Hollywood & Vine and The Brown Derby

The corner of Hollywood and Vine gained fame during Hollywood’s Golden Age of the 1930s as the most popular columnists of the day would broadcast “live” from radio station KFWB. It also became the crossing point of the newly installed Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1958. Above is a genuine FauxD© shot from August 1952, followed by a static one below, circa July 7, 1966. Everyone wanted their photo taken underneath the street sign there.



Also shot on July 7, 1966 is this image taken in front of the Brown Derby restaurant, located at 1628 N. Vine Street. By this time, its original façade had been “modernized.” Yuck.



How it looked back in its heyday:



John Agar and his then wife Shirley Temple often dined there:



Final one for today is another FauxD© image from August 1952 taken in front of the restaurant:



See more Hollywood photos at my main website.

Thursday at the Museum: Jean Harlow

I recently saw a number of rare Jean Harlow items on display at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. She was the 1930s platinum blonde bombshell and comedienne supreme who died way too soon.



There were so many “wows” to see, especially this 1937 painting by Tino Costa, “Farewell to Earth.” A blog post from 2019 covered a bit of the backstory for this 52" x 80" piece of art.



A detailed view of the painting, which was completed after Harlow’s untimely passing at the tender age of 26.



A better shot of the stunning painting from the 2016 Bonhams auction, unencumbered by display glass and other exhibit items overlapping it:



MGM Prop Department Silver Trophy used in two Jean Harlow films (“Red Headed Woman,” 1932, and “Suzy,” 1936) and the 1952 musical classic, “Singin' in the Rain,” from the Brian Bundy collection.



Jean Harlow Frankart Cigarette Holder, 1930s. This art deco treasure from the Brian Bundy collection almost makes me want to smoke.



Jean Harlow in her Club View Drive sunroom with the Frankart Cigarette Holder in the background, 1932:



If the cigarette holder doesn’t get you puffing, maybe this gigantic Jean Harlow Lucky Strike ad will (Marne Rafter collection)!



A Jean Harlow brocade purse, from the Brian Bundy collection:



Jean Harlow’s Rex rabbit fur sleeves on a replica gown, from the Darrell Rooney collection:



Vine Street Brown Derby Jean Harlow caricature by Vitch, from the Darrell Rooney collection:



The Vine Street Brown Derby in Hollywood where the above caricature was on display:



In 1936, Jean purchased three chiffon silk handkerchiefs in different colors: pale blue, navy blue (below, from the Brian Bundy collection):



…and cream-colored (also from the Brian Bundy collection):



1935 photo of Rose Davies (sister of actress Marion), William Powell, and Jean Harlow at Hearst Castle from the Darrell Rooney collection:



The same area at Hearst Castle when I visited in 2010:



1936 Joseff's of Hollywood simulated diamond and aquamarine brooch worn by Jean Harlow in “Libeled Lady.” Also worn by Lucille Ball in “Two Smart People” (1946).



The numbers for room 826 at the Good Samaritan Hospital, where Harlow checked into on June 6, 1937. These pot metal numbers came from the 8th floor just before the wing was demolished.



From the Darrell Rooney collection comes this April 29, 1932 “Grand Hotel” autographed register from the film’s premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.



1932 Grand Hotel premiere register autographs, including Harlow and husband, Paul Bern.



A photo from the Robin Smith collection showing Bern and Harlow’s arrival at the premiere, signing the register:



A star-studded 1937 MGM Café signed menu from the Darrell Rooney collection:



An MGM Leo the Lion family paperweight from the May 3, 1937 sales delegate luncheon, from the Marne Rafter collection. This was where “Girl 27: The Patricia Douglas Story” took place.



MGM Executive Sam Katz and Jean Harlow at the May 3, 1937 luncheon:



There are very few color photos of Jean. Here’s a beauty from the Darrell Rooney collection, circa 1937 Jean Harlow, shot by James Doolittle:



Hearth tiles by Davis and MacDonald of Los Angeles, were recovered from the fireplace of Jean’s last home at 512 N. Palm Drive in Beverly Hills, and are part of the Darrell Rooney collection.



Also from the Darrell Rooney collection is this photo of famed illustrator James Montgomery Flagg sketching Jean for a 1936 Photoplay magazine cover:



The sketch itself! For whatever reason, this illustration was never used by the magazine. Glad it still exists!



If you’re excited to go to the Heritage Museum to see these items, unfortunately, the exhibit ended last weekend.



See more Hollywood Heritage Museum photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Three Short Biers at The Brown Derby

Shirley Temple often dined at the Brown Derby Restaurant, as you can see in this 1945 shot. She appears to be intently reading Three Short Biers by Jimmy Starr.



