Go. . . To Hollywood For Holiday Fun

You dreamed of it. You, in Hollywood, tracking down stars along Wilshire Boulevard, having fun finding Farmer’s Market. Well, here’s one dream you can put into action. Yes, on your budget, too! Just read on and you’ll discover where to stay and the best places to play; where to dine and what to wear. You’ll find a list of travel fares and restaurant charges along with rates for hotel accommodations and sightseeing sprees. It’s all here, to make your Hollywood vacation planning perfect.

To begin with, you may be en route with only a single day to spare. Instead of overwhelming you with the many excitements of a month in Hollywood, we’ll start with a day’s visit. Then,slowly around this schedule, we’ll build a longer calendar of events.

If you’re in Hollywood for only a day, chances are you’ll arrive at International Airport. What to do? Well, first check your luggage. Then go over to the Los Angeles Airways counter and make arrangements for a helicopter ride to Disneyland. The flight is twenty delightful minutes long, each way, and the cost is fourteen dollars round trip, including transportation tax. Take your camera for the opportunities of getting exciting pictures from this low-flying whirlybird are really fabulous.

If you are driving, simply follow the Santa Ana Freeway to Harbor Boulevard just beyond Buena Park. There are Disneyland direction signs along the way, so you can’t miss it.

Statistics: Disneyland contains 160 acres of pure magic. It is open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. Admission, adults, $1; children, 500. As you enter, the first thing you see is the t rain (a great picture). The ride is 500 and should he your introduction to Disneyland because it circles the park and provides eagle’s-eye views of all the things you want to see close-up.

 

Stroll through the Gay Nineties streets after your train ride and photograph the old firehouse, the candy store, the music shop. the pharmacy (with its embossed tin ceiling), all the wonders of the towns of long ago. Snap the horse-drawn streetcar and the policemen in their bowler hats.

Go through Adventureland and photograph the hippo who is certain to menace your boat on the Rivers of the World. Ride the stagecoach that takes off from Frontierland and is likely to be menaced by Indians— another fast-shutter action shot. Ride the stern-wheeler in the Old South and photograph the sights along the river and the banjo players on the boat. Take an angle shot of the towering castle with its drawbridge entrance to Fantasyland, and lose your mind over the Dumbo flying circus. Take a trip to the moon in Tomorrowland, and don’t miss the pirate ship manned by the lustiest set of gentle brigands on earth.

It turns out to be so wonderful that you can’t drag the youngsters away? They want to come back for another day? Take the bus over to the Disneyland Hotel, which is everything that a Disneyland Hotel should be: imaginative, handsome, new, glistening and fun. You can buy a toothbrush and pajamas in the shop areas, film, flash bulbs, a larger purse for your loot and the dress you’ve been wanting as a California souvenir. Rates start at $15 for two.

If you have two days in California (and you can tear yourself and the rest of your party away from Disneyland), use your second day to advantage by dividing it into five sections: In the morning, at 9 a.m. take Tanner Gray Line Tour No. 2 (bus collects passengers at most downtown and Hollywood hotels) and during a 3-hour drive visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where you will be able to take some spectacular pictures of the vivid architecture and the footsteps of the mighty, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Will Rogers Memorial Ranch in Santa Monica and the homes of the great stars of stage, screen, radio and TV. Fare $3.35 and worth every penny because of the guide service and the freedom from traffic worries.

 

Ask your driver to let you off at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Have luncheon in their coffee shop, or at the Beverly Derby, or Frascati’s, or Blum’s or at any one of the small cup ’n’ spoon spots along Beverly Drive. After luncheon stroll up one side of Beverly Drive from Wilshire Boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard and down the other. Somewhere along the way you will find exactly the gift for someone back home, or precisely what you have been wanting to complete that new outfit.

Next, catch an eastbound Wilshire Boulevard bus and transfer to a northbound bus at Wilshire and Fairfax. Leave your transfer bus at Third and Fairfax and investigate—with avid eye and snapping camera—the wonders of Hollywood’s world-famous Farmers’ Market. Look, Ma, no flies! Food, food, food prepared and served in an air of diet-kitchen cleanliness and no flies. Not only can you buy papaya flown in from Hawaii, mangoes from the Philippines, lettuce from the Salinas Valley and Utah, cheese from Sweden. But in the Dell section (Farmer in the Dell, natch) you may buy your favorite recording, a tennis racket, artist’s equipment, party jokes, dolls from many lands. Name it, it’s there.

After that marathon, plan to return to your hotel to write cards, make dinner reservations for the night, and rest. Travel also broadens the feet.

Have dinner at one of the glamour spots listed under “Places to Eat,” then plan to catch a performance at one of the theatres listed under that category on the following pages. You might enjoy legitimate theatre-in-the-round. And there is always “Around the World in 80 Days” at the Carthay Circle and “Cinerama Holiday” at Warner’s Hollywood.

If you have three days in Hollywood, add a trip to Marineland to your agenda, and that night take Tanner Gray Line Tour No. 9. It leaves daily at 7 p.m. and takes you to see Olvera Street, Chinatown, Griffith Park Observatory (where much of “Rebel Without a Cause” was filmed) and Hollywood and Wilshire Boulevards. Time required, 31/2 hours. Fare, $3.20 per person.

 

If you have four days in Hollywood, add Tanner Gray Line Tour No. 5 to your activities. This trip will take you through Universal-International Studios and Disney’s, as well as past Columbia Studio’s ranch and along the streets where many star homes are located. The Columbia ranch with its towering false fronts and its quaint streets is a great shot from the Street, even if cameras are not permitted on picture lots. Time required, 3 hours. Cost, $4.30.

In the afternoon you should take Tour No. 1 to the Huntington Library. This tour is made daily, except Mondays when the library is closed. It’s also closed during the entire month of October. Children under 10 are not admitted to the library, but the gardens are interesting and the grass is a delight to play on. Tour takes 3V2 hours and costs $3.10.

 

If you have five days in Hollywood, spend the fifth on a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm (more about it under ‘‘Things to See and Do”). The Tanner Gray Line—from June 15 to October 1—sends an all-day trip to the Farm on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

If you have six days, spend number six in Catalina (more about it under “Things to See and Do”).

In lieu of the Catalina trip, you might visit Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the morning, the Los Angeles County Museum in Exposition Park in the afternoon.

In case you have more time than a Swiss watchmaker, we have listed below a number of worthwhile day-long trips:

 

Rim-of-the-World Highway will provide a trip of around 180 miles, your shutter clicking with every turn of the wheels. Take the San Bernardino Freeway and turn north past Arrowhead Springs to the highway marker designated Santa Claus Village. Some people say their children have been more taken with Santa’s workshop, his real live reindeer and his helpful elves than they were with Disneyland.

To Santa Barbara and return (around 200 miles) is a wonderful day’s outing, particularly during February, March and April when the Coastal hills are an emerald carpet, wild flowers add a festive note and a bright sun beats down. Another great time to be in Santa Barbara is during the week of the full moon in August when the Old Spanish Days Fiesta is held. Have dinner at Harbor House, at the end of the Santa Barbara Pier, and visit the Old Mission.

