Hollywood Heritage is a non- profit organization dedicated to preservation of the historic built environment in Hollywood and to education about the early film industry and the role its pioneers played in shaping March 2011 www.hollywoodheritage.org Volume 30, Number 1 Hollywood’s history. Marian Dean Newman Gibbons 1921-2010 ollywood Heritage co-founder and Offenhauser spoke of her as a “pied piper” past president Marian Gibbons regarding her ability to enlist everyone, from Hpassed away on December 8th from former Los Angeles County Supervisor John lung cancer. She had been seriously ill since Anson Ford and former Mayor Tom Bradley July. A memorial for Mrs. Gibbons was held through the most casual acquaintance, to vol- on December 29th at the Hollywood Heritage unteer and help save the “1913 Movie Studio.” Museum, and was attended by family, friends, For many, Marian was the face of Hollywood Hollywood Heritage directors (past and pres- Heritage and she spent endless amounts of ent) and members. time and personal resources to publicize and Two of Marian’s grandchildren, Marcy promote it, first as an idea and then as a work- Newman of Lebanon, and Lucas Shane Knopf ing organization. Up until mid-2010, Marian of Amherst, Massachusetts, spoke movingly was still on the Hollywood Heritage Board of of their love for their grandmother and the Directors and took pride in the fact that the very great influence that she had on their lives. organization had endured and prospered over Two themes were present among the speak- the past 30 years. ers. One was her awe-inspiring leadership in The second theme was Marian’s humor, public causes which included not only Holly- noted by a number of speakers, including Mrs. wood Heritage but also the Watertown Plant Janet Schoenecker of Elm Grove, Wisconsin. Road Historical Society and the Elm Grove Marian loved to mangle the English language, Playhouse, both of which she helped estab- and the attendees learned of her affection for lished in Elm Grove, Michigan before mov- brought her to Hollywood for the first time doing so, which was the cause for periodic ing to Hollywood in 1978. Her first trip was and inspired her to want to live here. Co- amusement and more than one embarrassing a brief stay in Toluca Lake in 1949, a trip that founders Christy Johnson McAvoy and Fran continued on page 4 Hollywood’s 10 Most Endangered Sites casual glance at the state of less imminent, are often more complex. In radical redevelopment of the boulevard. Hollywood’s historic resources shows an effort to encourage good stewardship of Hollywood Heritage is currently work- A good signs and much progress to- Hollywood’s irreplaceable historic resources ing with the Community Redevelopment ward determining the number and kind of and to inform our members of these issues, Agency (CRA/LA) and the Planning extant resources. Two long awaited and thor- Hollywood Heritage has launched its list of Department to mitigate these threats ough historic surveys of the Hollywood Hollywood’s 10 Most Endangered Sites. and encourage policies and development Community Redevelopment Area and the schemes that seek to preserve the char- greater Hollywood Community Plan Area have 1. Hollywood Boulevard: “Hollywood acter of Hollywood’s most iconic street. identified scores of structures and broadened Boulevard is back!” or so conventional our understanding of the region’s history and wisdom would have it. However, with 2. Orchard Gables: This somewhat for- architectural heritage. The recent downturn in the Boulevard’s success has come a lorn manse from 1904, on the corner of the economy has slowed demolitions of histor- growing pressure on the resources of Fountain Avenue and Wilcox Avenue, ic structures due to redevelopment, and a ban this nationally recognized historic com- is one of the last survivors of the com- on supergraphics has largely halted the expan- mercial and entertainment district. The munity of Colegrove founded by Senator sion of that physically and aesthetically dam- recent Hollywood Boulevard Urban De- Cornelius Cole, friend and confidant of aging practice. However, there continue to be sign Guidelines and Hollywood Com- Abraham Lincoln. Although there are growing threats to many of Hollywood’s most munity Plan Update propose changes to rehabilitation plans by the Hollywood significant landmarks, which although they are the underlying zoning, which encourage continued on page 3 President’s Message Moving Assets: Brian Curren Moves To New Adventures by Richard Adkins www.hollywoodheritage.org plications for demolition and drafted our ouis B. Mayer once said that movie responses to the Sunset Boulevard and Hol- BOARD OF DIRECTORS making was the only business where lywood Boulevard­–Franklin Avenue propos- Richard Adkins Levery