Musso & Frank

  

 Musso & Frank is old Hollywood. It was opened in 1919 by French immigrant Firmin "Frank" Toulet. I guess Frank was easier for Americans than Firmin. In 1923, Toulet partnered with Joseph Musso, and Musso & Frank Grill was born. Over the years, ownership has changed and even expanded into a neighboring space, but it's still at the same address. Right from the beginning, it attracted the film community.  Movie stars, studio executives, and talent agents would drop by the restaurant for a steak and martini, hash out deals, and gossip about who was sleeping with whom.  Still in business, it still has a menu that leans towards steak, and alcohol.  It also has a dress code.  Suits and ties for gentlemen and dresses for ladies are no longer required, now it's business casual.  I suspect I'd be turned away if I showed up in my usual blue jeans and tee shirt. 

The caption on the back of the card, "Musso & Frank Grill.  FINEST CUISINE.  6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Calif 11 A.M. to 11 P.M.  HO 7-5123 or HO 7-7788."  And the publisher, "PUB. BY "CUMMINGS" (213) 344-6560" 

Owl Drugs

 

Old Los Angeles.  Well, sort of.  Actually, it's Beverly Hills and while somewhat smaller, this building is still there.  Many years ago, I worked nearby and used to walk down there on my lunch hour and buy a snack.  Anyway, I found some information to pass along, but not as much as I'd like.  I know the store opened in 1947, but I couldn't find the name of the architect.  I know the building was commissioned by Justin Dart, the CEO of Rexall Drugs, and that it wasn't just the world's largest drug store, but also the headquarters for the company.  Today, it's a CVS and Target.  The caption on the back of the card, "World Headquarters, REXALL DRUG COMPANY, Beverly and La Cienega Boulevards LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA."  It was published by "WESTERN PUBLISHING & NOVELTY CO., LOS ANGELES, CALIF."  This card was never mailed.  

Los Angeles Indiana 14

 

It's time to finish up this collection., at least that is if I don't find another page from this album.  Have I mentioned how much I hate it when antique dealers cut up a photo album and sell pages individually?  Well, it needs to be said.  I know it's more profitable for a seller to cut up an album, but history, even anonymous family histories means something.  So, girls camping and because at least one picture on this page was processed in Lamar, Colorado, I'm assuming that these pictures were taken somewhere in the Rocky Mountains.  To see the whole collection, click on The Los Angles Indiana Collection in labels. 

Los Angeles Indiana 13

 

So, there I was, watching one of those PBS fundraisers when the host referred to The Beatles as the penultimate rock band.  Of course, as we all know, penultimate actually means the next to the last, and this is the penultimate post for the Los Angeles Indiana collection.  That is unless I find another loose album page from the same seller, which I'm beginning to accept isn't going to happen.  Anyway, we've got another diversion to Lamar, Colorado, or at least the lab stamp on the back of the third picture in the column says, "Kodak Finishing, J.H. WARD Lamar, Colo."  I promise the next thing I post will be the final three photos from this collection. No more interruptions and to see everything in order, click on The Los Angeles Indiana Collection in labels. 

Los Angeles Indiana 11

 

Let's start with a bit of info on the whole collection.  Click on The Los Angeles Indiana Collection in labels to see everything posted so far, and there's still more to come.

Anyway, sometimes album pages can be quite informative.  The person who put the album together writes captions, or when it's possible to remove a photo that's held in place with photo corners, there's something written on the back of the print.  That's not really true of this collection.  There's a printer's logo on the back of the top print, but it's so faded that it can't be read.  On the back of the middle print, there is a lab stamp, "Kodak Printing, J.H. Ward, Lamar, Colo."  I don't know whether this family was well traveled or if it's the album itself that's made it to so many places. 

Los Angeles Indiana 10

 

I haven't been buying too many photos, just lately.   To be honest, it's not a lack of interest so much as a shortage of money.  Anyway, I've got to cut back a bit, and collecting old photos has taken a back seat for a while.  So, it's back to the Los Angeles Indiana Collection, and you can click on that in labels to bring up the collection to date, including an explanation for the title.  A couple of photo booth shots. 

Los Angeles Indiana 8

 

 Is it even possible for me to express how much I hate eBay and antique dealers who cut up photo albums for resale?  I doubt it. Anyway, I bought this page from the same eBay seller in Indiana as another page that I've referred to as The Los Angeles Indiana Collection in labels, and why I call it that is explained in the very first post in the series.  So, click away to find out why and to see the other images in this series. As usual, when I put up an album page, I'll start with the whole page to show position, and then follow up with individual photos.  Once again, I'm not sure how I'll lay things out, and I won't be putting them up uninterrupted, so be patient. 

