One of the classic Hollywood restaurants I wish I could have experienced is Chasen’s on Beverly Boulevard near Doheny. Acting on the advice of director Frank Capra, Dave Chasen opened “Chasen’s Southern Pit” in December 1936. It had 6 tables, an 8-stool counter and a 6-stool bar, and he dispensed chili at 25 cents a bowl and a couple of BBQ ribs for 35 cents. It’s a credit to him (and his world-famous chili recipe) that he was able to build it into one of the go-to joints around town filled with a who’s who of Hollywood heavy hitters. Dave also invented the Shirley Temple after an incident when Shirley was there and got upset because she wanted a drink just like her parents. What surprises me about this photo is that huge empty space to the left. It seems like a waste. If you’re reading this and went there, can you tell us why?

Daniel says: “They served most everything from carts they wheeled around. But honestly, I think it is the angle of the photo that makes the empty space seem so HUGE (and the camera always tends to distort space anyway), I don’t remember it looking that “empty.” At the bottom right corner you see those shadows…that’s from another set of identical booths running along that wall. I was lucky enough to go several times, including the last day of service.”

Exterior of Chasen’s Restaurant, Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles: