Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired_in_Texas
Adolph "Eddie" Brandstatter was somewhat of a fraud and a thief in using the name "Sardi's" as the "real" Sardi's is located in New York City at 234 West 44th Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue) and was established in 1927. The bit about the star caricatures began when founder/owner Vincent Sardi thought it an idea that would attract business. Obviously he was right and it appears that Brandstatter had no shame in attempting to capitalize on that idea. Given that Vincent Sardi immigrated from Italy one has to wonder if the fire at the Hollywood fake Sardi's may have been Mafia folks looking out for fellow Italians.
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This is not a defense of Eddie B's questionable entrepreneurial ethics, but his activities regarding Sardi's Hollywood may not have been exactly as you portray them. Of course confusion is the norm when, allegedly, Brandstatter's obituary (erroneously) credited him with one-time ownership of NY Sardi's.
http://historylosangeles.blogspot.co...eally-are.html
Adorning an eatery with caricatures may have been novel, but maybe not. Per one source, "Vincent Sardi wanted to imitate a Paris restaurant, Zelli's, that placed caricatures on the walls of the restaurant."
http://archives.nypl.org/the/21509 It bears noting that Brandstatter was born in France and waited tables there too.
http://books.google.com/books?id=MjP...tatter&f=false NY Sardi's catered to the Broadway Crowd and Broadway celebrities. With the growth of Hollywood and its well known product, many Broadway celebrities became Hollywood Movie Stars too. It is only a guess that despite the blurred lines, LA Sardi's capitalized mostly on the latter type of celebrity. I could be wrong, but walls with caricatures (and 8 x 10's) has taken on a life of its own. Consider the Brown Derby and so many tailors, shoe makers, dry cleaners and even Post Offices in Hollywood. Of course, beyond the similarity of cuisine served amidst caricatures, there is the Sardi's name, which lends itself to several plausible possibilities. (
Is Original Tommy's better than Tom's No. XXX? )
NY Sardi's may have been an "overnight" success when it opened in the Roaring '20s, but by 1922, Brandstatter was a well established LA impresario with his Montmartre. Here is a 1927 article about EB apparently authored by Tom Mix.
http://books.google.com/books?id=7vc...tatter&f=false
EB
may have had an understanding (formal or informal) with NY Sardi regarding LA Sardi's. At least one source identifies the LA Sardi's as a "sister" to the NY restaurant.
http://allanellenberger.com/sardis-restaurant-then-now/ https://www.facebook.com/VintageLosA...61803547225972 The existence and/or extent of any relationship between the two entities remains unclear.
It would be interesting to know how far in advance of the project EB planned to use the Sardi's name. The Depression caused many to retool their business plans. Whether and how this influenced EB and his LA Sardi's enterprise - is speculative. Startup dates between the two restaurants was roughly 5 years. In the thick of the Depression, it may not have been economically practical for NY Sardi's to take any action to protect its business name and reputation in CA. It is equally possible that for a handshake and nominal consideration, LA Sardi's could have started
with NY Sardi's knowledge and approval. Per my earlier query, Sardi's started out as the Gore Building and underwent a substantial facelift and internal changes before becoming Sardi's. One source claims that this was also the location of the Henry's [Bergman] Cafe and the "Brass Rail."
https://sites.google.com/site/hollyw...of-fame-part-2 Unless the street was renumbered, there are discrepancies regarding the addresses of these businesses. The '27 CD lists Henry Bergman's at
6325 Hollywood Blvd. There is a "Hollywood Brass Rail" listed at
6321 Hollywood Blvd. in the '36 CD. FWIW, the Admiral Theater apparently took over the Brass Rail's location at 6321 H Blvd.
Sardi's was listed in '36 as 6313 1/2 Hollywood blvd.
This may be a photo of "that" original Brass Rail.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=13571
And its purported former iteration, Henry's [Cafe]Delicatessen
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics45/00072174.jpg http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics45/00072170.jpg
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=3988
Amazing that Eddie was able to operate as many well known Hollywood businesses, especially
after his several brushes with the law. Eddie was not as attractive as Clara Bow, but he evidently made up for
IT with copious charm and bravado. One source suggests, albeit tongue in cheek, that Eddie deserved a sidewalk star. As noted in a recent post, Eddie may have had his manic moments, some high some low.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr...atter-20110414
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=3988
Brown Derby Caricatures
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/14/55/50.../3/628x471.jpg
More Sardi's courtesy of ER
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=1180
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4057/4...8accfb14_o.jpg
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In front of Montmartre - Brandstatter's Cafe
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/co...d/71068/rec/33
1928 - Women and dead foxes.