Readers Remember II

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES - BARS, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS & BUILDINGS - GOLDEN AGE MEMORIES BY READERS (AS WELL AS THE PRESENT!)

This is a continuation of the first page (got a little long). I get very nice letters (and on very rare occasions not so nice!) from people who view and read this site. Some are suggestions for places not yet on the site and others are people reminiscing about the golden era they experienced in Los Angeles and other cities. As I approach having most old places on the site already, the correspondence has shifted to mostly nostalgia for places gone by (as well as about 25 emails a day trying to sell me Viagra - quite an affront to one's pride!!!). Given that my website is a hobby and I have other more mundane pursuits in my life (like earning a living!!!), I can't post every letter I get. Selection for posting is completely random and arbitrary - it usually is determined by your letter arriving when I seem to have some time on my hands. Other great letters vanish because it was a bad period of time in my life (and my email program deletes them). I have no way of knowing whether the information below is accurate. I try to edit out anything negative (but may miss on occasion). In any event, I think you will find the comments interesting.

A very nice letter from John T:

I want to start out by saying how much I enjoy your site and how grateful I am for people like you who are out there who devote their energies to topics like snooping out LA's old time machines. I'm 21, but like you, I yearn for the simplicity and sincerity of times past, and as a result, I'm thoroughly fascinated with the 40s. I count Jo Stafford and Dick Haymes among my favorite musicians, and I love watching movies like "The Best Years of Our Lives". I'm proud to be an Angeleno (probably more for what it was than for what it is!), and your site has really helped me to gain a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the city I was born in and the area I call home. I really look forward to additions to your website, and thank you once again for helping me pursue one of my passions!

I was wondering if you've visited a place called Pecos Bill's BBQ on Victory Blvd. in Glendale (near Griffith Park and where the 134 meets the 5). It's been around since 1946 I believe, and they serve barbecue sandwiches. It's one of those "shack" places, and it certainly feels like a time machine to me (although there are some new additions, like a new Pepsi fridge), often times leading me to imagine how the place looked 60 years ago, when Victory was still a country road it seems like! It's near the old Glendale airport terminal building

Speaking of airports,- have you heard of a place called the Aero Market? It's further north on Victory Blvd., in the city of Burbank, and it's been around since 1945. (although pictures reveal the building to be a newer structure?) I haven't been here, but a local paper had an article on it recently. They say that it used to be a favorite hangout of pilots who were shuttling between the Grand Central Terminal (Glendale airport) and the Union Air Terminal (today's Burbank Airport), and the place is loaded with aviation memorabilia and pictures...apparantly, there's a lunch counter there, so it may just be the original place. I'm not sure if this is a time machine, but it sure is loaded with potential, and I will definitely visit once I have the time.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to create, operate, and maintain such a swell website, and good luck!

Carol G provides this info:

Cassell's Hamburgers moved from its original location when the owners of the property saw more $$$ in parking than they did in burgers. The original spot, on a corner a block west of the current location, featured a patio at the back of the restaurant with – if I remember correctly – a leafy roof over some old & splintery picnic tables. It attracted every pigeon in the Wilshire District, but what a great, funky outdoor spot!

Also – your ‘graph on Greenblatt’s on Sunset…did you know: 1) the corner location in the building (just east of the deli space) was for many years home to Ah Fong’s Cantonese Restaurant, a favorite of Sunset Strip habitués? And 2) Ah Fong’s came to be because of Groucho Marx. Am not sure if he actually owned the property but his office was on the 2nd floor in what is now The Laugh Factory, and Mr. Marx’s cook was a Chinese woman , encouraged (and backed) by Groucho to open a restaurant as a showcase for her Cantonese cookery.

Have spent many happy hours perusing your material – what a terrific job you’ve done (whoever you are) in putting it together.

