I was thrilled to recently be interviewed by Alex Cohen on KPCC - NPR Radio on December 3rd with Alex Cohen. Of course discussing my favorite subject - In the words of Ralph Story, Things that aren't here anymore..
Thank you Alex Cohen and KPCC and NPR for having me on the air with you once again speaking about Vintage Los Angeles. It was a pleasure and an honor to discuss Vintage Christmas in Los Angeles! To listen click here: Take Two with Alex Cohen
Here's some VLA pics of Christmas during the 1940s to get you in the mood....
Elmer Valentine and Philip Tanzini opened the first LA first disco, The Whisky-A-Go-Go on Sunset Boulevard. Johnny Rivers was the house band until the explosion of psychedelic Rock. The club became a popular meeting place for record-industry executives, girls dancing in cages and bands, including the Doors and Love, The Birds, and Otis Redding who got their start here. The Whisky a Go Go was a nondescript former bank building at the northwest corner of Sunset Boulevard and Clark Street in West Hollywood before it became a musical legend in the 1960s.
Alison Martino appears on ABC's "EYE ON LA' for a special episode dedicated entirely to "Vintage Los Angeles" Hope you enjoy it! Check out the episode below!!
I was alsovery fortunate to have my photo taken up at the Stahl House back in 2012 for an article I wrote on this mid century modern masterpiece . I truly encourage everyone to take this tour! You can sit in this exact spot and it's spectacular. Views from the ocean to downtown. The house is a wonder...
Recently Universal Music has taken over Capitol Records. The fate of the tower is still unknown. Condos are rumored to take over...
But there’s one holiday tradition that I enjoy every year, it’s spotting the historic Christmas tree that tops the iconic Capitol Records building on Vine Street in Hollywood.
But one tradition has been a historic event since 1958! It's the historic vintage Christmas tree that tops the iconic Capitol Records building on Vine Street in Hollywood every year.
Check out my article for LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE that was published this past December, 2013
Designed by Ollsen Lighting and featuring 4,373 bulbs (at 25 watts each), the tree was the first of its kind, and it has been a part of the Hollywood skyline each December since 1958, save for 1973, when L.A. experienced an energy crisis. (According to the music company, the Capitol Records switch board lit up like a wild fire that year with calls from concerned Angelenos wanting to know if the tree would ever return.)
The Capitol Records Tree will lit up 55th time this past Decemeber, 2013 just in time to brighten the evening commute. In recent years, the families of Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra have flipped its switch, and Capitol will keep us informed who the lucky ones will be in the future. Of course, the seasonal greenery isn’t the building’s only topper. A blinking light spells out Hollywood in Morse code and has done so every night since the building was erected. In fact, Leila Morse, Samuel Morse’ granddaughter flipped the beacon switch! It’s only been altered on rare occasions, like in 1992 to honor Capitol’s 50th anniversary, when it spelled out Happy Birthday, and is proof some things in L.A. (rarely) change.
Thank you "Camera in the Sun's" Christian Niedan for this fun conversation and blog based on my my long term affection for my hometown’s architecture and rich cultural past. My love for L.A. history did indeed inspire me to create Vintage Los Angeles
I had such a good time discussing my dedication to VLA, my passion for photography, my family's legacy and my television career. Thank you again, Christian!
Photo taken in the hallway of Capitol Records. The famous studio A is directly behind me. It was so thrilling to walk these hallways again. My father recorded every single record in this building during the '60's - '90's. Such powerful feelings come over me standing here. I think my earliest memory as a child is listening to my dad record here. I hope the studio stays intact for eternity. Hoping for the best...
If anyone has any updated information on where the Rocky and Bullwinkle statue is going, please let VINTAGE LOS ANGELES know. You can also leave a message here or email me @ AlisonMartino@gmail.com
Chasen's Chili is now available ALL year round available at Bristol Farms in West Hollywood!! This originally was one week offer, but thanks to high demand it is now attainable 7 days a week at the food counter! You can also devour it in one of the 7 original Chasen's booths located in the back of the store! Now that's the closest thing to a time machine that I can think of!
These are original booths from the legendary Chasen's restaurant! They are located at Bristol Farms Beverly West and were preserved by the market when Chasen's closed. There's 6 original booths. No better place to devour that Chasen's Chili!
Hamburger Hamlet in Pasadena closes. I had the great pleasure of interviewing Adam Lewis, son of Harry and Marilyn Lewis - the original owners of Hamburger Hamlet.
Click here to read The Los Angeles Magazine Article.
The world famous Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip celebrates its 50th anniversary on Jan. 16th, 2014! And to celebrate this milestone, I had the pleasure of interviewing Philip Tanzini Jr. for an exclusive interview for my latest Los Angeles Magazine feature. His father Philip Tanzini Sr. was one of the original owners. He shares some inside stories I had never heard before and I'm thrilled to share them with you!
