The former Ciro’s nightclub now known as It’s Boss, 8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, 1967

The former Ciro's nightclub now known as It's Boss, 8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, 1967My focus on vintage Los Angeles peters out at the end of the 1950s, the twilight years of the studio system era. And so it came as a surprise (to me, at least) to learn that Ciro’s, which from 1940 to 1957 was one of the premier nightclubs in L.A., later became known as It’s Boss, pictured here in 1967, when Lovin Spoonful were playing. In 1972, it became a stand-up comedy venue called The Comedy Store, which it still is, and which means it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

This is how that building looked in November 2021:

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24 responses to “The former Ciro’s nightclub now known as It’s Boss, 8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, 1967”

  1. John says:

    I hate it! Why do people do this ? They call this progress? A black tacky looking building. No class in Hollywood anymore that is for sure.

  2. Al Donnelly says:

    Was the first image taken with a Polaroid Land Camera? The detail along the left borders just kind of disintegrates in the way those snaps often did. Saw Jay Leno here when he was still considered a guest, not a host. Still amazed that they somehow could get so many people into a building that looks tiny in exterior views. (Objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear.) And yes, Jay was hilarious in those days.

  3. Bill Wolfe says:

    I’d pay a lot of money to see the Lovin’ Spoonful’s show that’s listed on that marquee.

    • John says:

      I would rather have heard Nat King Cole when it was Ciro’s, but will admit I did like the Spoonful’s. Just wish they would have keep the beauty of when it was Ciro’s.

  4. Greg Tully says:

    Our Band The New Generation was the house band at It’s Boss in 1965 -66 we took over from the Bobby Fuller Four
    We played with bands like “Love” Dino Desi and Billy, and many others
    So much excitement, all the people just having fun.
    For a 16 year old kid musician, it was heaven.

    • All that and you were only 16? I’d have thought it would’ve been heaven no matter what your age!

      • joe cholik says:

        We were in the Whisky in66…age limit 15 1/2

        • Greg Tully says:

          Yes Joe
          We actually first played in Hollywood at the Troubadour in November 1964 I think
          We opened for Laura Nero and Lenny Bruce went on after us
          We were then called the King Bees
          We became the house band first at the Sea Witch on Sunset Bl. The we became the house band at Pandora’s box in 1965 before the Doors Played there
          Then we took the gig as house band at Its Boss where we changed our name to The New Generation we took the gig from The Bobby Fuller Four
          After that we became the house band at Dave Hulls Hullabaloo later called the Aquarius Theater you can confirm with Rodney Bingonheimer who we helped to introduce him to the church in Pasadena KPPC (Pasadena Prespaterian Church ) later called KROC
          We were just too young and liked playing better than being famous
          Af

    • leaettea geary says:

      Did you ever play for a James Brown impersonator by the name of JIm ? Saw Dick Dales & the Delltones there about 65

      • Greg Tully says:

        Hi
        I don’t remember a Jim James Brown impersonator
        Our first gig in Hollywood was at the Troubadour opening for Laura Nero and
        Lenny Bruce in 1964 I was 15 that got us a gig at The Sea Witch on Sunset Blvd down the street from the Trip where the Byrds were playing
        Just a note our band had played at Pandora’s Box in late 1964 to early 65 as the King bees
        Changed our name to the New Generation and got the gig at Its Boss
        After that we went to Dave Hulls Hullabaloo (later called the Aquarius Theatre)
        We got signed to Capitol, Nick Venet was our producer
        Our rhythm guitarist Ira’s brother was Eliot’s Ingber of the mothers we got to open for them at a few gigs and the first love in at Elysian Park
        And go the the first live recordings of Freak Out At Verve Records
        We went no where and broke up in 67
        Just very lucky to have enjoyed the happy times and great memories

    • Helaine Depp says:

      Hi Greg, it’s so good to see people who actual remember and went to It’s Boss! I have a question, though. I’m pretty sure that The Regents were the house band there. Did it depend on what year it was? Did you take over for them? Did they take over for you?

      • Greg Tully says:

        Hello and great to have someone still around from our Rock Out Days
        We first played at Its Boss opening for the Bobby Fuller Four
        We took their place as house band when the Freaks all came to dance to our music
        We played there with the bands “Love’ Dino Desi and Billy
        To name a few
        I don’t ever remember the band called the Regents so it must have been after we moved on to The Hullabaloo Club
        If you look up the weekend of the Riots on Sunset strip
        We were playing that weekend at its Boss
        All the bands would gather at The Omnibus coffee house to jam after the gigs
        Later we all hung out at Canters before going home
        So much going on then it was like a real movie

  5. A R Guzman says:

    I think we saw Bobby Fuller Four at It’s Boss. Didn’t Sonny and Cher own the place at some point?

    • Greg Tully says:

      When we played there most of 1966 Sonny and Cher were just beginning to take off
      In fact their bodyguard Buddy Winfield was a good friend of mine.
      He stood close to 7 feet tall and was also from our area around Pasadena
      Known as La Canada
      I do remember Sonny and Cher coming to hear us play at the Hullabaloo later known as the Aquarius Theater
      The Palace Guards the other house band played I got u babe for them.
      B
      Made them laugh

    • Greg Tully says:

      When we played there most of 1966 Sonny and Cher were just beginning to take off
      In fact their bodyguard Buddy Winfield was a good friend of mine.
      He stood close to 7 feet tall and was also from our area around Pasadena
      Known as La Canada
      I do remember Sonny and Cher coming to hear us play at the Hullabaloo later known as the Aquarius Theater
      The Palace Guards the other house band played I got u babe for them.

      Made them laugh

  6. Eileen Fridkin says:

    Did sonny and Cher also play there in 1967? Because I would swear I saw them there but when I’m reading always says they were there in 1966. Do we know if they played there or visited there in 1967?

  7. Craig Boyd says:

    The Regents was the house band at It’s Boss from June 1965 (when the club opened) to September of 1966 when the band left.

  8. Adrienne says:

    What a blast from the past. I saw Ian Whitcomb (“You Turn Me On”) at It’s Boss in 1966 with my high school friends. One of the best nights of my young life.

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