 

To Newport and Balboa and return will log around 100 miles and two rolls of film. Drive east on the Santa Ana Freeway, turning right past Disneyland and on to the Pacific Coast Highway. It is almost impossible for the casual visitor to separate Balboa from Newport or vice versa, but it doesn’t really matter, because the entire area surrounds the great yacht harbor where the Chris-Crafts, the cabin cruisers and the entire fleet of the film colony are moored. If you sail, it is possible to rent various types of boats. Plan, if possible, to have dinner at the Doll House on Lida İsle in Balboa Bay, reached by a causeway.

Another wonderful salt-air day, if you love the sea, is the exploration of Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbors. Take the Harbor Freeway, Figueroa Street to Coast Highway, then to Terminal Island. Wind in and out of the Terminal Island streets until you see the small Buddhist Temple at which Japanese fishermen worship. Take the ferry to San Pedro and drive up on the hills above the city for some panorama shots of the harbor that you’ll treasure forever. Tip: Check the shipping news in any of the L.A. papers before you make this trip, and try to do it on a day when one of the great trans-Pacific liners is to leave for Honolulu. The Lurline sailing is a photographer’s festival, with serpentine banners billowing in the wind, passengers madly waving, the band playing “Aloha Oe”—what an experience!

 

Love mountain scenery? Want panorama shots of L.A., Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the beach cities? Drive through Griffith Park (Vermont Avenue ends at the divided highway entrance to Griffith Park) and tum onto Mulholland Drive as you leave the Planetarium area. From Mulholland you should be able to catch breathtaking glimpses of the Los Angeles alluvial plain on one side and San Fernando Valley on the other. The hillside houses are owned by picture people. Tip: Be cautious when Crossing mountain intersections; for some reason, mountain dwellers tend to consider themselves alone in the world and drive as if they were riding a comet. Obey the fire warnings—no smoking, no open fires. This drive will take you to the sea and you will find yourself in Santa Monica. If you want to continue along the Coast Highway, northbound, you will spot Holiday House just beyond Malibu. It is restaurant, cocktail lounge and motel, and from its dining room your camera will take in the entire sweep of Santa Monica Bay. And in the corner booth you just may note Jayne Mansfield.

 

Now that we’ve thought out a brief stopover visit for you, let’s assume that you are a real leisurely vacationist, doing Hollywood brown, with time galore. Wonderful for you! And following you’ll find more things to do and see for longer visits.

However short or long your Hollywood holiday may be, there are several excellent means by which you may arrive at your glamourous goal. You may wing your way by plane, via a number of wonderful sky routes such as American Airlines’ nonstop flights direct to Los Angeles from most key cities in the country. You’ll enjoy their famed luxury Mercury service aloft, with its spacious lounges, superb meals and distinguished fellow passengers, all at no extra fare. Or you may arrive by train by way of the famous Santa Fe, for instance. On its wonderful new Hi-Level El Capitan you’ll ride in comfort in reclining coach chairs high above the ordinary train level. Excellent, inexpensive food, dome-type lounge cars allow you to start your vacation sightseeing the moment you step aboard. If you plan a really leisurely trip, you might travel by bus. Trailways Tours, for example, will plan your sightseeing and hotel arrangements, if you prefer it that way, at the same time offering you the treat of air-conditioned buses with big picture windows that afford a top priority view of the passing scenery. Getting there is part of the fun!

You may find joyous relaxation in weekend visits to: Palm Springs, with side visits to nearby Palm Desert and Hemet, where the Ramona pageant, based on Helen Hunt Jackson’s unforgettable Indian story, is held during April and May; San Diego, with side trips to Mt. Palomar and into Mexico at Tijuana; Santa Barbara, wonderful to see, as well as Solvang, which American Danes constructed to assuage their homesickness for Denmark; and Laguna Beach, a Coastal town no inlander should miss, with its fabulous and unique Pageant of the Masters, based on the world’s art treasures.

Places To Stay

No attempt can be made in our limited space to list the outstanding motels in Southern California because there are, literally, hundreds of picturesque, clean, modestly-priced caravansaries in which a traveler could be happy overnight or for months. However, noted below are some of the great hotels of the region with brief clues to their specific attractions (“D” designates Diners Club service):

Ambassador (D), 3400 Wilshire Boulevard. This No. 1 home away from home is surrounded by its private park, providing the photographer with dazzling possibilities wherever he looks. It is also within walking distance of Bullock’s-Wilshire and I. Magnin (two of the finest specialty shops in the country) and is opposite the original Brown Derby. A busline (eastbound) to downtown Los Angeles and (westbound) to Beverly Hills, Westwood and Santa Monica passes on Wilshire. The Ambassador is the home of the Cocoanut Grove, the Greater Los Angeles Press Club and Dalzell Hatfield Galleries, has tennis courts, a pitch and putt course, a heated swimming pool and several enticing specialty shops. Reservations essential; rates from $12 for two.

Bel Air (D), 701 Stone Canyon Road, Bel Air. For the seasoned traveler who prefers (above all else) elegant surroundings, matchless service, a leisurely and quiet vacation. The grounds are a kodacolor delight; reservations always; rates start at $18.50 for two, but plan on about $23.

Beverly Carlton, southwest corner of the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. This chic, modern hotel boasts a series of balconies from which great pictures can be made. Brian Donlevy was one of the original tenants, other celebs like the pool. Reservations essential; rates for two $13 up.

Beverly Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Southern California’s newest. Rooms on west side have lanais from which stupendous pictures can be made. Rooms on east have picture windows affording views of Beverly Hills, Hollywood hills, Los Angeles. The Traders (see “Places to Eat”) is in the shop area. Heated swimming pool, several excellent restaurants and a “drug store” that is strictly from Mars—everything in this world and many from the next. Reservations essential; rates from $16 for two.

 

Beverly Hills Hotel (D), 9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills. Perhaps the most popular of the B.H. hotels because of its excellent parking facilities and its proximity to shops, plus its surroundings and prestige. It would be almost impossible to take an uninteresting picture on the grounds or from a window. Several chic dining rooms: The Polo Lounge cocktail room is the rendezvous of the great as well as the thirsty. The Persian Room is the dine and dance spot (cocktail or evening dress is suggested) and remember that it is closed on Mondays. Swimming pool, tennis courts (that’s Ginger Rogers in this court and Katharine Hepburn across the way) and a boutique that will drive the average girl out of her pastel mind. Tariff: $16 up for two.

The Biltmore, 5th Street at Olive in downtown Los Angeles. Pershing Square garage directly east. Your pictures in and around the Biltmore could include greenery, statuary (Beethoven, L. A. version of the Minute Man) and the concrete canyons of a city whose height limit has been—until recently—thirteen stories. (Limit now is twenty stories.) Philharmonic Auditorium, where the light opera season and concerts are offered, is diagonally across the Street and the Biltmore Theatre (one of L.A.’s two important legitimate houses) is in the hotel. Rendezvous Room is fun, open from noon until 8 p.m. weekdays, from 5 p.m. until midnight on Sundays, closed Mondays. Reservations at hotel essential; rates, $12 up for two.

Chapman Park (D), 615 South Alexandria, in the Wilshire District. Occupies a block almost directly across the Street, but slightly west, from the Ambassador. Main building has been renovated. Bungalows set in flower-choked grounds are charming, Oratoria in the walled garden is a wonderful spot for weddings. Reservations, of course; rates, $10 up for two.

