Tag: Los Angeles

October 22, 2012 /

This is pretty saucy stuff for the time – Joan Crawford shimmying in front of a mirror as she gets dressed to go out for the evening circa 1928, before recorded dialogue, but there was a synch soundtrack… –

October 20, 2012 /

This is what Hollywood looked like at the turn of the 20th century: In 1903 a small place built by H.J. Whitley (Whitley Heights is where the silent film stars lived) called the Hollywood Hotel looked like this: Soon after this picture was taken a wealthy woman from Iowa, Almira…

October 9, 2012 /

This week is going to be light on text and heavy on pictures as I reassemble my kitchen (and put my household back in order). Saturday my breakfast companion was aghast when I turned up at our weekly dim sum rendezvous wearing black slip on sandals, jeans, a black T-shirt,…

October 6, 2012 /
October 5, 2012 /

Even the grocery stores were glamorous – designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements (also designed the Chapman Market) – this firm designed some of the most iconic buildings of early Hollywood (and I promise we’ll get to these landmarks) but for now we’ll roll with my fascination with the mundane…

October 2, 2012 /

From the tips of your toes to the top of your head – elements of style from hats to escalators: –

September 30, 2012 /

As you might have gleaned by now, when there’s a story to tell about Hollywood, I’m inclined to change the names and mix it up a bit to protect the innocent. What follows is mostly true, except what’s not. Ben had been raised in a show-biz bubble, tutored on set,…

September 30, 2012 /

As you might have gleaned by now, when there’s a story to tell about Hollywood, I’m inclined to change the names and mix it up a bit to protect the innocent. What follows is mostly true, except what’s not. Once upon a time a gifted comedienne, Marion Davies, fell hard…

September 29, 2012 /

Okay, it was my intention when I started this blog never to be crass, or destructive, or part of the weird gawker aspect of a fame driven news cycle; and to that end I’ve tried to write pieces mostly on Hollywood history – which means I usually write about people…