Blue Lotus

A nightclub in downtown Los Angeles, located on the border to Chinatown. Because of its location, the club is considered "mixed" territory, and so is one of the only social establishments in the city where people of all races may mix and mingle without trouble.

The owner of the club, Li Ping, is a noted Los Angeles attorney and reputed leader of the Hop Sing Tong.

The Blue Lotus is known for having the best house jazz band in the city, and often headlines notable musicians and singers. Bandleader Sid Stein worked for twenty years in the music industry prior to taking over at the Blue Lotus. His extensive contacts in the business provide the club with a variety of well-known performers.

The club is also famous for its signature cocktail, the Blue Lotus, which is a mixture of absinthe and "secret herbs and spices." The original recipe for this drink was lost in the 1930s. Attempts to duplicate it have been largely unsuccessful.

In 1932 the club caught fire and was closed for over two years. It re-opened in 1935 under new management and thrived in the 1940s in spite of (or more likely, because of) its reputation as a gangster hangout.

The Blue Lotus became a famous hangout for the Hollywood Rat Pack in the 1950s and featured performances from a number of rising vocal talents. Las Vegas promoters began haunting the club looking for the Next Big Thing. This practice continues in the 1960s, when the club has become known for booking avant-garde jazz artists and European musicians.

In March 1965 club owner Marty Ganz announced his intention of selling the club and retiring from the entertainment business.