Chateau Marmont, 8221 Sunset Boulevard (on the Strip). A palm-surrounded recreation of the architecture of France’s chateau country. This is the hostelry at which many of the foreign stars, making films in Hollywood, are domiciled during their stay. Reservations essential; rates, $14 up for two.

Franciscan Motor Hotel, 2630 North Cahuenga, above the Cahuenga Freeway. This is a motel, but it is so unusual that it must be mentioned. It lies along a hilly ridge overlooking the Freeway running from downtown Los Angeles to San Fernando Valley, thus offering an inspiring vantage point for the shutterbug. The owners keep it spotlessly clean and decorared in tune with the seasons (delightful at Christmas). Better write for reservations; rates, $8 up for two.

Garden Of Allah (D), 8152 Sunset Boulevard. Completely redone since its Alla Nazimova, Greta Garbo and Errol Flynn days, it is a traveler’s delight. Dining room, cocktail lounge, heated swimming pool, a block from Schwab’s and Googie’s (young players’ hamburger haven) and opposite Frascati’s. Reservations absolutely; rates, $12 up for two.

Hyatt House, 5547 West Century Boulevard. This spanking new ultra-modern inn is just a robin’s hop from International Airport, where you can rent a Hertz car and give yourself wheels. Hyatt House is a favorite with airline personnel for luncheon and dinner, and there is a cosy cocktail lounge. Rates: $10 up for two. The near-Frank Lloyd Wright architecture presents exciting possibilities for both black and white and color photography.

Knickerbocker (D), 1714 Ivar Avenue, in the midst of Hollywood. One-half block north of Hollywood Boulevard, 4 blocks from NBC, 5 blocks from CBS. The pool is new and attractive. Great headquarters spot for the traveler who plans to catch radio and TV shows. $10 up for two.

Miramar (D), where Wilshire Boulevard meets Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. If you are an inlander and have never before seen the ocean, the Miramar is the place for you. It lies high on the Palisades, but the views of the sea are superb. Best pictures are to be taken in the morning, when the sun at one’s back awakens the Bay’s bright blue. The Miramar consists of a main building and a series of bungalows; dining room is a drop-in spot for celebs. Reservations always; rates, $12 up for two during late fail, $15 up during depths of Eastern winter or height of Eastern summer. (People come to California to escape cold and heat.)

Plaza (D), 1637 N. Vine Street. Opposite Hollywood Brown Derby and one-half block south of Hollywood Boulevard, this is a small but highly convenient hotel in the midst of everything—Pantages, shops, radio and TV studios. $8 up for two.

Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Boulevard. Opposite Grauman’s Chinese, a block from the Hollywood Paramount (at both theatres the great film premieres are held), the Roosevelt is big, comfortable, and busy. The cabana rooms around the pool are delightful, and there are spots in every direction demanding to be recorded on film; the pool area, particularly, is stolen from the South Seas. Rates: $10 up.

Statler, Figueroa (pronounced Fig-you-ROW-ah) between 7th and Wilshire, in downtown Los Angeles. Second newest hotel in the area, the Statler is a worthy member of its chain and a photographer’s field day. Bring your money tree because the shops in the hotel and within walking distance are bank-breakers and worth every penny. Cafe Rouge for breakfast and Terrace Room for dinner, usually amid the bustle of a horde of happy conventioneers. Reservations positively; rates, $12 up for two.

Westwood Manor, 10527 Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood (home of UCLA). The Manor is the resting place chosen for visiting film biggies and stars until they rent other digs—new, chic, a landscape view from every window. Reservations essential; rates, $10 up for two.

Places To Eat

There are, literally, thousands of excellent restaurants in and around Los Angeles. Nowhere else in the world, probably, can you get—without argument or trouble of any kind—a crisp, chilled green salad with Roquefort dressing, a superlative cheeseburger and a cup of fresh, delicious coffee at 4 a.m. Any 4 a.m. It would be impossible to list even a majority of the four-star plate-and-spooneries, so the index below is made up of spots p patronized by celebrities and/or those that present memorable photographic possibilities. The Symbol “D” after a restaurant name indicates that Diner’s Club charge accounts are honored. Prices quoted do not include liquor.

 

IMPORTANT PHOTOGRAPHIC NOTE:

In some restaurants you will be permitted to take flash pictures of your own party; in some you will not, because there have been those in the past who have abused the privilege. Many “celebrity” restaurants do not allow even knowing and tactful professional photographers on the premises; so, naturally, an amateur shutterbug would be given the heave-ho.

Band Box (D), 123 North Fairfax Avenue, across the Street from Farmers’ Market and CBS-TV. This spot is open from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. (elosed Mondays). Entertainment is practically continuous, food is super—and expensive, but worth it.

Barraclough’s (D) (pronounced Bear-ah-cluff’s), 6220 West 3rd Street, opposite and slightly east of Farmers’ Market. This very modern, glistening new restaurant serves breakfast, luncheon and dinner 7 days per week. $6 for two will do it comfortably.

The Bat Rack, 2454 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica. Well worth knowing because it is one of the few places in Southern California where one can acquire a good steak right up until 1 a.m. The kitchens of most restaurants close between ten and eleven with a snap like an angry beartrap. The Bat Rack opens for luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and really gets a play between 9 and closing at 2 a.m. Celebs shooting late or returning from a late location dote on the spot, which is small, intimate, friendly. $6 will do it for two.

Beefeater’s (D), 170 North La Cienega (Restaurant Row). New, comfortable and getting a celebrity play. open for luncheon and dinner every day. $7 will do it.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel Pharmacy. Located in the West Wilshire corner of the hotel’s fiıst floor, this a spot to bear in mind because it is open 24 hours per day, every day. Crowded at noon and during dinner hour, but a great spot for the late, late snack. Exceptional menu for a drug store.

Blum’s, corner of Camden Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills. One of the great confectionery-restaurants of the area. Be sure to read their sundae menu carefully; it’s witty and droolful. open every day from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

C. C. Brown, 7007 Hollywood Boulevard (block west of Grauman’s Chinese). Serves knockout hot fudge or hot caramel sundaes, Hollywood younger set “reduces” here. open 11:30 a.m. until midnight. Send home a box of their chocolates—the most!

Brown Derby (D). The “hat” Derby (and this makes a great picture when snapped from the Ambassador grounds directly to the south) is located at 3377 Wilshire Boulevard. Coffee shop opens at 7 a.m., dining room functions from noon until around 11, every day. The Beverly Derby, 9537 Wilshire Boulevard, diagonally across from the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, is open for luncheon and dinner. Los Feliz Derby, 4500 Los Feliz Boulevard, has a coffee | shop that opens at 7 a.m., closes at 2 a.m.; the dining room serves luncheon and dinner. The Hollywood Derby, 1628 North Vine Street, is probably the most famous of all, and is always filled with celebrities. Coffee shop open from 7 a.m., dining room from noon until around eleven p.m. Reservations are absolutely necessary in all Derbies except possibly on Sunday. There is a new Derby on Stocker Street between Crenshaw and Santa Rosalia that is open on a 24-hour basis, and is smaller, less crowded at the dinner hour than the other locations.

Captain’s Table (D), 301 South La Cienega Boulevard, on Restaurant Row. This spot specializes in seafood flown in from where-have-you (mahimahi from Hawaii, lobsters from Maine, prawns from New Orleans) and in celebrities transported from as wide an area. open daily from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. Reservations necessary, tariff fairly high.

