The Lambs, Inc. is a social club in New York City for actors, songwriters, and others involved in the theatre. It is America's oldest theatrical organization. "The Lambs" is a registered trademark of The Lambs, Inc.; and the club has been commonly referred to as The Lambs Club and The Lambs Theater since 1874.
History
In 1868 The Lambs was founded in London by actors led by John Hare, the first Shepherd, looking to socialize with like-minded people. Several of those, most notably Henry James Montague, came to the United States and formed The Lambs of New York during Christmas week of 1874. It was incorporated in 1877 in New York City. Shortly afterward the London Lambs closed. The club's name honors the essayist Charles Lamb and his sister Mary, who during the early 19th century played host to actors and literati at their famed salon in London. In 1924 they celebrated their golden jubilee at the Earl Carroll Theatre. The Lambs, the New York Friars' Club and The Players in New York are often confused. In 1964 long-time syndicated columnist Earl Wilson put it this way: "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."
1976: Current: 3 West Club, 3 West 51st Street, 5th Floor
128 West 44th Street
The Lambs has had many Manhattan homes since 1874, beginning with Delmonico's Restaurant in Union Square. Then in 1875 they met at the Maison Doree on the south side of 14th St. opposite Union Square; 1876–77 next to Wallack's theater at 848 Broadway; 1877–78 at the Union Square Hotel, 6 Union Square; 1879 within a brownstone at 19 East 16th St.; 1880–91 at a Brownstone at 34 West 26th St.; 1891 at the Gilsey House, 1200 Broadway; 1892 at 8 West 29th St.; 1893–96 at 26 West 31st St.; 1897–1905 at 70 West 36th St., what was formerly and thereafter Keen's Chophouse remodeled by Stanford White to be a clubhouse; in 1905 at 128–130 West 44th St., in a house designed by Stanford White, then doubled in size in 1915. Until 1974 the Club remained at the building at 128 West 44th St. The building was also designed by Stanford White, and was erected in 1904-1905; it expanded in 1915 to include 132 West 44th St. When the club relocated to its current nine-story quarters at 3 West 51st St. adjacent to Rockefeller Center, it sold its own quarters to the Church of the Nazarene which intended to use the old building as a mission in Times Square. The church leased part of the building for what would become the Off BroadwayLamb's Theatre which is not related to the Club except for the name of the building. The building was designated a New York City Landmark in September 1974; and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1982. In 2006 the Church of the Nazarene sold the building and theatre, which has been renovated by the Chatwal Hotel. They operate a restaurant in the hotel and named it The Lambs Club, although there is no relation between the hotel and The Lambs other than what was left of the building.
Current activity
The Lambs, Inc., is still active in its nine-story quarters at 3 West 51st St. adjacent to Rockefeller Center. Its members have been instrumental in the formation of ASCAP, Actors' Equity and The Actors' Fund of America, Screen Actors Guild and in the merger that created SAG-AFTRA. Of the first 21 Council members of Actors' Equity, 20 were members of The Lambs. The meetings to form Actors' Equity were held at The Players, a club similar to The Lambs, because there were too many producer members of The Lambs. The Actors' strike of 1919 was settled in The Lambs, which was referred to as "Local One." Historically, The Lambs has been the spawning ground of plays, friendships and partnerships. Mark Twain Tonight and Stalag 17 were first performed at The Lambs prior to their national successes. Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe first met at The Lambs, often trying works-in-progress on their fellow Lambs. Loewe left a percentage of his share of Brigadoon royalties to The Lambs' Foundation. Since its founding, there have been more than 6,000 Lambs including Spencer Tracy, Fred Astaire, Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, Cecil B. DeMille, Eugene O’Neill, Eddie Cantor, John Philip Sousa, James Cagney, Conrad Nagel, Al Jolson, Fred Waring and Albert Hague, Edward G. Robinson, Sid Caesar and Cliff Robertson, Abe Vigoda and Ken Howard. Current members include Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners, Jim Dale, Matthew Broderick and Tony Award-winning conductor/arranger Donald Pippin. The Lambs' website contains a listing of its past members.
