The Lambs Club Could Be on its Last Leg

The Lambs is America's First Professional Theatrical Club, established in New York in 1874. As a social club, The Lambs is a social gathering place for entertainment industry and art professionals. Performers, directors, writers, artists and technicians of the entertainment industry gather to celebrate their commonality, in a place where they come to enjoy each others' company, and to display and hone their crafts in an atmosphere of creativity and support, and to nurture creative endeavors, boasting members such as Fred Astaire, Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, W.C. Fields and John Philip Sousa. The Lambs is also a historical society preserving and promoting a remarkable 140+ year history.

But after 142 years, according to Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, The Lambs may have finally met it's match. Their landlord, the Women's National Republican Club, is hiking the rent, and it's place in New York City's future is unknown.

"Our lease expires July 1, and the landlord has asked for a 50% increase," says Marc Baron, one of the "Shepherds" of The Lambs. That increase will force The Lambs to double their membership dues if they cannot find another space, likely causing them to lose members.

The Lambs Facebook page has alerted it's members of the issue, in which they've said, "Just so members know...I had a meeting with the WNRC president yesterday. She made it clear they do not want us to leave. I discussed many items with her, even offering her some solutions to some problems, which she liked. But the actual negotiation will be with the building manager...We're doing our best to make a reasonable agreement, and it will take time."