The Castle (D), 828 S. Robertson Boulevard, near Beverly Hills. A great spot for a picture—turret, stone walls, drawbridge, etc. Also has really good Caesar salad and charcoal broiled steak. open daily 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Prices reasonable.

Chasen’s, 9039 Beverly Boulevard, near Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills. Serves dinners from 6 p.m. except Mondays when closed. This is one of the great restaurants of the world, a star hangout. Exterior snapshots only. Prices in keeping with gourmet scale everywhere, i.e. very expensive. Reservations absolutely essential, unless you merely want to pick up a Schweppes with or without at the bar.

Clifton’s Cafeterias. If you are in downtown L. A. and want to catch a quick bite at a pittance, as well as an interesting flash-color picture or two, there are two convenient Clifton locations serving breakfast, luncheon and dinner: Woodsy Brookdale is at 648 South Broadway and palmy Pacific Seas is at 618 South Olive.

Cock ’n Bull (D), 9170 Sunset Boulevard, at the west end of the Sunset Strip. This remains the photog and magazine-writers’ hangout. Luncheon on weekdays and Saturdays from noon until 2:30 (buffet) and dinner from 6 until 11 (buffet). Sundays a brunch is served from 11, also buffet. Prices are reasonable, food like shepherd’s pie, Welsh rarebit and English trifle.

Cove (D), corner of 7th & Berenda, just a block east of the Ambassador. Serving luncheon and dinner through the week, dinner only on Saturday and Sunday. Food in the French manner, tariff medium (fish, etc.) to high (steaks, specialties).

Don, The Beachcomber’s (D), 1727 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood. One-half block north of Hollywood Boulevard, 2 blocks east of Highland Avenue. This is the original Beachcomber’s, established by the colorful New Orleans restaurateur who changed his name, legally, during the war to “Don Beachcomber” and who now holds forth in Honolulu and Tahiti. This spot specializes in Cantonese food, rum beverages, rain on the roof, atmosphere and fun. Great flash picture scenes in every direction. Tariff not inexpensive by any means, but food superb. open every day from 5 p.m.

The Duck Press (D), 2353 E. Olympic Boulevard (east of downtown L. A.). If you yeaın for quail, venison, pheasant under glass, or practically any other game entree, the Duck Press is for you. King Gable usually has his ducks prepared at this spot, as do most California sportsmen. open weekdays 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Sundays and holidays 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Expensive but worth it.

Fox & Hounds (D), 2900 Wilshire Boulevard, in Santa Monica. An Old English-style tavern of proportions never dreamed of in Old England. Luncheon and dinner daily. Reservations; prices fair but tall.

Frascati’s (D). There are three of these Belgian-cuisine restaurants in the L. A. area: 8117 Sunset Boulevard (diagonally across from Schwab’s) is one of Joan Crawford’s favorites; serves luncheon and dinner every day except Sunday, when it opens at 5 p.m. 1056 S. La Cienega (on Restaurant Row) is open as above, and so is 9501 Wilshire in Beverly Hills. The Sunset location has an exterior patio that would make a good snapshot. Prices are moderate to expensive.

Gotham Delicatessen (D), 7050 Hollywood Boulevard. This is a hangout for the young Hollywood players who dig a midnight snack. Spot is open from 9 a.m. until 1 a.m. weekdays; closes at midnight on Sunday. Fine fodder at tender fees.

Hamburger Hamlets. How would you like a cheeseburger manufactured out of 1/2 pound of charcoal broiled ground sirloin, plus two strips of crisp bacon, plus a slathering of cheddar cheese, plus a final garnish of Russian dressing, price 85c? Don’t drown in your own juices, f’eaven’s sake, until you get the addresses: 8929 Sunset Boulevard (on the Strip); 369 North Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills; or 10943 Weyburn Avenue, Westwood (home of UCLA). The Hamburger Hamlets are owned and operated by Harry Lewis, who was once a Warner Brothers star. Nowadays, in addition to turning out fabulous foods, he also marches into the kitchen apd whips up—via top-secret recipe—a brand of lobster bisque (850 per copy) that fetches gourmets from hither, not to say thither and yon. Live a little.

Jack’s at the Beach, on the Ocean Park Pier, Ocean Park. From this pier you can get some great shots of Santa Monica Bay to the north and east, and of the Palos Verdes hills to the south. As for the restaurant, super. If you can snag a table in front of the windows you’ll never forget the view—or the food. Dinner served from 5 p.m. until about midnight. Closed Tuesdays. Movie rendezvous, so reservations are advised, and prices are high. After dinner you might pop over to the Aragon Ballroom for a few dances to Lawrence Welk’s Champagne Music.

King’s Arms, 4323 Riverside Drive, Burbank (short distance west of Warner Brothers studio). Looks like a medieval castle in miniature and the parking lot attendants who take your car are dressed like grooms of old. The great oaken door opens into a small entry in which Excalibur is imbedded in concrete; a nearby plaque explains that anyone who can withdraw Excalibur from its stone is rightful ruler of England. Well, you can always try! Within the main portion of the restaurant there is a “round table” bar, a massive fireplace entirely encircled by banquettes and small tables. Beyond this are two dining rooms, each with unique attractions in keeping with the King’s Arms theme. Food is superb, prices moderate to uppish. open weekdays from noon until midnight or so; open Sundays from 3 p.m. Don’t miss this one—but make reservations.

NOTE: A companion restaurant is the Queen’s Arms, on Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley, but at present it is so overwhelmed by hungry localites that it seems somewhat unfair to burden the staff by adding more standees to their inevitable queue for dinner. Its decor is not as interesting as the King’s Arms.

La Rue (D), 8633 Sunset Boulevard (on the Strip). From across the Street (Sunset) you can get a fine shot of this most chi-chi of Filmtown’s dining spots. From the exterior it looks as if a sidewalk cafe should be nestling beneath its awnings—a clue to the French cuisine that has made La Rue famous. Dinner served from 5:30 daily except Mondays. Reservations essential. Tab will be impressive, but so will be your fellow diners, your surroundings, the service and the food. If you’re only moderately hungry, ask for Queen’s Pancakes—and remember to note the date. Unforgettable as a first kiss.

Luau (D), 421 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. Don’t miss a picture of the Luau exterior, in color preferably. One of the most photogenic restaurants in the world and worth half a dozen shots. The interior is quite as enchanting and the tali, handsome man who will, in all probability, greet you is Steve Crane. Luau is open for dinner every evening; cuisine is Cantonese, but the steaks are excellent, too. Tariff high, and worth it.

Lucey’s (D), 5444 Melrose Avenue (two blocks east of RKO Studios). Luncheons and dinner served daily expect Sundays when the “Closed” sign is up. Within the vine-covered walls there is a courtyard (rustic tables, striped tablecloths) worth a color shot, but better keep your camera in its case inside because Lucey’s—particularly at luncheon—is a prime movie spot, especially patronized by RKO, Columbia and Paramount. Reservations essential, better count on $5 for two for luncheon, $8 to $10 for dinner. Cuisine Italian.

Ming Room (D), 358 S. La Cienega (Restaurant Row). Owned by Bruce Wong who has worked in almost every Oriental picture ever shot in Hollywood, this beautifully decorated spot opens during the week at 4 p.m. and serves until around midnight; Sundays it opens at 3 p.m. Prices in line with Restaurant Row checks.

