Hollywood Hot Spots

These two images are linen postcards of night spots from the golden age of Hollywood. (Information about how linen postcrds were made can be found in my post of 7/3/10 Catalina in Postcards.) The first Brown Derby was opened 1926 by Herbert Samborn at 3427 Wilshire Blvd. and was shaped like a derby hat. It was so popular with the Hollywood crowd, that Samborn opened a second, more conventionally designed restaurant at 628 Vine St. near the corner of Hollywood Blvd. It opened on Feb. 14, 1929. This is the building depicted in this postcard. A third Brown Derby was opened in Beverly Hills, and the final one in the chain was opened on Los Feliz Blvd. They have, since, all been closed. In 1934, Samborn died and the restaurants were taken over by Robert Cobb, the inventor of the Cobb salad. One of the anecdotes I've found about the Brown Derby; noted for it's movie star caricatures, the restaurant's manager would place those of married couples and actors who were dating, together. If the marriage or relationship ended, the caricatures would be moved to opposite walls. I've already written about the history of the Earl Carroll Theatre-Restaurant in a previous post, dated 8/18/09, which can be easily accessed by clicking on night club in the labels section. The Earl Carroll Theatre opened on December 26, 1938. Both of these cards were published by the same company, "WESTERN PUBLISHING & NOVELTY CO., LOS ANGELES, CALIF." "C.T. ART-COLORTONE REG. U.S. PAT. OFF." On the back of the Brown Derby card, "The famed Brown Derby on Vine Street, Hollywood, with it's adjacent distinctive bamboo roof, is the acknowledged center of the smart social life of the movie colony." The Earl Carroll postcard, "The Earl Carroll Theatre-Restaurant in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard near Vine, is a favorite Nite Spot in the Film Capitol of the the World. Seating arrangements are terraced so all guests may enjoy unobstructed view of the lavish stage productions with "Sixty of the Most Beautiful Girls in the World." Both of these cards are unused.

Prims USA

I found a lot about this company. In 1530 in Aachen, Germany, goldsmith Wilhelm Prym began manufacturing household goods of brass and copper. In 1642 the Prym family moved the business to Stolberg, Germany. Jump ahead to 1924 when company president, Hans August Prym set up William Prym, Inc. USA as an exclusive importer and sales agent for Prym products in the United States. In 1939 the American branch of the company moved its headquarters to Dayville, Connecticut. In 1946, Herman Koehl, working with Hans Prym, invented the cover your own button and buckle. In 1988 Prym acquired the Dritz Corp., a major maker of sewing notions, sewing gadget and beaded hand bags. Now Prym Dritz Corporation, the company, with it's factories in North Carolina, became a major manufacturer of sewing notions. After several other aqusitions, the name of the company, in 2005, was changed to Prym Consumer, USA. There is a lot more out there, both on the Prym website and from other sources, but way to much for me to transcribe. There was a press release pasted to the back of the horizontal photo of the model, "QUICK-CHANGE BELT combines the quaint charm of Lucy Locket pockets with the practical efficiency of G.I. money belts. Prims cover-your-own slim buckles at each side reiterate cheery red of bright plaid pockets; are readily adjustable to insure snug fit over either slim or gathered skirt. Prims cover-your-own halo buttons are used for fashion as well as function, repeating the gay yellow of the belt's all-purpose cotton. FROM: Press Release, Inc. 220 East 42nd Street New York, N.Y. For: William Prym, Inc. Dayville, Conn. WILLIAM PRYM, Inc. 350 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK 1, N.Y." I found it a little strange that a company involved in women's fashions would advertise something as being like a G.I. money belt.

At Work

I'm always amazed at how few work place photos I've run across. Labeled, "N.J. 1946." New Jersey? It looks like a garment factory, and I should know. My mother was once a member of the ILGWU, and I've spent more than a few days of my life on the factory floor. The lady in the quilted coat either likes her job, or likes to goof off.

The Blackhawk Restaurant

I've always thought that the strongest nostalgia is nostalgia for things we've never known. When I was born, in 1955, the era of the big band was all but over. I don't drink, smoke, and even though I feel quite comfortable riding my bike through L.A. traffic and standing on the edge of cliffs, I feel so rhythmically challenged, I've never dared to take up dancing. And yet, I've always felt that I've missed out on something in not being around when men and women dressed up and headed off for an evening at the local ball room. This is an interesting group of photos, each found in a Blackhawk Restaurant souvenir photo folder. The picture of the two ladies having dinner is dated "May 3, 1945," so we know that these picture were taken right as the second world war was ending. (Note that the woman on the right is in all three images.) The Blackhawk was in the loop, the business heart of Chicago, and since all three photos are of woman only, it presents two possibilities. These might have been housewives enjoying a weekly get together, or they might have been employed in downtown Chicago. The second photo of the four women has, "Best wishes, Earl Randall" hand written on the margin. It's the final image that really intrigued me. Propped up, in the middle of the table, in it's souvenir folder, the five women are displaying the second photo from this set. The Blackhawk Restaurant was founded by Otto Roth and first opened on December 27, 1920. In 1926, the Blackhawk added a dance floor and hired Carlton Coon-Joe Sanders and the Kansas City Nighthawks as a house band. In 1931, when Coon-Sanders moved on to other venues, a series of acts took up residence at the Blackhawk, including, Kay Kyser, Louis Prima , Mel Torme, and Bob Crosby and the Bobcats. (I've posted a photo of Kay Kyser on 6/8/10 and Bobcat drummer Ray Bauduc on 2/1/10) Big band broadcasts from the Blackhawk were featured on Chicago radio station WGN, and nationwide on the Mutual. There was a telegraph key at the restaurant so that radio listeners could make song requests. In 1944, on the death of his father, Don Roth took over the Blackhawk. In 1952, with a decline in popularity of big band music, he removed the band stand and dance floor, and made "Food the show." Prime rib was hand carved at the diner's table, while other waiters hand made salads in a spinning bowl. The Blackhawk closed in 1984, though a second Blackhawk Restaurant, in Chicago suburb, Wheeling, IL., which had opened in 1969 remained in business until December 31, 2009. In my research I found a postcard from the 1930's that was captioned, "The Blackhawk, the most famous theatre restaurant in the world." As always, more souvenir photo folders can be seen by clicking on night club in the labels section.

French Postcard One More Time

Yet another French postcard. 19th century porn, tame now.

Atlantic City 1924

It's always nice when things are dated, and all three of these images are dated, "Aug. 16, 1924." In addition, the one with the adult woman and child is labeled, "Mrs. Kravitz and Albert." Little Albert seems to be wearing a dress of some kind. The one with the girls sitting on the sand, "Gus and Jen Atlantic City." And the two girls standing, "Dot and Jen Atlantic City." Dot and Jen have their initials on their swim suits. Click on Atlantic City in the labels section, to bring up another old boardwalk photo.

Pasadena Portrait

Found in a paper folder, written in light pencil along the right border, "Bennett" along the bottom, "Pasadena." From the twenties.