To help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Whisky A Go Go Philip Tanzini Jr. has shared this never seen before photo of his father, Philip Tanzini Sr. and a few bodacious GO GO dancers he hired to dance in the GO GO cages back in 1964!
Spent a magical evening with my best friend Maria McKee inside the "The Witch's House" last night for Vintage Los Angeles. The house has been owned by renown real estate agent, Michael Libow since 1998 and my friend and I were THRILLED to be invited over. NOBODY has taken better care of this original storybook fairytale home better then Michael who did NOT want to see the home torn down. So he purchased it and began a gradual renovation. Well it paid off! In fact it has just been declared a Landmark by the city of historic preservation due to it's unique storybook design, age and role in early Hollywood! And we are all SOOOOO happy about that!
The Witches House (also known as the Spadena House) was built in the 1920's as an office for the studio execs in Culver City and was used in several silent films and eventually moved to Walden St. in 1926 after its use was retired to serve as a residence for Ward Lascelle, and independent movie producer. Through the years the house changed owners, and luckily has stood the test of time and today this whimsical cottage has never been in better shape.
I went trick or treating here every Halloween in the late '70s early '80's. The owners at that time would dress as ghosts and goblins handing out Taffy from a witches kettle. There was dry ice coming from the moat around the house and haunted mansion music piping out from the upstairs window! It was the TOP attraction in Beverly Hills at that time. Then suddenly the house went dark one year and the family stopped the tradition with no explanation. The tradition was missed and no activity took place there for several years and the property started to become neglected. Thankfully Michael Libow purchased it and has taken the house to an entire new level giving it the tender loving care and restoration it has so desperately deserved. Let me further explain....
Michael has made some incredible additions to the house. The landscaping in the front yard is purposefully bizarre, with gnarled, twisted trees and a wooden bridge crossing a mystical moat with a ceramic glass bottom. The home now looks more organic - like it's growing up from the ground. There is a huge spider web complete with nefarious looking spider caught in web made out of wrought iron and the house is surrounded by a rickety picket fence How do I explain the inside? All I can say is it immediately reminded me of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" at Disneyland and I expected Walt's ghost to appear at any moment. The walls of the house slope precariously, giving the impression of imminent collapse. Its dilapidated-looking, pitched roof is pointed like a witch's hat. The saggy, wooden window shutters are hung at odd angles. The entire house almost appears as if it's melting! This further explains why the house sees well over 4,000 trick-or-treaters every single Halloween and it is visited by many curious onlookers.
The consulting firm Ostashay & Associates performed an intensive and exhaustive landmark assessment which helped tie the pedigree and provenance of the house together.
If Hansel and Gretel lost their way in Beverly Hills it is likely they would end up at 516 N. Walden Drive
Seeing the interior, was milestone for me and thrilled to share my experience with you. We ended the perfect night with a few rounds of Pinball on Michael's vintage CAPTAIN FANTASTIC pinball machine inspired by the movie, "Tommy", and topped it off singing around Michael's antique piano. The house is just FULL of endless fun and innocence (and a few friendly spirits). I'm proud to say you will be seeing a lot more of the Witches House on Vintage Los Angeles in the near future!
What a night for Vintage Los Angeles! Thank you to everyone who attended the screening of Billy Wilder's, "Sunset Boulevard" at the Million Dollar Theatre on May 31st. Seeing VLA on the Marquee was so spectacular and surreal and over 1000 seats sold!
This was purely a magical and serendipitous achievement. I happened to announce the screening two hours before I headed out to Kate Mantilini restaurant in Beverly Hills. I hadn't sat down for more then 10 minutes when the waiter informed me that Nancy Olson was actually 4 tables down from me! I just knew I HAD to approach her and inform her about the screening. Our wonderful waiter, James Lauver handled the introduction. Nancy then reveals to me that her husband was Alan Livingston who was president of Capitol Records during the late 50's and 60's and actually signed my father to the label! He was also responsible for signing The Beatles, The Beach Boys and created Bozo The Clown. What were the odds if of this happening? She agreed to attend the screening right then and there!
Two weeks later Nancy shows up at the Million Dollar! She was pleasantly surprised when she saw the marquee and the massive crowd gathered in front. The historic movie palace was built in 1918 by Sid Grauman and seats over 1700 people! I told her that this was the very same theatre Gloria Swanson attended during her silent films days. She couldn't wait to get up on that platform. This woman had a lot to say!
The Q & A was a smash! Well a little more "A" then "Q". Nancy honestly let me get off very easy. So much for those flashcards I was holding that included dozens of questions! After I announced her, she took over and no questions were required! Nancy's spot-on observations and reminiscences of the making of "Sunset Boulevard" illuminated Wilder's masterpiece. Nancy needed no interruptions - only an introduction. We could have listened for hours as she told us insightful stories of the film, William Holden and how Billy Wilder made her wear all her own clothes to capture the right vibe of the character. I'm so grateful that so many of you were a part of it! The entire video can be watched here.
