Winter-Spring 2015

Y HI IT ST C O S R E I L C E A L G S N O A Los Angeles City C S I E O T L Y E INC. H T Historical Society Newsletter LOS ANGELES 1781 VOLUME XLVIII • ISSUE 1 • WINTER/SPRING 2015 Gala 2014 By Kay Tornborg • Photos by Michael Locke house had unfortunate uses. Things got worse during WWll and it finished the War being a boys’ military amashiro means “Mountain Palace” in Japanese. school. After the War, a developer converted it into fifteen YAnd a palace it is. The Courtyard “room,” more apartment units! outdoor than in, was other-worldly with its twinkly The White Knight, the Glover family (first Thomas O. lights, the koi ponds in the center and the elegant table and then son Thomas) came to the rescue inadvertently. arrangement around the perimeter. The ‘elements’ were Thomas O. opened a club, serving drinks for 35¢, which nowhere in evidence so we didn’t need to think about expanded slowly. Son Thomas served hot hors d’oeuvres on anything but having a great time. And that we did! New Year’s Eve and a restaurant was born. Forty-something Yamashiro, originally the Bernheimer Estate, sits high years later, there we were to Honor Councilman Tom atop a hill overlooking Hollywood. It was built 1911-14 by LaBonge, prior to the end of his last term in office, and to the Bernheimer brothers to house their priceless collection give the LACHS Annual Awards. of antiques. It has definitely had its ups and downs. After Recipients, in addition to the Councilman, were the Bernheimers died, the collections were sold and the continued on page 3 Standing, L-R: Michael Locke, Todd Gaydowski, D.J. Waldie, Kathy Kolnick, Councilman Tom LaBonge, Gaio Luong Baker, Charlie Mims, city archivist Michael Holland, Marc Wanamaker, John Fisher. Seated L-R, Gerry Hoppe, Geraldine Knatz, Diane Kanner, Claudine Ajeti 2 Los Angeles City Historical Society Winter/Spring 2015 Y HI IT ST C O S R E I L C E A L G S LOS ANGELES CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY N O A C S I E O T Founded 1976 L Y E INC. H T LOS ANGELES 1781 OFFICERS Todd Gaydowski, President Charley Mims, Vice-President President’s Message Clark Robins, Treasurer Greetings Members: BOARD MEMBERS Claudine Ajeti hope you and your families have enjoyed the Scott Crawford I holiday season and I wish you all the best in Donald Esacove 2015! Joel Fisher I saw many of you at our Holiday Gala. I John Fisher hope you enjoyed our dinner and our tribute Todd Gaydowski to Councilmember Tom LaBonge. We think of Sandi Hemmerlein the Gala as the end to our year of programming, Gerry Hoppe but rest assured we have a full calendar of events Diane Kanner scheduled for 2015. Geraldine Knatz Of course we have our Marie Northrop Giao Luong Baker Lecture Series. This year we are continuing with Charley Mims the theme of Ethnic Communities of Historic Beth Namei Los Angeles. The first lecture by Phil Blazer, Clark Robins “Wrestling with The Angels: A history of Jewish L.A.” was presented on February 15. A lecture NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE by Helene Deemestere on the “Lost French Anna Sklar, Editor Community of Los Angeles’ will be offered Kay Tornborg, Contributor on March 15, and Eugene Moy will speak on Todd Gaydowski, Contributor “Chinatown and Beyond” on June 7. We have a Abraham Hoffman, Reviewer & Contributor trip to Mt. Sinai Temple planned for March 21 Bob Hatten, Founding Editor and a walking Tour of Chinatown on June 6, with Design by Amy Inouye, Future Studio additional trips in the works so I hope to see you at our events. LACHS We are also working to upgrade our website P.O. Box 862311 to provide a greater interactive experience. It’s a Los Angeles, CA 90086-2311 slow process but please take the time to check it www.lacityhistory.org out from time to time at www.lacityhistory.org. You will notice that we have begun posting many MEMBERSHIP CLASSES of the past editions of our newsletter under the Active $35 publications tab, so you might want to check that Senior/Student $25 out to re-read some of our past articles. Dual/Family $50 So I look forward to another exciting year Sustaining $85 learning about the history of our City and I hope Life (individuals) $500 you all stay involved with our society. Sincerely, Photo Credits: Todd Gaydowski Page 6: Photo of Huell Howser courtesy Chapman Library President Page 14: Courtesy Heyday Publishing Winter/Spring 2015 Los Angeles City Historical Society 3 continued from page 1 Society and we all hope he persuades his successor to join D.J. Waldie for the J. Thomas Owen History Memorial us! And we thank him for all his help over the years. Award; the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Modern Committee The evening was organized by Chair Claudine Ajeti. received the David G. Cameron Preservation Memorial Greeters were Gerry Hoppe and Angela DiMasio. Diane Award and Councilman LaBonge received the Special Kanner gave the award to Councilman LaBonge and they Recognition Award. The Councilman has been a Special even danced a brief Lindy Hop together. Charley Mims took Friend and booster of the Los Angeles City Historical a turn at the mike, as did President Todd Gaydowski. ✪ Above, Left: Board member Claudine Ajetie and Rosemary Choate • Center: Charlie Mims and Bennett Kayser Right: Susan Courier and Olivia Curry Left: Todd Gaydowski, John Fisher, Tom and Jane Glover, owners of the Yamashiro Skyroom and Councilman LaBonge. Right: Charlie Fisher, Tom LaBonge, Charlie Mims, Clark Robins Left: Giao Luong Baker, Budd Rude, Roger Abugel, Kathy Kolnick. • Right: Diane Kanner and Councilman LaBonge. Left: Tyson Gaskill and Vicki Rea-Gaskill • Center: Armen Meymarian and Heidi Meymarian • Right: Tom McGovern, Diane and Edmond Clinton 4 Los Angeles City Historical Society Winter/Spring 2015 Welcome New Board Members— Joel M. Fisher and Scott Crawford Dr. Fisher has an some Hollywood United Neighborhood Councils, and extraordinary resume of as the first Senator from HUNC to the Los Angeles accomplishments, including Neighborhood Council Congress. On the Board of the time as a university professor Vine Street Association, he was elected to the Board of the at various universities Hollywood Entertainment District’s Business Improvement and law schools, was an District, where he has served as Treasurer, and Vice Assistant Dean at Whittier President. A member of the Board of Managers for the College, and has an extensive Hollywood Wilshire YMCA, he is also Vice President background in American (former President) of the Imperial House Home Owners politics, including time as Board of Directors. Assistant Deputy Council to the President, an Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. Scott Crawford is a He is, however, best community leader, activist, known, these days for his businessperson, actor and expertise as a wine expert. Dr. Fisher inaugurated an the Los Angeles Lion’s Club annual LA Wine Fest in 2006 that continued for several “Citizen of the Year” for years. He is the Sommelier for the Escoffier Association 2014. of Southern California, was a founding partner of Wine, Scott’s love of architecture Vine and Dine and is a member of the Patterson Magazine made him seek the presidency Tasting Panel. An educator and author, with a Ph.D., of the Friends of Hollyhock he has taught for the Culinary Arts Program at the Art House from 2000 to 2006. Institute of California and is a member of the Society During that period, Scott of Wine Educators. His book, The Wine Work Book is helped raise $17 million for in its sixth edition. He has been heard on national radio Phase One of the restoration programs sharing his knowledge and love of wine. project. He was instrumental In the 1960’s, Joel Fisher was awarded a Ford in having the historic home declared a UNESCO World Foundation’s National Committee Fellowship, and he was Heritage Site and America’s Landmark. He served as appointed Director of the Arts and Sciences and State Co-Chair of Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Legislative Divisions of his party’s national committee. As Conference in 2005 and also founded Archifest (A part of the 1968 presidential campaign, Fisher operated in celebration of Los Angeles Architecture). thirteen states. Committed to expanding cultural opportunities Following that election, Joel became Assistant Deputy for all, Scott Crawford founded “Theater Partners in Counsel to the President, secretary of the inter-agency Residence” with the City of LA Recreation and Parks political coordinators group in the White House, and Department. The program allowed 99-seat theatres to use Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. park space for rehearsals and performances in exchange Returning again to academia, Fisher taught at for teaching classes. For his work in mentoring students Georgetown University, and then back in California at who participated in the Cleveland Media Academy Loyola, Southwestern and Whittier Law Schools. He at Grover Cleveland High School in Los Angeles, the also served as Assistant Dean at Whittier, and in addition academy named their media award, “The Scottie’’ in his taught political science at Whittier College, the University honor. For seventeen years, he was the Artistic Director of of California Irvine, UCLA and USC. He is the author Dillon Street Players and two of their original works have of two books on politics and more than twenty articles, been published. Scott has volunteered for a variety of Los monographs and reviews on politics, international law and Angeles organizations including the Los Angeles Museum international business.

Load more