Art At The Chateau Marmont

Another post about my Hollywood Hotel obsession, The Chateau Marmont. One of the things I love about it is the decor; eclectic is a good word to describe it, especially in reference to its collection of art. One of my favorite paintings hangs right next to the host stand in the lobby for the restaurant.



According to a post on Instagram, famously tanned actor George Hamilton once owned it and sold it but lost track of it. Years later it wound up at The Chateau to his surprise. The artist is George Albert Harris, and according to my brief web search, it appears he was an American painter, muralist, lithographer, and educator. He was a participant in the WPA Federal Art Project and was among the youngest artists on the mural project at Coit Tower.

The next painting hangs in the stairwell as guests leave the lobby to trudge up to their rooms. This huge work of art appears as if it could have been pilfered from a grand European cathedral.



On a previous visit, I encountered this cool deco work of art hanging in the men's room of the lobby. Yes, my camera goes with me there, too. The artist is German-born Florian Durzynski (1902-1969).Want to know more about him? This WPA Murals website has some interesting info.



This Salvador Dali print can be found in almost every Chateau Marmont guest room. Possibly there was a sale on this one and they got a bulk buy discount.



The cottages near the pool area evoke the Arts & Crafts/Mission era. The art on the walls appropriately reflects that style as well.





This piece hangs in room 34; I have no idea of its origin or the artist, who appears to have been challenged with proportions. I still kind of like it.



A detailed view of the lower right-hand corner:



There are many cool vintage photos that hang in the guest rooms, too:



Liz, back in her glory days:



More Marmont at my main website.

Dinner is served

For the 1955 Joan Crawford classic "Queen Bee" that's so bad it's good, this photograph is probably the most famous publicity still.

Recently, I came across this other shot on the same set that's only slightly less posed.



From the accompanying publicity blurb:

GUESTS FOR JOAN - Joan Crawford's guests are announced by Marvin Lindsay in Columbia's "Queen Bee."



I wonder if the meat was rare?

More Joan at my main website.

Ward Gospel Singers at Disneyland

Today's post features two images of the Ward Gospel Singers on the stage of the Mickey Mouse Club Theater in Fantasyland at Disneyland, circa 1964. Note the Mickey Mouse head on the curtain; up until 1963 it was the headquarters of the Mouseketeers.

A closeup of the singers; note that there are TWO piano players!



From the El Sereno Star newspaper, dated August 27, 1964:

"Disneyland Approaches Summer End"

In addition to Harry James and his band, Disneyland After Dark offers the Elliott Brothers' Orchestra, the Spacemen and Kay Bell, the Firehouse Five Plus Two, the Ward Gospel Singers, the Young Men from New Orleans aboard the Mark Twain steamboat and the Royal Tahitian dancers.

I am "assuming" (oh how dangerous) that these two shots are from that time period.





If you'd like to hear what the Ward Gospel Singers sound like, here's "Something's Got A Hold Of Me" from the Buena Vista LP: The Famous Ward Gospel Singers Recorded Live at Disneyland. It was recorded at the Golden Horseshoe on April 18, 1963 and featured Viola Crowley, Geraldine Jones (lead vocals), Clara Thomas, Vermettya Royster, Mildred Means, and Malvilyn (Simpson) Statham. Enjoy!



More Disneyland photos at my main website.

Christmas of the Future

In December 1960, this is how the Christmas of the Future was imagined at Disneyland. Artificial trees were placed in the small body of water outside of the Monsanto House of the Future with plenty-o-packages tucked underneath. I wonder how many kids tried to jump in the water to fetch those big gleaming packages?



See more House of the Future photos at my main website.

Firehouse Five Plus Two

This September 1964 shot captures the Firehouse Five Plus Two music group performing at Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Saloon. They probably had no idea how fortunate they were to catch this band comprised mainly of Disney artists and animators.

From left to right: on piano is animator Frank Thomas, the banjo player was often illustrator Harper Goff but this does not appear to be him. Erdman (Ed) Penner, a writer, is most likely who the soprano sax player is. Danny Alguire, fingerprint expert formerly with L.A.P.D. is on the cornet, and I'm not quite sure if that's Ward Kimball on the trombone or not. It could be Monte Mountjoy on the drums but his face is cut out, so who knows. The tuba player could also be Ed Penner if he's not the one on the soprano sax, but again…anybody's guess. I am sure someone will chime in with their educated 2 cents.



I'm just as fascinated by this Rube Goldberg instrument!



