Category Archives: Historic

Historic Hollywood Bowl: Hosts The Beatles to Beethoven

14 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by in Architecture, Historic, Music

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I was excited about attending a recent concert at the Hollywood Bowl (Joshua Bell and Friends), in Los Angeles, and couldn’t help sharing the news with whoever would listen. I was shocked when two different people asked, “What’s the Hollywood Bowl?” It was all I could do not to say, “Are you kidding?” I grew up on Southern California. But still. The Hollywood Bowl is an American icon, and has been used as a setting in films and television for years.

I would have dismissed one person not knowing about The Bowl. But two was a cry from the universe to write this post. Attending a performance at the Hollywood Bowl is a bucket list kind of thing.

Everything is better at the Bowl. It just is…

Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA

[image: Wikipedia, by Mathew Field]

From Rustic to Iconic

The Hollywood Bowl is the largest natural amphitheatre in the United States, located in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California. When the Bowl opened to the public in 1921, it was used in its natural state with only makeshift wooden benches for the audience to sit on, and a simple awning strung up over the stage.

The popularity of the venue grew with the boom of the film industry, and by 1926 designs for a permanent stage were underway. For the 1927 season, Frank Lloyd Wright‘s son Lloyd Wright built the first of the iconic shell structures. By 1929, the Allied Architects built a shell that stood on the site until 2003. A larger and acoustically improved shell debuted in the 2004 summer season, incorporating design elements from the 1929 shell and the first shells designed by Lloyd Wright.

 

First known musical event at the current site of the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

[image: public domain, USC digital Library]

The two women in the photograph above are performing on the barn door (1920) to test the acoustics of the site, the first known musical event at the Hollywood Bowl. The barn door was placed approximately where the band shell was built.

Classical to Rock and Roll

A common misconception about the Hollywood Bowl is that it caters solely to the classical music crowd. The LA Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra both make their home there, but each season hosts productions from a wide variety of musical styles. For a complete list of upcoming performances, visit the Hollywood Bowl website.

The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl album cover artRock and Roll has a long history at the Bowl. In fact, The Beatles appeared at the Hollywood Bowl on April 23, 1964, just months after their US debut. Tickets for the show sold out in 3 1/2 hours, with the only sales being through select ticket offices, no online sales. Over 18,000 people packed the Bowl that night. To keep The Beatles safe from the overzealous fans, a smooth getaway scheme was devised. A decoy limo was used to attract the fans, while the band members slipped away in a nondescript Plymouth Valiant. In later appearances at the Bowl, a Brinks armored truck was used to escort The Beatles to and from their hotel to avoid a panic situation.

The screaming crowd at The Beatles first concert was so loud that no one could hear the music. However, it was recorded (as were their two Bowl concerts in August of 1965) and later released as an album under Capitol Records (US) and Parlophone (UK). [image: Wikipedia]

The Beatles 1964 concert became the bench mark for rock and roll concerts at the Bowl, but many famous rockers have played there before and since. To watch The Beatles performing at the Hollywood Bowl on April 23, 1964 go here.

Pre-Concert Picnic Tradition

One of the most engaging customs at the Bowl is the tradition of pre-concert picnicking. Some of the surrounding picnic areas open as early as 4 hours before each concert. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those in the private boxes nearest the stage, can choose to enjoy a luxurious dinner served to them by professional wait staff. Whether it’s a casual picnic or box dining, you can’t beat the delightful al fresco dining under the stars. For more information, see the Hollywood Bowl website.

Dining at the Hollywood Bowl

 

What’s Your favorite outdoor concert venue?

 

Lost History: Central Park’s First Tavern, That Became a Convent, Then a Hotel

19 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by in Historic, Lost History, New York's Central Park

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“Lost History” Blog Series

Calendar/ClockI did quite a bit of  research in an around New York City’s Central Park for my young adult (YA) novel. I was amazed by the history there, some of which is all but lost. The stories I uncovered were so fascinating, I’ve decided to do a blog series on them. The Lost History blog series isn’t connected to my YA novel, except for the Central Park location. These are stories rich in character that deserved to be told and remembered. [image: morguefile.com]

Central Park’s First Tavern

There are very few taverns that have been turned into convents. And fewer still that, once they became convents, later returned to their tavern status–also known as hotels in later years. New York City can boast of such a rare site, located in the Northern region of Central Park, no less. In an area that became known as McGown’s Pass (also known as McGowan’s Pass). [Postcard of McGowan’s Pass Tavern, early 1900’s]

mcgown-pass-tavern-postcard

Yes, this is the same McGown’s Pass that was taken over by the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. If you missed my recent post on that bit of lost history, you can read about it here.

McGown’s Pass Tavern

McGown Pass Tavern 1899Long before Central Park was built, people traveling to and from New York City (which was considerably smaller back then), stopped to rest and partake of refreshment at taverns in the rural vicinity of Harlem. The earliest tavern in the area was built in 1684 around present-day 106th Street. This property was later purchased by John Dyckman, and the Colonial Assembly met there in 1752. In 1759, Dyckman sold the tavern, along with 10 surrounding acres, to Catherine McGown, the window of a Scottish Sea Captain. [image: McGown’s Pass Tavern, circa 1899]

For whatever reason, the nearby pass soon became known as McGown’s Pass, and the name has remained ever since. Catherine and her son operated the tavern until the 1840’s, when it was purchased by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Tavern that Became “Mount St. Vincent”

The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul developed the site into a thriving Mt. St. Vincent Convent NYC Central Parkreligious community that they called “Mount St. Vincent.” By the mid 1850’s there were more than 70 sisters living in the convent, operating a boarding academy for young ladies and running a free school for children in the surrounding area.