Musso and Frank Grill (D), 6667 Hollywood Boulevard. Serves breakfast, luncheon and dinner every weekday; closed Sundays. You haven’t lived until you (with a star at each elbow) have pressed your fork into a stack of M. and F. flannel cakes. Back room could be transported intact to New York and would find itself at home. Prices moderate.

Naples (D), 1508 N. Gower, one-half block north of Sunset, just east of CBS. This unpretentious, cramped little bistro is a favorite coffee and pizza place for players from Columbia Studios and CBS. open for luncheon and dinner every day; luncheon reservation absolutely necessary. Prices friendly. Yes, that’s Aldo Ray in the first booth. Kim Novak in the second.

Nicodell (D). Both Nicodells are always busy and celebrity-filled; both open at 10:30 a.m., close at 2 a.m. Original is located at 1614 N. Argyle (block east of Vine, block south of Hollywood Boulevard) and the younger brother is situated at 5511 Melrose Avenue, not far west of Lucey’s. Incidentally, there is a parking problem at both locations, so in case you are driving, spot your favorite Nicodell, then circle the block to the nearest parking lot and walk back.

Oyster House (D), 666 N. La Cienega Boulevard (on Restaurant Row). This place is new, rather New Orleans in feeling and popular with celebs. If you love pompano en papillote, order it here; if you’ve never tried it, your taste buds will burble. Oyster House is open for dinner seven days per week; reservations suggested; tab a little rich, but worth it.

Patio, 3077 Wilshire Boulevard (opposite and one-half block west of Bullock’s-Wilshire). Unimposing entrance, but walk through the small forward restaurant and there is a charming patio under sheltering trees—an excellent shot in black and white or color. The food is just as intriguing: giant hamburgers, ham sandwiches, and tuna (1 can of white fish per sandwich). The menu is brief, but everything on it is divine. open Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. This is worth going out of your way to visit. Be hungry when you try it and accompany your sandwich (85p to $1.10) with Cafe Melange, 35c.

Perino’s, 4101 Wilshire Boulevard, Wilshire District. One of the great restaurants of the world. Perino’s ranks with Le Tour Argent and Maxim’s in Paris. It is also one of the most expensive restaurants in this or any country, but worth every penny if your palate is particular and you enjoy the knowledge that an oilionaire from Texas, a socialite from Gotham, and a maharajah from India may be your next-table neighbors. Luncheon from 11:30 a,m. Dinner from 6. Reservations wise.

Ready Room (D), 365 N. La Cienega (on Restaurant Row). Johnny Wilson, USC athletic great of yesteryear, is the boniface at this charming tavern-type restaurant. Their roast beef is the best in the city in the opinion of those who should know. Luncheon from noon until 2:30 weekdays; dinner from 5. Saturdays and Sundays dinner only served. Reservations suggested; tab for two about $8.

Romanoff’s (D), 140 South Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills (one-half block south of Wilshire, 2 blocks west of Beverly Drive). The facade of Romanoff’s makes a good afternoon shot as it faces west and the texture of huge doors and brick walls provides interesting background. No interior photography permitted—not even professional. HRH Prince Michael Romanoff, a gentleman of modest stature but stratospheric wit and poise, is usually about, being charming to his many-carated crowd. A cautious visitor may patronize the bar and view the dining room where there are certain to be some of the famous pampering themselves on Lucullan food. Plan on at least $15 for two without beverages or tips. Luncheon and dinner daily except Sundays when the Crown Room is often used by private parties, but the rest of the edifice is dark. Reservations wise.

Santa Inez Inn’s Fireside Room, 17310 Sunset Boulevard, Pacific Palisades (quarter of a mile from the junction of Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway). Breakfast, luncheon and dinner are served in this charming dining room with its tremendous fireplace, its balcony overlooking Sunset and its glass wall overlooking the Inn’s swimming pool. Prices are reasonable and there are at least six excellent vantage points from which to make good pictures. There’s an unusual gift shop in the lobby.

The Sawdust Trail (D), 1735 N. McCadden Place (same side of Street but up a notch from Don, the Beachcomber’s). This place is hard to find because Villa Capri is in front of it, but stroll down the alley and there you are, at a one-time small hotel which has been converted into a series of dining rooms around an outdoor patio. Dinner for two (without beverages or tips) will run $5 for chicken, $6 for charcoal broiled steak, a process which you can watch. For dessert try vinegar pie, no fooling! This place is closed Sundays, but otherwise serves dinner from 5 to 11 p.m.

 

Scandia, 9131 Sunset Boulevard (on the Strip). If your background is Scandinavian, or if you merely dote on scrumptious food, Scandia is for you. It is a compact place and tremendously popular, so reservations are obligatory at any time. Menu on a blackboard; binoculars furnished if necessary. During the winter holidays, be sure to try their glug. Closed Mondays. Luncheon and dinner served through Saturday, dinner only on Sunday. Expensive, but worth it. If you feel venturesome, ask the waiter to advise an entree. If you are over 21, try Swedish punch—the hot breath of an iceberg—as an after-dinner drink.

Sportsmen’s Lodge (D), 12833 Ventura Boulevard. Another of the great Southern California restaurants. A fine picture can be made from the footbridges spanning the trout lakes from which you can catch your own dinner, if you want to know your food that well. In addition to sea and lake foods, the steaks are tender with age, and the salads are crisp as a new-minted twenty. Expensive, and worth it, reservations wise, dinner served 7 nights each week.

Tail O’ The Cock. There are three members of this delightful family which brings a touch of famed Southern hospitality to the Coast. all serve luncheon and dinner every day (Bantam Cock and 477 don’t on Sundays) and such luncheon and dinner! Veddy social and white-gloved is the 477 South La Cienega location (reservations essential) and veddy festive it is during the holiday season when Santa and his reindeer greet patrons from the roof. The Bantam Cock (newly enlarged and redecorated at 643 N. La Cienega) is informal and gay. The San Fernando Valley address is 12950 Ventura Boulevard, the headquarters of many Valley players (stage, screen, radio-TV), but you’ll be just as welcome as if you were Bob Hope.

Tallyho (D), 8750 Beverly Boulevard. This is an English tavern type, cheerful, cosy, and source of excellent viands. Reservations suggested for dinner, served from 5 p.m. until midnight every day. Tariff about $7 for two.

Tam O’Shanter, 2980 Los Feliz Boulevard. On your way to the Glendale Southern Pacific station, or to Forest Lawn Memorial Park, this is an excellent place to visit. The waitresses are dressed as Scottish lassies. The beamed rooms, several with fireplace, are charming and the food reasonably priced. Try the deck steak (two broiled ground sirloin patties with a layer of cheddar cheese between) served with shoestring potatoes. Who’s dieting?

The Traders, in the Beverly Hilton Hotel shop area (motor entrance on Santa Monica Boulevard). Don’t miss this one if you dote on Cantonese food. Exterior pictures can be made any time during the afternoon or by flash later (dinner only is served from 5 on). Either Don Avelier or King Wong will greet you and see that you are seated to advantage. Have stuffed shrimp as an appetizer and include Oyster Beef in your dinner order. Very expensive, but you’ll have the Oriental dinner of your life amid romantic surroundings. Always a celeb somewhere nearby.

