HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES - READERS MEMORIES

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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).

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.

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.

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!

Great info from Glen B. :

Hello,

I found your amazing website looking for a restaurant chain that used to be in the LA area but I think is now extinct. Anyway, I thought I would give you a few contributions. I have lived in the LA area all of my life. My dad grew up in Beverly Hills back in the 30s and 40s. In looking over your lists, here seem to be a few omissions.

* Le Petite Chateau, 4615 Lankershim Blvd North Hollywood, CA 91602 (818) 769-1812 A french farmhouse nestled between an auto dealership and a bank/office building. It looks like urban sprawl swallowed up a french countryside. I thought that this was a no-brainer for a timemachine and was easily earlier than your 1970 cut off. I'm not so sure - at worst it is borderline. However, on the time machine scale it clearly qualifies. Walking into a restuarant you are taken back to the days when the old Hollywood crowd would dine there (it is relatively close to the movie studios). The decore hasn't been changed or updated. I'd be surprised if there was any remodling.
* Castaways, 1250 Harvard Road Burbank, CA 91503 (818) 848-6691 and (818) 848-3915 - The Castaways restaurant was built back in the 60s as a view restaurant nestled in the Verdugo Mountains near the burbank municipal golf course. The complex has undergone some expansions and renovations (it is a highly sought wedding reception venue), but I think the main seating in the restuarant is pretty much as it was when it opened.
* Matteo's Italian Restaurant 2321 Westwood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064(310) 475-4521 - Openned in 1963. It is another old Holywood hang out. It is definately a time machine type of venue. Lots of art work on the Wall from the original owners.
* Chadneys, Burbank, CA (Extinct) The shell of this grand olde restuarant still sits acorss the street from the NBC studios. In its day, it was a regular watering hole for Hollywood folks -- especially those working at the Disney and NBC studios.
* Patricks Roadhouse, 106 Entrada Dr, Santa Monica, CAý - (310) 459-4544 I've never been to this venue. However, it was recently feature on Food Network's show Diners, Driveins & Dives. The guvenator was a regular back in the day. Definately older than your '70 cut off.
* Juniors Deli, 2379 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CAý - (310) 475-5771 - Juniors has been a hangout for UCLA students for longer than I can remember. Definately predates the '70 cutoff. Not much in the way of architectgure.
* Papoo's Hot Dog Show 4300 W Riverside Dr Burbank, CA 91505 This is one of my Dad's favorite hot dog places. It dates back to just after World War 2. Across the street from Bob's Big Boy.
* Cupids Hot Dogs 20030 Vanowen St., Canoga Park CA ; 9039 Lindley Ave., Northridge CA. A hot dog stand that just serves its own "snapper" style of hot dogs. The stands in Canoga Park and Northirdge date back to the mid-60s.
* Magic Castle 7001 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028, (323) 851-3314 - Is nestled below Yamashiro's in the Hollywood Hills. It probably qualifies as both a historic build and a restuarant. It is a membership restuarant, but getting in is usually not difficult. It has a number of historic magic collections. Definately a time machine.

Michael S adds these suggestions:

Just thought I'd let you know I do seriously love your site, and thought I'd comment on a few of the older restaurants you haven't been to yet. Petrelli's in Culver City has been around since the 40s but the current building dates from the 90s. It only LOOKS retro. The food's pretty good. Junior's in West L.A. has quite excellent deli food - it's been there since the '60s at least. Never been to Matteo's nearby, I know it's expensive, and was one of Dean Martin's favorite restaurants (a friend of mine was a waiter there and saw Dino there all the time back in the 80s).

Palermo in Los Feliz is good old style Italian American food, plenty of red sauce, and also in a safe area . Little Toni's in North Hollywood is also good, albeit old fashioned red sauce checkered table cloth Italian-American like Palermo. One restaurant in that area of West L.A. that you failed to mention was Anna's on Pico, which has been around since the 1960s. Originally it had the same ownership as Mario's in Westwood, which I'm pretty sure moved to Santa Monica.

You also didn't mention La Cabana in Venice, around since 1962 and a favored spot of the Beach Boys in the '60s - they'd often stop there on the way back from recording sessions due to it being open late at night. Brian Wilson planned Pet Sounds and Smile there along with Tony Asher, Van Dyke Parks, his other brothers, and members of the band. Dennis was also a customer there. Still very much around.

