Bradley’s “5-and-10” at 6651 Hollywood Boulevard (1930s and 40s.) During WWII, the military would post a sign at this place, and every other place they suspected drew a gay crowd, that said “Out of bounds to military personnel.” Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia, lived at 1842 North Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood in 1946 and was known to frequent Bradley’s.
Bradley’s closed in 1948 and for a short while it became an outlet for Kaiser Dishwashers. After that it was Chuck’s Hofbrau. Later became McGoos. A fire closed down McGoo’s sometime in the early 1970’s.
During some period of time, the motto “From high silk hat to working cap”, and the images of the five hats/caps, appeared on the sign in front of Bradley’s. In the photograph of the front that you show, the hats/caps are visible. I remember the motto being quite prominent.
Thanks for stopping by, George. “From high silk hat to working cap” – I guess that’s why they had it in the ad I included. Did you see it?
Indeed I did. The ad removed any doubts I may have had about the reliability of my memory of the motto and the hats/caps on the sign in front.
Hi Martin
There’s is very entertaining piece by Irving Wallace in the February 1941 issue of Modern Screen (vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 34-35, 87-89) on Hollywood including its grittier side. He has this to say about Bradley’s: “Next you are passing the famed Bradley’s Five and Ten [6651 Hollywood Blvd., at Cherokee] where for fifteen cents you can have a hot dog and a stein of beer big enough to make you see pink elephants, where you can sit in oversized soft chairs and observe bit players, second-rate agents and all the fringe of Hollywood ‘s society move in and out.” (p. 88)
Thanks, Fred. Sounds like heaven to me.