More classic Golden Horseshoe Saloon photos on my main website.

Monstro's Storybook

This undated 1950s shot taken from the Skyway shows Pinocchio's Monstro, the famous whale that serves as the entryway to Disneyland's famed Storybook Land attraction.

Zooming in, you can see the gigantic Storybook Land Map that advertised the attraction when it first opened.



Another aerial shot with a similar view:



Here's a closeup of that great big beautiful Storybook; wonder what happened to it?



Back to Monstro…thanks to some funky lighting and vintage image fading, he looks like he needs a trip to the dentist.



From January 1959, Monstro's profile:



"To be, or not to be…that is the question."



See more Monstro, both vintage and contemporary, at my main website.

1950s Disneyland Skyway

Today you can go from one end of the Skyway to the other, beginning with this 1950s Tomorrowland Station shot. Although the attraction and station no longer exist, guests who were able to ride it still have many fond memories of the scenic overhead views that it provided.



Over in Fantasyland, the Swiss Chalet structure still stands, although its fate of demolition is most likely going to occur soon.



A closeup of another satisfied guest in this July 1959 image, attempting to snap a photograph of her own:



Float on over to my main website for more Disneyland Skyway magic.

Daveland Behind The Scenes

I had worked with Keith Kirkwood, 2013 #6 Maxim Magazine Sexiest Man In The World, MMA Champion, and Movie/TV Producer a few months ago; when he needed a few shots to submit to a magazine he reached out to me. It just so happened I was going to be meeting some friends up in Hollywood so the stars aligned perfectly and I was able to squeeze a shoot in.



My friend Helen from St. Louis had flown in, and she had no problem hanging out on the sidelines while I was working, especially since Keith is so easy on the eyes. However, she couldn't just sit still. She decided to document what was going on.



A closeup shot can hide a lot…



why bother with shoes?



Behind the shoot…



and the result:



While Keith changed outfits, Helen took a selfie:



Back to work:



The sunset over Sunset Boulevard made for a beautiful backdrop:



Helen even found herself playing a guest role in the shoot:



It shouldn't be long before she gets discovered.

See more of my photography at my main website.

Debbie and Eddie on Main Street

On Opening Day at Disneyland, July 17, 1955, Walt visits with America's Sweetheart, Debbie Reynolds and then hubby Eddie Fisher.

Note the strategically placed promo for Coca Cola. Yup…even in the 1950's there was product placement.



Debbie seemed to be going for a rustic look with her thatched hat and homemade snack tin. I hope she wasn't bringing snacks INTO the park!



Four years later, Eddie had dumped Debbie for Elizabeth Taylor and returned to the Park. America lost interest in Eddie the snake and so did Liz.



More Disneyland Day One Magic at my main website.

Alla and The Lonely Heart

Across the street from my beloved Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard once stood the Garden of Allah Hotel. Consisting of a main house and villas, this lovely complex was torn down to make way for a strip mall. Here in this vintage photo from September 10, 1940 we can see the hotel behind its namesake (whose name had no "h"). From the accompanying publicity blurb:

Conferring on the radio script for "This Lonely Heart" beside the pool at The Garden of Allah in Hollywood, are Arch Oboler, writer-director-producer of Everyman's Theatre and Alla Nazimova, internationally famous star. Oboler's forthcoming dramatic series for Proctor and Gamble will make its debut on the NBC-Red Netowkr October 4 with Nazimova as the first guest star. Gordon Jenkins, whom Oboler has chosen as musical director of the series, will lead a symphony orchestra composed of members of the Los Angeles Symphony in the Tschaikowsky music, which serves as the musical background for "The Lonely Heart."



If you want to see the proposed Frank Gehry ginormous structure that might replace the strip mall, check out Curbed LA. There goes the view, Sunset Boulevard neighbors!

Visit my main website and see more Garden of Allah photos.

A Tale of Two Tour Guides

This 1962 Tomorrowland shot is fairly unremarkable at first glance, but…there are dueling Tour Guides!

On the left, we have Tour Guide #1.



You just know that the one on the right is showing shade against her counterpart. It could get nasty if the two groups cross paths.



Plenty more Disneyland Tour Guides at my main website.

A Mustang And A Mouse

This Mustang is so new, it still has the plastic on the seats! Or maybe it's a slipcover. Either way, I am digging this shot at the entrance from July 1964 with Mickey and friends. I am more interested in the vintage camera around the kid's neck.



More of the Mouse at my main website.