Born February 3, 1904, Jimmy Starr was an American screenwriter and columnist. Starr began at MGM as an office boy at the young age of fifteen. In 1923, Starr was hired as motion-picture editor of the Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, where he wrote his “Cinematters” column until 1930. Starr worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood during the 1930s. From the 1940s he worked as a film writer and columnist, providing reviews and insights into the film world, and occasionally made cameo appearances in the movies. In 1947, his novel The Corpse Came C.O.D. was made into a  film with George Brent and Joan Blondell. The nightclub in the film was a recreation of the famous Ciro’s on Sunset Boulevard. The Disneyland Connection: from March 1956-September 1959, in Disneyland’s Town Square, there was a shop called Jimmy Starr’s Show Business Souvenirs, which sold movie photos, autographs, and collectible movie book. The shop also had movie props on display, including a few from the “Zorro” TV series with Guy Williams that was all the rage at the time the store was open. When it closed, the store was replaced by Wonderland Music. Want to see Jimmy? Here he is from the back cover of the book Shirley is reading:



After retirement from the Hollywood scene, Starr moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked at the Ramada Inn headquarters as Director of Advertising and Public Relations. He donated many of his papers and photographs to Arizona State University in the 1970s before dying on August 13, 1990.
 
Here’s a color image of the book’s cover:



…and the inside flap from the dust jacket:



Back to Shirley, you can see the caricatures that surround her. Far left looks like Noah Beery and to her right would appear to be Ronald Colman.Directly above her MIGHT be Shirley herself, but it’s hard to tell. What do you think?



See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Hollywood, August 1952 in Faux©D!

Two images for today from August 1952, served up in Genuine Faux©D! The first one shows our vintage gang outside the famous Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant on 1628 North Vine Street.

Thanks to a Google Maps shot from about a year ago, it would appear that the building is still there:



Image number two was taken at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street:



Get a load of those deals! A Cold Plate with sliced ham, salami, cheese, liverwurst, tomato slice, and potato salad for only 60¢!! Hold the liverwurst, please. On the other side, Chopped Steak (freshly ground!), vegetable, potato, roll and butter for only 5¢ more!



Obviously this is a vintage photo; not taken within the last few years!

See more Hollywood photos at my main website.

Dining At The Derby

Slides of the original Brown Derby restaurant are difficult to come by (at reasonable prices, at least!). Somehow I recently scored this 1954 shot of the original Wilshire Boulevard location which opened in 1926. We need more buildings in the shape of a hat, don’t you think? Gotta’ get closer for a view of the entrance area:

A previously posted shot of the roof and sign from 1963:

A closeup of the sign:

By the 1980s all the original Brown Derby Restaurant locations had closed, and in 1987 the brand was licensed to the Walt Disney Company. I had the pleasure of visiting the Walt Disney World location in 2010; they did a damn good job recreating the look and feel of the original. Here’s their version of the sign:

I was most excited to try their Grapefruit Cake, which was delish:

Want the recipe? Of course you do.

Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake

1 1/2 cups cake flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs, separated

3 tbsps grapefruit juice

1/2 tsp grated lemon rind

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Brown Derby Grapefruit Cream Cheese Frosting

2 - 6oz packages cream cheese

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp grated lemon rind

3/4 cup powdered sugar 6 to 8 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

1 -1 lb can grapefruit sections, or fresh grapefruit in segments

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in mixing bowl. Make a well in center of dry ingredients. Add water, oil, egg yolks, grapefruit juice and lemon rind. Beat until very smooth. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar separately until whites are stiff but not dry. Gradually poor egg yolk mixture over whites, folding gently with a rubber spatula until just blended. Do not stir mixture. Pour into an ungreased pan. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly touched with finger. Invert pan on cake rack until cool. Run spatula around edge of cake. Carefully remove from pan. With serrated knife, gently cut layer in half. Let cream cheese soften at room temperature. Beat cheese until fluffy. Add lemon juice and rind. Gradually blend in sugar. Beat until well-blended. Add coloring. Crush several grapefruit sections to measure 2 teaspoons. Blend into frosting. Spread frosting on top of bottom half of cake. Tap with several grapefruit sections. Cover with second layer. Frost top and sides, and garnish with remaining grapefruit pieces.

Final part of the recipe: invite me over for a large piece. Below is a shot of one of the original Brown Derby neon signs, which is now part of the Neon Museum in Glendale’s collection:

And just for Lou & Sue...a shot from one of the funniest “I Love Lucy” episodes which took place at the Brown Derby (but was filmed on a soundstage):

See more Brown Derby Restaurant photos at my main website.