It's a good thing I was raised to root for the underdog. When I started my tour company a few months back I had no idea how much of an underdog I was to become, and how much rooting would be required for both me and my fellow underdogs.
There was an article several weeks ago in the L.A. Times announcing that the largest tour bus sightseeing company in town and an enormous, successful gossip website/tv show organization were teaming up to offer some sort of stalker/paparazzi tour.
Umm.....Ewwwww!
I was interviewed for the article (which I was told was going to be about various new tours opening in the area). The published article however, mentioned only them and me. I was given two sentences and framed as sort of the 'don't-bother David' with the rest of the article focused on there 'OMG-how-fab Goliath'. When I read this, I remember thinking, "how am I ever supposed to compete with the massive, corporate driven, publicity machine of these people!"
What I offer is as opposite to them as a game of marbles is to Grand Theft Auto but nonetheless, we are both competing for the same sightseeing tourism audience.
Turns out the article shook more than just me up! In short order a call to arms went out (arms of loving support) and the result is:
7 Days In LA is a brand new website/calendar offering 14 different independent tour operators that can give you a variety of was to explore Los Angeles! We are all, in our different ways, 'Artisans of the Tour'. I'm just crazy about my fellows in this endeavor and would recommend any of the tours they do. What's your interest: Hollywood History, Architecture, True Crime Stories, Gay History, Film Locations, Grave Yards? We got 'em and more! Each company has a bio page and there is an updating calendar of tours being offered. Just find something you want and from there you can go to the individual company's website for contact info and ticket purchases.
One day after launching we've been garnering quite a bit of notice already but my favorite is crime novelist Christa Faust tweeted this to 1700 followers:
After her stint at MGM, Shirley finished her High Schooling at Hamilton High.
Hamilton has it's own Hollywood past, posing as the school in many productions including Room 222 and Beverly Hills 90210. After graduation, Shirley ran into a former classmate who was now working at the Earl Carroll Theater in Hollywood. It was he who set up an audition for her. She was told she had the job contingent on her losing 10 lbs.......
You may recall two or three weeks back, I introduced you to my friend Shirley Claire. I finished that post by saying that you haven't heard the last of Shirley. Well I finally got around to enlisting the help of a friend (thanks T!) to start assembling some clips from our chat.
In this first one, Shirley talks about her time as an MGM stock contractee. She was in her early teens at the time, the US had just entered WWII. Historically speaking it gives us a fresh alternative to the usual "I was put under contract - and became a star" scenario. Shirley never got to make one movie! How many hundreds (thousands?) of hopefuls had this story? Of course, Shirley being Shirley, is not bitter and has nothing but fond memories of it.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the magnificent Shirley Claire!
Below are some of the reviews I've received on the tour. They're culled from Yelp, the Goldstar Ticket Service, and emails sent to me directly. Oh my god, I couldn't do better if I'd written them my self.
"My Family has been is the "biz" for a long time. we all love old hollywood and thought we knew so much information about how hollywood started but after taking the Felix Hollywood Tour we realized we know only a little! The stories about how this town began are so riveting and exciting I felt like I was back in the 30's at one point!!! I have recommended this tour to all my friends. It's a lot of fun!!!"
-David Deluise
Actor, Director
"We went on this tour last weekend and had a real blast. It's a great mix of old Hollywood trivia and locations with connections to the current. You'll have a small group, so it's VERY easy to interact and ask questions. It was such a good time I'm recommending it to friends and thinking about doing the tour a second time!" -Helen Simmins-McMillin
"NewsFlash: In Hollywood? Going there? TAKE THIS TOUR/sidestep the traps. My friend Philip will show you the real deal."
-John Wesely Shipp
Actor
"We see the buildings, new and old, the cracked sidewalks with the names of long-ago stars beneath our feet.
What lies unseen and unheard are the stories that happened in old Hollywood. That mute testimony comes to life in Philip Mershon's engaging, well-researched 90 minute walking tour of the heart of old Hollywood. He takes us from the very beginnings of Tinseltown, through its heyday in the 30's to 50's, and to its modern incarnations of skyscrapers juxtaposed with the less-than-glamorous. Highly recommended, especially for locals who want to learn some history beyond the Gray Line tours."
-RobM.
Los Alamitos, CA
"What a great experience! As a Native Angeleno who grew up in Hollywood I remember many of the places on the tour. What I did not know was the history behind the buildings, and the people who created "the industry." Phillip provided a real master class that was informative, interesting and (like its topic), entertaining. Great for residents and tourists alike."
-Mark
"The best tour of Hollywood I've ever had!"
-Carol Arthur Deluise
Actress and wife of the late, great Dom Deluise
"Driving in this area will never be the same. I'll now be thinking about the rich history and fascinating stories that made Hollywood the entertainment capitol of the world."
-Travis Quentin Young
Actor, Los Angeles
"This tour was great! The pace was relaxed, and Philip is very knowlegable about true Hollywood history. I learned a lot about the history of the entertainment industry, and had fun doing it!"
-Jym 'Wizard' DeNatale
Retired Stuntman
"Having attended Hollywood High school and after living and working in film and tv for the last 20 years, I thought I knew all the histories of my town. I was wrong. Philip's tour is exciting and informative. The route is rich with stories and Philip is the right guy to tell them. I will never look at my home town the same again!"
-Charlie Nicholson
Set Decorator
As you can imagine, I'm a little bit over the moon these days and wish to thank you guys for seeing me through from the very beginning.
