Marines Memorial Club
Encyclopedia
The Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco, California
at 609 Sutter Street (at Mason), is a private social club
for United States Marines and other veterans of the United States Armed Forces
. The nonprofit Marines Memorial Association owns the large building in the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco that houses a hotel, theater, restaurant/bar, sports club, special event facilities, library, museum, memorial
, and a military history bookstore.
been associated with military and merchant sailors. During World War II
it was a point of embarkation for many sailors in the Pacific, who would keep fond memories of their few days in the city before leaving for the war.
The Marines Memorial was opened as a club for veterans of the Marines, although membership is open to all United States servicemen and servicewomen. Early in 1946 Commandant of the Marine Corps
, General Alexander A. Vandegrift, had proposed a "living memorial" to Marine casualties
from the War in the Pacific
. A group of Marines arranged to buy a building owned by a women's club
at Mason Street and Sutter Street in San Francisco, whose members they had met through their participation in the wartime WAVES program. The club opened on November 10, 1946, the anniversary of the founding of the Marine Corps.
The theater predates the club, and was part of the original 1926 building. In its early days it hosted nationwide radio broadcasts by Bob Hope
and Frank Sinatra
. It later housed the San Francisco Actor's Workshop, which produced plays by Arthur Miller
, Tennessee Williams
, and Bertholt Brecht. It was also the first home of the American Conservatory Theater
.
Today the Association has 21,000 members from all branches of the United States military, mostly from California.
. It also includes two restaurants (including the club's "Leatherneck
Grill" steakhouse) and a Club One
fitness center. The building also includes the Tribute Memorial Wall, a private memorial
to American soldiers killed in the Iraq War and war in Afghanistan
.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
at 609 Sutter Street (at Mason), is a private social club
Gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a members-only private club of a type originally set up by and for British upper class men in the eighteenth century, and popularised by English upper-middle class men and women in the late nineteenth century. Today, some are more open about the gender and social status of...
for United States Marines and other veterans of the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. The nonprofit Marines Memorial Association owns the large building in the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco that houses a hotel, theater, restaurant/bar, sports club, special event facilities, library, museum, memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
, and a military history bookstore.
History
As a port city, San Francisco has since its founding by SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
been associated with military and merchant sailors. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was a point of embarkation for many sailors in the Pacific, who would keep fond memories of their few days in the city before leaving for the war.
The Marines Memorial was opened as a club for veterans of the Marines, although membership is open to all United States servicemen and servicewomen. Early in 1946 Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
, General Alexander A. Vandegrift, had proposed a "living memorial" to Marine casualties
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
from the War in the Pacific
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. A group of Marines arranged to buy a building owned by a women's club
Women's club
Women’s clubs, also known as woman's clubs, first arose in the United States during the post-Civil War period, in both the North and the South. As a result of increased leisure time due to modern household advances, middle-class women had more time to engage in intellectual pursuits...
at Mason Street and Sutter Street in San Francisco, whose members they had met through their participation in the wartime WAVES program. The club opened on November 10, 1946, the anniversary of the founding of the Marine Corps.
The theater predates the club, and was part of the original 1926 building. In its early days it hosted nationwide radio broadcasts by Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
. It later housed the San Francisco Actor's Workshop, which produced plays by Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller
Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as All My Sons , Death of a Salesman , The Crucible , and A View from the Bridge .Miller was often in the public eye,...
, Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
, and Bertholt Brecht. It was also the first home of the American Conservatory Theater
American Conservatory Theater
American Conservatory Theater is a large non-profit theater company in San Francisco, California, that offers both classical and contemporary theater productions. A.C.T. was founded in 1965 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Playhouse and Carnegie Tech by theatre and...
.
Today the Association has 21,000 members from all branches of the United States military, mostly from California.
Features
The Marines Memorial is housed in a 12-story Beaux-Arts-style building built in 1926 as the "Western Women's Club" and bought by the Association in 1946. The most noticeable features are a 650-seat repertory theater and a lobby display of military memorabilia, most notably the ship's bell from the USS San FranciscoUSS San Francisco (CA-38)
USS San Francisco , a New Orleans-class heavy cruiser, was the second ship of the United States Navy named after the city of San Francisco, California. She saw extensive action during World War II....
. It also includes two restaurants (including the club's "Leatherneck
Leatherneck
Leatherneck is a military slang term for a member of the United States Marine Corps. Now accepted by Webster as a synonym for Marine, the term "Leatherneck" was derived from a leather stock once worn around the neck by both American and British Marines—and soldiers also. Beginning in 1798, "one...
Grill" steakhouse) and a Club One
Club One
Club One Fitness Centers is a San Francisco-based chain of health clubs and in-house gymnasium facilities managed on behalf of corporate clients....
fitness center. The building also includes the Tribute Memorial Wall, a private memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
to American soldiers killed in the Iraq War and war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
.