This is the part of Nancy Olson's interview last night that really blew us all away. When she reached inside her bag and pulled out her memoirs and shared her experiences and perspectives about Sunset Boulevard. She radiated the theatre with elegance and we were just stunned listening to her eloquent and intelligent wisdom.
Thank you to to everyone that attended. This was a milestone for Vintage Los Angeles. And thank
you John Reiber for this fantastic review of this magical night so many of us will never forget!
VINTAGE LOS ANGELES: FISH SHANTY AND THE KOOKY WONDERLAND THAT WAS RESTAURANT ROW
La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard used to be a playful pocket of themed eateries, amusement parks, and nightclubs
By Alison Martino
Established in 1950 by the Smith Bros., the Fish Shanty was classic West Coast kitsch. Located at the intersection of La Cienega Boulevard and Burton Way, it was known to Angelenos as "the restaurant that swallowed you whole,” and nothing thrilled me more as a child than walking through the jaws of the Shanty’s whale façade or hiding under his fin, which was made out of thousands of tiny, ocean-blue, midcentury mosaic tiles that sparkled during sundown like the crest of an effervescent wave. (It will be forever preserved on film after being used as the entrance to a British club in the 1965 black comedy, The Loved One.)
The kitchen served reasonably priced seafood in a nautical atmosphere that included a ship’s wheel, lavender leather booths, and an aquarium with turtles in the entryway. It was the first time I ever tried clam chowder and sand dabs, and I specifically remember ordering Shirley Temples with extra cherries. (I still have a couple of the plastic mermaids that the waiters stuck on the rim of my glass.) Believe it or not, this area of Los Angeles was once a playful pocket of themed restaurants, amusement parks, and nightclubs surrounded by an amazing landscape of kooky architecture. The fish shack was conveniently located across the street from a disco in the shape of a giant claw called Osko’s and down the road from several beloved cartoonish destinations, like Beverly Park and Ponyland. (Yes, you could actually ride a ferris wheel or jump on a pony where the Beverly Center is today.) Other nearby eateries included Tail o’ the Pup, the Islander, Alan Hale’s Lobster Barrel, and The Velvet Turtle. How appropriate! And who could forget playing in that gigantic boot inside Standard Shoes just a few blocks away?
Osko's (screen grab from "Thank God It's Friday")
Kiddieland / Beverly Park located on Beverly Blvd
"Ponyland" located at Beverly Blvd and La Cienega
"Tail 'O the Pup" located on north west corner of La Cienega and Beverly Blvd
"The Islander" located on La Cienega between Beverly Blvd and Melrose Ave.
Alan Hale's "Lobster Barrel"
"The Velvet Turtle" not too far from La Cienega
Who played in the giant boot inside Standard Shoes?
Fish Shanty fit in perfectly with these whimsical landmarks and blended right into so-called Restaurant Row on La Cienega, a section of trendy restaurants such as the original Lawry’s, Ollie Hammond’s, and Tail o’ the Cock. Most of these places are now just memories that helped shape my youth, and the Shanty was the captain that anchored them.
Tragically, Fish Shanty was demolished after a fire in the early ’90s and was replaced by a car dealership. Today it’s a swanky apartment building courtesy of Rick Caruso, complete with a Trader Joe's. The thing I love the most about this re-use of the original Shanty site is the oval cutout in the top of the new modern structure. For me, it represents the neighborhood whale that always made me smile. So next time you walk through the doorway of that Trader Joe’s, imagine yourself heading into the belly of the beast.
Alison Martino is a writer, television producer and personality, and L.A. pop culture historian. She founded the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles in 2010. In addition to CityThink and VLA, Martino muses on L.A’s. past and present on Twitter and Instagram.
What a night for Vintage Los Angeles! Thank you to everyone who attended the screening of Billy Wilder's, "Sunset Boulevard" at the Million Dollar Theatre on May 31st. Seeing VLA on the Marquee was so spectacular and surreal and over 1000 seats sold!
This was purely a magical and serendipitous achievement. I happened to announce the screening two hours before I headed out to Kate Mantilini restaurant in Beverly Hills. I hadn't sat down for more then 10 minutes when the waiter informed me that Nancy Olson was actually 4 tables down from me! I just knew I HAD to approach her and inform her about the screening. Our wonderful waiter, James Lauver handled the introduction. Nancy then reveals to me that her husband was Alan Livingston who was president of Capitol Records during the late 50's and 60's and actually signed my father to the label! He was also responsible for signing The Beatles, The Beach Boys and created Bozo The Clown. What were the odds if of this happening? She agreed to attend the screening right then and there!