Happy Daylight Savings everybody.
Ooops, almost forgot - we need a picture! How 'bout this:
Between takes on "The Yank At Oxford" Robert Taylor is all wet. Yes he is!
It's such a relief to have Graham Kerr in the kitchen preparing my Thanksgiving feast.
And while he's busy stuffing my bird, drinking all the hooch, making dinner, I thought I take a moment to count my thankful blessings:
* I'm very thankful to all of you who stop by here every day.
* I'm thankful to have my new tour business, which has brought me more happiness than anything I've ever done. If you haven't been to the website for it yet-do have a look
* Most of all, I'm ever thankful to each host of each blog listed to the right in the "The Ones To Watch" category. Truth is, I'm madly in love with all of you guys. All year you have given me nothing but laughs, love, support, enlightenment, education and encouragement.
As my dear friend ever since I was seventeen years old (hey! It wasn't that long ago) the man behind the lovely-lonely-lusty-looney white face is celebrating his birthday today. In real life, he is as difficult, uncompromising, kind, brilliant and fabulous as his laser-point, razor-sharp stream of conscious writing indicates.
Please take a moment and hop over to The Man Who Told The World and pay him the birthday salute that he expects deserves.
Okay, call it shameless promotion if you will (and it is) but at least it's not shameless Self promotion.
Today, I'm introducing the majority of you to a couple of kooky kids named Rob Giles and Caterina Scorsone. Last June they became husband and wife in the Bride's hometown of Toronto. If it's possible to have a crush on a couple--I got it bad. They are beautiful, they each have ridiculous amounts of talent, and they are my friends.
So, as I was raised with proper manners, let's have ladies first, shall we?
Caterina has been a working actor since the age of 8. Her professional associations include being directed by Eric Stoltz and Emilio Estevez and acting with Ed Harris, Mel Gibson, and Kathy Bates as well as starring in the TV series', Crash and Missing (1-800-Missing).
No flighty actress girl she, Cat also attended Trinity College in the University of Toronto, where she learned literary studies, comparative religions and obtained a poli-sci degree.
In the very recent past, she starred in the Syfy Network's mini series of "Alice" playing the title character in the re-imagined update of the Lewis Carroll classic. It's never a safe bet to re-imagine a classic, and this certainly is a departure from the original "Alice In Wonderland". Caterina's Alice, in addition to being an adult in the 21st century, is tough and urban. She teaches martial arts! But there is a fine line the actress walks brilliantly. She plays her cynical and rigid, and at the same time, you are always aware of a very wounded little girl inside that longs for fairytale endings but is terrified that one more abandonment will be her undoing. It was a blast of a roller coaster ride to watch with mind bending art direction and if you missed it, it'll be on DVD in March.
Up next for my favorite smarty pants is the nail biter "Edge Of Darkness" starring Mel Gibson and it opens at the end of this week (Jan 29), see you there.
And now the gentleman. It is impossible to fully articulate the genius of Rob Giles, the artist or the man. Our friendship began the day we met 5 years ago. We have learned much from each other, and each has carried the other through some harrowing times. The rest of the time, we just laugh. He is one of the funniest people I've ever met. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, as a teen he taught himself to play the drums. Then guitar. Then bass. Then keys. After graduating from the Berkeley School of Music, it was off to New York for a bit, then Nashville for a while, and finally L.A.
I realize I could be accused of being prejudiced, but trying to be as objective as possible, he is my favorite singer/songwriter. And it's really no surprise that he and Cat found each other as he certainly wasn't short changed in the Brainiac department either. He is becoming a much sought after record Producer here. As a writer his melodies are beautiful but always interesting and quite often unexpected. The lyrics are no joke. Intelligent poetry, all at once modern and timeless. His guitar work? Just give him a capo and he can coax an orchestration out of a six string acoustic! And as a singer his voice has many colors and facets and his breath control is simply astounding (especially considering that when I met him, he was still smoking a couple of packs a day). In the performance below (taken with someones iphone, so there's not much quality), he starts a phrase at 2:40 and draws his next breath at just after 3:00!
This song is on his latest album "This Is All In Your Mind"
Go to itunes or cdbaby and get it right now. I've never mislead you.
His next solo album, "The Ghost of Gran Via" will be out in March. (I've heard it, you want it.) If that isn't enough, last year he became the fourth member of the amazing group, The Rescues. Imagine one other man and two women, all with Rob's caliber of musicianship rolled into one supergroup! The Rescues new album "Let Loose the Horses" will be out in April on Universal Republic records.
Now that Cat and Rob taken care of your entertainment needs, carry on. Fabulously.
I just returned from a fabulous luncheon with the devastating Donna Lethal! It was also our first face to face meeting. I could hardly eat in the presence of such wit, beauty and glamor. It is safe to say that she effortlessly lived up to all I had dreamed her to be.
Our historic meeting took place at Victor's Restaurant. A family eatery that is Beachwood and Bronson Canyons' answer to a Denny's. Only with really good food and great coffee.
And what do bloggers eat for lunch? Donna: Eggs Florentine, half order and coffee (didn't I tell you she was glamorous!) Felix: Two eggs, sunny side up, hash browns, buttered rye toast, simply amazing sausages and coffee.
It's pouring and cold today in Hollywood, but the blooming of a fast, furious and wonderful friendship brought sunshine and warmth to the Victor's Square Shopping Center.
Now, when can I meet the rest of you. Victor's is open for dinner!
We sat in the large rounded banquette on the left under the photo
