The Masquers Club - Official Website - Home Page | "The Masquers is the oldest actors organization on the West Coast, founded 1925"

Scene from The Engineer's Daughter; or, Iron Minnie's Revenge (1932)

Did you know . . .
that the Masquers Club made movies? Author and Film Historian, Leonard Maltin, considers the Masquers' two-reelers to be some of the best comedy shorts ever made. Read about the films at IMDB.

Several Masquers Club titles are available to buy on DVD at Encore Home Video. The first two people to identify the actors in the photo above will win one!

the Official Website of The Historic Masquers Club

"A social sanctuary for actors and the theatrically inclined."

In 1925, eight actors were dedicated to a dream. Expatriated from their Broadway haunts by constant film commitments, they wanted to form a club here in Hollywood; a private place of rendezvous, where they could fraternize at any time.

Their first organizational powwow was held at the home of Robert Edeson on April 19th.

"This shall be a theatrical club of love, loyalty, and laughter!" finalized Edeson. Then, proposing a toast, he declared, "To the Masquers! We Laugh to Win!"

The first general meeting and election of officers was held on May 25th, and that date became the official birthday of The Masquers.

The club, in a converted house at Yucca and McCadden Streets, was formally opened on June lst of the same year - and the rest is Hollywood history.

...from the 1979 Ginger Rogers Dinner program
by Joe Pasternak, Harlequin 1970-1979

Fast forward to the year 2002..... The Masquers was on the verge of being hit by the virtual wrecking ball. The few remaining die-hard members from the club's glory days had finally grown weary of trying to keep the old club alive. Their committment was of a classic Masquers variety, and, ultimately, their weariness earned and justified. Under the direction of the late actor Anthony Caruso (Harlequin 1979-2002), this squad of men and women had insisted that the club not become a distant memory of Hollywood lore, but that it remain a thriving entity of Hollywood-present, a continued place of refuge and fraternity for actors and the theatrically inclined.

But the times had changed since the club's salad days, and the very people that it once served (and served like no other!) had changed too.

No longer was it culturally compelling to gather in-person to support one another. No longer was it popular to nurture a sense of community among the acting population as once had been the exquisite norm. But the Masquers, as only the Masquers would, said a collective "No!" to the cold facts of this new time, and continued to meet and support one another for more than 20 years after its own Ice Age had begun. The club met even when there was no longer a clubhouse at which to gather. It met even when membership numbered under 20, then under 15, then..... The spirit of the Masquers continued to manifest itself as "a club founded on love", focusing on all-matters-Masquers (which you will learn about as you delve more into this Website). We continued to "Laugh To Win."

But a time came when even the most ardent, never-say-die members had to ask, "Does anyone care anymore?" And a time came when the answer seemed to be inescapably "no." However, the Masquers spirit is bigger than the sum of its parts, and, only moments before its seemingly timely death, it was rescued from that fate in order to be transformed into primarily a historical society cut from the same cloth as the old club.

Now, in its new incarnation, I am deeply honored to be the custodian of this historic Hollywood organization, and will see to it that the club is equipped to serve the needs of generations --- of actors and film historians --- to come, whatever those needs may be, while always remaining, as our co-founder Robert Edeson said so plainly, "a Club of love and loyalty and laughter."

William Malin, Harlequin 2002-

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ACTOR JOHN BLISS DIES AT AGE 77
Featured in films with George Clooney, John Malkovich and many others

Actor John William Bliss, died Thursday evening, February 28th of complications related to an abdominal aneurysm.

A film, television and stage veteran, John Bliss' career highlights included roles in the Coen Brothers film, "Intolerable Cruelty" with George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Terry Zwigoff's "Art School Confidential" with John Malkovich and Angelica Huston, Elia Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd", Arthur Penn's "The Miracle Worker" and many others. He also starred in the multi-award winning film, "Trade Day". Bliss is also remembered from his appearance in the cult horror film, "The Thing with Two Heads" starring Ray Milland. In recent years, John Bliss revived his acting career and became a favorite with children and teens with recurring television roles in The Disney Channel's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" and "Out of Jimmy's Head" on the Cartoon Network. He was also a recurring character (Mr. Pendleton) on "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" and had numerous roles on series such as "My Name is Earl", "Joey", "Father Murphy" and "Dallas".

John Bliss was also active in Los Angeles stage productions, most notably as a twenty-year company member of Peggy Webber's California Artists Radio Theatre (CART), heard over NPR and XM Radio. He performed on programs with Lynn Redgrave, David Warner, Samantha Eggar, William Woodson, Rene Auberjunois, JoAnne Worley, Leslie Easterbrook, John Astin, and Kathleen Freeman. In one of his most recent appearances with CART Bliss was the lead in a radio production of Ray Bradbury's "The Man Upstairs" featuring William Windom and Beverly Garland.

A long-time member of the famed West Coast theatrical association, The Masquers Club, John Bliss performed (and caroused) with many of Hollywood's most elite actors.

John Bliss began his acting career as a child, touring in stage productions with his father and mother (also professional actors). As a young adult in New York, he appeared in live television dramas on "Studio One", "Playhouse 90" and the "Kraft Theatre".

A private celebration of the life of John Bliss is planned. For further information, contact The Masquers Club: +1 888-LAUGH2WIN (888-528-4429)

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KENNETH D. STRONG 1925-2011

Kenneth D. Strong, 85, passed away peacefully on August 16, 2011, in Honokaa, Hawaii. Ken was a Marine, an actor, and a physical therapist. After growing up on Staten Island, New York, Ken enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a 20mm-gunner aboard the U.S.S. Wisconsin in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he worked many jobs, including two memorable summers as a camp counselor for the Police Athletic League in the Adirondacks. He earned his degrees from Seton Hall University and The Mayo Clinic. He then headed west to Hollywood to pursue his love of acting (stage and television) and his career as a physical therapist. For decades, Ken and his family resided in the southern California coastal communities of San Pedro and Palos Verdes, before he and his wife retired to the Big Island of Hawaii. He was a lifelong athlete, and was active physically until he succumbed to cancer.

Ken could always be counted on to lead a rousing debate, be quick with a song, and share dramatic stories and readings. He was a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild, the Masquers Club and the Elks Club, and savored reunions with his classmates, shipmates and friends across the country. In 2004, he wrote and published an autobiography, recounting his many tales and adventures. Ken is survived by his wife, Sharon, their daughters Maria and Stacie, grandsons Peter and Zachary, as well as nephews John and Scott and niece Victoria. A memorial service will be held in Honokaa, and his ashes will be interred in Long Beach, California, at a future date. Donations in his memory may be made to the North Hawaii Hospice at http://northhawaiihospice.org/.

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