What Went Before? 6530/34 Sunset Blvd

I've written before about the restaurants that preceded the Cat & Fiddle on Sunset Blvd between Schrader and Las Palmas. It started life as the Mary Helen Tea Room, then the Gourmet restaurant and the polynesian restaurant Mouling. While looking through a Chamber of Commerce publication from 1927, I recently found some great renderings of the building as it was being built.



The popular actor Fred Thomson (husband of screenwriter Frances Marion) was the driving force behind this building, which was being built next door to the (then) Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. According to the Los Angeles Times, Thomson's Spanish shopping court and patio building (seen below) was patterned after Santa Barbara's De La Guerra Plaza.

Halloween in Los Angeles - 1920s Part Five

Halloween 1928 - While most Los Angeles restaurants and clubs entice patrons with 'gamboling hobgoblins', 'fun, frolic and noisemakers!' and a 'confetti dance at midnite' - one locale gave a thumbs up to bad taste. Cliff Dwellers Cafe on Beverly promised 'Squaws and braves go on warpath tonight. It will be a massacre!'. The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood held their annual 'Hallowe'en' party with all the 'ghosts, goblins and Jim cracks that go with an old fashioned Hallowe'en'. I'm still scratching my head on the 'Jim crack' reference. The definitions for Jim crack/gimcrack that I've found refer to cheap and showy objects of little or no use (the thesaurus lists: gawdy, tawdry, trashy, tacky and tasteless). I assumed the Roosevelt (which would host the first Academy Awards in May 1929) was a little classier than that but perhaps movie stars preferred to 'slum' in beautiful surroundings. More mischievous merriment included a group of about 80 school children hurling a supply of eight cases of tomatoes at motorists passing by the intersection of Fairfax and Melrose. Just off of Melrose in the 600 block of Kingsley Drive, there was a report of a hose inserted under the front door of a home and turned on. Neighbors hearing a noise investigated and found a flooded living room, the water was turned off and the police were called.


Halloween 1929 - Blossom Room at the Roosevelt Hotel classes things up finally. Their Halloween Frolic features the music of George Olsen and 'It' Girl Clara Bow in attendance to present a trophy to the winners of the dancing contest. The Elite features special menus for Halloween - stuffed filet of sole au vin blanc, broiled French lamb chops, veal Porterhouse saute, sirloin steak a la minute, prime ribs of beef au jus, etc. Frankly, the only Halloween-like thing on the menu looks like its orange sherbet. The hygienic Green Lantern Fountains (more on them later) went all out for their first Halloween, creating a special combination of vanilla and orange ice creams that when you slice it 'each serving shows the golden pumpkin center'. The day after Halloween saw Santa's elves descend on the toy department at The Broadway on Fourth and Hill. The children (still probably high on sugar) were told that 'Santa has been so busy getting his toys ready this year that he can't possibly reach Los Angeles before Thanksgiving Day, so he sent just hundreds of his little Merry Workers to look after things until he arrives.' This bit of news taught me two things.
1. That its not just a recent phenomenon that the public has been pushed into the Christmas season earlier in the year.
2. That Santa is perfectly capable of making all the toys himself and needs a little chatter-free time to gear up for the holidays.

R.I.P - Edith Carissimi of Musso & Frank Grill

The Los Angeles Times featured a nice obituary on Edith Carissimi, the 95-year-old restaurateur that (until late 2009) co-owned the legendary Musso & Frank Grill. AKA 'Musso Frank' the restaurant is the oldest in Hollywood, its roots date back to 1919. Edith married into the Grill's 'family'. The original owners, Frank Toulet and Joseph Musso, sold the business in 1926 to John Mosso and Joseph Carissimi (Edith's father-in-law). Joseph passed the reins to Edith's (second) husband Charles and Edith became co-manager upon Charles' death in 1969. She had a pretty amazing life!

*** On a related note, do yourself a favor and read the interesting story of the restaurant's earliest years (when it was known as Frank's Francois Cafe) on page 100 of Gregory Paul Williams' fascinating book The Story of Hollywood which was published in 2005.

R.I.P. - Fred Harvey restaurant in Hollywood

Driving by yesterday my eyes did not deceive me, they are tearing down the Hollywood location of the Fred Harvey restaurant. This space has also been known through the years as Crush Bar, Continental Club and Hogie Club. The Fred Harvey restaurant sprung to life in April of 1939 and the building remained (fairly) recognizable until this week. What a shame! Check out LAPL's photo from the glory days.

What Went Before? 1710 N. Las Palmas

During the mid-thirties 1710 N. Las Palmas was home to The Swing Club, an 'Exclusive Club for Members and Their Guests Only'. Prohibition was over but the place had a nasty habit of serving alcohol to undercover cops from the hours of 2am and 6am, they soon were subject to raids. In February 1938 the club's operator, H.S. 'Babe' Hensley, found himself on a list of 30 individuals that were deemed to have some knowledge of the 'vice and gambling situation in Los Angeles' by the Assembly Committee on Public Morals. He was in good company- the list also named (corrupt) Mayor Frank Shaw.

