The Cock’n Bull was an English pub that opened at 9170 Sunset Boulevard in 1937 and lasted for an impressive 50 years, closing in 1987. Perhaps their biggest claim to fame is that the Moscow Mule (vodka, ginger beer and lime juice) was invented there, which they dubbed “The Drink with the Velvet Kick.” It was within walking distance from the Garden of Allah and I read that residents Errol Flynn and F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as writers like Sinclair Lewis and Somerset Maugham would sit for hours at the bar which was always populated with an assortment of Hollywood agents and deal makers. The buffet was also an attraction, also included roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and Welsh Rarebit.
And to clear up the eternal “Welsh Rarebit” versus “Welsh Rabbit” question, this is the recipe that the Cock ‘N Bull used:
Hi Martin,
I’ve always thought the picture you have at the top, labelled here (and elsewhere on the internet) as the Cock n’ Bull, was incorrectly identified.
Now I have someone to whom I can report this suspicion.
Those three buildings, or structures with three roof lines, are on the south side of Sunset, east of Carol Drive.
They’re still there, at least on a current google drive-by. The one at the corner is 9130, the middle unmarked, the smallest (on the alley) is 9120.
I spent a great deal of my youth at The Club (as it was called by its habitués, including my father) and it’s been my understanding that it was always in its location in the middle of the block at 9170. In fact, the Club’s parking lot is still there at the corner of Sunset and Carol.
I celebrated by 21st birthday there in 1974. Among my guests were the actor Frank Ferguson, Gunsmoke writer Ron Bishop, and news legend, Bill Stout.
I bought as many relics as I could afford when they sold everything upon closing in September of 1987, and have been acquiring as much as I could in the last several years.
I have a bar in my home that is decorated with those sacred relics and in the style of the Club.
Your thoughts?
Hi John,
Now that I study the building more closely, I’m less sure than I was that it’s the same building. If you look at this image from Google Maps Streetview:
https://bit.ly/2SQAP4K
you can see that the building is similar-ish. Over the years, it could have undergone extensive renovation, as is normal for LA. But by the same token, the second photo in this post does look quite different. Far more boxy than the top photo and the Streetview one. Perhaps the original one was torn down and replaced by a new one that kinda sorta suggested what the original one was like?
If I may chip in, the building shown in the 1st picture of your post in, as John pointed out, 9130 Sunset Boulevard. It still stands pretty much exactly as it was on the picture.
Cock ‘n Bull was just a block over, 9170 Sunset Boulevard @ Cory Avenue. The restaurant wasn’t so much demolished as it was gutted and turned into the Jaguar dealership that still exists today.
There’s an old postcard I stumbled upon online that can be matched almost exactly with Google Street View. i invite you to compare both:
https://bit.ly/3kmX5Q7
vs.
https://goo.gl/maps/TfamVb2hiPELyQEY7
I hope that clarifies things. Cheers!
Hi Martin and feel free to chip in at any time! John and I had a lengthy discussion offline about this and you’re absolutely right. Turns out I’ve had the Cock ‘n Bull in the wrong location all this time!
Hello Martin,
I walk by the Hornburg Land Rover show room at
9176 Sunset blvd everyday and there is a plaque
Just next to the door that says that this was the
location of the Cock and Bull restaurant and I was
curious and did a google search and I landed on this
article and wanted to share my observations.
I sure wish destruction of so many Hollywood haunts
to make way for generic mini malls and white square
boxes would come to an end.
Andrew
I know that white square boxes are less expensive to build and probably cheaper to maintain on an ongoing basis, but they don’t add much to the general cityscape, do they? Especially when you factor in what they’re replacing.
Hi,
I’m not sure what you’re suggesting above. It looks to me like Hornburg used the existing front walls, now with showroom windows, remodeled the rooflines, and kept the porte cochere without considerable redesign of the bones and lines. Remember, in LA, it’s cheaper to get a permit to remodel than to rebuild.
Your second picture of the building shows the same structural lines as those found in the pix from the ’70s
It’s apparent to me that the 9130 and 9120 buildings (top picture) don’t resemble the old C&B building (your second picture) at all.
But mostly, the three buildings extending east from the corner of Carol are still there and structurally unchanged, and are those in your top picture.
As for me, I live in Thousand Oaks and haven’t gone anywhere east of the 405 since I retired from the DA’s office last November.
