Felix In Hollywood

A Blog for the Smart Set

Thursday, September 30, 2010

I Just Adore A Penthouse View...

If you drive down Vine St. in Hollywood, at the intersection of Melrose Ave. Vine becomes Rossmore and remains so until it terminates at Wilshire.  There is a short stretch of Rossmore (namely, between Melrose and Beverly) that has always kind of reminded me of Manhattan's Riverside Drive....without the river.  It's because of the apartment buildings there.  There are two Grande Dame buildings on this street; The Ravenswood (where Mae West lived) and the El Royal (often referred to as the Dakota of the west coast):

The list of Tinseltown luminaries who have resided here, either short or long term, include George Raft, Loretta Young, Clark Gable and William Frawley.  Frawley had lived there a short few months when on a stroll down Hollywood Blvd., not far from his former residence at the Kickerbocker, he collapsed and died in front of Leeds Shoes.  It has been erroneously stated that he was still living at the Knickerbocker when he died, not true.  A former neighbor of Frawley's at the El Royale recalls Bill knocking on his door in the afternoons to borrow a walnut for his martini! (for those who imbibe, and are daring, try it and let me know)  Judy Holliday lived there with her mother while she was filming "Born Yesterday".  This fact is verified by no less than an FBI report. (well she might have been a commie, you know)

By the 1990s and 2000s, it became hipster central with tennants such as:  Uma Thurman, Cameron Diaz, Nicholas Cage, Ben Stiller, Katie Holmes, Jack Black, Judd Apatow, Ellen Page.

And right now (act fast, supplies limited) the Penthouse of the El Royale is offered for rent! A two story, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath Penthouse can be yours.  Let's have a look!
Go ahead and walk in.


Lobby

Oh, heck I waited to long!  I was researching this earlier this morning, looking at pictures and deciding to do this post once I got to work.  Well I just went to get the pictures, and apparently it's just been rented, all of the listings are down!  Well if it's any consolation the pictures weren't that great:  The kitchen was completely, and uninspiringly modernized.  But the bathrooms were faithfully original, one in sunshine gold and black tile, the other in a seafoam green and black tile.  Below is the view you would have enjoyed:

The penthouse was listed on the 16th of this month at $9500 per month.  Two days ago, it was re-listed at $8500.  Apparently that did the trick.


 UPDATE!
I was just able to locate some of those pictures and here they are:


Lobby:

Entry of Building:


Living Room with original floors:

Looking into Dining Room:

Green Bathroom:


Ho hum Kitchen:

Private Terrace:

Monday, September 27, 2010

It Was Just So Much More Innocent Back Then.



In the ongoing battle about the, supposedly illegal, supergraphics on buildings in Los Angeles, I thought I'd post the above picture of a building that is actually a storage facility on Highland Ave.  just south of Santa Monica Blvd.  This was how it looked a year or two ago, and though this ad is more graphically appealing than most of them, I would love to see them all gone.


Above is a proof of the same building in all it's 1930 glory.  Quite lovely for a storage building, really.  I makes me yearn for the innocence of an earlier time.   Innocence that is beautifully described from this 1930 article in the Los Angeles Times:

(Dec. 7, 1930 LA Times)
VICE RAID NETS 366 AMID RIOT

Party on Top of Hollywood Building Raided
Four Girls Among Prisoners Seized in Foray
Hundred and Fifty Officers Battle Revelers
-----------
In perhaps the most spectacular raid ever conducted by Los Angeles police, nearly 400 persons were arrested early yesterday on morals charges when 150 officers broke up what they said was a wild stag party on the fourteens floor of Hollywood Storage Building, 1025 North Highland avenue. All but four of the prisoners were men.
The raid was the result of a tip received by vice squad officers and four detectives, clad in tuxedos, were assigned to gather evidence. They arrived early and mingled with other spectators, who paid $1 each for admission. The affair was billed as a "fraternity benefit smoker" and early in the evening began to take on the aspect of an orgy, according to the police report.
BATTLE STARTS
Not until nearly midnight, however, did the vice squad officers feel that the revelry had reached its height, when four young women appeared in what was described as an indecent performance. This was climaxed, they declared, by another dance in which the four appeared without even a semblance of drapery. Rushing toward the exits, the detectives announced that every spectator was under arrest.
Meanwhile, just outside and in the streets below, guarding every means of escape, were 150 reserves who had been summoned in anticipation of a riot. Dozens of men attempted to flee by means of fire escapes, but they were driven back by officers who had expected such attempts.
Hand-to-hand fights were numerous as the officers rushed into the hall, once an exclusive Hollywood night club, and beer bottles crashed through windows as the melee increased in violence. Several thousand persons had gathered in the street below to watch the proceedings.
GIRLS DENY CHARGE
A check-up revealed 362 men had been arrested in addition to the four women. The latter described themselves as: Ruth Williams, 21 years of age, of 1347 North Serrano street; Isabelle Clemons, 20, of 420 Fetterly street; Doloros Moreno, 19, transient, and Ruth Scott, 22, of 1215 West Tenth street. They pleaded not guilty before Municipal Judge Eagen to the charge of being dissolute persons. Bail was fixed at $150 each pending trial on the 19th inst.
Six of the men taken into custody were booked as promoters of the show. They gave their names as Glen B. Mates and George N. Hammond of Glendale; Harry Gaston of Long Beach, Otto Good of Ocean Park, and Lloyd Baxter and Ray J. Faeth of Los Angeles.
Deputy City Prosecutor McDonald announced he will press vagrancy charges against the 362 men, including the asserted promoters of the show.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Oops!