Villa Capri (D), 1735 N. McCadden Place. A favorite rendezvous of the local Italian colony and such greats as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sal Mineo and Frankie Laine. Espresso coffee and Cappuccino (if you’re over 21) are delights of the house, not to mention pizza, fetuccino and such. Dinner only, served 7 days per week, prices reasonable.

Villa Nova (D), 9015 Sunset Boulevard. Another of the great Italian restaurants which combines atmosphere, a colorful clientele and excellent food. Remember the old school roundelay “Ninety-nine bottles, hanging on the wall’’? The originals form part of the decor at Villa Nova.

Wil Wright’s. No trip to Hollywood can be considered complete until the tripper has surrounded an ice cream masterpiece from Wil Wright’s. There are 5 locations, open daily from noon until midnight: 200 South Beverdy Drive in Beverly Hills; 10879 Lindbrook Drive, in Westwood Village (UCLA); 8252 Santa Monica Boulevard; 8641 Sunset Boulevard (on the Strip); in the Arcade Building on Marlton Street, just above Santa Barbara Avenue in the Crenshaw District.

Things To See and Do

Catalina, an island about 20 miles off the coast of California, the darling of the high school and early college elan. There’s swimming, dancing at the Casino (to name bands during the season from Memorial Day until Labor Day), riding, golfing, bird-watching (at the farm) and turning mahogany in the sun. (Catalina tans are beautiful and long-lasting if not acquired too fast; speed takes you to the hospital). You can catch the boat train at the 6th and Main station of Pacific Electric at 9 a.m. Boat leaves Wilmington at 10 a.m., docks at Avalon as the chimes are sounding noon. Boat returns at 3:30 p.m., but there are a number of comfortable spots in which to spend the night if you feel lazy. Adult fare, around $7 round trip; children, around $3.50. Or you can fly, leaving for Avalon at 9:30 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. daily. Return at 4 p.m. or 10 a.m. the next morning. Fare $12 round trip. The flight takes 20 minutes during which you can pick up some breathtaking marine shots.

Chinatown. Don’t invest your time at this delightful street at 900 N. Broadway if you have visited New York’s or San Francisco’s Chinatown. Otherwise, don’t miss it; your camera will go wild. Dozens of exciting pictures (the wishing pond, the dragon tower, the beautiful, button-eyed tots), dozens of good restaurants.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, a must-see item, this is at 1712 Glendale Avenue, off San Fernando Road. Perhaps the most famous cemetery in America, it is also proud of the number of weddings performed in its three churches: Wee Kirk O’ the Heather, duplicating the Glencairn, the Scotland parish church where Annie Laurie worshipped; The Little Church of Flowers, patterned after Stoke Poges where Thomas Gray wrote his “Elegy in a Country Churchyard”; the Church of the Recessional, similar to St. Margaret’s in Rottingdean, England. You should also see “The Last Supper” and the superb statuary.

Griffith Park. With the Planetarium, you might enjoy Traveltown with its miniature railway and Ferndell, where picnickers by the score spend their summer days. Planetarium shows are given Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. (small charge). Matinee performances on Saturday at 3 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Hollywood Bowl. Concerts July and August, seats start at 50c. You’ll get great flash pictures if you are near the stage, otherwise telescopic lens and time exposure will do the trick.

Huntington Library, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, is a photographer’s delight. The grounds and the gardens are spectacular, for the former home of railroad tycoon Henry Huntington lies high and mighty above the surrounding terrain. No camera permitted inside the galleries, where are displayed Lawrence’s “Pinky”, Sir Joshua Reynolds’ “Mrs. Siddons as the Tragic Muse” and Gainsborough’s “Blue Boy.” There is a small entrance fee; children under 10 are not admitted; library is open every afternoon except Mondays, closed the entire month of October.

Knott’s Berry Farm, located in Buena Park, easily reached by the Santa Ana Freeway and Highway 39 southbound, this delightful Farm is still operated by its founder-owners. There are two restaurants, the Chicken Shanty and the Steak House (closed on Fridays) where you can get one of the best dinners of your life. Afterward you should prowl the authentic frontier town that has been assembled from abandoned Western ghost villages, brought board by board and bullet hole by packrat’s nest from their original locale by Mr. Knott and his vigilantes. Ride the old train and the stagecoaches. See the Gay Nineties show, and pan for your own gold, but keep out of the jailhouse. Everything is free except one or two of the rides and food, of course, and no one will want to depart.

La Brea Tar Pits. These are located in a landscaped park just between Ohrbach’s and the May Company Wilshire. It’s free, and you should roam through it—keeping close rein on any children in your party because there is constant excavation going on—within clearly marked and roped-off areas. Keep the camera handy and pose some of the members of your party on the huge concrete bears and sabre-tooth tigers that have been installed to give modern man some idea of the intrepidity of his forebears.

Los Angeles County Museum, Figueroa Street at 39th Street, maintains permanent exhibits on art, history and Science and constantly changing temporary art exhibits, such as the Edward G. Robinson and the Chrysler collections. Don’t miss the costume gallery which includes the clothing of some of Hollywood’s longtime greats. open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Free.

Marineland of the Pacific, reputed to be the largest Oceanarium in the world, this is situated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula between Redondo Beach and San Pedro, at Portuguese Bend. Don’t miss it. Admission, $1 for adults, 90tf for servicemen, 50$ for children. This fee will let you spend the day, because an attendant will stamp your hand if you wish to go in and out of the tank area. In addition to the Oceanarium building, there are a refreshment stand, picnic grounds with tables and benches, a huge restaurant-cocktail lounge with a breathtaking view of the Pacific (you really can see Catalina on a moderately clear day) and a motel. all are immaculate, and all are reasonably priced. At the Oceanarium the shows are given from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. There are three different 15-minute displays of the inmates, and these are given in rotation throughout the day. You will love the porpoises; get set to shoot them fast.

Missions. Father Junipero Serra founded the first on July 16, 1769, in what is now called Old Town in San Diego; the last was founded in Sonomo (in northern California) on July 4, 1823, and named San Francisco Solano. Between these two cradle ends grew the infant California. If you are coming to California, you should do this much research in advance: Send $2.75 to Brown and Nourse, Publishers, 100 Edgehill Drive, San Carlos, California, for a copy of a slender volume entitled “California Missions” by Floyd Ray. It includes a list of the Missions, the dates of their founding and over 80 superb photographs. You will treasure it for the rest of your life and leave it proudly to your great-grandson.

Movie Studios. If you know a Big Wheel, or better yet a Colossal Wheel, you might secure a pass to visit a sound stage. Otherwise, the best way to see a studio is on a Tanner Gray Line Tour.

Olvera Street. Opposite the Old Plaza on Main Street in downtown Los Angeles, this restoration of the first Street in El Pueblo is fascinating for the eyes, award-winning for the camera. Best to visit at night. Be sure to squander 500 on a trip through the old adobe and listen with your imagination’s ear to the tinkling of a ghost guitar played by fingers long gone to dust.

Radio and TV Shows, at NBC, CBS, and so on. Order tickets to your favorites by mail at least a month in advance. If your trip is spur-of-the-moment, check with the Information Desk in the entrance of each of the broadcasting stations.

Southwest Museum, 234 Museum Drive (the white building looming over the Pasadena Freeway) is open 1 to 5 p.m. p daily except Mondays and holidays and contains enough Indian lore to set Custer to carving arrowheads in his grave. This is the place to lose the youngsters while you take pictures from the various tower levels. Admission free.