Rob M. give us this update on Bahooka's:

Thanks for such a wonderful site!!
>
> We visit Bahooka about twice a year, but were a bit late getting in this year; last weekend was our first visit for 2007. Wanted to let you know that Bahooka will be celebrating their 40th anniversary in November (with a retro-price special running on three days therein; I'm a little fuzzy on details--you might check with them for specifics).
> I noticed something in your write-up, and thought you might like to hear that in honour of the anniversary, they have added tiki god glasses for the drinks! They come in brown or a sort of bright avocado green, and you can buy the drink in the glass to keep, or purchase the glasses separately.
> We noticed that our water came in (clear) glasses that were shaped like bamboo sections, which was new to us since our last visit. ("Look! More tiki!" We were delighted.) Also, you might want to add that the Jim Carrey picture "The Number 23" filmed there last year.
>
> I love this site and will be passing it along to friends. I will send you updates wherever possible. We are lucky enough to live within a short drive of many wonderful old places, and I do love the time machine aspect.
> Thank you for your enthusiasm! My partner and I firmly believe that, by and large, chain restaurants are for the birds. We have a hobby which causes us to daytrip across California, and the best part, really, is looking for cool local restaurants for dinner afterward. They are the best. I joke that one of my reasons for being on earth, is to keep local hole-in-the-wall eateries, in business.
>
> Best wishes from a fellow time-traveler--

Daniel B very kindly writes:

First, I should tell you how much I appreciate your site. It's truly my bible and has been for the past year or two. And I love all the additions you've recently made. You often write that when you take friends around sometimes they can't appreciate restaurants unless they have good food. I completely understand, my criteria are 1) history 2) architecture 3) interior 4) staff 5) clientele 6) food quality.

I digress, I’m always seeing places that I say "hey, I should email Jonathon and tell him about that place." So while I have these two on my mind I'm gonna mention them because I don't see them on your site anywhere. There's a great place in North Hollywood on Lankershiem called "Little Toni's." It's an Italian place, but it's more like an American Italian place complete with wood paneling and red booths. It reminds me of Tony's Bella Vista in Burbank. It's open until 2am, but it doesn't open until 5pm (I think). Actually, that just made me think of another place that's in my neighborhood (Los Feliz) called Palermo's on Vermont (and you can also check out "House of Pies" across the street too if you have time). They're both near the Desden Room. Palermo's is pretty fun, it has murals of Italy on the walls, Christmas lights, and neon by the coffee bar and lots of green, red, and white all over the place. Very American Italian. And the other place I was going to mention is a place that I just saw the other day called Steven's Steakhouse in Commerce. I haven't gone there yet, but it looks hopeful from the signs. There's a nice big sign on the street that resembles the sign for Chadney's in Burbank and a pretty descent neon sign closer to the restaurant. So I guess that's three restaurants (or technically four). None of them are mind blowing time machines, but all are worth checking out. Maybe worth about three Ts each (especially little toni's).

Oh, I just thought of another one, Lancers on Victory in Burbank has a nice big slanted roof. It looks great from the front (on victory across the street). And that's not too far from The Corol Café on burbank blvd. That place is great in a similar way. Roof isn't as good, but they might have a better sign and a descent counter near the entrance.

I'm sure there are others but I don't want to Jam up your inbox. Hope they're helpful, and again, thanks for all the work you do on this site; for people like me, there are few other resources that even compare to what you have done.

Charles H. recounts the history of the Kopper Kart (2167 W. Florence):

My family lived around the corner from this place (at night, we could see the neon sign from our back yard!). This was between 1967-1979

We moved away in 1979, but would occasionally come through the "old neighborhood" if we happened to be in LA (ball games, trips to LAX, etc.) By 1981 or 1982, the Kopper Kart no longer existed (it may have burned down). There was something else (a store front church?) in its place....

None of us ever went inside the place, it looked kind of run down by the time we came along anyway.