night, the greatest assets of the als by CRA/LA. Brian has also been active in President company walked out the door. This wry ob- historic issues in West Hollywood and in the servation on the role of individuals within an preservation efforts for the Fairfax Theatre. Brian Curran Vice President Brian's personal life is taking him back to London, his residence before Los Angeles. Alan H. Simon We are grateful for the time he has dedicated Secretary to Hollywood Heritage and his considerable Randy Haberkamp contribution to the preservation of Holly- Treasurer wood. We offer our thanks along with good wishes for his new endeavors. Brian will be Robert S. Birchard greatly missed. Bob Blue Claire Bradford Bigger Than Life – Amy Condit Hollywood’s 1st Bryan Cooper 100 Years Denise DeCarlo Margot Gerber his past fall, Werner Hanak-Lettner Laurie Goldman of the Jewish Museum Vienna visited Tthe Hollywood Heritage Museum. Mary Mallory organization is equally true of a community Mr. Hanak was gathering information and Christy Johnson McAvoy organization like Hollywood Heritage. reviewing resources for an exhibit he is cu- During the past three years, we have been rating at the museum in Vienna on the his- Dr. Meredith Drake Reitan extremely fortunate to have historian, author tory of Hollywood, exploring the lives of the Jeffrey Stutts and activist Brian Curran, Jr. on the board of Jewish founders of the industry. The exhibit, Hollywood Heritage. For the last year and a titled Bigger Than Life opens in October of Stan Taffel half, Mr. Curran has been both Vice Presi- Tracy Terhune dent of the organization and the Chair of the Valerie Yaros Preservation Issues Committee, one of the most active and productive groups within Committees & Chairs the organization. Following the significant loss of Robert Nudelman, Brian provided Finance & Development - Claire Bradford the organization with continuity and author- Museum - Richard Adkins ity, demonstrating the highest level of profes- Membership - Laurie Goldman sionalism as the face of Hollywood Heritage at meetings with community groups and city Nominating - Robert Birchard departments. Under Brian's stewardship, we Preservations Issues - Brian Curran were able to negotiate a successful restoration 2011and will feature many artifacts loaned Public Relations - Bryan Cooper plan for the former CBS television studio by American institutions, including The on Sunset Boulevard, preserving its 1930s Hollywood Heritage Museum, which will Publications - Alan H. Simon appearance and its use as an entertainment loan artifacts from the first Ten Commandments Silent Society - Randy Haberkamp industry facility. In our working relation- and the costume Gloria Swanson wore in Mary Zickefoose ship with the Community Redevelopment Manhandled when she did her first on-screen Director of Membership Development Agency, Brian has been our representative imitation of Charlie Chaplin. This is the first John Clifford on all issues regarding historic designations. international exhibit in which we have partici- Newsletter and Web Site Editor With the participation and cooperation of pated. The exhibit will be at the Palais Eskeles, Hollywood Heritage Newsletter is published his committee and the Hollywood Heritage Dorotheergasse 11, Vienna, Austria, through periodically by Hollywood Heritage, Inc., Board of Directors, he has addressed ap- April of 2012. P.O. Box 2586, Hollywood, CA 90078 323 874-4005. 2 Hollywood Heritage Newsletter | March 2011 Endangered Continued from page 1 was one of the first model houses built this 1959 modern masterpiece of ar- Community Housing Corporation, on the Boulevard. From 1911 to 1926 chitect Howard Elwell, located at 7107 sadly the house sits empty and is de- it served as the Misses Janes School of Hollywood Boulevard. With plans for teriorating as it weathers the political Hollywood. The last Janes sister died in the site unknown, Hollywood Heritage, storms between the CRA/LA and Sac- 1983, and the house has gone through alerted by the Modern Committee of ramento, which threaten to strip it of several incarnations from the center- LA Conservancy, is seeking informa- over a million dollars in funding. piece of a shopping arcade to a trendy tion and monitoring the site closely. restaurant. Today the house is unoccu- The uncertain fate of the Fifth Church 3. Women's Club of Hollywood and pied with its future uncertain. Recent of Christ also represents the wider issue Hollywood School for Girls: Located plans involve an upscale boutique hotel of the preservation of modern architec- at 1749 N. La Brea Avenue, this site con- and there are reports of unauthorized ture in Hollywood. While landmarks tains a complex of historic structures work taking place at the house, which such as the Capital