Tag Archives: Movie Stars
The Crosby Building, 9028 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, 1946
This is a 1946 photo of the Crosby Building at 9028 Sunset Blvd, at the western end of the Sunset Strip. It got that name from Bing Crosby whose company was headquartered there from 1936 to 1977. More than “just … Continue reading
Revealing: ALL THE GIN JOINTS – a novel of World War II Hollywood
During the past couple of years since I finished writing my Hollywood’s Garden of Allah series, I have written a couple of biographical novels: specifically Chasing Salomé about actress Alla Nazimova, and The Heart of the Lion about MGM producer, … Continue reading
Looking west along Hollywood Blvd from the Hillview apartments, Hollywood, circa 1927
In this circa 1927 photo, we’re looking west along Hollywood Blvd from the Hillview apartments (at 6533 Hollywood Blvd, now known as the Hudson apartments) on the Hudson Ave corner. Built in 1917, it was the first apartment building that … Continue reading
Entrance to the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, Ambassador Hotel, Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
Once—just once, is that too much to ask?—I would have loved the chance to walk through this ornate entrance (look at the detailed artwork around the arches and columns) and into the famed Cocoanut Grove nightclub at the Ambassador Hotel … Continue reading
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Tagged Ambassador Hotel, Cocoanut Grove nightclub, Movie Stars, Nightclubs, Wilshire Blvd
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Teasing the stuff that dreams are made of because this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Yesterday, I wrote the two sweet words you get to type after you finish the first draft of a new novel you thought would take three months but ended up taking four. I never like to give out hints of … Continue reading
Administration building at the Warner Brothers movie studios, Burbank, California, circa early 1940s
Here we have one of the administration buildings at the Warner Brothers movie studio lot in Burbank. Judging from the 1941 Packard parked out front, this was probably taken sometime during the war years. Those buildings with the curved roofs … Continue reading
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Tagged Movie Stars, Movie Studios, San Fernando Valley, Warner Bros.
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Johnny Weissmuller’s American Natural Foods store at 6719 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, circa 1970s
This photo shows us how the two extremes of circa 1970s California life lived side-by-side on Hollywood Blvd. At number 6719 was the health-food franchise started in 1970s by Johnny Weissmuller. He was no longer the big screen’s Tarzan, but … Continue reading
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Tagged Hollywood, Hollywood Blvd, Movie Stars, Stores and Shopping
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Dick Powell arrives at the old entrance to the MGM Studios, Washington Blvd, Culver City in his custom 1937 Ford
In this photo we’re treated the sight of Dick Powell driving through the entrance of MGM Studios with the iconic columns. My friend at the Petersen Automotive Museum tells me that it’s Powell because he recognized his custom-made 1937 Ford. … Continue reading
Soundstage 16 at Warner Bros. studios in Burbank being lifted 30 feet from the bottom up in 1935 for “Cain and Mable” (1936)
In 1935, William Randolph Hearst got into a hissy fit with Louis M. Mayer at MGM and took his movie company, Cosmopolitan Pictures, and its sole star, his mistress, Marion Davies, and her 11-room bungalow to Warners. One of the … Continue reading
Charlie Chaplin’s Italian villa-inspired building at 624 S. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, circa late 1920s
The location on La Brea Ave most famously associated with Charlie Chaplin is his film studios at 1416 N. La Brea Ave, which he built in 1917 and which now home to Jim Henson’s Muppets. But at 624 S. La … Continue reading