Bohemian Club

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The Bohemian Club (founded in 1872) is a private men's art club based in San Francisco, California, with a membership of many prominent local and global leaders. In its diverse membership, and ranging from artists and musicians to leading businessmen, it was modelled on the prominent Century Club, based in New York.

The club was originally formed exclusively by journalists, who lamented the lack of art and culture in the post-gold rush San Francisco, and wanted to capture something of "la vie boheme" which had become popularized among the avant garde of the United States at the time. It was quickly apparent that the group needed to relax its rules for membership, and start permitting some people with no artistic talent but with major financial resources to join. Pretty soon, the "bohemian" writers were on their way out and the wealthy and powerful were in control of the club—which remains true today. The membership lists are private and only a few people outside of the club have ever seen them. Some prominent figures are given honorary membership only, Richard Nixon and William Randolph Hearst being two notable examples.

Members include some U.S. presidents (usually before they are elected to office), many cabinet officials, and CEOs of large corporations, including major financial institutions. Major military contractors, oil companies, banks (including the Federal Reserve), utilities, and national media have high-ranking officials as club members or guests. Many members are, or have been, on the board of directors of several of these corporations. However, artists and lovers of art are still among the most active members of the club and the Club's bylaws still require that there be a certain number of artists, writers, and other academics.

Every year the club hosts an annual two week camp at Bohemian Grove, which is notable for its illustrious guest list and its eclectic Cremation of Care ceremony involving a mock human sacrifice at the feet of a forty-foot stone owl. In addition to that ritual, there are also two outdoor performances, often with elaborate set design and orchestral accompaniment. The more elaborate of the two is called the High Jinx, the less elaborate and expensive of the two is the Low Jinx. More often than not, the productions are original creations of the "Talent" members, and the stage crew is composed of the regular members; corporate CEOs, bank presidents, politicians, etc. The club's motto, "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here", is featured in the club's logo, around a stern-looking owl.

[edit] See also

Bohemian Grove for a more detailed description of the campout
The book PiHKAL by Ann & Alexander Shulgin includes a description of some activities of one "Shura Borodin" (presumably Alexander Shulgin) as a member of the "Owl Club" (presumably the Bohemian Club).