A search of the LA Times Historic Newspapers pulled up a number of interesting ads and stories. This seemed to be one of *the* places to be in the 1940's and 50's. The theme of the place was having drinks mixed tableside from a copper cart (hence the name). They served steaks, prime rib, seafood, and had live music (usually, Clarence Paris or Ted Campbell "nightly at the Hammond Organ" but occasional vocalists or other performers as well)

The Kopper Kart had closed for a short period in the early 1960's; a newspaper blurb says it was being reopened in 1964by Eddie Olson and Frank Lococo (formerly of the Cockatoo). It was sold sometime in late 1967 or early 1968, according to my records.
By then changing tastes and demographics might have killed the restaurant, but it did soldier on until the early 1980's.

A Question from Dorothy T:

I was hoping you could help me or direct me to someone who could.

It has always been a story in my family that my great aunt married a man who was a maitre de at the Brown Derby. It was in the 1930s and his name was Vladimir Patrick although his real name was Vladimir Pavkovitch.

Can you tell me if he ever worked at the Brown Derby or suggest who I might ask to find out.

Julie G recounts:

Just discovered your site. It's fabulous. Born in Long Beach in 1948, I remember some of these places from my childhood. There are a couple of exclusions, I think. You mention Little Joe's in connection with the Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, but I could find nothing on LJ's itself in your extinct restaurant listings. Did I miss it somehow? That was certainly a classic. Another I remember is the Reef restaurant in Long Beach harbor area. It was very kitschy with fishing nets, fake starfish, etc. I understand it's still there, but wonder what it is like today (including the food)? Also could not find your oft referenced Chateau Marmont (sp?). Would love to see photos and history (drove by it years ago but not since it's come back into fashion. It's along drive now from where I live.) Loved seeing "Tip's" included, as my family stopped at their Newhall Ranch location when I was a child as a ritual every summer for breakfast on our annual car trip vacation up the coast to visit San Francisco. I have looked for it in vain ever since on subsequent trips and always wondered what became of it. I would enjoy knowing what year it ceased operation, and when/if the building was torn down. My parents actally had honeymooned in San Fran in 1938, and drove that same route, spending their first night in the now long-gone famous old hotel in LeBec. I've seen photos of that on a postcard, but nothing left at the site now. Any info on that?

Keep up the good work. My only complaint is that I have wasted far too much time at the computer today walking down memory lane! I will revisit another day.

Jerry R informs us:

I was browsing through your excellent website featuring extinct restaurants of Los Angeles; and I recently discovered on the Los Angesles Public Library website photo collection on-line two great photos of a restaurant in L.A. called the Jail Cafe. Since this extinct unique L.A. restaurant is not on your list, I thought I would mention this to you for your website. Go to the LAPL.org website photo collection, and type in Jail Cafe--you'll find a great photo of the Jail Cafe from the outside; and an equally great photo taken on the inside of customers being waited on in jail cells by prison striped waiters!!

These photos came up on the LAPL website when I typed in the word "restaurants". I have since found out from the historical L.A. Times on-line that the Jail Cafe opened in 1925, with high hopes for a chain--one other Jail Cafe opened in downtown L.A., but was converted to another restaurant from a new owner. The last ads for the Jail Cafe appear in 1930 issues of the L.A. Times. View these great photos!!

Greg C. adds:

My uncle owned a very popular little place for many years called Crosby's Pizza and Bar-B-Q. It was on located on Santa Monica Blvd. and Berendo, a block west of Vermont. I worked there in the late 60's. It was a great local hangout for a wide variety of characters.

Also you forgot Shari's coffee shops. I think there were two or three around town. One was on Wilshire. And Hodey's (sp) in Hollywood.

The China Trader on Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake, and Alfonse's also in Toluca Lake, and Sorrentino's too. All great old Hollywood joints in the valley.

Joseph talks about an early LA family:

In the 1930's 40's 50's it was Joe D'Angelo and his three brothers who were to receive the second liquor license issued by the State of California. The other three brothers, Paul, Sam, and Johnny, also had Bars. The Sunset, in Hollywood, would be a gathering place on Oscar night. All owed their business startup to the oldest brother Joseph Edward D'Angelo.