After you’ve seen Southwest Museum, turn left onto Figueroa and go to 4603 North to view a replica of a Spanish colonial ranch of the 1800’s, authentically furnished. open 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays. Free. Bring along a serape and have a friend snap you as a throwback to the days of the Dons.

 

DANCING

Bar of Music, 7351 Beverly Boulevard. Dancing and entertainment from 9 p.m. nightly; a fun spot, informal dressing okay. Minimum on Saturdays. Check for dinner around $10 for two.

Ciro’s, 8433 Sunset Boulevard (on the Strip). This is one of the top spots in California. Floor shows at 10:30 and 12:30 nightly. Cover charge and prices are what you would expect, since Debbie and Eddie are likely to be at the next table, Peggy King and Andre Previn across the room. Reservations essential. Dress, afternoon or cocktail type.

Cocoanut Grove, in the Ambassador Hotel. Another celebrity spot: expensive, reservations essential. Dress: chic but not the white satin formal.

Cinegrill, in the Roosevelt Hotel (Hollywood). Dancing nightly to the music of two alternate orchestras; Saturday afternoon dansante, and Monday is mambo night. Tab is reasonable ($12 for two without beverages) and dress what you would wear to a club dance at home.

Mocambo, 6230 Sunset Boulevard (on the Strip). Another of the celebrity spots, which means interesting views, expensive menu, reservations essential, and dress afternoon or cocktail type.

Moulin Rouge, 6230 Sunset Boulevard, near NBC and CBS. Best evening entertainment in town. Revue, dinner and dancing for $5.50 per person. Place looks like the night clubs one sees only in motion pictures. Closed Mondays.

Palladium, 6215 Sunset Boulevard, also near NBC, CBS. This is the yum-yum plant for the young crowd: Always a name band, always a cold Coke or a sandwich available at a food stand. open Wednesday through Sunday 8:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. Admission charged, depending on where you wish to sit between dances, or whether you want to dance or just observe. Average price about $6 per couple.

THEATRES

A listing only of those offering fare other than Standard movies:

Beverly Canon, 205 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills. Foreign films.

Biltmore, 5th Street between Olive & Grand, downtown L. A. Legitimate house, showing Theatre Guild attractions and others.

Carthay Circle, 6316 West San Vicente Boulevard, one block south of Wilshire, between Fairfax and La Cienega. “Around the World in 80 Days,” produced by Mike Todd, alias Mr. Elizabeth Taylor. Don’t miss this fascinating film with David Niven, Cantinflas, and practically everyone else in Hollywood or Elstree. Matinee, $1.75 up; evenings, $2.50 up.

Fine Arts, 8556 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills. Foreign films.

Four Star Theatre, 5112 Wilshire Boulevard. Foreign films or roadshow specials. Greek Theatre, in Griffith Park. An outdoor arena, functioning in the summer only, but offering such goodies as Harry Belafonte in concert, light operas and such. $2.50 up. Tickets must be secured well in advance because a subscription list takes up many seats.

Horseshoe Stage, 7458 Melrose Avenue, between Fairfax and La Brea. This theatre is usually taken over by groups, but cali Hollywood 2-6666 in case there may be an extra seat or two. At this writing, “Desire Under the Elms” is playing.

Huntington Hartford Theatre, 1615 North Vine, opposite the Hollywood Derby. Legitimate shows. This is a beautiful theatre; light dinner is served at reasonable prices before curtain and beverages between acts. Tickets from $2.20 up.

Pan-Pacific Auditorium, in the Gilmore “Island” (so-called because it is surrounded by commerce and residential areas) south of Beverly Boulevard, between La Brea and Fairfax. This showplace is used for the Ice Follies, the annual Home Show, the Antique Show, and ice-hockey games.

Pantages Hollywood, at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard. This is a movie mansion, but you should catch a picture there because it is the theatre in which the Academy Awards are handed out each March.

Pasadena Community Playhouse, the cradle of tomorrow’s stars, located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena. Legitimate drama. Delightful picture possibilities in the patio, prices reasonable.

Players Ring Gallery Theatre, 8351 Santa Monica Boulevard. “Little Theatre” at its best. Catch a performance because chances are excellent you will spot a young player about to be placed under contract. Hugh O’Brian used to star in such productions.

Ritz Theatre, Wilshire at La Brea. Legitimate drama. As this is written Russell Nype (of “Cali Me Madame” fame) and Marjorie Lord are starring in “Anniversary Waltz.” Tickets from $2.20.

Theatre Mart, 600 Vermont Avenue. Now in its 23rd year of presenting “hiss the villain” productions. Nowadays “The Drunkard” shares playing time with “The Wayward Way,” which also exposes the evils of alcohol while the audience munches pretzels and drinks beer, cost of which is included in admission price starting at $2.65.

Vagabond, 2509 Wilshire Boulevard, just west of MacArthur Park. Shows the best of foreign films.

Warner’s Beverly, corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Drive. Road-show cinema house. Current: “The Ten Commandments.”

Warner’s Hollywood, 6425 Hollywood Boulevard. “Cinerama Holiday”; if you haven’t seen Cinerama, you haven’t lived.

Places To Get Glamour

Make this vacation an occasion to redo yourself on either a deluxe or a modest scale. While in glamorous Hollywood, why not take advantage of the opportunities for glamour that the stars too are happy to seize?

For a makeup treatment, call Max Factor, H011ywood 2-6131, for an appointment. Give the salon about two days notice and allow about an hour for your charmification. You will be given a free Street makeup, plus advice about stressing your good points and disguising your less than perfect features. Your only obligation is to buy $3 worth of cosmetics, which you would want to do anyhow. The salon is located at 1666 North Highland Avenue, a half block south of Hollywood Boulevard.

For a new hairdo, telephone the House of Westmore, 6638 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood 7-7111. The time consumed and the price should be about what you are accustomed to back home.

For a new outlook on how to dress, have luncheon from noon until 2 p.m. at Bullock’s-Wilshire or Bullock’s-Westwood and watch the daily (except Sunday, of course) fashion show. I. Magnin’s, Vermont near Wilshire, shows business girl fashions every Monday from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Alvena Tomin stages a well-rounded collection of smart fashions at Barraclough’s, 6220 West 3rd Street, every Tuesday noon.

For a chance to put your new fashion knowledge to work, visit the chic salon of Don Loper, 152 South Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, just a few steps south of Romanoff’s. You could buy a $500 ball gown here, but you don’t have to. Have a look around, be frank with the sales force about your needs and you might well walk out with a treasure that will mean a new lease on life.

For delightful California fashions “at a price,” try the Town and Country Market, which is directly south, across Third Street, from the Farmers’ Market. It consists of excellent shops and quaint restaurants.

For a raincoat that is strictly Californian and will bring about spasms of envy in the hearts of everyone back home, hie yourself to the incredible shop of Irene Colie, 9753 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills. She has a stock of unique weather shedders ready to go, but if you can wait two or three days she will whip up a confection of any style or color you wish.

For that perfect conversation piece about which you can toss off, “Oh, I picked it up in Hollywood,” go to the Dell section of the Farmers’ Market, where you will find the silver shop of Walter Wright, the Salvador Dali of the eardrops, the rings and the necklaces. Prices start at an honest dollar, and you’ll be astonished to discover how far your vacation savings will go at this artist’s counter.

