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New York Friars Club

{{Short description|Private club in New York City}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = The Friars Club

| logo = 150px

| logo_caption = Prae Omnia Fraternitas
("Brotherhood Above All")

| image = Friars-club.jpg

| image_border =

| alt = Friars Club building

| caption = The Monastery

| formation = {{Start date and age|1904}}

| type = Private social club

| status =

| purpose = Fraternal organization

| headquarters = 57 East 55th Street

| location = Midtown Manhattan

| coords = {{coord|40.760886|-73.972551|display=title,inline}}

| region_served =

| membership =

| leader_title = Dean

| leader_name =

| main_organ =

| affiliations =

| num_staff =

| num_volunteers =

| budget =

| website = {{URL|www.friarsclub.com}}

}}

The Friars Club was a private club in New York City, founded in 1904 and out of business by 2024. Famous for its risqué roasts, the club's membership was composed mostly of people who work in show business. The club was located at 57 East 55th Street, between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue, in the historic Martin Erdmann House, now known as the Monastery.{{cite web |url=http://www.friarsclub.com/sample-page-2/ |title=History |website=Friars Club |access-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418054330/http://www.friarsclub.com/sample-page-2/ |archive-date=April 18, 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Lipsyte |title=Comedy Central |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/30/nyregion/comedy-central.html?mtrref=query.nytimes.com |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 30, 2004}}

History

= Early years: 1904–1950 =

The organization traces its roots to 1904, when representatives of the Broadway theaters working with New York publicists organized the Press Agents' Association to exchange lists of people who were fraudulently receiving complimentary passes to shows. The group regularly met at Browne's Chop House.[http://www.friarsclub.com/friars_story.htm The Story of the Friars] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025025010/http://www.friarsclub.com/friars_story.htm |date=October 25, 2008 }} Friars Club. Shortly thereafter it began its tribute dinners to theatrical celebrities, the first being Clyde Fitch. The impresario Oscar Hammerstein was roasted in 1908, the year in which the Friars moved into a clubhouse at 107 West 47th Street.

The first Friars Frolics were held in 1911, with Abbot George M. Cohan working with Will Rogers, Irving Berlin, who wrote "Alexander's Ragtime Band" for the event, and Victor Herbert. The money generated by the Frolics enabled them to purchase 106-108-110 West 48th Street. Under Abbot Cohan, they laid a cornerstone on the building in 1915. In 1924, Walter Donaldson wrote the music for "My Blue Heaven" one afternoon while waiting in the club for his turn at the billiard table.{{cite book| first=David| last=Ewen| title=All the Years of American Popular Music| location=Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey| publisher=Prentice-Hall| year=1977| page=226| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j0KWba_KFi0C&q=friar%27s+club+Donaldson| isbn=978-0130224422}}

Frederick F. Schrader is credited with suggesting "Friars" as the organization's name. Following the theme, their monthly newsletter was the Epistle.

In 1950, Sam Levenson and fellow comedian Joe E. Lewis were the first {{Clarify|reason=Oscar Hammerstein is mentioned as having been roasted in 1908. Perhaps he wasn't a member?|date=March 2025}} members of the New York Friars Club to be roasted. The club roasted a member every year since the inaugural roasting.{{cite book| last=Slade| first=Anthony| title=The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville| year=2012| publisher=University Press of Mississippi| isbn=978-1617032493| pages=197–198| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hu3nNSmRjZ0C}}

= Clubhouse era (1957–2024) =

The Friars Club moved into a permanent headquarters in 1957, in an English Renaissance mansion built for Speyer & Company investment banker Martin Erdmann by architects Alfredo S. G. Taylor and Levi in 1908.[http://www.friarsclub.com/Facilities/clubhouse_history.htm The History of The Clubhouse] Friars Club, Retrieved November 8, 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021094129/http://www.friarsclub.com/Facilities/clubhouse_history.htm |date=October 21, 2008 }} In 2013, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission proposed designating the Martin Erdmann House as a New York City landmark.{{Cite news |last=Gray |first=Christopher |date=September 12, 2013 |title=Friars Club Proposed for Landmark Status |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/realestate/landmarking-the-friars-club.html |access-date=April 12, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}} The clubhouse was designated as a landmark in November 2016.{{cite web |date=November 22, 2016 |title=Martin Erdmann House |url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2578.pdf |access-date=April 12, 2021 |publisher=New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission |page=1}}

Friars Club roasts were first televised in the late 1960s, first as part of the Kraft Music Hall series. From 1998 to 2002, Comedy Central broadcast the roasts.{{cite magazine |last1=Fox |first1=Jesse David |date=July 27, 2018 |title=The 20 Best Comedy Central Roast Sets Ever |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/08/15-best-comedy-central-roast-sets-ever.html |access-date=September 23, 2019 |journal=New York}} Comedy Central then began organizing its own annual roasts.

