Bohemian Club

From The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom)

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. 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 US at the time. It was quickly apparent that the group needed to relax its rules for membership, and start permiting some people with no artistic talent but with money to join. The membership lists are private and only a few people outside of the club have ever seen them. 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. 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.

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Members

As noted, membership lists are private, and only a few people outside of the Club have ever had access to some of them. Therefore, most ideas about membership are entirely speculative. Many people are also invited to the two week camp-out as guests, but are not members.

  • George W. Bush, President of the United States
  • William Jefferson Clinton, Former President
  • Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State
  • Horace M. Albright, author
  • George H.W. Bush, Former President
  • Clint Eastwood, actor
  • Charles Elachi, Director of JPL
  • Arnold Genthe, photographer
  • Mickey Hart, musician
  • S. I. Hayakawa, Senator
  • William D. Houser
  • Jack R. Howard
  • Barbour Lathrop, journalist and world traveler
  • Jack London
  • Xavier Martinez
  • Frank J. McCourt, Senator
  • Michael Mondavi, former Vice-President of Robert Mondavi Corp.
  • Robert Mondavi
  • Steve Miller, musician
  • Patrick Oliphant, artist
  • Sean O'Keefe, NASA's 10th Administrator
  • Paul Pelosi
  • James D. Phelan, First National Bank, the Mutual Savings Bank, Bank of Santa Cruz County, Mayor of San Francisco for three two-year terms beginning in 1897, Senator
  • David Charles Jones, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Glenn Seaborg, scientist
  • Alexander Shulgin, psychedelic researcher and developer
  • George Shultz
  • Mark Twain, journalist and author
  • Carleton E. Watkins, photographer
  • Bob Weir, musician
  • Herman Wouk, writer
  • Jimmy Buffett, musician
  • Walter E. Hussman, Jr., Publisher, Arkansas Democrat Gazette
  • David Gergen, former Presidential advisor
  • Dick Celeste, former Govenor Ohio, President Colorado College
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External links

--MAD 25 June 06

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