For a fashion lift if you are unusually tali or exceptionally heavy, take yourself happily to Lane Bryant, 233 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, and come out ready to pose for the best picture you’ve ever had snapped.

What to Wear

Let your wardrobe for Hollywood be dictated by two things: the season and your interests. Don’t pack everything you own—remember you’re restricted in weight if you’re traveling by air and just plain restricted if you load yourself down with too much luggage.

In choosing your clothes, stay with two basic colors. You’ll find this saves space, for you’ll be able to wear the same shoes, gloves and bag with several costumes. Then, for change, add a gay scarf, an interesting piece of costume jewelry and gloves. Travel in a suit and wear a small clutch-type hat, carry an all-weather coat or raincoat, along with an extra-large handbag. Your sightseeing shoes should be comfortable and practical; your dressy pair, a neat pump that can double for afternoon or evening. Be sure to pack one dressy suit and count on wonder fabrics to ease your laundry budget. For cool days, a wool jersey or knitted dress is perfect; for warm weather pack two Street dresses or a variety of separates. You may not think you’ll need it, but a cocktail dress usually can be used in Hollywood. Cardigan sweaters are indispensable and a stole can add flair to a dinner dress and keep you unbothered by draft or air conditioning. Don’t forget, too, a small evening purse. By all means, take a bathing suit and cap and don’t forget those indispensables: nylon lingerie, stockings and pajamas. For leisure hours, pack travel slippers and a comfortable robe. And leave room in your luggage. One of the delights of travel is to buy things you can’t find back home and which will later remind you of the fun you had.

Pack according to season: April in California is lovely, and a shirtmaker, cotton tweed suit or dress or a linen sheath is ideal. Bring a warm coat and a cardigan. May is Hollywood’s dual-personality month. Up until the middle of the month weather is usually summery and bright and the first of the dressy cottons have begun to appear. About May 15th the high fogs begin and hang on until as late as the first to fifteenth of July. Sharp winds and dew at night can make a warm coat or a dress in packable jersey welcome. But don’t be fooled by the fog. You can blister red if you lie on the beach too long. June weather is more of May with the exception that the days are longer and the danger of sunburning at the beach much greater. For parties, white will be the color most worn; fabrics will be floating nylon, printed chiffon, pastel organdy. Bring along, or plan to buy, a playsuit, cotton pedal pushers. July and August are high summer months, the days being hot and sunny; the nights, chilly enough near the ocean for a warm jacket (fur, cashmere, or lined wool). The Hollywood Bowl concerts are on (check the local papers for program) but be sure to dress warmly in a sweater and skirt and take along a laprug if you have one in your car; the summer dew is penetrating. September is the hottest month of the year. Dacron-cotton drip-dries will seem pure gold. One pure silk shantung or silk tweed will take you anywhere in style and a cardigan will protect you against air conditioning. The beach season, which opens with the Memorial Day holiday, closes with the Labor Day weekend, although some of the best beach weather arrives slightly later and often lasts through Thanksgiving. October, November and December are on the sunny side, shirtsleeve weather and ideal for cotton dresses; but have a no-wrinkle jersey or knitted suit in case. January is the chilliest month and there is likely to be rain, so carry a raincoat, boots and an umbrella. If you’re a skiing enthusiast, you’ll find the best snow above Hollywood during January, February, March and sometimes April. February and March continue like January, although not so cool.

Calendar of Hollywood Events

April: In Palm Springs, Desert Circus Week, with Western garb, kangaroo court, celebrities in a Main Street lockup (memorable pictures), parades, charity ball; in Hemet, Ramona play mentioned elsewhere; Hollywood Bowl, Easter Sunrise Services; also in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, at Forest Lawn, on Mt. Rubidoux, Riverside.

May: Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race; Hollywood Park, beginning of horse racing, continues to middle of July.

June: Catalina Island welcomes the flying fish home from their Southern sojourn with gaily lighted cruisers and decorated yachts; San Diego County Fair at Del Mar’s fair grounds next to the race track built by such film greats as Bing Crosby, Pat O’Brien and Fred Astaire.

July: Beginning of the Hollywood Bowl Symphonies under the stars; beginning of the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters; in Long Beach, Miss Universe Pageant.

August: Solvang’s Danish Days described elsewhere; Newport Harbor’s Flight of the Snowbirds (small sailboats) at which, last summer, the late Humphrey Bogart served as crew for one of the youngsters, a kindness the old salts at Newport will never forget; in Santa Barbara, Old Spanish Days Fiesta under the full moon; Los Angeles Nisei Week, at which, if you are lucky enough to have Japanese friends, you may enjoy the tea ceremonies, the judo tournament or the fashion, talent, or baby shows.

September: In Huntington Beach, Twins Convention, not to be missed if you are a pair of twins, with prizes for prettiest, most freckled, youngest, oldest, etc.; Los Angeles County Fair at Pomona, which this year shows only photographs in the art exhibit, so you can see what the big boys are doing with flash, film and range-finder; in San Pedro, the fishermen’s Fiesta, blessing the fleet, dancing in the Street, parading the lighted and decorated fishing boats.

October: From October until January 1st the biggest of Hollywood pictures are premiered in order to make them eligible for Academy Award consideration. Watch the daily papers or theatre marquees for the magic phrase “World Premiere.” Bleachers are set up for the comfort of the fans and nearly all celebs will pose.

November: In Long Beach, All-Western Band Review, including 75 bands from schools and military groups, with prizes for best bands and majorettes.

December: Christmas, Christmas everywhere. Santa Claus Lane in Hollywood; Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena (a mile of lighted deodars); Newport’s floating Christmas tree; Long Beach’s parade of cruisers carrying Christmas carolers; Beverly Hills’ competition for best-decorated homes; San Fernando Valley’s similar race.

January: In Pasadena, Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl Game; in San Diego, New Year’s Regatta and Shiver and Shake Club (known austerely as the Rowing Club) takes a dip in San Diego Bay; Los Angeles open Golf Tournament; Santa Anita Winter Meeting in Arcadia, from the day after Christmas until March (Note: Six of the meeting’s races award more than the Kentucky Derby purse).

February: Breathtaking camellia show in Descanso Gardens, La Canada, with a small admission charge to see 48,000 plants in simultaneous bloom; in Indio, Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival including Arabian Nights’ pageant; in Palm Springs, Westerado, first rodeo of the year sanctioned by Rodeo Cowboys Association and a great place to spot celebrities by the dozens; in San Diego, Soaring Championships, with sailplane pilots hoping to catch a breeze over Torrey Pines mesa and soar all the way to Honolulu.

March: In San Bernardino, National Orange Show, a terrific fair; in Sierra Madre, the Wisteria Festival, fete held in honor of a vine with delusions of grandeur, produces an acre of blossoms; at Hollywood Park Race Track in Inglewood, California International Flower Show, about which you wouldn’t believe your own memory if you didn’t have camera evidence to prove it; in Death Valley, Furnace Creek Golf Tournament (Note: Death Valley is something to see between November and April, but no tourist should attempt the trip without being fully briefed at the Automobile Club of Southern California, Figueroa Street at Adams).

THE END

 

It is a quote. PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE MAY 1957