If there’s a way to send you pix, I’ll send you a photo of the Cock n’ Bull tribute bar in my home.
BTW, any ideas what happened to all of the C&B memorial plaques to regulars like Frank Ferguson, Harvey Lembeck, et al. after the Club closed and the regulars moved to Scandia?
Bill Stout made a tape of all the LA coverage of the closing of the Club and sent it to my dad, who’d moved to Ka’anapali in ’76. I saved it when Dad died.
None of the C&B people are left, except maybe Robert Fuller, though I never met him there.
Don’t care what anyone says, LA’s a damn small town when you get right down to it.
Yes, Hornburg jaguar bought the entire building for their offices and showcase and now it’s become a historical building.
This was the ONLY ORIGINAL COCK’BULL, there are many who have stolen the name however they’re totally difficult!!!
Our memorabilia was sold in a private auction to our regular customers.
There are a lot of falsehoods being passed around.
I am the remaining Daughter of the founder, Jack Morgan.
Joan Morgan Candy
Hi John,
I have a small book entitled Cock n Bull first Thirty Years, which is a directory of all the celebrity patrons who signed the guestbook.
If you are interested I would like to give it to you for your collection.
I live in Santa Monica. I could either meet you or mail it to you.
Please let me know if interested or have any questions
Thanks,
Kim
Joan,
Very nice that pictures of the Cock’Bull are available, enjoyed looking.
At the risk of going off topic, your post led me to open up my Genealogy program to find that we are second cousins from the Cleveland side. Minnie (Rietz) Cleveland was my Great-aunt.
Small world it is.
Regards,
Chuck
Hi Chuck, and thanks for stopping by. I’m not familiar with that name – Minnie (Rietz) Cleveland. Can you tell us who she was?
Hi Joan,
Uh-oh, your comment gives me pause. I hope my information is correct.
Your father John A. Morgan Jr. (1899-1974) was married to Phyllis Isabel Cleveland. (1904-1976)
Her mother, was Wilhelmine “minnie” Rietz. Phyllis’ father was Alfred E. Cleveland (1871-1933)
sick that all of the recipes online for Welsh Rarebit suggest English muffins under that fabulous cheese sauce, instead of the crumpets used at the former Los Angeles Cock n Bull
I absolutely agree!
Hi all,
I have in my possession a small book which is a directory or guestbook of “faithful” , famous patrons. It is entiltled Cock n Bull First thirty Years.
My father left it to me and I wish to pass it on to those who can better appreciate this piece of history.
Please contact me if interested in acquiring it.
As a kid, parents took us there (before or after trips to Beverly Park perhaps?) Dad always ordered a Bloody Mary (or two, or three.) After the first visit to buffet I’d just pile bangers, bacon and Welsh rarebit/crumpets the next two rounds which is why I was a chubby outcast then and now have heart calcification of 90%. But quite possibly worth it. Can still remember the vibe of that place and the taste of the food to this day.
Thanks for stopping by, Roger. A number of people have told me they have very clear memories of that place. It sure must have been something.
For what it’s worth, this loopnet.com’s listing of 9176 Sunset (The former Jaguar dealership) reports that the building was built in 1929. In related news, the entire structure is slated to be torn down to put up an office high rise.
https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/9176-W-Sunset-Blvd-West-Hollywood-CA/14608547/
Thanks, Dan!
I was the floor manager/Hostess at the Cock n Bull- 1981-1984. John Morgan was the owner. My memories are incredible of working there & all the famous regulars I knew. One of the best times was the wake held there for the legendary director Sam Peckinpah.
Oh wow! Thanks for stopping by, Melanie!
Great article! I wondered if you had a higher resolution version of that first photo. I think that might be my Eldorado in front. It looks exactly like it. I lived just down the street at Sunset and La Cienega in those days.
Hi Carl, I’m sorry but I don’t have a higher res of that one. HollywoodPhotographs.com might.
Hi Carl,
Alison Martino, daughter of crooner Al Martino, has an LA history blog, which includes C&B history and photos.
She has the photo and a caption concerning the Caddie.
Jack Webb lived a block away on Doheny at the Towers. Webb’s people verified that it was Webb’s car.
He was a daily patron at the Club. See his imbd for some more C&B trivia.
Very cool. I love her blog too. Looks like Jack Webb had the same taste in Cadillacs!