The Villa Nova Italian restaurant at 9015 Sunset Blvd. It was at Villa Nova that Joe DiMaggio took Marilyn Monroe on a blind date and where Vincente Minnelli proposed to Judy Garland.
Villa Nova later moved in the late 60’s to Newport Beach on Coast Highway @ Newport Blvd. at a beautiful waterfront location across Coast Highway from The Arches which had been in Newport for eons. The Dales filed for bankruptcy in 1993 and it was purchased by the Crean family (founder of Fleetwood Enterprises – as in motorhomes). There was a fire in 1995, but the restaurant was renovated and kept going until 2013 when Andy Crean retired and sold the property for $6 million.
It was a great place.
From 1939:
http://hollywoodphotographs.com/photos/lrg/RN-155-1.jpg
Article below with a pic of how the exterior looks as of 2015 (frankly I think the design now looks tacky – but that’s just my opinion and I’ve never stopped at the Rainbow)
http://la.eater.com/2015/1/29/7924579/villa-nova-lost-restaurants-celebrity-haunt-sunset-strip-los-angeles
Thanks, Martin.
Jean