After organizing a post-premiere fundraiser at Ciro’s that resulted in $6,500 seed money, Bette Davis and John Garfield’s project, the Hollywood Canteen, opened at 1451 Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood on October 3, 1942. Servicemen were welcomed with refreshments, world-class entertainment, and the chance for Tommy from Tennessee and Ike from Idaho to meet—and possibly even dance with—a real, live movie star. Bette insisted on full integration allowing Black men to dance with white women and vice versa. It doesn’t sound like a bit deal these days, but back then it was a first. This photo is from 1942, so it was taken not long after the Canteen opened.
These days that entire block is now a parking lot next to the CNN tower on Sunset Blvd. This image is from December 2020.
I’ve been waiting for a post like this.
My grandfather signed up right after Pearl Harbor was bombed. He got in with the Army Aircorps. He was being trained as a pilot in Southern California. It must have been quite a thing for him. He was extremely handsome. Movie star but from a poor family on the south side of Chicago. My great grandparents came over from Northern Italy with suitcases.
I know he went to Catalina Island and years ago, he told me he went to a movie stars home for swimming. I’m sure he went to the Canteen then too.
The star was Wallace Beery. I wonder what you may know about him. As I’ve gotten older, I imagine him inviting a bunch of young, handsome service men over for a swim was either totally innocent. Or not.
Hi Gail, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I’m sure your grandpa ended up at the Canteen sooner or later. Wallace Beery had quite a checkered history – lots of highs and lows. From what I know of him, he didn’t sound like he was very nice guy, so I’m surprised he’d invite servicemen into his home. On the other hand, he owned and flew his own planes so if he were to invite anyone, it would be members of the Air Corps.
Yes, I have read a bit about him. He sounded like a jerk! Maybe he went down to the field or something?
What a thrilling time, and weird time for my Nonno. This amazing experience, then heading off to war. He ended up flying 66 missions, based in England. He got shot down once and a bullet missed his head when he ducked down to pick something up on a raid. I always look through those Canteen photos for pictures of him. 🙂 Thanks for all your posts. I love them. I am in LA this week and staying in Echo Park (Angelino Heights). That one stretch of Alvarado over here, where it looks like there was a theatre? What was this area all about?
The Echo Park area is very old (in LA terms) as it’s where the urban sprawl first spread to. It’s also where a number of the early silent studios we located. And it’s where Aimee Semple McPherson set up her Four Square Church. The actual park itself has recently been refurbished so I assume it’s looking rather spiffy now.
It looks fantastic. Brand new and swan boats all over the little lake. I like the area, it is funky, hilly and no frills.