Ken and Karen T suggest:

Mama Cozza's Italian Restaurant
2170 W. Ball Road
Anaheim, CA 92804
714/635-0063

Thanks for your great site...Its a massive database!

Mama's might not be old enough....but it's an anaheim late 60's? good bar
and the chris & pits on Euclid
Thanks for all your info!

Alyssa shares these important memories:

A few places I didn't see mentioned on your phenomenal site/trip down
memory lane ... some perhaps not quite as notable as others, but
definitely strong memories for me: The Luau on Rodeo Drive was a
tropical heaven with the best BBQ ribs (we dipped bare bones in the
sauce - yumm!) ... Hasty House (I think was the name) in Brentwood,
right around the curve of San Vicente between Wilshire and the
Brentwood Village was a cafeteria-style restaurant where we'd get
delicious bbq pork sandwiches ... Nibblers in Beverly Hills (not sure
the exact location) which was my grandfather's favorite coffee shop.
I know at some point they moved to the first floor of an office
building near restaurant row.

And I swear there was a Chinese restaurant we loved (not vintage, per
se) down on Wilshire in Santa Monica that was called "North China."
NO one seems to remember it, but I do and I miss it! They had a
creamed cabbage concoction I've not seen on any other Chinese menu,
and pressed duck (which no one makes anymore anywhere).

Another suggestion:

What about The Bistro and The Bistro Garden in Beverly Hills??? Great
restauranteur, Kurt Niklas.. and the most beautiful restaurants..
serving the biggest celebrities!! He worked for Romanoffs as maitre
d'.. and went on to open The Bistro on Canon Drive (sadly now
Maestros Steakhouse) with the backing of Billy Wilder and some of
Hollywoods most influential people. Never seeking publicity, to his
fault, only wanting the best for his clientele! Look it up!!

Marilyn B writes:

Dorando's was on Vine Street in Hollywood, more or less across the street from the old Hollywood Ranch Market. I used to eat there with my husband, both before and after we were married in 1961. We started eating there ca. 1958; went over for dinner sometime in mid-60s(??) and found the place locked up and decorated with police tape! Mr. Dorando, it seems, had been shot and killed by some bad guys who had a grievance against him. The food was very good -- veal piccata, veal marsala, excellent cannoli (not the junk with chocolate bits -- NO WAY). I have no idea what was going on here that precipitated the shooting, but heard it had to do with "the mob", whatever that means in CA. We missed it when it was gone.

I didn't read all your extinct restaurant listings yet. Do hope you've included Paul's Duck Press, which was just east of downtown LA and served game meats.

Another one you may have missed was Armand's -- first on Manchester Blvd., just west of Western Ave. (in 40s and up until ???; then moved to Pasadena on Foothill Blvd. just east of Rosemead. Known for SPLIT PEA SOUP. People used to line up for this at the original Armand's on Manchester! Recipe VERY secret. After they moved to Pasadena, I phoned, shmoozed up the owner, who was still "family", tried to get recipe -- NO NO NO !! Then we laughed at my brazen attempt.

It was fun to see "Madame Portiers" aka "Madame Curtains" on the list.
A more obscure "family French" place was located on Melrose, one block west of Vermont. Very popular among faculty at LA City College and (in mid 50s) faculty from Cal State College, then located on the same campus. This may have been the BEST BARGAIN in LA -- a very respectable home-style French dinner for under $2. Sorry I can't remember the name, but I'm sure someone can. I had many dinners there on evenings when I had a class until 9 PM.

You have a fascinating project -- collecting all the old restaurants!

Interesting thoughts from Tia:

Hello there! I just wanted to say thank you for turning me on to some real treasures/experiences!

I happened on your site recently when I Googled "historic restaurants San Diego". I was about to embark on a site visit of San Diego as a possible site for the International Foodservice Editorial Council's (IFEC) 2009 conference. Our membership is made up of the editors of the top foodservice trade publications (Food Arts, Restaurants & Institutions, Nation's Restaurant News, Restaurant Business, Restaurant Hospitality, etc.) and the publicists who represent national food manufacturers and commodity boards.

As part of our conference, which is held in a different city each year, we organize food tours that explore some of the more interesting indigenous food-related foodservice operations, farms, manufacturers and such. Which is why I was doing some investigation on the topic.

Your site led us to visit Filippi's restaurant, where we drank Chianti and signed the bottle to be suspended from the restaurant's ceiling with all its brethren. We also sought out Bali Hai restaurant and sampled a few of their finer tiki drinks, collecting the collectable mugs, of course. I was sad to hear that they don't serve a flaming drink--it's against the law there I was told! In the Bali Hai neighborhood, we passed the impressive façade of Humphrey's Half Moon Inn & Suites, but I'll have to save for another visit--as I will the Turf Club and the Tivoli.

Your description of Filippi's contained a mention of Reno's Casale's Half-Way Club, and since my husband and I have a little cabin at Tahoe and often go over the hill to Reno for a movie or a little video poker, we were anxious to check it out. Have to say that we LOVED the place. We'd already been to Louis' Basque, and don't know which I liked more--actually, I do: Casale's. What a treasure! They even let us sign the ceiling fan.

We are big fans of Virginia City and the amazing history there ~ especially the Gold Hill Hotel with its ghost stories and antique bar. Wow. You don't have the Gold Hill on your site--maybe because it's not on the contiguous main drag--just down the street and over the hill--but it calls itself Nevada's oldest hotel, and the bar is just wonderful. We live in San Francisco, and before that, I lived in New York and I'm from Iowa. I've been a "collector" of old bars and cool places all my life--from Iowa City to Brooklyn Heights to Shaky Town, and I'd be glad to pass along some tips from these areas that I've known and loved. For instance, in NYC:

The Subway Inn (Manhattan) ,Farrell's (Brooklyn) ,The Old Town Bar (Manhattan)

... so many more. But, as you've said on your site, so many have closed too--or remodeled themselves out of any character...that's why I was so happy to see your listings.

So thanks again! And keep up the good work!

Nice words from Stephen B:

First, please accept my heartfelt thanks for what you have done and are doing. Since I was a young child (born in 1964 in Pasadena) I bemoaned the loss of many local great restaurants (the Tahitian, Bullocks Tea Room, the original Pasadena Athletic Club coffee shop, Blums, etc, etc.). Your site has provided so many great ideas of where to eat (you are spot on about the Prince being so amazing, I am considering buying them new red lamp shades as the ones they have are in horrific shape..........when I snuck into the banquet room in the back, which was obviously half of the original lobby, I could see all of the original California Restaurant Writers awards for the Windsor up on the balcony), and have made living in Los Angeles more fun than it would be otherwise.

p.s. I think the $11 (maybe $12) minute steak at the HMS Bounty is one of the best deals in Los Angeles, amazing atmosphere, a steak, salad, and baked potato for $11.

A questions from Nick:

You have a wonderful site. I ran across it while looking up info on a restaurant my grandfather used to own. His name was Patrick Mitchell. He passed when my mother was 7 years old. I dont know much about it other than he owned it. Do you know how I can find out more info about it. I remember my grandmother telling me that it was a chain. Also she said it had gambling parlor in a private area. Not sure about that though.
Please let me know any info and thanks.

Birgit R reports on some changes:

i just wanted to write you a note saying thank you for your wonderful website. my boyfriend and me are Europeans living
in los Angeles and we always loved the "time machines", so we were very happy to find your site with many new places
to go.
yesterday we read about the Buggy Whip and decided to visit it. it was absolutely wonderful - great atmosphere, really
good food and very nice service. we will certainly go there again.

We both love the Dolores on Santa Monica Boulevard and we were very very unhappy to see that it changed the owner
only very recently.
of course the remodeling has started already - they replaced the old sign, they are not open anymore for 24 hours - now
they close at 10 pm. you can't play lotto anymore, they changed the menu, reupholstered the booths - and took
down the dividers between the booths.
i don't know what they will do with the big dinner room in the back, but right now it is empty. and this is just the beginning!
our waitress told us there will be more changes and remodeling.
the Dolores was always a very nice place to go to, the food was nothing special, but it the service was supernice
and it had the perfect time machine feel. it would be nice if you have the time to update the information on your website.
i also send you a photo i took 2 years ago with the original sign that is gone now. maybe you can use it.

thank you for your great work and dedication to all those wonderful places. it is really sad to see them go.

Enthusiastic Words from Victoria T:

Hi! I absolutely adore your website. I happened upon it accidentally and am so glad that I did!

I grew up and lived in Los Angeles (from the mid-1950's until the early-1980's). I haven't been back since I moved to the East Coast, but get homesick almost every day. (You can't turn on the TV or watch a movie without seeing some part of the city.)