Two weeks later Nancy shows up at the Million Dollar! She was pleasantly surprised when she saw the marquee and the massive crowd gathered in front. The historic movie palace was built in 1918 by Sid Grauman and seats over 1700 people! I told her that this was the very same theatre Gloria Swanson attended during her silent films days. She couldn't wait to get up on that platform. This woman had a lot to say!
The Q & A was a smash! Well a little more "A" then "Q". Nancy honestly let me get off very easy. So much for those flashcards I was holding that included dozens of questions! After I announced her, she took over and no questions were required! Nancy's spot-on observations and reminiscences of the making of "Sunset Boulevard" illuminated Wilder's masterpiece. Nancy needed no interruptions - only an introduction. We could have listened for hours as she told us insightful stories of the film, William Holden and how Billy Wilder made her wear all her own clothes to capture the right vibe of the character. I'm so grateful that so many of you were a part of it! The entire video can be watched here.
Video
This is the part of Nancy Olson's interview last night that really blew us all away. When she reached inside her bag and pulled out her memoirs and shared her experiences and perspectives about Sunset Boulevard. She radiated the theatre with elegance and we were just stunned listening to her eloquent and intelligent wisdom.
Thank you to to everyone that attended. This was a milestone for Vintage Los Angeles. And thank
you John Reiber for this fantastic review of this magical night so many of us will never forget!
Vintage Los Angeles has teamed up with the The Ebersole-Hughes Company who have produced fascinatingdocumentaries such"Room 237" examining Stanley Kubrick's psychological horror-thriller "The Shining", "Dear Mom, Love Cher" revealing the extraordinary life of the star’s mother, Georgia Holt staring Cher, Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman and"Hit So Hard" featuring Patty Schemel from Courtney Love’s band HOLE. And now Vintage Los Angeles has partnered up with producers, P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes for as new VLA web series!
VLA's debut features the beloved Los Angeles roadside eatery "Tail O' The Pup" which mysteriously disappeared from the streets of West Hollywood nearly a decade ago. Its whereabouts have been in question ever since. Vintage Los Angeles uncovers the original hotdog façade that was built in the 1940s with its long-time owners The Blake Family in this exclusive mini-documentary, highlighting the colorful history and future of this lost Angeleno treasure. It’s an emotional episode since their son, Dennis Blake, passed away in his sleep last December. His wish was to get the pup back on the streets again and his family is going forward with his dream. We were there to capture its removal out of storage where it has languished since 2005. Thank you to The Ebersole Hughes Company for teaming up with VLA on this passionate new series. Each episode will offer a different tale. Most of them inspired by the stories we've been following on this page. This is one of the most rewarding projects I have ever been a part of and we dedicate this first episode to Dennis Blake.
Watch the first episode!
There is one personal story I must share. Last year I picked up Dennis from his home and we went to see the pup. He was heart broken to see it in storage. On the way back he gave me that vintage "Tail "o the Pup" pin you see in the video. I placed it in my glove compartment. Tragically six months later Dennis passed away unexpectedly. When we reached out to the family to shoot this in his honor, I arrived at the storage unit a bit early that day. I had nothing to do so I started cleaning out my car. And when I opened the glove compartment, there was the pin! I knew immediately it was a sign. I placed it on my scarf and when we started shooting, Dennis's father Eddie Blake asked me, "Where did you get that?". I said, "Dennis gave it to me". Eddie swelled up in tears while our camera's were rolling. There is no question in my mind that was Dennis making an appearance in this beautiful segment.
The pin
Vintage Los Angeles will be shooting many more segments within the year. Every story will be generated out of the VLA page. We will also be shooting segments with various celebrities that have an LA connection. Belinda Carlisle, Micky Dolenz and Frankie Avalon have already signed on for future episodes as well as a 95 year old lady who contacted me via Vintage Los Angeles who opened the Villa Nova on Sunset Strip. This is where Marilyn Monroe met Joe DiMaggio. Today it’sThe Rainbow Bar and Grill. A.J. Benza from "Mysteries & Scandals" will also hosting a few segments!
So far our first series been highly received and has been featured in WeHoVille and Curbed LA!
Your support is immeasurable! This is really more then just a facade in storage. It's a piece on something that is specific and tangible, a family's heartfelt story. So even though it's "just" a very small and one-off funky old and beat-up thing, there's much more to it as you can see. It's more then just an L.A. icon. We actually never expected Eddie Blake to show up on the day of filming. It was just one of those unscripted moments in life. We will be premiering 2 more episodes in the next couple months! Then we will most likely need to shop the series around or crowd fund since we will need funding to keep this up!! So please spread the word! The more buzz, the better for the VLA web series which we are funding ourselves at the moment.
We will be keeping you all up to date on where the Tail 'o the Pup will land after its restoration! We think we know where it's going and VLA is behind the the new location! Stay Tuned!
