Barney's Beanery is a famous restaurant and bar located in West Hollywood, California. It was founded by John "Barney" Anthony in 1920 along Route 66, now Santa Monica Boulevard, State Route 2, that connects Hollywood and the beach. From the beginning it became a regular stopping point for people from all walks of life, including artists, writers, and other celebrities. Old Hollywood actors like Clara Bow, John Barrymore, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, and Lou Costello were regulars in their days. During Prohibition unincoporated West Hollywood was relatively wet. By the 1960s the neighboring Sunset Strip had become an important music center and Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin became regulars. Poet Charles Bukowski lurked around, as did artists Ed Kienholz and Ed Ruscha. Kienholz even created a sculpture piece that he titled "The Beanery" and unveiled in the restaurant parking lot.

Sometime in the 1940s a sign appeared among the clutter of the wall that said "FAGOTS- STAY OUT" [sic]. It was so offensive to local homosexuals that Life magazine did an article on opposition to the sign in 1964, which included a photograph of the owner steadfastly holding on to it. The owner passed away in 1968, and efforts continued to have the sign removed. The Gay Liberation Front organized a picket of the restaurant on February 7th, 1970 to push for its removal. Finally, it came down quietly in the 1970s.

External links

• Official website