers and beef Chili powder, a spice mix containing cumin, dried ground peppers and other spices... This article is about the actress. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ... The inner courtyard of the library. ... White House portrait Nancy Davis Reagan (born July 6, 1921 (or, according to herself, 1923)) is the widow of President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. ... Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer who is one of the highest acclaimed male popular song vocalists of all time. ... Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (13 August 1899–29 April 1980) was a British-born American film director and producer, a master of the suspense thriller genre. ... Jimmy Stewart, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American film actor beloved for his persona as an average guy who faces adversity and tries to do the right thing, an image which was largely reflected in his own personality. ... Groucho Marx poses for an NBC promotional photograph Julius Henry Marx, known as Groucho Marx (October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977), was an American comedian, working both with his siblings, the Marx Brothers, and on his own. ...

History

The restaurant was opened in 1937 by vaudevillian Dave Chasen at the advice of his friend, director Frank Capra and was called "Chasen's Southern Pit". It was nothing more than a shack, but quickly became well known for its chili and was soon a favorite among Hollywood actors. In time, it became an unparalleled haunt for the worlds biggest stars. Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, John Kennedy, W.C. Fields, James Cagney, Clark Gable, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Howard Hughes were all regulars at Chasen's. All the presidents since Roosevelt had dined there at one time, Queen Elizabeth and even the Pope were guests. Frank Capra Frank Capra (May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an American film director and a major creative force behind a number of highly popular films. ... Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Baker, June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) is the twentieth-centurys most famous movie star, sex symbol and pop icon. ... Cary Grant Archibald Alexander Leach (January 18, 1904 – November 29, 1986), better known by his screen name, Cary Grant, was a British-born American film actor. ... Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974), an American comedian, vaudeville performer, and radio, television, and film actor, was one of the biggest stars in classic American radio and was also a major television personality. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... There have been several John Kennedys: John F. Kennedy, American president John F. Kennedy, Jr. ... W. C. Fields (January 29, 1880 - December 25, 1946) was an American comedian and actor. ... James Cagney was part of the Legends of Hollywood USPS stamp series. ... Clark Gable with 8th AF in Britain, 1943 Clark Gable (February 1, 1901–November 16, 1960) was an American film actor and the biggest box office star of the early sound film era. ... F.Scott Fitzgerald, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1937 Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an Irish American Jazz Age novelist and short story writer. ... For other people named Howard Hughes, see Howard Hughes (disambiguation). ... Living Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (born 1926), queen regnant of the United Kingdom and numerous other Commonwealth Realms: daughter of George VI of the United Kingdom. ...

Anecdotes

The shenanigans of its famous diners are also legendary:

- Liz Taylor and Richard Burton got into an argument at Chasen's one night resulting in Liz throwing her plate of food at Burton and leaving the restaurant. The shouting match continued out onto Beverly boulevard. This article is about the actress. ... Richard Burton in the movie Cleopatra (1963) Richard Burton CBE (November 10, 1925 – August 5, 1984) was a Welsh actor from the late 1940s through the 1980s. ...

- Jimmy Stewart had his bachelor party at Chasen’s, complete with dwarves dressed as babies. Jimmy Stewart, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American film actor beloved for his persona as an average guy who faces adversity and tries to do the right thing, an image which was largely reflected in his own personality. ... This page is about a mythological race. ...

- A photo of Jackie Gleason in the office concealed a small door that opened directly to the bar so orders could be placed. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

- In 1949, Bing Crosby treated the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team to Chasen’s for dinner. Harry Lillis Bing Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor whose career lasted from 1926 until his death in 1977. ... Major league affiliations National League (1887-present) Central Division (1994-present) East Division (1969-1993) American Association (1882-1886) Major league titles World Series titles (5) 1979 â€¢ 1971 â€¢ 1960 â€¢ 1925 1909 NL Pennants (9) 1979 â€¢ 1971 â€¢ 1960 â€¢ 1927 1925 â€¢ 1909 â€¢ 1903 â€¢ 1902 1901 Central Division titles (0) None East Division...

