The idea of a café built in the shape of a Spanish galleon (a reproduction of the one helmed by explorer, Juan Cabrillo, when he discovered California) proved to be a very popular idea when Abbott Kinney’s “Venice of America” development opened in 1905. This photo was taken that same year, when the Ship Café also opened, by Baron Long who would later run the Biltmore Bowl nightclub at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A. When Prohibition kicked in, this place became a popular destination where thirsty Angelenos knew they could get some—ahem—“tea.”
At one point, the Ship Cafe got itself a fancy entrance. This photo is from the 1920s.
I believe there were two. I want to say Baron Long’s burnt. Former boxer turned Restauranteur, Tommy Jacobs, owned an interest in the ship cafe for years in Venice and served as its manager. In 1928, he sold out and took the lease on the concessions area of my great grandfather Jack Dragna’s first gambling ship, Monfalcone. He managed the Monfalcone Cafe there then became a partner in their next gambling ship, Monfalcone. My 4th book, set for release next year, covers the floating casinos.
Yes. Like most things back then, it burned down and was later rebuilt/replaced.
The next ship was called The Rose Isle
Baron Long was quite a character… Depending on what one believes, he sounds like a 6’4″ version of W.C. Fields & Forest Gump – who got around & met everyone! Barney Oldfield, baseball great Frank Chance, James J. Jeffries, world heavyweigh. Hope the following link works, extremely entertaining:
https://boryanabooks.com/?p=1526
I’ve often wondered what he looked like. It does look like a big talker!
I’m glad to see what this looked like, after reading about it in Chasing Salome. Looks like a delightful place to sip “tea.”
Ah yes! That opening scene. I’m glad you remembered.
Having read your novel, I was happy to have a chance to see Nazimova’s version of Camille when TCM showed it on Silent Sundays recently. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I was struck by how modern the acting was, with an almost complete absence of the kind of gesticulating that is often, if not entirely fairly, associated with silent movie acting. Particularly in her close-ups I found Nazimova’s performance to be exceptional in its subtlety.
In the biographical information on my cable provider’s guide, the place of birth for Nazimova was one that I’m confident is unique: “Yalta, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire.” That one intrigued me enough to pick up a pen and write it down.
Have you seen one of her other greats, Salome? If not perhaps the following will peak your interest –
https://martinturnbull.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/announcing-an-exciting-discovery-of-costumes-and-trunks-once-owned-by-alla-nazimova/
Thanks! I definitely want to see that one.