On June 30, 1988, the club approved Liza Minnelli, after she applied for regular membership, and after the club’s board of governors changed its constitution to allow female members.{{cite news |date=30 June 1988 |title=N.Y. Friars Admits First Women |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-30-mn-7983-story.html |access-date=18 September 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press}} The club’s board of governors also elected Barbara Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Eydie Gorme, Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Dinah Shore, Phyllis Diller and Martha Raye, to honorary membership.

File:Friars Club - William B. Williams Room.jpg Room, on the third floor of the Friars Club]]

== Financial issues and sale of clubhouse ==

In 2021, the Friar's Club trademark lapsed, and was subsequently cancelled.{{Cite web |title=PRAE OMNIA FRATERNITAS FRIARS CLUB Trademark - Registration Number 1578351 - Serial Number 73800332 :: Justia Trademarks |url=https://trademarks.justia.com/738/00/prae-omnia-fraternitas-friars-club-73800332.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=trademarks.justia.com |language=en}} In May 2023, it was reported that the club was facing foreclosure on the Martin Erdmann House due to a building flood, the COVID-19 pandemic, and financial irregularities.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-20 |title=Friars Club Faces Foreclosure |url=https://therealdeal.com/national/2023/05/20/iconic-friars-club-faces-foreclosure/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=The Real Deal |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Julia |date=2023-05-15 |title=After Decades of Drinks and Laughs, Is It Last Call at the Friars Club? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/arts/friars-club-last-call.html |access-date=2023-10-07 |issn=0362-4331}} In October 2024, a foreclosure auction was scheduled for the building;{{Cite web |last=Larsen |first=Keith |date=2024-10-24 |title=Famed midtown Friar's Club heads to foreclosure sale |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/10/24/famed-friars-club-heads-to-foreclosure/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=The Real Deal |language=en}} the auction was later rescheduled for November.{{cite web | last=Durso | first=Isabelle | title=Friars Club Up for Sale After Facing Foreclosure Over $13M Loan | website=Commercial Observer | date=October 24, 2024 | url=https://commercialobserver.com/2024/10/friars-club-sale-foreclosure-loan/ | access-date=December 11, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Larsen | first=Keith | title=Famed midtown Friar's Club heads to foreclosure sale | website=The Real Deal | date=October 24, 2024 | url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/10/24/famed-friars-club-heads-to-foreclosure/ | access-date=December 11, 2024}} The Erdmann House was sold that December for $17.2 million.{{cite web | last=Jacobs | first=Julia | title=Lights Dim on the Friars Club as Landmark Home Is Sold in Foreclosure | website=The New York Times | date=December 10, 2024 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/10/arts/friars-club-home-sold-foreclosure.html | access-date=December 11, 2024}}

Organization

Officers of the club, as distinct from the Friars Foundation,[http://www.friarsclub.com/Foundation/officers_directors.htm 2008 Friars Foundation Officers & Directors] Friars Club. are given monastic titles:{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5tczbgNKc6MC&pg=PA9| page=9| title=The Friars Club Encyclopedia of Jokes| editor=H. Aaron Cohl | publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal| year=1997| isbn=978-1884822636}} In 2006, Larry King was the dean, Freddie Roman was the Dean Emeritus. Jerry Lewis was the Abbot, named during a roast in New York City. Previous abbots have included Alan King, Frank Sinatra, Ed Sullivan and George M. Cohan.{{cite magazine| last1=Boston| first1=Nicholas| title=Jerry Lewis Roasted Again; An Abbot Amongst Friars!| url=http://observer.com/2006/06/jerry-lewis-roasted-again-an-abbot-amongst-friars/| journal=Observer| access-date=October 1, 2016| date=June 19, 2006}}

Friars, Lambs, Players

In the 1960s, the Friars Club, the Lambs Club, and The Players were often confused. The columnist Earl Wilson put it this way in 1964: "Long ago a New Yorker asked the difference between the Lambs, Friars, and Players, since the membership was, at the time, predominantly from Broadway." It was left to "a wit believed to have been George S. Kaufman" to draw the distinction: "The Players are gentlemen trying to be actors, the Lambs are actors trying to be gentlemen, and the Friars are neither trying to be both."{{cite book| last=Wilson| first=Earl| title=Earl Wilson's New York| publisher=Simon & Schuster| year=1964| location=New York| pages=49–50}}