Los Angeles Indiana 7

 

No more waiting for the final post from this photo album page. A few weeks ago, I bought another album page from the same eBay seller in Indiana. I don't know whether it's from the same album or not, but when I do start on it, it'll have the same label, The Los Angeles Indiana Collection, which can be used to bring up all the previous posts from this page. 

Los Angeles Indiana 6

 

I'm closing in on the final few posts from this particular album page.  I have purchased a second page from the same seller that looks like it's from the same era, so when I get around to putting that one up it will have the same common label, The Los Angeles Indiana Collection. Great California car culture roadster, by the way, even if the family looks more Midwest farm than L.A.

Los Angeles Indiana 5

 

My last post from this album page was just to show position of the individual prints on the page. Because they were put into the album with photo corners, it was easy to pop them out and get a good scan. I had hoped that there would be something written on the backs to give some more information, but nothing.  Click on The Los Angeles Indiana Collection to see the other posts. 

Los Angeles Indiana 4

 

This is the flip side of an album page that I've already posted.  (Click on The Los Angeles Indiana Collection in labels to bring everything else up.)  Every time I put up an album page, whether it's been cut out of an album the way this one has or if it's from a full album, I always like to put up the whole page at least once to show position. More than likely it doesn't really matter, but it's always possible that the person who made the album had a reason other than available space for the choices they made. Perhaps it's the order they were taken or the same location.  Unless a photo is labeled there's no way to tell, but just in case.  So, just to repeat myself, why Los Angeles Indiana?  Well, I purchased this album page from an eBay seller in Indiana and there's a decorative border on a couple of the prints from L.A. Right at the top is the peristyle of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It's true that the photographer could have sent his film out to be processed and he could have sent his film through the mail, but I doubt someone living in Indiana would have mailed film all the way to Los Angeles for processing. So, did this Hoosier family make a trip to the west coast?  If they did, they might have gone to the 1932 Olympics. Or perhaps, they were living in L.A. and eventually moved to Indiana.  Who knows, and I doubt I ever will. 

Los Angeles Indiana 3

 

The last two pictures from the first side of the two album pages I own from this collection. Despite the Los Angeles-themed borders, I'm leaning toward most of the pictures having been taken in Indiana.  Once again, click on The Los Angeles Indiana Collection in labels to bring up the rest. 

Los Angeles Indiana 2

 

When I put up an album page, I like to put the entire page up first to show how the photos were laid out. So, click on The Los Angeles Indiana Collection in labels to bring the whole page up.  As I noted in that first post, I purchased this lose page from an eBay seller in Indiana, but because of the L.A.-themed decorative borders, I'm guessing all the photos on this page were taken in the Los Angeles area. The two kids look happier in their swimming suits than in their Sunday go-to-meeting suits. Is that a hose on the sidewalk and were their parents cooling them down in a hot L.A. summer? 

Los Angeles Indiana 1

 

Every so often I'll write about how unhappy I am that antique sellers cut up photo albums and sell individual pages or prints which, of course, doesn't stop me from buying them.  There are two sides to this album page, both with photos. I'll be breaking things up, though I'm not quite sure how, and it's also possible I may go online and buy a few more pages that are being sold by an eBay seller located in Indiana. And that's why I'm calling this The Los Angeles Indiana Collection and clicking on that in labels will be the best way to see other parts.  So why the title?  Take a look at the border on the print in the upper left.  Apart from L.A., there's also a drawing of the Los Angeles Coliseum.  Perhaps it's from 1932 and the Olympics. 

Clifton's

  

Clifton's was a cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles.  During the great depression, Clifton's had an open-door policy for everyone, no matter how destitute a person was.  No one was turned away hungry.  And for all those who think that people will take advantage and expect to be fed for free, no matter how much money they may have, those who could afford to pay almost always did.   Eventually, Clifton's became a chain, and eventually, that chain failed.  The downtown location is still up and going though no longer owned by the Clifton family.  I haven't been there in years, so I'm not sure if this is right, but as I understand it, it's more of a hipster bar and hangout rather than a cafeteria for everyone.

Never mailed, the caption, "Clifton's Brookdale, Within these doors, a forest calls to you-A mountain land of redwood trees and sky-Offering woodland peace and beauty to The tired heart, the city-weary eyes.