- The bartender, Pepe, invented the “the flame of love” drink at the request of bar regular Dean Martin, which quickly became Dino’s favorite drink. Sinatra supposedly ordered 65 of the drinks one night for his guests. Dean Martin (June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an Italian-American singer and film actor. ...

- Peter Lorre and Humphrey Bogart got drunk at the bar one night and heisted the restaurant's huge safe. They rolled it out the front door, but abandoned it in the middle of the street. Peter Lorre, 1946, by Yousuf Karsh Peter Lorre (June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was an actor especially known for playing roles with sinister overtones in Hollywood crime films and mysteries. ... Humphrey DeForest Bogart (December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), an American actor of legendary fame. ...

Popularity

With its lush paneled walls and stately uniformed wait staff Chasen's was a worthy sanctuary for its elite guests. Eventually, the restaurant grew to an immense size with multiple rooms, multiple bars and an upstairs banquet hall called the New York room. This room was frequently used by the Rat Pack to provide extra privacy for their late night escapades. At one time the restaurant even included a sauna and a full-time barber! The Shirley Temple was invented at Chasen’s for its namesake who was too young to drink alcohol, and Donna Summer came up with the idea for the song “She Works Hard for Her Money” after talking to the bathroom attendant Onetta Jackson. From left: Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. ... Shirley Temple in Glad Rags to Riches Shirley Jane Temple (born April 23, 1928), later known as Shirley Temple Black, is an American diplomat and former film child actress. ... Donna Summer on the cover of her 1993 collection The Donna Summer Anthology Donna Summer (born LaDonna Andre Gaines on December 31, 1948) is an American pop music singer best known for a string of disco music hits in the 1970s that earned her the title Queen of Disco. // Career...

Decline

As newer generations took the reigns of Hollywood, trendier restaurants like Spago drew the ‘in’ crowd and stole some of Chasen’s clientele, but its a-list, many until their death, stayed faithful to the end. Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Stewart, Don Rickles, Milton Berle, Kirk Douglas and Ronald Reagan were still regulars, along with newer celebrities such as John Travolta, Warren Beatty, Quentin Tarantino, Jack Nicholson and Mel Gibson. Wolfgang Puck (born 8 January 1949 in St. ... The A-list is the list of the most bankable movie stars in Hollywood. ... Gregory Peck at Cannes, 2000 Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an Oscar-winning American film actor. ... Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer who is one of the highest acclaimed male popular song vocalists of all time. ... Bob Hope receiving an (honorary) Oscar For other uses, see Bob Hope (disambiguation). ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... Jimmy Stewart, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American film actor beloved for his persona as an average guy who faces adversity and tries to do the right thing, an image which was largely reflected in his own personality. ... Don Rickles (born May 8, 1926) is an American comedian and actor. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Kirk Douglas in Champion Kirk Douglas (born December 9, 1916) is an American actor and film producer known for his oft-imitated and -parodied gravel-ridden voice and his recurring roles as the kinds of characters Douglas himself once described as sons of bitches. He is also father to Hollywood... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ... John Travolta (left) and Samuel L. Jackson (right) in Pulp Fiction. ... Warren Beatty Henry Warren Beaty (born March 30, 1937), now known as Warren Beatty, is an American actor, producer, screenwriter, and director. ... Quentin Jerome Tarantino (born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, actor, and Oscar-winning screenwriter who rapidly rose to fame in the early 1990s as a stylish auteur whose bold use of nonlinear storylines, memorable dialogue, and bloody violence brought new life to familiar American film archetypes. ... Jack Nicholson at Cannes, (2001). ... Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an American Academy Award winning director and producer best known for acting in the Mad Max movie series, the Lethal Weapon series, acting in and directing the Academy Award winning Braveheart and directing the 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ. ...

The End

The restaurant eventually closed in April of 1995. In 1997 its illustrious contents; pictures, bars, booths, even paneling, were auctioned off and the original building, save the Beverly blvd. facing wall, was demolished and a high end grocery store was built in its place. In the cafe to this grocery store are several booths from the original Chasen's, and some of the original paneling. A much smaller Chasen’s was opened in 1997 about a mile away in Beverly Hills by the grandson of Dave and Maude Chasen, and had much success at first, but closed in 2000.