The club was founded in 1935 by a group of British officers and consular members. The first president was the then-Consul General Francis Evans, later Sir Francis Evans (born in Belfast, Ireland). Many of the original members were actors in the movie industry, and included Sir C. Aubrey Smith, Gene Lockhart and Alan Mowbray. Meetings were held on the third Friday of the month at the Masquers Club in Hollywood. Strict British Officers Mess protocol was (and still is) observed and members were required to wear mess dress uniform or black tie dinner jacket, with miniatures. Ladies were not admitted to club as members until 1988.