Trip to OC, Pt. 2

Another day at the Stanley Ranch Museum! Our tour included two vintage homes that had been moved to the Ranch. The first was the Schnitger home, a Craftsman-style home from 1916. The photo below shows the home in its original setting before it was relocated.



In this home, the furnishings were not necessarily original to this home, but were authentic to the home period and appropriately assembled. We were told that the piano had belonged to a local theatre before it was donated to the ranch.



This kiddos of today would have a hard time believing that the main source of entertainment back then would be a radio. No visuals, no scrolling…you just sat and listened. What a concept.



The dining room:



On the table was a display of dishes and info about the Greenbrier Inn, a sanitarium from 1941 which mainly catered to Hollywood celebrities who needed to “dry out” without being under public scrutiny.



 Allegedly, Judy Garland was a patron. It was replaced by a mixed-use complex in the 1980s. Shocking! Vintage postcard views and a matchbook are provided below:



The kitchen - I covet that range!



The last stop on the tour was the Ware-Stanley House, built in 1893 or 1897, depending on whether you choose to believe the historic plaque or an article on socallandmarks.com.



Part of a 40 acre ranch, our guide told us that many of the items inside were original to the home. I loved the details; you just don’t find craftsmanship like this today. Does that make me old for saying that? Probably.





The contraption at right in the living room is not a radio, but an early record player which used cylinders.



How about that wacky tile on the fireplace?



The kitchen was a little low-tech for me. I preferred the one at the Schnitger home.



The bedroom for the kiddies. Sorry, no wifi.



At the back of the house is Garden Grove’s “last outhouse.” No, we didn’t get to go inside.



This beautiful pink rose was at the gate as we exited.



By the time the tour was over, the Going To Guides market was in full swing. If you aren’t aware of Shannon and Going To Guides, you might want to reconsider calling yourself a fan of Disney.



She writes and designs THE most creative and informative guides for Disneyland, DCA, and WDW, sprinkled with photos from yours truly. Get your own copy at Shannon’s website.



Her Etsy shop has many cool items, but my fave are the fandanas. If you think you want a particular one, buy it. Don’t wait. They sell quickly.



Janey (aka Atomic Redhead), legendary pop culture and Disney blogger was there, too. What a great surprise!



Through Janey, I met another creative force, Melissa (aka Amuseboosh), another legend in the Disney community. They pretty much talked me into going to the Anaheim Halloween Parade. I checked with Willis and it looks like he wants to go to.



Thanks to Shannon for putting all of this together! The final installment of this Orange County series will be posted tomorrow. With Disneyland around the corner, did I end my nine-year absence from the Park? You’ll have to return to find out.

See more Stanley Ranch photos at my main website.

Atomic Redhead @ The Chateau

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting up with Janey (blogger supreme) at the Chateau Marmont. Almost eight years had passed since I last saw her (at the Disneyland Hatbox Ghost reappearance). The Chateau had been on her bucket list for two reasons: she appreciates all things vintage and Gram Parsons is her favorite musician (she’d already stayed at the Joshua Tree Inn). The weekend she had booked her visit I was going to be in Hollywood for a photo shoot - the perfect storm! We texted back and forth to make our Chateau lunch arrangements, and I was overjoyed to discover that she was staying in a room I’d never been in before. Hallelujah! Naturally, I had to document this momentous occasion. Janey put on a few finishing touches as I prepared to take some photos of her first Chateau Marmont stay.



The Chateau is not everyone’s taste; people’s reactions as they first experience it serve as a litmus test for me. So far, my close friends have fallen in love with it; Janey was no exception.



Finally, Janey emerged, ready for her closeup. I adore her energy and especially her ability to make vintage seem fresh.



Window with a view:



Relaxing in the living room of her suite with her partner, Patrick:



The large Chateau keys are not easily lost.



Janey will be the first to admit this is a completely posed shot. While she appreciates all things vintage, she is no Donna Reed in the kitchen. She focuses her energies and talents into other arenas!



I don’t drink much soda, but with Janey’s winning smile, I would definitely buy a Coke after seeing this shot!



Notice the shock on Patrick’s face as he sees Janey “cooking.”



A Twix bar served as the final choice; she must have burned whatever was simmering in that pot.



I showed the two a few semi-hidden gems in the hotel, beginning with the gym on the seventh floor.



I had never noticed before that this phone is truly vintage, complete with a rotary dial.



The sun was out as Janey relaxed poolside.



The three of us enjoyed a delicious lunch afterwards. Thanks to Patrick for capturing our reunion.



Gram Parsons shot the cover of his GP album in the same room where we dined. Janey pulled back the curtains to see what was behind them.



It was wonderful to meet up again with these two. Hopefully it won’t be another eight years before that happens again. Head over to Janey’s blog NOW to read her beautifully written account of her Chateau stay. She definitely passed the litmus test.

See more Chateau Marmont photos at my main website.