Friar's Club
The Friar's Club is best known for their "Roasts."
History
Irving Berlin wrote "Alexander's Ragtime Band" for the first Friars Frolic in 1911. George M. Cohan wrote "Over There" at the Clubhouse. Victor Herbert wrote and sang his "Here's To the Friars" for his Testimonial Dinner in 1907. For almost a century the Friars Club has seen itself grow from a meeting in 1904 of the Press Agents Association at Browne's Chop House, to the most prestigious entertainment organization in the world. Its history, steeped in show business tradition, has been written through such exalted events as its Testimonial Dinners, Roasts and Friars Frolics.
Through the early leadership of Abbot George M. Cohan and the dedication of personalities such as Victor Herbert and Enrico Caruso, the Friars Club established itself in the early part of the century as a leading force in the entertainment world.
From its early headquarters known as the Hermitage, located at 107 West 45th St. (1908-1916) the Friars congregated both informally and at orchestrated tributes honoring the celebrities and personalities of the day.
Oscar Hammerstein, in 1908, was among the first to be honored with a Testimonial Dinner and in 1911 Abbot Cohan, along with Will Rogers, Irving Berlin and Victor Herbert and his orchestra, assembled a star studded cast for the first Friars Frolics. The Frolics were known the world over and brought the music and comedy of the Friars to theaters throughout the country. The proceeds from the Frolics enabled the Friars, in 1916, to build new and larger facilities at 106 West 48th Street where they continued to hold in-house galas, resplendent in sophistication, rich in music, and overflowing with acerbic comedy. As early as 1910, the Friars were noted for their "roasting" techniques, "When a man subjects himself to being honored at the hands of the Friars, he needs a steel corselet to repel the jabs of his kidders," quoted a New York Tribune review of the Testimonial Dinner in honor of theatrical manager, William Harris.
In 1932 the depression, coupled with the westward movement of the entertainment industry, forced the Friars into some lean years. They lost the 48th Street building and, in an effort to keep their ranks united, relocated first to the Lindy's building then the Edison Hotel. In 1948, with the Friars membership fortified and the entertainment never diminishing, Abbot Milton Berle located the Club to 128 West 56th Street and finally, in 1957, to its current home at 57 East 55th Street.
In 1988 the Friars welcomed women to join the formerly all-male bastion. Liza Minnelli became the first official female Friar and through the years their ranks have grown steadily among the Membership.
When people think of the Friars Club they may think of its Testimonial Dinners, its Roasts, its Frolics, its comedians, its charities, its history whatever the context, it is undeniably unique.
It is the Friars heritage which has enabled it to flourish to this day and continues to stand as a tribute to those early leaders. Cohan, Herbert, Berlin, Rogers, Caruso and so many others brought the entertainment community together and did what they did bestÂentertained. Today, almost one hundred years after that first gathering, Friars still get together to do what they do best, honor the tradition of the Friars motto, first penned in 1907, Prae Omnia Fraternitas, "Before all things, Brotherhood."
Please note that the above information comes from www.friarsclub.org