Records Building including the 1904 Hollywood School could potentially damage historic inte- and the Cinerama Dome are widely cel- For Girls hospitality house and the rior features. ebrated and cared-for, other structures 1947 Hollywood Women’s Clubhouse. such as William Lescaze’s early mod- The effects of years of deferred main- 5. Wattles Mansion and Gardens: Since ern CBS Columbia Square and Millard tenance and mismanagement including the departure of Hollywood Heritage Sheet’s 1967 Home Savings & Loan the demolition of historic structures on in 2009, the City of Los Angeles De- Association of America at Sunset and the site, have been compounded by re- partment of Recreation and Parks has Vine are somewhat neglected. Others cent inter organizational struggles and managed the house and it has remained such as Honnold, Reibsamen & Rex’s legal action which has led to the neglect closed to the public. While the depart- 1963 Sunset and Vine Tower have been of the historic buildings. A recent grant ment has always had plans to reopen radically transformed. from the National Trust to do much the house for weddings and parties and needed roof repairs on the clubhouse was even allocated Quimby Act funds 7. Warner Pacific Theater: This grand was put on hold and recent rains did towards the restoration of the gardens, Italianate Beaux Arts movie palace, de- further damage. The property is now no work other than the erection of signed by G. Albert Lansburgh, opened in receivership and its fate remains an more security fencing has occurred. in 1928. It is the last of Hollywood’s open question. Left unoccupied and unused, Wattles great movie theaters to remain under- utilized and unrestored. Although its offices are still rented and an evangeli- cal group uses the auditorium on Sun- days, it has remained closed to movie and theater audiences since 1994 after suffering some damage during the Northridge Earthquake. While it is a Historic Cultural Landmark, plans of office towers rising in the lot behind the theater continue to circulate as its neglected façade casts a shadow over the Boulevard. Its issues are further highlighted by the fate and condition of other “lost” theaters along the bou- levard, the Fox, the Vogue and the Ha- waiian, which have all been radically or insensitively altered for new uses.

8. Ennis House: Frank Lloyd Wright’s textile block masterpiece, the Ennis House, is among Hollywood’s and the nation’s greatest treasures. Years of deterioration compounded by Frank Lloyd Wright’s experimental construc- tion techniques, neglect and failed res- The Hollywood School for Girls called this building the Shakespearean House. It is now called the Hospitality House by the Women's Club of Hollywood Photo circa 2009 by Alan H. Simon toration attempts, were amplified by severe damage during the Northridge 4. Janes House: Located at 6541 Hol- future remains unclear. Earthquake and the collapse of retain- lywood Boulevard, the house is sur- ing walls during heavy rains in 2005. vivor of the era when Hollywood was 6. Fifth Church of Christ Scientist: The These states of affairs lead to the re- an actual city. Built in 1903 the house dwindling congregation recently sold organization of the Trust, which owns continued on page 4 Hollywood Heritage Newsletter | March 2011 3 Endangered Continued from page 3 the house. The Trust was able to utilize The Silent Society Of Hollywood FEMA funds to shore up the house, Heritage Celebrates 25 Years!!! repair the roof and restore large sec- tions of the damaged textile block. Op- oin the Silent Society as it celebrates 25 on the comic strip “Ella Cinders.” position from neighbors and mounting years of the silent film era with a day-long All Day Pass, At The Door - $15 for the costs of further restoration prevented Jseries of screenings on Saturday, April 2, general public and $10 for members. the Trust from pursuing a public use for 2011 at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, Individual Films, At The Door - $10 for the property, and it has had to put the 2100 N. Highland Avenue. The films will the general public and $5 for members. house up for sale. On the market since feature some of the most popular Leading Advanced General Public Admission 2009, the house was originally listed Ladies of the silent era in rarely screened Tickets can now be purchased online with at $15 million and is now $7.5 million. performances. All films will be presented your credit card via Brown Paper Tickets. Without a buyer or alternative scheme from good old-fashioned 16mm prints. Cost includes a nominal service fee. Just go the Ennis House remains in limbo. 1:30pm – The Innocence Of Ruth (1916) – to https://www.brownpapertickets.com/ starring Viola Dana and Edward Earle, di- event/158085 for more information or call 9. Historic Residential Neighbor- rected by John H. Collins and produced for 1-800-838-3006 to reserve your tickets over hoods: The recent survey of central the Edison Company. Miss Dana stars as an the phone. It’s that easy! Hollywood’s historic resources com- orphan who ends up torn between the man All films featuring live musical accom- missioned by the Hollywood Redevel- she loves and an unscrupulous businessman. paniment by Michael Mortilla in a Morti- opment Agency as a result of a lawsuit Print courtesy of the Library of Congress. llathon! settlement with Hollywood Heritage, 2:30pm – The Veiled Adventure (1919) – Continued from page 1 brought to light the existence of sev- starring Constance Talmadge and Harrison Gibbons eral intact historic neighborhoods rep- Ford, directed by Walter Edwards and pro- moment when her use of a word was taken as resenting various periods and forms duced for the Select Pictures Corp. Miss the actual pronunciation! of Hollywood’s development. These Talmadge and Ford star as a young couple At age 80, Marian decided she wanted small districts have been eroded over whose attempts to get married are thwarted to be an actress. As a child she had been a the decades and represent the last of when she finds a gray veil in his overcoat, set- singer on the radio in her native Ohio. She Hollywood’s residential communities ting off a series of misadventures. felt it was time for a “return”. Jim Hanks, the dating from the first half of the twen- 4:00pm – The Forbidden City (1918) – star- writer and producer of the short film “Wish” tieth century. To date, the new survey ring Norma Talmadge and Thomas Meighan, in which Marian starred as a woman able to has not been approved by CRA/LA, directed by Sidney Franklin and produced for fly(!), spoke of her professionalism and her nor are there any official boundaries or Select Pictures Corp. Miss Talmadge stars willingness to perform whatever stunt was recognition of these communities by in a dual role, as the daughter of a Chinese necessary to help tell the story of “Wish.” the Planning Department, increasing Manda- Keith Anderson, former director and the risk of further incompatible infill rin who treasurer for Hollywood Heritage, read a and demolitions. secretly message from former Wattles Mansion man- mar- ager Stephen Sylvester. Other messages were 10. 5346 Virginia Ave./Hollywood Bun- ries an read from family members unable to attend: galows: On November 22, 2010 Holly- Ameri- granddaughter Margaux de Concini of Maine, wood Heritage narrowly prevented the can, and niece Constance Trainer of North Carolina, demolition of an intact 1905 vintage as their Julie Tiffany of North Carolina, and Louise bungalow located next to the 101 Free- daughter Rauscher Mooney, former business associate way. Owned by an absentee landlord who is later raised in the Emperor’s harem. of Marian and her daughter, Jane Gibbons. who obtained an erroneously approved Dinner Break Other speakers included Robert Birchard, demolition permit, the house was listed Councilman Tom LaBonge, former Coun- on two historic resource surveys and 7:30pm – A Dash Through The Clouds cilman Michael Woo, member Harry Ma- did not have CRA/LA approval for (1912) – starring Mabel Normand and directed jor, and the current president of Hollywood demolition. Saved from the wrecking by Mack Sennett, this one-reel Biograph film Heritage, Richard Adkins. Thaddeus Smith crew, the house is still neglected and served as a blueprint for the films they would of the Music Box Theatre provided chocolate unsecure, open to vagrants. This case later make at Keystone. Mabel is an aviation treats (Marian’s favorite food) and Marian’s highlights the plight of Hollywood’s enthusiast who rescues her suitor from an an- family distributed copies of her book “Hoo- oldest and most common historic hous- gry mob with the help of an airplane. ray for Hollywood: Marian Gibbons and the ing type, the bungalow, scores of which 7:45pm – Ella Cinders (1926) – starring Founding of Hollywood Heritage” to all have been lost in recent decades. Protec- Colleen Moore and Lloyd Hughes, directed those attending. tion of these resources through proper by Alfred E. Green and produced for First Following the memorial, Marian’s ashes planning is essential for the preserva- National Pictures. Miss Moore stars as a were interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery tion and rehabilitation of the remaining young Hollywood hopeful who tries to be- along with those of her late husband, James J. pockets of central Hollywood’s single- come a movie star in an attempt to win her Gibbons, and those of her two children, Jane family residential neighborhoods. boyfriend’s attention in this comedy based Gibbons Knopf and James L. Gibbons.

4 Hollywood Heritage Newsletter | March 2011 Evenings @ the Barn Evenings @ the Barn The Essanay Film Manufacturing Co. Coming to the Found Its Perfect Location in Niles Barn: The Immortal By Robert S. Birchard. Charles Chaplin revive filmmaking in the town; but the com- he Hollywood Heritage Museum ing of sound made the Niles Essanay studio Save the Date Wednesday, April 13th, hosted a special Evening @ the Barn obsolete, and it was torn down to recover 7:30 p.m. for a special Birthday Tribute to the Ton Saturday evening, January 15th, scrap lumber in 1933. However, ten bunga- Immortal Charles Chaplin featuring representatives from the Niles lows built by Anderson to house his Essanay A rare screening of The Gentleman Tramp Essanay Silent Film Museum, who were here troupe still stand. written and directed by Richard Patterson to talk about the career of pioneer filmmaker Joining David for the evening was Rena In Person: Richard Patterson Gilbert M. Anderson, better known to nickel- Dein, who handles public relations and pub- In 1975, filmmaker Richard Patterson pro- odeon-era fans and to posterity as “Broncho licity, as well as the Niles Museum store. Also duced a documentary on Charles Chaplin Billy.” The Niles Museum’s manager and film attending was the Museum’s volunteer and which was the first such film that included historian, David Kiehn, conducted a discus- newsletter editor, Michael Bonham. Rena scenes from later films including City Lights, sion about Anderson’s efforts to find the talked about their museum operations, pro- Modern Times, The Great Dictator, Monsieur Ver- “perfect” location to establish a Western sat- gramming and the upcoming annual Bron- doux, Limelight, etc. It also contains footage ellite studio for the Chicago-based Essanay cho Billy Film Festival, which will take place of Chaplin from several decades worth of Film Manufacturing Company. Essanay is June 24-26, 2011 in Niles. The Niles Essanay newsreels and home movies taken of him at the phonetic rendering of the initials of the Silent Film Museum is located in a former his home in Vevey, Switzerland in 1974. Rich- nickelodeon the- ard is the only person who had full access to ater and is well Charlie and his wife, Oona and was able to worth a visit when film them at their home. Walter Matthau, you’re in the Bay Laurence Olivier and Jack Lemmon provide Area. various narration as well as some of the finest David Kiehn is voice talents in Hollywood. the author of the The Gentleman Tramp is one of the finest acclaimed book, documentaries on Chaplin and is not a talk- Broncho Billy and ing heads testimonial. Rather, it unfolds the Essanay Film Charlie’s personal life in pictures and story Company (avail- through the use of transcripts, film sequenc- able for sale in es, news articles, and memorabilia, all in the the Hollywood space of seventy-eight minutes. Its visual Heritage Museum style and swift pace makes it one of the best store--with a 10% and most entertaining film documentaries discount for Hol- you’re likely to see. Nominated for a Golden lywood Heritage Globe, this is the first public screening in Producers and Directors of the Niles Evening @ the Barn, left to right: Robert S Birchard, Michael members). He re- decades. Film archivist/historian and Hol- Bonham, Claire Bradford, Valarie Yaros, Sue Slutzky, Richard Adkins, David Kiehn and Rena cently appeared lywood Heritage board member Stan Taffel Dein. Photo by Alan H. Simon on the CBS Net- will be bringing a collection of posters and last names of company principals George work news magazine program 60 Minutes, other Chaplin memorabilia plus unique film K. Spoor and G.M. Anderson. Anderson’s which highlighted the Niles Essanay Silent footage to add to this special birthday cel- quest led the cowboy star and filmmaker first Film Museum and celebrated David’s detec- ebration for the Eternal Little Tramp. Also, a to such locations as Los Angeles, Pasadena, tive work in dating the well-known film, A Big Surprise will be on hand for everyone in Los Gatos and Santa Monica before he finally Trip Down Market Street, which was previously attendance, so be sure to mark your calendar settled in Niles, California in 1913. The for- thought to have been shot in 1905, as hav- for this wonderful and nostalgic evening. mer town of Niles is now part of the city of ing been shot only days before the April 1906 General Admission Tickets can now be Fremont, about a half hour south of Oakland San Francisco earthquake (http://www.you- purchased online with your credit card via on today’s freeways (provided the traffic co- tube.com/watch?v=dGloeX1SpAU). Brown Paper Tickets. Cost includes a nomi- operates). David’s talk was illustrated with The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum nal service fee. Just go to https://www. many rare behind-the-scenes photographs Evening @ the Barn was sponsored in part brownpapertickets.com/event/158517 for and scene stills of Anderson, his co-workers by the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, with more information or call 1-800-838-3006 and their portable studio—which traveled special thanks to Hollywood Heritage board to reserve your tickets over the phone. It’s with the company until they finally estab- member, Jeff Stutts. that easy! Tickets can also be purchased at lished a permanent facility in Niles. After the For more information about the Niles Es- the door on the day of the event (pending Essanay company shuttered their Niles stu- sanay Silent Film Museum visit http://www. availability). dio in 1916, various attempts were made to nilesfilmmuseum.org

Hollywood Heritage Newsletter | March 2011 5 MEMBERSHIP Evenings @ the Barn Tribute To Will Rogers John “Jack” UPDATE he Hollywood Heritage Museum Benedict Ryan n grateful recognition of their generous hosted another installment of its April 25, 1943 – support, we sincerely thank the following Tpopular Evenings @ the Barn series on March 3, 2011 Irenewing members who have made con- December 8th, 2010 with a tribute to legend- tributions at the $100 level and above as of ary humorist Will Rogers. The event com- ack Ryan, a long-time member of November 10, 2010. Category titles are names memorated the amazing life of Mr. Rogers, Hollywood Heritage, passed away of historic Hollywood Studios. whose passing 75 years earlier sent shock- Jin Bakersfield, California from waves through the nation when his plane went heart complications. He was a native Bison $500+ down off the coast of Alaska during the sum- of Hollywood and devoted his time and mer of 1935. money in support of Hollywood Heritage Donelle Dadigan The festivities began with an introduction and its effort to protect the city he loved. Aaron & Anne Epstein of special guest Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, In his later years, Jack drove from his Will Rogers’ great-granddaughter, who was Bakersfield home to the Hollywood Kalem $250+ on hand to share family stories and reminis- Heritage Museum for almost every cences of her famous relative. She was joined Evening @ the Barn. The announcement Claire Bradford by Todd Vradenburg, Executive Director of his passing brought tears to the eyes of of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers fellow Hollywood Heritage members who Triangle $100+ Foundation and the Board President of the will miss his familiar face and warm greet- Will Rogers Ranch Foundation, and Larry ings. His family has requested that dona- Bill Roschen & Christi Van Cleve Nemecek, one of the docents at the ranch. tions be made in his name to Hollywood Paul Dusckett Board member Stan Taffel offered several Heritage. Bob Birchard rare Will Rogers’ films from his personal col- lection to which the crowd responded favor- Michael Berman ably. Also screened were a couple of short Susan Pinsky & David Starkman documentaries that were produced expressly Julieta Parr for the DVD Collection of Rogers’ films and Bruce Carroll presented courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. The entertaining Jeffery Masino clips were followed by a Q&A with all of the Jaellayna Palmer guests, moderated by the evening’s producers Jan Westman David Greim and Bryan Cooper. Attendees also had the opportunity to purchase $1 raffle tickets to win beautifully Welcome New appointed gift baskets (graciously donated Members!

Fouzia Burfield Ted Coffin, Jr. Denise DeCarlo Seann Dougherty A Tribute to Will Rogers producers and presenters. Meredith Drake (L to R )Larry Nemecek, Todd Vradenburg, Jennifer Mark Echeverria Rogers-Etcheverry, David Greim and Bryan Cooper. Photo by Alan H. Simon Dana Escalante Ziggy Kruse by the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation), rare Will Rogers’ books and DVD box sets. The David & Christina McAleer evening was capped off by a book signing Philip Mershon with Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry as well as Marcy Newman the sale of Rogers’ own line of gourmet nuts Victor Omelczenko & Judson Feder (which were snapped up by everyone rather quickly, presumably as holiday gifts!) All in Victoria Shaun all it was a wonderful gathering and fitting Andrea Tiktin-Fanti tribute to one of America’s most beloved na- Call (323) 465-6716 to book your Ruth Walcott tional treasures. tour

6 Hollywood Heritage Newsletter | March 2011 “Hollywoodland" Evenings @ the Barn Sign Lights Parallel Language Films ebruary’s Evening @ the Barn was a perform in multiple versions of their Ameri- Up Sky presentation on a little-known topic, can films. Mr. Taffel also shared scenes from FAmerican films that were made in for- his personal collection of Stan Laurel and uilt originally in 1923 merely as eign languages by the American studios, but Oliver Hardy films wherein the comedians an enormous billboard for the with completely foreign casts. Beth Werling, performed in scenes in varying languages, B Hollywoodland real estate devel- collections manager at the Los Angeles skillfully accomplished by reading cue cards opment, the Hollywoodland Sign cost County Natural History Museum, and Daryl from off camera. $21,000 and was modeled after two similar Maxwell, former archivist with Disney Mr. Maxwell wrapped up the program by but smaller signs. The original letters were Animation and Universal Studios, presented providing commentary on select scenes from 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide, composed a history of these films. They were generally the Spanish-language version of Dracula, of sheet metal squares which hung on a made in French, Spanish and Italian at the arguably the most critically praised of the wooden scaffolding held together by tele- same time their American counterparts were parallel (or alternate) language films. The phone poles, pipes, and wire.

The sign lit up at night like a gigantic Christmas tree. It was covered with 4,000 20-watt bulbs spaced eight inches apart which operated in sequence to spell out the words “Holly,” “Wood,” and “Land”, “Holly­woodland.” A giant spotlight be- low it gave it extra illumination and acted as an attention grabber by day and night. Publicity claimed that the illuminated sign was visible up to 26 miles away. With sales slowing in Hollywoodland by 1929, developer S. H. Woodruff examined Producers and participants in the Parallel Language Films program are from left to right: Richard S. Birchard, Beth Werling, schemes to increase the neighborhood’s Daryl Maxwll, Stan Taffel and Richard Adkins. Photo by Alan H. Simon visibility and publicity. He contacted the Angelus Sign Company for proposals to being made, occupying the same sets, and of- English language version was directed by Tod enhance the look of the sign. The com- ten wearing the same costumes as the English Browning, director of Freaks, and the Span- pany’s October 22, 1929 letter proposed speaking stars. Miss Werling gave the audi- ish language version by George Melford, di- what they called “neonizing” the sign, ence the background on these films, charting rector of The Sheik. Mr. Maxwell chose clips either adding neon inside or around the the reasons why the studios wanted to make showing the essential differences between outside of the letters. Outlining the let- them, and explaining why the system didn’t the versions, including the performances of ters would cost an estimated $12,500. work well and was ultimately replaced by dia- Bela Lugosi versus Carlos Villarias and Hel- Unfortunately, the collapse of the stock logue replacement or “dubbing” when that en Chandler versus Lupita Tovar. The com- market, along with the failure of his Dana technology was perfected. Between 1928 and parative clips were assembled by Hollywood Point real estate tract, caused Woodruff to 1934, virtually all the American studios made Heritage director, Robert S. Birchard. Miss abandon the idea. foreign language versions of select popular Tovar was unable to attend the screening By 1939, replacement of the light films likeAnna Christie and Min and Bill. due to ill health, but her introduction on the bulbs and other maintenance ended. Hollywood Heritage director Stan Taffel the DVD version of the Spanish Dracula was The sign went dark at night and remains helped illustrate the point by showing the shown and her son, Pancho Tovar, was pres- so to this day. first scene of both the American and German ent at the event. Look for this and other interesting sto- versions of Anna Christie with Greta Garbo in We took our cue in programming this ries in Hollywood Heritage’s book Holly- both versions, but with Marie Dressler being event for Valentine’s Day from Universal, as woodland written by our board of directors replaced by Salka Viertel. Garbo was among the Bela Lugosi Dracula film was promoted as member Mary Mallory and published by a select number of stars like Ramon Novarro “The story of the strangest passion the world Arcadia Publishing Company, due out in and Jeanette MacDonald who could speak has ever known!” mid-May. more than one language and were able to

Hollywood Heritage Newsletter | March 2011 7 www.hollywoodheritage.org P.O Box 2586 Hollywood, CA 90078

SAVE THESE DATES Upcoming Hollywood Heritage Events SATURDAY, April 2, 2011, Silent Society of Hollywood Heri- tage Celebrates 25 years with a day of screenings. Starts at 2:30 p.m. and into the evening hours. Dinner Break provided. WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2011, 7:30 pm - Hollywood Heritage Museum - Evening @ the Barn A Birthday Tribute to Charlie Chap- lan WEDNESDAY, May 11, 2011, 7:30 pm - Hollywood Heritage Museum - Evening @ the Barn, Rudolph Valentino – The Silent Idol. WEDNESDAY, June 8, 2011, 7:30 pm - Hollywood Heritage Museum - Evening @ the Barn, with Jane Withers. NOTE: all Evenings @ the Barn programs begin at 7:30 pm. Seat- ings is limited to 110 persons. Advance tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets, 1-800-838-3006, or at www.BrownPaper- Tickets.com

PRESERVING OUR HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE FOR OVER 30 YEARS • Hollywood Heritage Museum/Lasky-DeMille Barn • • Silent Society: Motion Picture History and Preservation • Architectural Preservation, Advocacy, and Education •

Membership Application Memberships may also be submitted online at www.HollywoodHeritage.org

YES! I would like to become a member of Hollywood Heritage, Inc. r $2,500 Majestic r $1,000 Keystone r $500 Bison Name: ______r $250 Kalem r $100 Triangle** r $50 Household Address: ______r $40 Individual r $25 Senior 65+/ Full Time Student City:______State:____ Zip: ______**Join at the $100 Triangle level or above, and receive a 24”x36” collectable re- Phone: ______production poster, A Map of Hollywood from the Best Surveys of the Time c. 1928. E-mail Address: ______Membership Benefits Include: I wish to pay by: • Discounts to Evenings @ the Barn programs  Check • Free admission to the Hollywood Heritage Museum for two adults and two children. Please make checks payable to Hollywood Heritage, Inc. • Ten percent discount at the Museum Store. Charge my:  Visa  MasterCard • Advance notification of special member programs. • Discounts on Silent Society film programs at the Hollywood Card Number:______Exp. Date:______Heritage Museum, UCLA, and the Paramount Ranch. • Quarterly Hollywood Heritage Newsletter. Signature:______Clip and mail to: Hollywood Heritage, Inc., P.O. Box 2586, Hollywood, CA 90078