Monday at the Observatory

When Melissa (aka “The Colonel”) came west, she wanted to visit the Observatory at Griffith Park. We were short on time the day that we picked to go there, so I had to be a master at efficiency. This is known as “chop, chop!” However, the first order of business was breakfast at the Chateau Marmont. Bacon was back on the menu, and this was a cause to celebrate! SJR (on the right) enjoyed her first piece this trip.



Even before opening, the parking lot at Griffith fills up fast, which means you have to find the nearest available spot on the long windy road up to the Observatory. The walk up the hill was good cardio! The shot above is a beautiful view of the city. Below is me trying not to look winded.



First order of business was to visit the James Dean sculpture by the late Kenneth Kendall, an artist who was commissioned by the actor shortly before his death.



No dear readers, that’s not Natalie Wood from “Rebel” on the left; that’s the Colonel, ready for her photo shoot at the location(s) where that movie was filmed.



Normally, I would have said, “Hey Colonel, get the hell out of my photo!” But the COVID screening fence already ruined the shot anyway. Yes, even to walk around on the grounds you had to show proof that you’d been vaccinated or had a negative test. Fresh air can be dangerous, folks!



Finally made it to the Observatory, that supreme example of architecture that opened back in 1935.



The inside is no less impressive. If it weren’t for the crowds of people, the murals, flooring, and other details would have you believe you had walked into a time warp. The rotunda ceiling:





Mesmerizing. I could stare at this pendulum all day long. Well…maybe not that long, but you get the idea.







Indoors, Melissa enjoyed her Emma Stone moment.





And then it was back to “Rebel Without a Cause.”





Although I had to run back to the car to make it to our next destination (read about it tomorrow!), there’s always time to get what I perceived to be a unique shot – the Astronomers Monument with the Hollywood Sign in the background.



Next time I need/want to spend more time there!

See more Griffith Observatory photos at my main website.

Marmont Monday: Room 44

I actually finished my taxes early so that I could squeeze in another stay at the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. As my readers know, this place is my addiction. I was pretty stoked to have a room I had not stayed in before.

There were so many things that raced through my mind when I saw this on the notepad in my room:

One of the first things I did was to take a photo in the same area Anthony Perkins did back in the 1960’s:

Willis had to be front and center. Of course I am wearing my Disneyland Hauntd Mansion Fandana from Going to Guides’ etsy shop.

There were still signs of the pandemic. The garage was still self-park, which makes me somewhat nervous. I don’t know how the valets do it, as the spaces are tight as hell.

Occupancy was still being held to 25%. These branded floor stickers for distancing were in the common spaces:

The living room area restaurant was still lovely, but also still closed.

Typical Willis while at the Chateau: don’t bother me. I’m enjoying the bed.

Typical Willis #2 at the Chateau: give me treats from the table.

It was great to see Amanda and Kamy, who I had not seen at the same time since their wedding a little over a year ago. If Willis looks annoyed, it’s because even though there were more people at the table with us, the treats did not increase exponentially.

Every morning began with a swim in the pool.

I assume the unicorn was to keep the waters pure for the safety of the guests.

Willis was very well behaved while I did my laps.

The view from my room was fab, whether it was day:

Or night:

Breakfast during the week had to be room service. I can deal with that.

…especially with my little buddy beside me.

See more Chateau Marmont photos at my main website.

Vintage Griffith Observatory

When I saw this vintage October 1957 slide available I looked at my Griffith Observatory page and realized, hey...this is a unique view taken from the top of the Observatory that I don't have. My completist gene kicked in and I bought it.

When I added it to my site, I realized I had this 1940s shot that I hadn't posted yet. Oops. This is what happens when you fall behind.



Still, this 1940s photo gives a nice view of a vintage bus...the 1957 one is unobstructed...so I guess there was still a reason to buy it.



Yeah...that's called justification.

And crazy.

One thing I KNOW I need to do is match this shot with a contemporary photo on my next visit.

See more Griffith Observatory photos at my main website.

Matt Marr at Griffith Observatory

When you last saw him, Dancer and Actor Matt Marr was at the Chateau Marmont's Bungalow 2 filling in as James Dean. Today's post shows him at Griffith Observatory, another Hollywood location used in the movie "Rebel Without a Cause." What do you do when you arrive there on a Monday only to find out it's closed? You shoot photos around its amazing exterior.



Matt won third place in the fourth and final season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.



More recently, he told me that he had the honor of dancing to "Singing in the Rain" at the service for Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher.



Here he is posing next to the bust of James Dean, sculpted by the late Kenneth Kendall:



And leaning against the Astronomers Monument at the entrance to the Observatory:



The Astronomers Monument and Sundial (that's what's on top of the monument!) was completed in 1934. The design was by local artist Archibald Garner and was part of the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP).



More Griffith Observatory photos at my main website.

La La Land

I saw the movie "La La Land" the other night and my brain is still buzzing. A movie has not affected me so much since "The Artist" in 2011. This post will contain some spoilers, so if you haven't seen "La La Land," please do so...and then you can come back here.

It's one of those movies that I wanted to immerse myself into and stay for days. Stylistically it is a throwback to the musicals of the fifties, but story-wise, it is a very modern tale of pursuing your dream and what may have to be left behind to do so.

The movie begins with a powerhouse musical number filmed on the offramp of the I-105/110. How the hell did they do this?!? If you're not into musical numbers, just patient...the story line will begin soon enough and you too will be swept away.



It is also a colorful postcard of Los Angeles and Hollywood, featuring some of the iconic landmarks and secret treasures that I adore.

The Angel's Flight Railway was put back in action to film a very short sequence showing the two main characters Sebastian and Mia, played by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.



Oh how I wish it were still working.



The Griffith Observatory is also prominently featured as Mia and Sebastian visit the location where "Rebel Without A Cause" was filmed.















A walk down the Colorado Street Bridge was filmed at just the right time, capturing the globe lights and saturated sunset/sunrise.



I was not so lucky when I shot this photo; the lights had just gone off!



Quite a few scenes take place on the Warner Brothers lot, where Mia works as a barista to help pay the bills while she struggles to be an actress.



The casting call audition scenes are brutal; apparently they were based on actual experiences by both Stone and Gosling.









My fave hotel the Chateau Marmont is shown in a brief clip of where "future" Mia stays while visiting from New York. Unfortunately, the interior room shoots were filmed elsewhere. That was a bit of a buzzkill!



Run...or dance...to the nearest theater that is showing this film.

See more Los Angeles photos at my main website.