Quote:
Originally Posted by ethereal_reality
A fantastic view of Hollywood Blvd. at Highland Ave. (note the J.C. Penney)
 ebay
-this was written on the back. (note the word ethereal  )
We've discussed the Hollywood Hotel numerous times on the thread, but I don't remember it being built as a Catholic institution.
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I have never heard, nor do I find any information in my books that the Hollywood Hotel was built as any kind of a religious institution. The writer must have been mistaken. Perhaps because when the Hotel was expanded at one time to include the entire block, they built an extensive lobby that included the "ethereal" Orchid room, a music room, and also a chapel. Also interesting--a lady from the Hershey (chocolate) family owned the Hotel for nearly thirty years.
Love this pic e_r, I happened to be right there yesterday!
Notice the sign on the left for the Cafe Montmartre. There is a Hollywood Historical marker on the street now citing the location. It was a club where Bing Crosby used to sing when he arrived in Hollywood in the early 30's. The space is still there and used as a theatrical venue. The space below it where the awnings are now houses the Hollywood Wax Museum and the Snow White Cafe. Since Madame Tussaud's opened a few years ago next to the Chinese Theatre I don't know how it stays in business. It was always really kind of cheesy, especially compared to the Madame's. (They filmed an episode of Beverly Hillbillies in there if I'm not mistaken.) The Snow White Cafe proudly states it's been there "Since 1946."
The next street you come to is McCadden place. On the east corner where it says "Billiards" is where the Pickwick Bookstore opened, a year after this photo was taken, and remained there for nearly 60 years. It is now partially a Starbuck's. I date the photo as 1937 as Captains Courageous is playing at the Hollywood Theater across the street. My Hollywood history book (the place, not the industry) says the Hollywood Theater is the oldest theater in Hollywood. It says it was the first theater to angle the theatre marquees to appeal to car drivers on the road. The theater and marquee are still there, but the space now houses the Guiness Book of World Records museum.
If you took a photo from this exact location today it would look remarkably the same. (There's a lot more trees now.)
By the way, if you turn left on McCadden and go up a building or two you'd see the famous Don the Beachcomber's restaurant. It was first a bar on the east side of McCadden and then a restaurant and bar opened across the street in 1937. A famous "studio publicized date" took place there with Montgomery Clift and Marilyn Monroe. I ate there a few times in the 80's and they had a booth with a picture of Joan Crawford above it. She apparently used to take lunch there on occasion and sign autographed pictures for the publicity department. The bar contained photos of celebrities and military men of the 1940's making up drinks that became famous, like the Zombie and Navy Grog. It is said the first pu pu platter was served there.
http://travilla.blogspot.com.html
Alas, it's one of those places that in 1985, like the Wilshire Brown Derby, was closed for remodeling, which meant they tore it down after no one was looking.
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