Mr. D'Angelo's Bar once was an elegant night spot with floorshows, and fine dinning, music, and it did thrive until the day of the big depression, D'Angelo loosing a fortune to th Banks which closed their doors, that day and did not pay out moneys owed.

This Bar on Six and Union streets L.A., were favorite meeting palce for the Union crowd being only a block from AFL-CIO headquarters. This good man was loved by all, an to date there is no Picture, article, or mention of Joe's Shanty, in any research that I can find.

Dan informs us:

I was watching Michael Jackson's THRILLER video
tonight and realized that him and the girl leave THE
PALACE theater as the thriller music stars 4:14
seconds in. Just a little trivia bit you might want
to add as Thriller is a very popular video yet I'm
sure no one knows where it was filmed (I didn't).

Garry P remembers:

I was just enjoying your wonderful web site again when I recalled a landmark that has not been mentioned: Wallichs' Music City at the corner of Sunset and Vine. I worked there for Clyde Wallichs in the early sixties. What a place it was! I recall it was across from the old NBC Television building. I wonder if there is a photo of it out there somewhere?

I truly enjoy visiting your L.A. Time Machines site every so often. It is wonderful that someone has taken the time to archive this period. Thank you very much for your efforts.

Michele talks about Cafe LaMaze in National City, CA:

I seem to run across your web site quite often in my searches for fun old places. A brief history as I was told Marcel opened the place in 1941 due to request from celebrity friends and a stop on there way to Mexico (it had become quite the hot spot due to prohibition) He found this location, and it even had a secret gambling room upstairs from what I heard. Gable, Flynn, Laurel & Hardy were frequent guest to name a few. I was puzzled when I noticed no mention of the the La Maze San Diego location. I was raised in Chula Vista and have been eating there since birth.

An only slightly exaggerated assessment of me by D.E.:

Yesterday I went to a film party in Hollywood. I have wanted to go to the Prince for years and finally found a friend who would go with me. So I googled the Prince and found your site.

YOU ARE A GOD!

Oh, sorry, I'm not supposed to gush to people I don't know. Sometimes I forget my southern upbringing. :) Anyway, I have simply bathed in the beauty that you've created. I found so many places that I've ventured to alone and of course thought I was sorta strange (read UNIQUE). And now thanks to you, I have many more bar stools to fall off of and more places to stuff myself.

Your work is simply marvelous and truly educational.

And lastly, I was right all of these years yearning to go to the Prince. The fried chicken and Hite beer were fabulous and the surroundings one of a kind. (However, I could have done without the Seafood Pancake.) The experience was at least a nine out of ten.

Carol G provides this important information:

A number of your readers have mentioned Ollie Hammond's. The La Cienega restaurant featured an intimate room known as the cellar, down a short spiral staircase from the main bar area. The room was upholstered in red leather (half-way up the walls, booths, bar front) and could hold about 20 people.

Others have commented on the Frascati chain. My research for a previous project turned up 4 Frascati restaurants: Wilshire Blvd. across from the Beverly-Wilshire Hotel ; Sunset at Crescent Heights (northwest corner); La Cienega Blvd. (east side) south of Olympic; and the fourth location at the west end of the Sunset Strip. The Wilshire location is now home to a hipper-than-hip shopping area. The La Cienega location was, for a number of years, an exotic car sales lot and was leveled just a few months ago for construction of - I am sure - yet another ugly, post-modern eyesore. The
location at the west end of the Strip, for which I never did find an exact address, is long gone. The only one still a dining establishment is the Sunset & Crescent Heights location. At the moment, it's being remodeled by the Starck Group for use as a restaurant bar. The Frascati at this spot was a swingin' joint for years - piano bar at night, jazz combo, and - for the ladies - fashion shows during the luncheon hours.

Your site improves each time I visit - keep it up!

THAT'S ALL FOLKS - THE END!

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