So enter friend where brooklets run, Down rocky crevices, through fern and reed, Dine here and rest; and when your meal is done, May something more than food have met your need.  -Esther Baldwin York." 

L.A. Family Photos 1

 

Not a very interesting start to this very brief, three-part series.  Written on the back of the top photo, "Topanga Canyon snap from speeding 35 miles per hr. Nov. 4, 1923."  I don't often drive in Topanga Canyon, but 35 miles an hour is no longer speeding.  Actually, it's a good way to have other drivers riding your tail, beeping their horns, and flashing their lights. 

The second photo, "Z.R. 3 going over L.A. St."  The ZR-3, named the Los Angles was a dirigible built by The Zepplin Company in Germany for the U.S. Navy.  Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was supposed to turn over its Zepplin fleet to the U.S. as war reparations, but their crews sabotaged them to the point where they weren't reparable, so new ones had to be made.  The Los Angeles was manufactured from 1923-24 and decommissioned in 1932, so the photo was taken sometime between 1924 and 32.  I'm sure if I had the time I could actually find out when the ZR-3 was over its namesake city, but I think I'm going to pass on that.  As far as L.A. Street, there is a Los Angles Street, though it could be an L.A. Street, generic.  The building front advertises Heider Tractors, a company headquartered in Iowa that was in business from 1903 to 1983 when they were sold to Wellbuilt, another Iowa business.  

Click LA Family Collection in labels to bring everything up.  That is after I get around to posting parts one, two, and three.  

The Zoo

  I don't know where this was taken, but I walk through the old, abandoned, Los Angeles Zoo, from time to time, and sure looks like it was taken near the cages. 

Music To My Ears 6

I still haven't quite figured out what name this woman eventually ended up using, at least professionally.  Mary Reagan and Ann Parker are my two best bets, but who really knows.  I did, however, find a lot about photographer Winifred Gail  I know she was born on October 2, 1917 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.  I know she was a photo retoucher and eventually opened up her own photo studio in Hollywood.  In 1940 she married Jay Richard Bailey, an aeronautical engineer, and in 1953 she moved her studio from Hollywood to Palos Verdes, California.  According to the March 5, 1953 issue of the Palos Verdes Peninsula News she had been in Hollywood for 15 years.  If that figure is correct then she opened her Hollywood studio in 1938.  During her life she moved around a bit, and ended up in Alaska,  She died on October 6, 2017 in Sitka, Alaska.  Four days past her 100th birthday.  And, as an extra added bonus, she was a life long Christian Scientist.  So, we now know that this photo was taken before 1953.

Click on Music To My Ears in labels to see more.

Early Spring

Dated "MAY 55" and labeled "Griffith Park-Early Spring."  Over the years I've walked all over Griffith Park, and while I can't be certain I'd say this photo was either taken near the merry-go-round or near the old L.A. Zoo. 

Music To My Ears 1

Time to start another collection. But who is it about?  Well, that's a bit of a mystery since I have pictures of the same woman though she seems to have taken a stage name.  Leverne and Mary Reagan and Jerry Hilliard are featured in the photograph from this story from the entertainment pages of the Los Angeles Examiner.  A sister act, most likely, appearing in "Music To My Ears" which looks to have been a successful show at the Troopers Theater on Las Palmas in downtown Hollywood, L.A., California.  There are still lots of venues in that area, but I'll have to actually head over to Las Palmas to double check the address, and to be honest, it's not something I'm planning on in the near future.

Mary is the sister that shows up in other photos which is not surprising since her name is underlined.  Some of the captions on latter photographs mention "Mommy & Daddy"  and I'm moderately certain the Dad is Jerry Hilliard.  Anyway, I scanned the back of this clipping because it's how I dated the article.  Ride 'Em Cowboy, Sleepytime Gal, The Male Animal and Ghost of Frankenstein were all released  in 1942.  The Vogue Theater mentioned in the one article is still there, though no longer in use.  With all the development going on in Hollywood, I suspect it's days are numbered.

Obviously Musics To My Ears will be the tag in the labels section at the bottom of the post that eventually will pull up the whole collection.  For the time being, I'll be starting with a couple of press clippings before taking a break when I'll be posting other things.   And before I forget, I did run Leverne and Mary Reagan through IMBD as well as some of the other names used by Mary.  Nothing for the sisters though there are two credits for Jerry Hilliard.  The Red Skelton Hour form 1953 credited as supporting character and Jimmy Wakely's Jamboree from 1954 credited as himself.  It was a musical short so that makes sense. I have no idea if it's the same Jerry Hilliard.