More from the Hollywood Canteen

About 15 years ago, I did a post on the Hollywood Canteen. With a few new photos added to my collection, it seemed like a good time to do an update! The photo above shows Shirley Temple arriving for her appearance at the Hollywood Canteen, July 14, 1943. How do I know the date? Thanks to Shirley expert supreme, the Rita Dubas, who not only gave me the date that was written on the back of a photo from her collection, but shared the photo itself/ Not sure who the guy next to Shirley is, but the guy behind her looks a bit like Ray Bolger!



Rita also sent me a link to a FANTASTIC site filled with photos and background info about the Canteen. Edited from the Historic Hollywood Photographs website:

Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, actress Bette Davis approached fellow actor John Garfield and Dr. Jules Stein about starting a canteen for servicemen in Hollywood, similar to the Stage Door Canteen in New York. The three approached all the entertainment unions, guilds, movie studios and radio stations for support. They found a dilapidated barn located at 1451 N. Cahuenga Blvd and leased it for $100 a month for the duration of the war. Hollywood's motion picture craftsmen volunteered their services to do the renovation and transformed the place.

Below, from 1942 (L to R) Forrest Cooper, Jules Stein, Al Ybarra, Bette Davis & John Garfield planning the construction of the Hollywood Canteen



It was unanimously agreed that the Hollywood Canteen would be exclusively for enlisted servicemen, no officers allowed. The servicemen's uniform was his admission ticket. The only people allowed to volunteer were those who worked in some facet of the entertainment business. The Canteen had its grand opening on October 3rd, 1942 with Eddie Cantor as MC. The forecourt was filled with thousands of servicemen, dignitaries and civic leaders. All food, beverages, and cigarettes were free. Each night, two bands played to packed dance floors. Entertainers included Red Skelton, Spencer Tracy, Rosemary Clooney, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby. Hostesses included Rita Hayworth, Marlene Dietrich, Paulette Goddard and Joan Crawford. When the war ended in 1945, fewer servicemen visited and the canteen closed by November. Over the course of its 3 year existence, the Hollywood Canteen had over 3 million servicemen come through its doors. It was truly Hollywood's finest home-front contribution to the war.

Below is a shot from opening night on October 3, 1942, with comedians Abbott and Costello at the microphone:



The medley below shows just how special the Canteen was, especially in light of today, this would NEVER occur. Top Hollywood celebrities like Hedy Lamarr, Marlene Dietrich, Betty Grable (with Sergeant Carl Bell, the millionth serviceman to visit), and Linda Darnell all served, danced, and socialized with the soldiers without pay or bodyguards. Let that sink in. Oh…and no social media.



Shirley puts her apron on to get down to business. The stars didn’t just show up — they WORKED!



From the How to Eat LA website comes an additional shot of Shirley from the same night, serving snacks to the servicemen:



And in case you think these celebrities were one-and-dones, no way; here’s Shirley performing again at the Canteen on a different night.



Rita informed me that the backdrop behind the band was styled after an 1890s vaudeville stage—the circular plaque above Shirley reads “Ennola Colber Hosiery Underwear.” Below is a detailed view of Shirley:



These previously posted images were from a collection I purchased, showing the exterior of the Canteen:





From the same batch, the soldier captured this view of Hollywood Boulevard featuring the NBC building:



Zooming in, you can also see the Palladium and the CBS building. The Palladium still stands.



This soldier relaxes at the cross streets of Sunset & Vine, just a few blocks from the Canteen:



The same soldier at Hollywood and Vine. You can see the Brown Derby sign in the background:



A detailed view of the United Nations War Relief ad:



The former site of the Canteen at Sunset and Cahueanga is now a parking garage and the CNN building. No plaque, no nothing to commemorate this historic location.



What are the sayings? They paved over paradise…time marches on…nothing lasts forever…well, you get the drift. Especially in Hollywood.

See more Hollywood photos at my main website.

Vintage Balboa Park in San Diego

These two July 1956 images show the flags that lined the path into San Diego’s Balboa Park for the inaugural Fiesta del Pacifico. According to the SD Union-Tribune, it began on July 18, 1956, and was a

Spanish-flavored summertime promotion built around an outdoor pageant in Balboa Stadium called, “The California Story.” The pageant featured 1,300 performers in a retelling of California history in two acts, with music by Meredith Willson.



In the first photo, you’ll notice the little A-Frame promoting Robin Hood, which was being performed at the Starlight Theater in Balboa Park for the 1956 Summer Season:



This 1950s image shows the San Diego Museum of Art and a number of vintage autos:



The below shot shows the Home Economy Building from the 1915 Exposition that once stood to the right of the Museum:



It was torn down in 1963 and replaced by the Timken Museum of Art (shown below). I’m not sure why they chose this contemporary design which stands out like a sore thumb from the rest of the Exposition structures, but I would guess that someone from the Frank L. Hope and Associates architectural firm wanted to put their personal stamp on it. And they sure did. At least the art inside is stellar.



See more Balboa Park in San Diego photos at my main website.

Floating through the Matterhorn, 1980

Disneyland newbies probably don’t know this, but at one time you could “float” through the Matterhorn attraction in a Skyway bucket. Oops…those newbies might not even know that you could travel from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland in the air, looking over the guests and attractions while doing so. Ah…those were the days. These June 1980 images were taken by a guest doing said activity.



The Skyway existed from 1956-1994. The buckets were changed in 1965 for the Disneyland Tencennial celebration, converting the shape from round to a more square configuration. Below is a closeup of Fantasyland back when it had its original Festival Tournament façades. Another piece of history lost on the newbies.



This carefree family (they look like they might be a bit of fun) are exiting the Fantasyland Skyway Station (visible on the hill on the upper left). Yes, newbies…another piece of Disneyland history that is gonzo.



This November 1967 image gives a better view of the beautiful structure:



Also from November 1967, you can see one of the buckets entering the station:



Below is an undated 1960s image, back when you didn’t have to worry about guests throwing/spitting things from the bucket (for the most part!).



In the “don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today” department, the historic Hollywood Center Motel on Sunset Boulevard has burned to the ground. So glad I took the time last March to snap a few shots.



Edited from Empty Los Angeles:

The Hollywood Center Motel - consisting of a 1905-ish house surrounded by bungalows built a few decades later - caught on fire early this morning. The motel, which was originally housing, was recently nominated for landmark status. Victorian houses are very, very rare in Hollywood. LAFD reports that it was a knockdown fire. Citizen reports it was a two-story structure, and a few of the posted videos show fire damage to the original house, El Nido. The motel had a known issue with squatters (a vacate order was posted last month). At least two people were trapped inside the burning house, and one of them had to be taken to a hospital in unknown condition. I was afraid of this. I’ve mentioned previously that we have a demolition-by-neglect problem in Los Angeles, and the motel has had previous fires. Now LAFD’s arson unit is investigating. I also mentioned in an earlier post that the owner of the motel had previously applied for demolition permits, despite not having a replacement project lined up for the site. Because of this fire, they may not need one - at least for poor El Nido.



A fire due to squatters in California? Shocking.

See more Disneyland Skyway photos at my main website.