Pendennis Club
Encyclopedia
The Pendennis Club is a private club
in Louisville, Kentucky
. It was established in 1881 and modeled in part on English gentleman's clubs. It took its name from William Makepeace Thackeray
's novel Pendennis
(1848–50). The first clubhouse, acquired in 1883, was a former Belknap family mansion. Soon after opening, a banquet was held to entertain President Chester A. Arthur
on August 1, 1883, the same day he opened the Southern Exposition
. Sometime in the 1880s, the club was the birthplace of the Old Fashioned
, possibly the first mixed drink to be called a cocktail.
A famous employee was Henry Bain, who during his forty-year career rose to headwaiter. He is the eponym
of Henry Bain sauce
. Roland Hayes
, popularly said to be Bain's nephew, and considered the first African-American male concert artist to receive wide international acclaim, made his professional debut at the club in 1910.
In 1928, a new clubhouse was built a block east of the old one, near the intersection of today's Second Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard. It was built to designs of Frederick Lindley Morgan at a cost of $615,000, in neo-Georgian style. The third-story ballroom with large chandeliers and oak floor is well known. Other rooms feature wood paneling, marble floors and large murals along entire walls (several American Revolution
scenes are depicted). There are also two bars, a barber shop, a library, athletic facilities, and numerous other rooms for members. The club employed about 30 and had about 800 members as of 2003.
Club membership was long open only to white males, although that policy has been relaxed (the club has a handful of female members). However, the image of an elite, restricted club still is common in the minds of Louisvillians. In 1999 it was one of several private clubs named in a discrimination lawsuit, and was eventually forced to turn over its membership records, though no investigation was ever conducted by the state Human Rights Commission. In 2006, club officials said there had been black members for several years.
, Cuba Gooding Jr., Richard Branson
and members of the New England Patriots
have all attended the bash. In recent years, the event has received attention from national news outlets, including ESPN
.
Derby brunch and dinner are also popular traditions at the club.
Boxing has a rich tradition at the Pendennis Club. Louisville native Muhammad Ali
fought at the club early in his career.
including Robert Todd Lincoln
, Robert Worth Bingham
and William S. Farish III.
Other members have included:
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...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. It was established in 1881 and modeled in part on English gentleman's clubs. It took its name from William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
's novel Pendennis
Pendennis
Pendennis is a novel by the English author William Makepeace Thackeray. It is set in 19th century England, particularly in London. The main hero is a young English gentleman Arthur Pendennis who is born in the country and sets out for London to seek his place in life and society...
(1848–50). The first clubhouse, acquired in 1883, was a former Belknap family mansion. Soon after opening, a banquet was held to entertain President Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
on August 1, 1883, the same day he opened the Southern Exposition
Southern Exposition
The Southern Exposition was a five-year series of World's Fairs held in the city of Louisville, Kentucky from 1883 to 1887 in what is now Louisville's Old Louisville neighborhood. The exposition, held for 100 days each year on immediately south of Central Park, which is now the St....
. Sometime in the 1880s, the club was the birthplace of the Old Fashioned
Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is a type of cocktail made by muddling dissolved sugar with bitters then adding alcohol, such as jenever, whiskey, or brandy, and a twist of citrus rind. The name references the combination's age: it is possibly the first drink to be called a cocktail...
, possibly the first mixed drink to be called a cocktail.
A famous employee was Henry Bain, who during his forty-year career rose to headwaiter. He is the eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
of Henry Bain sauce
Henry Bain sauce
Henry Bain was one of the first employees and eventually a legendary head waiter at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, which was founded in 1881. He created his famous sauce for both steaks and local game animals...
. Roland Hayes
Roland Hayes
Roland Hayes was a lyric tenor and is considered the first African American male concert artist to receive wide international acclaim as well as at home...
, popularly said to be Bain's nephew, and considered the first African-American male concert artist to receive wide international acclaim, made his professional debut at the club in 1910.
In 1928, a new clubhouse was built a block east of the old one, near the intersection of today's Second Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard. It was built to designs of Frederick Lindley Morgan at a cost of $615,000, in neo-Georgian style. The third-story ballroom with large chandeliers and oak floor is well known. Other rooms feature wood paneling, marble floors and large murals along entire walls (several American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
scenes are depicted). There are also two bars, a barber shop, a library, athletic facilities, and numerous other rooms for members. The club employed about 30 and had about 800 members as of 2003.
Kentucky Derby Party
The Pendennis Club plays host to a popular post-Kentucky Derby party, which attracts much of the Louisville social crowd and usually a few celebrities. Tara ReidTara Reid
Tara Donna Reid is an American actress. Reid has acted on television shows such as Saved By The Bell: The New Class, Days of our Lives, California Dreams, and Scrubs....
, Cuba Gooding Jr., Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
and members of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
have all attended the bash. In recent years, the event has received attention from national news outlets, including ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
Derby brunch and dinner are also popular traditions at the club.
Boxing Night
The club also hosts an annual "Boxing Night." Amateur (usually collegiate) boxers square off in a ring set up in the club's grand ballroom. The black tie event is restricted to male members.Boxing has a rich tradition at the Pendennis Club. Louisville native Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
fought at the club early in his career.
Prominent Members
The club membership has included three U.S. Ambassadors to the Court of St. James'sCourt of St. James's
The Court of St James's is the royal court of the United Kingdom. It previously had the same function in the Kingdom of England and in the Kingdom of Great Britain .-Overview:...
including Robert Todd Lincoln
Robert Todd Lincoln
Robert Todd Lincoln was an American lawyer and Secretary of War, and the first son of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln...
, Robert Worth Bingham
Robert Worth Bingham
Robert Worth Bingham was a politician, judge, newspaper publisher and United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He attended the University of North Carolina and University of Virginia but did not graduate. He moved to Louisville in the 1890s and received a law degree from the University of...
and William S. Farish III.
Other members have included:
- Barry Bingham, Sr.Barry Bingham, Sr.George Barry Bingham, Sr., CBE, was the patriarch of a family that dominated local media in Louisville for several decades in the 20th century....
, Patriarch of the Bingham Family - Barry Bingham, Jr.Barry Bingham, Jr.George Barry Bingham, Jr. was an American newspaper publisher and television and radio executive...
, American newspaper publisher and television and radio executive. - Lyons Brown, Jr., Former Chairman and CEO of Brown-Forman CorporationBrown-Forman CorporationThe Brown-Forman Corporation is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business.Some well-known brands of the corporation include Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Canadian Mist, Early Times, Old Forester, and Korbel champagne.-...
and U.S. Ambassador to AustriaUnited States Ambassador to AustriaThis is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Austria.The United States first established diplomatic relations with Austria in 1838 during the time of the Austrian Empire. Relations between the United States have been continuous since that time except for two interruptions during World War...
. - Walter HuddlestonWalter HuddlestonWalter Darlington "Dee" Huddleston is a retired American politician. He is a Democrat from the state of Kentucky. He represented Kentucky in the United States Senate from 1973 until 1985....
, Former U.S. Senator. - Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellAddison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
, Current U.S. Senate Minority Leader. - Louie B. NunnLouie B. NunnLouie Broady Nunn was the 52nd governor of Kentucky. Elected in 1967, he was the first Republican elected to that office since Simeon Willis in 1943 and the last to hold it until the election of Ernie Fletcher in 2003....
, Former Governor of Kentucky.