Looks like Bette Davis and Kay Francis were drag racing down Barham Blvd. again!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Mystery, And The Smarties, Get Revealed!


So who is the Mystery Guy?  Shortly after posting his picture I got two emails, back to back with the correct answer.

The first was from our lovely new friend Barbara, which makes her "The Smartest Girl In School"!

The second was from our own favorite Man-Minx, TJB of SSUWAT fame, making him "The Smartest Boy In School"!

Now, for the rest of our panel:  Take off your blindfolds (you'll be sorry you did) and meet ---




Inmate #1873015


PHIL SPECTOR.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Mystery Guest, Will You Enter And Sign In Please!


So, if you've seen this picture before, or know for sure who this chap is, feel free to send me an email, but let the gang have a guess at it.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

The Website Is Up, The Website Is Up!!!

It's been a very busy couple of days around here, what with selling tickets (oh yes I have!) and trying to stretch my nontechnical mind to wrap around building a website:


But at long last -- SUCCESS!  Now, before you get too excited and rush over to have a look, I have to say; it's a pretty uninspiring website.  But let's think on the bright side shall we.  The more tickets that are purchased, I'll be that much closer to being able to hire a web designer to spruce things up over there!

So before you hop in the car to come and take the tour:


You have to go to the new website and shop for your tickets!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Felix Reaches Into His Bag Of Tricks...

Dearest friends - I've been hinting and suggesting, and suggesting and hinting that I would soon have an announcement to make;  well here it is.



THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I am launching my own guided tour company!

Get off the bus and take a walk with me!


"...In A Place Called Hollywood:  a stroll through the first 100 years of Tinseltown."

I have designed and scripted a fascinating exploration of the 7 block stretch in Hollywood where it all began.  We'll talk about how Hollywood (the town) happened and why Hollywood (the business) happened here.  We'll discover the origins of 4 major film companies, 3 radio networks, 3 television networks, 3 record companies, and 2 world class recording studios with a list of hit records to their credit that will knock you off your feet.  There are tons of stories, anecdotes, facts, gossip and fun!  I've also compiled a wonderful book of photographs to show you what it all looked like.



Following My Bliss
This is a topic that I love, and have researched and studied, literally for years, and I'm a born story teller.  That combined with the fact that I will walk to work, and walk for work make this a rather perfect thing.  I've given this tour about a dozen times now to a broad range of people from Old Hollywood Geeks like us, to people who think that Hollywood means TMZ and the latest reality star, and everyone has loved it.



What It Is And How To Play
Tours will begin on September 24th and presently will be offered twice daily at 1pm and 4pm.  They are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  More times and more days will be added as they become necessary.  All of the tours will be intimate (generally 6 to 8 people), and they will last about an hour and 45 minutes.  There are lots of great restaurants on the tour route so if you want a drink or a bite to eat before or after the tour, there's no need to go any further.  Make an afternoon of it.  It is a 1 mile walking tour, so throw on some sunscreen, some comfortable (yet stylish) shoes, grab a camera, and let's go!

**Here's a Thought**  Get a group together and combine  the tour with a meal at one of the local restaurants for a great Birthday Event!

The cost of the tour is $30, but for a grand opening special, let's knock off $5 and make it $25. I'll make that price good till the end of Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 28).

Visit the website


By Now You're Probably Thinking, "What A Terrific Idea, How Can I Help?"
Well kiddies I'll tell ya.  The success and growth of this company necessitates that I become a publicity whore.  So if you want to blog about it, or Facebook about it, or Tweet about it, you'd be doin' me a solid.  If you know anyone from an L.A. hotel concierge; let them know.  If you know any body in newspapers, magazines, radio or
TV (!!Jackpot!!), have them email me.  I am open to all media requests.

Needless to say, in addition to the regular content that you've come to expect, this blog will be faithfully reporting on progress of things.  You guys are the best, thank you.



Now here's a little music for ya!
Going Hollywood-Bing Crosby by felixinhollywood

My Theme Song by felixinhollywood

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Maybe The Oddest Couple Of All...

I have been furiously working on a new project the last couple of weeks (stay tuned for an announcement about that!) and as a result I haven't checked in with my favorites much.  I was trying to work my way through the backlog on everybody (a two day process for Chateau Thombeau alone!), when I arrived at the always fascinating and informative Poseiden's Underworld.  It was there that everything started spinning, turning purple and going dim when I read that while studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Art, Grace Kelly was a classmate of Don Rickles!!!




I KNOW!!!


So, here's the thing.  My guess is they must of done scene work together.  What, in the history of great two-character scenes, do you think they did?  Or if you were their teacher, what scene would you assign to them? 

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Friday, September 3, 2010

Wow!


If you've ever, even once in you life, said, "Oh my, that's a pretty car," then you must watch the clip below.  I'm not kidding.




It's a good thing for L.A. that I'm not a millionaire, because you guys would get pretty sick of seeing me everywhere, everyday, with Donna Lethal riding shotgun!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Wednesday, September 1, 2010