In May 1938 the 1710 Club opened at the same location, again with Babe Hensley as the operator or as he called himself 'Managing Director'. By mid-1939 Hensley had changed the name yet again, now it was Club 17. Club 17 had the same nasty habit as The Swing Club. At 2:30am on Tuesday, October 24, 1939, raiding officers found 150 after-hours customers at Club 17, nearly all had a bottle of liquor on their table. Management's latest idea to get around the 2am closing law was to 'sell' patrons a bottle of liquor shortly before 'closing'. Any liquor left in the bottle when the patrons actually decided to leave was subject to a cash refund or a trade ticket. The officers also happened to find a secret tunnel leading from the back of 1710 N, Las Palmas to the back entrance of a typewriter store which fronted on Hollywood Boulevard, a convenient exit during raids. Hensley's explanation for the tunnel was that he'd been told to get a Hollywood Blvd address if he wanted a liquor license from the State Board of Equalization. Club 17 was raided repeatedly in 1940 (as was the 41 Club, now at 7819 Beverly). With a new name, this time it was Manhattan Club, Babe Hensley gave it a go again at 1710 N. Las Palmas in mid- 1941. This incarnation of the club was raided because they were selling liquor without a license. Cut to 1943- we are back to The Swing Club again albeit with a new owner, William Berg. See the accompanying photo as an illustration of the fun that could be had at the Swing Club in December 1944.

Today, 1710 N. Las Palmas is known as Central.

What Went Before? 861 N. Seward

In 1932 this location was home to the Astrologist Club, a hangout for artists and movie studio folk. It was raided on February 11, 1932 in what the press dubbed the 'Peephole' case, because of the method of discovery. Prohibition agents trying to raid the club were denied entrance on their initial demand for entry. Following their second demand agents peeked through the miniature wickets of the thick door and claimed they saw the bartender smashing bottles (of 'apparent intoxicants') into the sink. On their third demand agents punched their fist through the wallboard above the transom and attempted to reach down to the bar. They gained entrance and found a small hidden supply of liquor behind a back bar ('evidence in a quantity sufficient for arrest'), leading to the arrest of five men. The building's owner J.C. McCormick sued for the return of his 'personal property', stating that the agents illegally entered the club without a search warrant. Amazingly in February 1933 United States District Judge W.P. James ordered the return of all evidence (including furniture and bar equipment) seized during the raid -adding that the Prohibition agents acted without cause and too hastily during the raid. The court also ruled not to pursue the prosecution of those arrested.

Happy Birthday Canter's!!

Canter's celebrated their big 6-0 on October 14 with .60 corned beef sandwiches. Mind you that's 60 years in the Fairfax district. They opened their first Los Angeles Canter's location(in Boyle Heights) in 1931, which would actually make them 77 in L.A. years.... Stop in, grab a bite and get a jar of pickles to take home.

What went before? 7566 Melrose Avenue

It's now Aardvark's but once upon a time (from April 1937 to June 1940) it was the Hawaiian Paradise or the Hawaiian Paradise Isle as it was known towards the end of its Polynesian run. The restaurant served both Continental and "Island' cuisine and (as of October 1937) also boasted a new all-glass roof 'for year-round starlight dancing'. The Hawaiian Paradise was owned by Rena Borzage (aka Mrs. Frank Borzage) and William 'Bill' Calhoun (according to one source he created what became known as the 'jam session'). In years between the tropical spot and the vintage clothing store, 7566 Melrose was also home to the first 'theater of dance', a gay adult film theater and an adult boutique/bookstore.

R.I.P. Historic restaurant spot at Hollywood & Vine

Once the site of Melody Lane, Hody's, Howard Johnsons and the 'New Brown Derby', 1707 N. Vine (at the corner of Hollywood & Vine) went up in smoke the morning of April 30, 2008. Thank goodness I had a snappy camera in my car when I heard the news that it was on fire and I was able to get a few photos. Supersleuth Chris Nichols posted a wonderful photographic history of the corner.

What went before? 6321 Hollywood Blvd

6321 Hollywood Blvd. Its now a tattered movie theater showing two flicks for $7 but it used to be the Brass Rail restaurant.

What went before? 6507 Sunset Blvd

I'd much rather enjoy myself at Whislyn's Hawaii than what it's become. What's there now? Club Lingerie.

Hoping for a haunting on the boulevard

Back when it was Bob Brooks (and later Ray Haller's) 7 Seas we could count on 'rain on the roof', Mai Tai at the bar, Leetag on the wall and Bing Crosby on stage. Soon this spot will promise $3.99 polyester shirts that were made in China and fall apart with one washing....
Zara is opening in this location 2008.

Enjoy L.A.- Eat Out More Often! Musso & Franks since 1919

How many Hollywood businesses that opened in 1919 are still open and thriving? One answer is Musso & Franks. If it's Tuesday it must be corned beef & cabbage....

Before it was the Cat and Fiddle (Part One)

Come on, you know the Cat and Fiddle! You wile away many a lovely day at 6530 Sunset Blvd. Perhaps you didn't know in it's previous life it was a Polynesian restaurant.

Before it was the Cat and Fiddle (Part Two)

Or that before that it was a Gourmet Restaurant.

Before it was the Cat and Fiddle (Part Three)

The establishment that started it all was the Mary Helen Tea Room, one of dozens of tea rooms in Los Angeles at the time. However this one counted costume designer Adrian and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce as it's neighbors.

The building is still there, but for how much longer?

CBS Columbia Square at 6121 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood opened its doors in 1938 and, as the West Coast headquarters of the Columbia Broadcasting System, was home to some of radio and televisions most popular shows. Stars that broadcast from here include Red Skeleton, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, George Burns and Gracie Allen. The adjacent Brittinghams restaurant must have been quite a fun place to dine.
Sadly the last radio station left CBS Columbia Square in 2005 and the last TV stations in the building followed in 2007. Check it out for yourself before its converted to condos.