List of roasts

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In popular media

In 1999, Cinemax aired Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club{{cite web |title=Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/465735/let-me-in-i-hear-laughter-a-salute-to-the-friars |website=tcmdb |publisher=tcm.com |access-date=18 September 2023 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Let Me In, I Hear Laughter |url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/reviews/let-me-in-i-hear-laughter-1117778659/ |website=Variety |access-date=18 September 2023 |date=February 8, 2000}} directed by Dean Ward.{{cite news |title=Why Documenting the Friars Club on Videotape Proved to Be No Joke |url=https://www.documentary.org/feature/why-documenting-friars-club-videotape-proved-be-no-joke |access-date=18 September 2023 |work=International Documentary Association |date=1 March 2000 |language=en}} It featured previously unseen footage of roasts and interviews with Friars such as Milton Berle, Buddy Hackett, Sid Caesar, Steve Allen, Henny Youngman, Jeffrey Ross, Larry King, Ed McMahon, and Phyllis Diller.{{cite magazine| title=Cinemax's salute to the Friars Club offers a glimpse of what it was like to be there when the great entertainers entertained themselves.| url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/cinemaxs-salute-to-the-friars-club-offers-a-glimpse-of-what-it-was-like-to-be-there-when-the-great-entertainers-entertained-themselves/Content?oid=1387486| last=Dale| first=Don| date=January 1, 1980| journal=Style Weekly| access-date=September 23, 2019}}{{cite web| title=Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club| url=https://www.amazon.com/Let-Me-In-Hear-Laughter/dp/B0001WTUDU| website=Amazon| date=March 23, 2004}} It revealed that after comic Parkyakarkus (Harry Einstein) collapsed and died at a 1958 roast for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, singer Tony Martin decided to sing "There's No Tomorrow" while Einstein was being carried off stage.

Events

= Stand-up comedy competition =

In 2008, the Friars Club began a stand-up comedy competition, "So You Think You Can Roast!?".{{cite magazine|last1=Bierly| first1=Mandi| title=On the Scene: Tom Cruise Helps Roast Matt Lauer!| url=https://www.ew.com/article/2008/10/25/matt-lauer-tom| magazine=Entertainment Weekly| access-date=November 22, 2016| date=October 25, 2008}} On October 24 of that year, the winner performed at the Friars Club roast of Matt Lauer.

= Friars Club Comedy Film Festival =

The inaugural Friars Club Comedy Film Festival was held in September 2009, opening with the American premiere of the Coen Brothers' Academy Award–nominated film, A Serious Man. {{cite magazine |last=Love |first=Matthew |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/comedy/the-friars-clubs-new-relevant-comedy-contest |title=The Friars Club's New, Relevant Comedy Contest |magazine=Time Out New York |date=June 14, 2010 |access-date=June 30, 2013}} Other festival highlights include screenings of Christopher Morris’s Four Lions, and the Oscar-winning short God of Love.{{cite press release |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/friars-club-comedy-film-festival-announces-2010-lineup-102796619.html |title=Friars Club Comedy Film Festival Announces 2010 Lineup |publisher=Friars Club |date=September 13, 2010 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |via=PR Newswire}} In 2011, Jerry Lewis and Russel Simmons presented a comedy achievement award to Brett Ratner.{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/brett-ratner-to-be-honored-at-friars-fest-1118043741/ |title=Brett Ratner to be honored at Friars fest |newspaper=Variety |date=October 3, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}

In 2012, the festival hosted America Ferrera and David Cross, stars of the opening film It's a Disaster. According to The Wall Street Journal, "The festival has quietly become one of the city's most sharply curated cinema gatherings. It takes the funny business seriously."{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204425904578074901837183708 |title=Serving Up Cinema Laughs from the Friar |work=The Wall Street Journal |last=Dollar |first=Steve |date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20040618052035/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/15/entertainment/main623205.shtml 100 Years Of Laughs: Comedians Yuk It Up For Friars Club Centennial], 15 June 2004 CBS News

{{Midtown North, Manhattan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Roast (comedy)

Category:1904 establishments in New York City

Category:Organizations established in 1904

Category:Festival organizations in North America

Category:Film festivals in New York City

Category:Midtown Manhattan

Category:New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan

Category:Defunct clubs and societies in New York (state)

Category:Arts organizations disestablished in the 2020s

Category:Organizations disestablished in 2024

Category:Defunct gentlemen's clubs in New York City