Monthly Archives: April 2012

Happy 100th Birthday to a Grand Old Lady – The Beverly Hills Hotel!

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Steve

A century ago, an almost absurdly large hotel rose up virtually overnight out of a former bean field in a place considered by many to be just somewhere between here and there. That place was Beverly Hills and although writers today … Continue reading →

Posted in Beverly Hills | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

My Two Cents Worth on an $11,250,000 Mansion

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Steve

It’s so funny, for a long time now I’ve been wanting to do a short and sweet little feature on some of the many historic homes currently for sale around the Southland and I specifically did not want to get into … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Beverly Hills, Dora Doubter, Paradise For Sale or Lease, Windsor Square | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

A Very Built John De Lario in Hollywoodland

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Steve

In my last post I noted that I like being right. Conversely, you may assume that I do not like being wrong. BUT here’s a case where I’m actually glad to be wrong. (Make note, this probably won’t happen again!) … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Central Hollywood, Interesting People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Have You Tried the Cinema Gumbo? It’s Delicious!

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Steve

Last fall when one of my favorite people told me they were going to dive into the blogosphere and start their own site I was thrilled because I knew whatever they were going to do, no matter what the subject, would … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Favorites, General Announcements | Tagged | Leave a comment

Blessed Buildings – St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Steve

After last Easter Sunday’s post on some early Hollywood churches, I realized I was merely scratching the surface when it came to the many beautiful and historic churches and synagogues found throughout Southern California. There are so many of them, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blessed Buildings, Then & Now, West Adams | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Cool in Concrete – Old Hollywood’s Concrete Bungalows

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Steve

A century ago there was a great deal of excitement over the possibilities of using concrete to build houses – not just for foundations but for the whole house itself. After all, what was there not to like about concrete? … Continue reading →

Posted in Central Hollywood, Lost Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

How Could You Not “Like” Marsha Hunt?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Steve

A little while back I wrote on this blog that two great producers, Roger C. Memos and Richard Adkins, are currently working on a documentary on the amazing life of the amazing Marsha Hunt called Marsha Hunt’s Sweet Adversity. I … Continue reading →

Posted in General Announcements | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Easter Sunday in Sodom – Some Early Churches of Hollywood

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Steve

In 1922, the Central Christian Advocate of Kansas City wrote with presumed and unquestioned authority that, “The reputation of Sodom and Gomorrah cannot be lower than Hollywood.” Of course they weren’t alone in this breathless pronouncement. Sinful Hollywood was being … Continue reading →

Posted in Central Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

This Week’s Mystery House Comes with a Little Bit of Tragedy…

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve

For this week’s “House of Mystery,” we have another case of knowing the “who” but not the “where” and we are calling out to the brilliant Paradise Leased detectives to crack the case and solve the riddle of where this … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery Houses | Tagged | 14 Comments

Rotogravure Sunday – Studebaker Edition

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Steve

As a teenager Paul G. Hoffman (1891-1974) lived out every boy’s fantasy by becoming a daredevil racecar driver. The son of an inventor, Hoffman was fascinated by the mechanical and he was so taken by these wonderous machines he decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Rotogravure Sunday | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments