Tag Archives: Restaurants
Interior shot of Don the Beachcomber, 1727 North McCadden Place, Hollywood
The postwar Tiki/Polynesian craze got its start at Don the Beachcomber at 1727 North McCadden Place, just off Hollywood Blvd, which opened in the 1930s. It’s where the Mai Tai was born, and its more lethal cousin, the Zombie. In … Continue reading
Looking northwest from Selma Ave toward the Hollywood Blvd and Vine St intersection, Hollywood, circa 1939
This is certainly a shot you could never get today. We’re looking northwest from Selma Ave (probably around Argyle Ave) toward the Hollywood and Vine intersection, circa 1939. That block is largely undeveloped but I’m glad because we can see … Continue reading
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Tagged Brown Derby, Hollywood, Hollywood and Vine, Hotels, Restaurants, Stores and Shopping
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Corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, Hollywood, circa 1940s
In this Life magazine photo of the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, we can see the old semaphore traffic lights and the beautiful old streetlights that used to adorn Hollywood. Across the street, we can see … Continue reading
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Tagged Color photo, Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood Blvd, Restaurants
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Night view of Preston Sturges’s The Players, 8225 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, circa 1940s
Heading into the 1940s, director Preston Sturges was working at the top of his game, but apparently that wasn’t enough. In 1940 he opened a club called The Players at 8225 Sunset Boulevard, next to the Chateau Marmont and down … Continue reading
Original location of the El Coyote Café at 105 N. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, circa 1940s
For the benefit of non-Angelenos, the El Coyote Mexican restaurant is a bit of an LA institution. Nearly everybody I know agrees that while the food is only okay, the margaritas are killer-good, and the colorfully kitsch atmosphere makes everything … Continue reading
Vegetarian Cafeteria at the corner of 3rd and Hill Streets, downtown Los Angeles, June 1919
I find some photos striking not because they’ve captured an event or person, but because they’ve encapsulated daily life that would otherwise have dissipated to the ethers. In this photo from June 1919, we see Angelenos go about their business … Continue reading
Looking east down Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills toward Victor Hugo restaurant and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, circa late 1930s
In this circa late 1930s shot, we’re looking east down Wilshire Blvd from the Rodeo Drive corner. On the right, we can see the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, and on the left, the Victor Hugo restaurant. Its listing in the Los … Continue reading
The future home of the Brown Derby Restaurant, 1628 N. Vine St, Hollywood, circa 1928
In all the photos I’ve seen of the Vine Street Brown Derby, I’ve never seen one of the building before it became the Derby. The restaurant opened on Valentine’s Day in 1929, so I’m guessing this photo was taken around … Continue reading
Carpenter’s Sandwiches drive-in restaurant at the northeast corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St, Hollywood, 1933
It looks like Carpenter’s Sandwiches on the northeast corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St in Hollywood was doing a roaring trade in 1933. And with 15-cent sandwiches, 20-cent chili con carne, and you don’t even have to get out … Continue reading
Vine Street, Hollywood, north of Sunset Boulevard, circa late 1930s
Judging from the white 1938 La Salle convertible parked outside The Tropics, I’d say this photo of Vine Street in Hollywood north of Sunset Blvd was taken in the late 1930s. This Tropics was known as the Hollywood Tropics as … Continue reading