I'm married to a "good 'ol boy" who has absolutely no interest in visiting the Los Angeles area, but I definitely want to return some day (as a tourist) and visit all the spots I recall from my early days (e.g., Griffith Park, Travel Town, Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz, the Bonaventure, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Santa Monica Pier, etc., etc.).

It was such a wonderful walk down memory lane to see all the awesome pictures and trivia on your website. It made me feel very much at home again.

I don't know if you can help me, but I've been wracking my brain trying to find out about a spot in the downtown area when I was a child. It was a manmade waterfall (near the Dept. of Water & Power, I believe). It had a catwalk that I recall vividly because I tried to walk across it when I was about 12, and slipped/fell. I'm sure it probably isn't there anymore. I also wanted to see if the old Pioneer Chicken on North Western Avenue (above Hollywood Blvd.) is there anymore. I don't believe it is, but not sure.

Now that I've discovered your fabulous site, I'm going to be a frequent visitor -- believe me!

Al C. shares these memories:

I loved your history on LA Restaurants that aren't there anymore. It
brouhgt back a lot of wonderful memories of our family going out to
eat almost every Sunday during the 50s.

I was somewhat disappointed that you did not include one of our
favorite places. We used to go to Wilson's Restaurant on La Cienega,
just North of San Vicente, at Blackburn.

It might be described as somewhat of a coffee shop, but it was good
homestyle family food. One of the few places that had Spencer steak on
the menu. The soups were homemade and delicious.

The also had another restaurant, but I forget it's name. It was a
similar style and located at the NE Robertson and Beverly Blvd.
in about the same time frame.

Thank you and keep up the good work.

Stephanie H has a few questions:

Thanks so much for what you are doing! We are longtime frequenters of old LA and I use your guide frequently when we want to check out the new old places we don’t know about.

My 96 year old father who is usually a treasure trove of these and but who sometimes just gets it a “little” bit wrong keeps referring to a restaurant called the Heist or the Hoist or the Heights (???!!!), located somewhere with a view of LA (l in the foothills of the San Gabriels or the San Bernadino mountains - Alta Dena, Redlands, Pasadena?), and suggests this was a good steak and burger place, nice ambiance with some connection to horse racing – owned by a jockey? A jockey’s mother? I have a feeling this was a 1930s – 1950s operation.

You get the idea. But I also bet you are the person who just “might” have the clue we need.

Any thoughts? appreciate your insight or your suggestions for other ways we might research this place. Keep up the good work!

Lorenzo points out this important history:

FWIW, Schaber's had a North Hollywood location on the north side of Victory, west of Laurel Canyon.
Ontra had a location in Van Nuys on the east side of Van Nuys Blvd, between Chandler and Burbank.

One extinct great one was Sternberger's Rite Spot on North Brand in Glendale. They had a great Bordeaux Sauce.

Re: Rand's Round Up: I had a lunch box(!) from there. It was the usual rectangular shape for elementary school, but had their western icons on it (brands, cattle, wagons etc)

Don's on Glenoaks (just west of Providencia) in Burbank has been there since streetcars rolled by; a good, stolid old coffeeshop.

Thanx for your splendid work!

P.S. My Mom once worked at Boos Bros.

More great info from Marilyn B:

Here's another one I thought of last night: in Pasadena -- the Stuffed Shirt (at Lake and DelMar Sts). It was a very nice dinner house -- prime rib, flaming crepe suzettes, very dignified atmosphere. The sort of place people took "Mother" for birthday dinner. We also had The Honker, which became the Chronicle -- and a few things since then, but Stuffed Shirt was much better. One more goodie that used to be on Lake Avenue near DelMar was The Tahitian -- you've guessed what the decor was, of course. Food was Polynesian, and we used to love the pressed duck. They also had some drinks flamed with 151-proof rum. the Tahitian was a good place to go on a hot day because it was cool and dark inside!

Back in the 60s, I used to have a long list of "good cheap restaurants where you could have dinner for $5 or under. This did not include alcohol, of course. Dorando's was on the list. There were two Mexican places on Beverly Blvd., (east Hollywood area) on different sides of the street but close to each other. The one on the south side of the street was very good, the one on the north side was very famous and LOUSY. Both are gone.

If I think of any more, I'll let you know.