From the book, Palm Springs Flavors.
"Palm Springs first became known as a healthy place to bring well-to-do invalids; the air was good for their chests and the hot springs were good for their aches and pains.
"Palm Springs first became known as a healthy place to bring well-to-do invalids; the air was good for their chests and the hot springs were good for their aches and pains.
But the future for hoteliers clearly lay in a more general appeal and by 1915 the hospitality business flourished, greatly helped by the movie industry. The desert was also an ideal place for filmmakers to come when they needed locations for stories set in Arabia, Mexico, or the Wild West. In the early 1920's many silent movies were shot here; William Powell, the urbane star of the Thin Man movies, first came to the desert playing cowboy villans in silent westerns. It was the Racquet Club, a tennis and social club founded by actor Ralph Bellamy and silent movie star, Charlie Farrell, that brought national attention. It opened in December 1934 with four tennis courts, a swimming pool, and- even more importantly- the Bamboo Bar, where many Hollywood stories began. There were no accomodations- bungalows were added later due to popular movie star demand.
Farrell, an enthusiastic tennis player, also liked to drink, as did most of the Racquet Club members. Bing Crosby, a club habitue', would happily sing for the crowd when asked, and used to add to his act by wandering through the audience with a bottle of Glenlivet in his hand, generously pouring the single malt into the glasses of the guests- no matter what they happened to be drinking. One local legend states the Bloody Mary was created here as a much needed hangover cure. Farrell is also reputed to have introduced Pimm's Cup to America after discovering the drink when filiming in England in 1937. The club held an annual Pimm's Cup tennis tournament: Ginger Rogers and her partner won the first mixed doubles, defeating the Gorgeous Gussie Moran and her partner.
Pimm's is generally served with sparkling lemonade or ginger ale; one part Pimm's to three parts lemonade or ginger ale. But in the Racquet Club tradition of high living and high alcohol consumption, try it with champagne:
Pimm's No. 1
Champagne
Strawberries
Pour Pimm's No. 1 into a champagne flute and top with chilled champagne. Garnish with slices of strawberry to enhance the fruit flavor and add to the festivity."
Farrell, an enthusiastic tennis player, also liked to drink, as did most of the Racquet Club members. Bing Crosby, a club habitue', would happily sing for the crowd when asked, and used to add to his act by wandering through the audience with a bottle of Glenlivet in his hand, generously pouring the single malt into the glasses of the guests- no matter what they happened to be drinking. One local legend states the Bloody Mary was created here as a much needed hangover cure. Farrell is also reputed to have introduced Pimm's Cup to America after discovering the drink when filiming in England in 1937. The club held an annual Pimm's Cup tennis tournament: Ginger Rogers and her partner won the first mixed doubles, defeating the Gorgeous Gussie Moran and her partner.
Pimm's is generally served with sparkling lemonade or ginger ale; one part Pimm's to three parts lemonade or ginger ale. But in the Racquet Club tradition of high living and high alcohol consumption, try it with champagne:
Pimm's No. 1
Champagne
Strawberries
Pour Pimm's No. 1 into a champagne flute and top with chilled champagne. Garnish with slices of strawberry to enhance the fruit flavor and add to the festivity."
--- Related Trivia: Ginger Rogers' winning tennis partner was Greg Bautzer, attorney to the stars. About a year ago there was an online auction of an old publicity photo of the two of them standing on the courts at The Racquet Club in their tennis togs, holding the "Pimm's Cup trophy." At the time, Ginger and Greg were seeing each other. Greg was handsome, smart and charming. And quite the ladies man. Joan Crawford wasn't quite finished with him when Ginger took over. Yes, a cat-fight resulted.
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