Clik here to view.
Memories of HAMBURGER HAMLET
I’m still in deep mourning over the loss of the Hamburger Hamlet on Sunset Strip. It closed its doors on December 17, 2011. I was one of the last loyal customers to walk out of those neighborhood doors...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Article 0
The iconic Capitol Records Christmas treeIf 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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Article 0
Heaven, I'm in heaven...If you grew up in Los Angeles during the 1980s, then you'll understand this shirt I wore back in the day.Alison Martino, 1981"Heaven" was a cutting edge, heavily branded, new...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Living Across the Street From Edward G. Robinson
I recently found the above vintage Polaroid photo when my mom was packing up our old house. That’s Edward G. Robinson standing in his driveway, directly across the street from where we lived on Rexford...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The old Century City Mall
The old Century City Mall when it first opened in 1965"Honey, Century City's got everything covered." That's what Tom Petty sang, and I thought so too. The old Century City mall entrance from Santa...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Article 0
WESTWOOD VILLAGERemember when Westwood Village was so crowed on weekends, they had to close off cars from entering to handle the overflow? It was a SCENE! Some of my favorite spots were Postermat,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Article 1
"OSKO'S" The Holy Grail Of the Disco Clubs In Los Angeles.Back in the day Osko's Nightclub is where it ALL went down. It’s also where they shot "Thank God It's Friday" with Donna Summer performing some...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Article 0
Alison Martino, creator of the Vintage Los Angeles online community, sits for a meal in a vintage restaurant. (Courtesy of Alison Martino)SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAPop Culture Historian Preserves LA’s Past...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Bistro in Beverly Hills
No, this isn't a production still from James Cameron's TITANIC, this is the original Bistro restaurant once located in Beverly Hills. The original address was 235 Canon Drive. Today this room is the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Villa Capri In Hollywood
The Villa Capri In Hollywood The Villa Capri in Hollywood PHOTO: Vintage Los Angeles Archives Pasquale "Patsy" D'Amore served the very first pizza pies in Los Angeles in 1939 at his first restaurant...
View ArticleSunset Strip 1963
Take a drive down Sunset Strip in the 1963 Astonishing color footage of Sunset Strip starting at Horn Ave and ending at Doheny. A few historical notes: The Melody Room became Filthy McNasty’s, The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Comstock Hotel On Wilshire Blvd
The original Comstock Hotel was located at 10300 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood. It was designed by Kenneth Lind in 1956. There’s a lot of history here.... some of it is fun, some of it is tragic.......
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Source Restaurant
Photo: Ed Ruscha 1972Sometimes I walk the neighborhood looking for older structures that are still standing. In a city that likes to tear everything down, I’m forever searching for reminders of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Article 0
Peek Inside L.A.’s Forgotten College of Striptease ALISON MARTINO DECEMBER 30, 2017 HOLLYWOODThe Pink Pussycat in 1967“Fundamentals of Taking It Off.” “Psychology of Inhibitions.” “Applied Sensual...
View ArticleClik here to view.
8801 Sunset Strip
I've always been fascinated by the history of 8801 Sunset Blvd and Horn Ave. Here's a 100 year old time line...In the 1920s, 8801 Sunset Blvd was a dusty old structure that sold and repaired furniture...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Article 0
The Marquis Restaurant Once Located on Sunset StripPhoto: George Mann, 1964 You might remember this building at Sunset and Harper as “Carlos & Charlie’s” or “Dublin's” Irish Pub. But it was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ah Fong's
Ah Fong's was a weekly ritual for my family growing up. We would frequent the Beverly Drive location. It had a deep, long staircase, and as little girl my parents walked me down those steep steps. My...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of 8004 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles gangster, Micky Cohen’s Cohen controlled this portion of Sunset Strip at Sunset & Holloway during the 1940s. He installed three of his legit businesses in the building’s street-level...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Kelbo's Hawaiian Restaurant
Remembering KELBO’S! The very first KELBO'S location opened at 11434 West Pico Blvd in 1965. A second location opened on Fairfax across from Television City. There were also locations in Inglewood and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pacific Red Cars & The Pacific Design Center.
These are Pacific Red Car trains running through West Hollywood in 1953 at San Vicente & Melrose. It was called the Sherman Yard. It’s where trains were stored during maintenance. The late,...
View Article