The New York State Legislature approved the acquisition of the land for Central Park in 1858. Two years later (approximately the date of the photograph above) the sisters were forced to leave The Mount. The buildings were used as offices for park commissioners until the Civil War (1861-1865), when they were used as a military hospital. The sisters returned to help nurse the wounded, but after the war the building were returned to their original use as a tavern (hotel).

The Mount St. Vincent Hotel

The Mount St. Vincent Hotel ran in the old McGown house and convent property (1866-1881), and became the gathering place for politicians and wealthy sportsmen, such as William H. Vanderbilt.

After a fire in 1881 destroyed the wooden Mount St. Vincent buildings, a new and much grander hotel was erected over the same foundation. The new “refreshment house” was rebuilt in the Carpenter Gothic style used throughout Central Park, and continued to operate until 1915. Sometime after 1890, the Mount St. Vincent Hotel was renamed the McGown Pass Tavern, coming full circle back to its original roots. The following photograph is of the rebuilt tavern, circa 1883.

Mount St. Vincent Hotel, 1883

The tavern continued to be a popular destination spot through the turn of the century–open every day of the year, and known for music and dancing that continued into the wee hours of the morning. In 1915 the city took back the property from the lessee, Patrick McCann, and sold all the goods for payments due. In 1917 the tavern was torn down, and a rich piece of Central Park history vanished. [Images courtesy the New York Public Library unless otherwise noted.]

Today

All that remains today of the tavern is the remnant of an old stone foundation that is visible at the Central Park’s composting site (where the tavern once stood). In honor of the Sisters of Charity, a plaque marks the location where their religious community flourished.

Sisters of Charity plaque in Central Park

Famous Haunts in Historic Hotels

31 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Ghosts, Historic, Paranormal

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Beneath the glitz and glamour of some of the ritziest historic hotels, a spectral current runs deep. The Hotel Del Coronado and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel both have legendary haunts that are more famous than their living residents.

A Victorian Ghost at the Hotel Del Coronado

The Hotel Del Coronado (The Del), located in sunny Coronado, California, has been a destination spot for the rich and famous since it opened in 1888. Frank L. Baum, lived at The Del while writing The Wizard of OZ. Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon stayed at The Del during the filming of the famous screwball comedy, “Some Like it Hot“. Presidents and royalty have also frequented the luxury resort over the years. But…

The most famous resident of the Victorian resort is a ghosT:

Kate Morgan checked into the resort on November 24, 1892, and never checked out. Ghostly happenings in the room where she stayed have been reported ever since.

You can read the ghostly details in the book dedicated to this famous Victorian ghost: Beautiful Stranger: The Ghost of Kate Morgan and the Hotel del Coronado.

Kate Morgan’s suicide at the Hotel del Coronado in November 1892 generated publicity throughout the state. Little was known about her identity, so she was dubbed the “Beautiful Stranger”. It was later discovered that Kate had checked into the hotel under an assumed name, increasing her mystique. She became instantly famous. People everywhere wondered why she had traveled to the Hotel del Coronado only to kill herself. To this day, her story is famous at The Del. [image credits: Wikipedia]

Celebrity Haunts at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is the historic Spanish-style hotel located at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California. Its doors opened on May 15, 1927, and immediately became the meeting ground for the brightest stars in Hollywood. Some of whom stayed on long after their deaths.

Take Marilyn Monroe…

Marilyn Monroe regularly stayed in room 246, which overlooked the pool. A mirror which once hung in her room, is said to be haunted by her spirit. In December 1985, a maid was dusting the mirror when she saw a blonde woman standing directly behind her reflected in the glass. She turned to speak to the woman, but no one was there. When she turned back, the reflection was again behind her. [image credit: Wikipedia]

Marilyn’s Monroe’s ghost doesn’t appear to be limited to haunting the mirror that once hung in her room, however. Numerous people have reported spotting her spectral image in the Blossom Ballroom dancing or posing.

Don’t believe me? Check out the video.

Or better yet, pay a visit to the Roosevelt Hotel and meet Marilyn yourself.

have you Ever had a spectral encounter?

Do tell!

We’re dying to know.

Historic Roller Coasters: Beaches, Boardwalks, and Abominable Bobsleds

16 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in Disneyland, Historic, monsters, Roller Coasters, San Diego, Santa Cruz

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California Screaming

A delectable post on All Things Summer (by Tami Clayton) set me thinking… What’s my  most quintessential summer experience? And because I’m a total adventure geek, the answer is two words: Roller Coaster!

My love affair with roller coasters is limited to the historic kind, however. Sorry, folks. I’m not a fan of the super-thrill-whirl-and-hurl roller coasters of today. I much prefer the sky-high rickety old wooden structures from the previous century. [photo credit] Maybe that’s because I grew up in a small town in Southern California, that was a two-hour drive from San Diego.

That’s where my adrenaline-ride love affair began … at Belmont Park in Mission Beach. Because THE BEST DAY EVER, was a trip to the beach and riding the roller coaster. Oh yeah, and a chocolate milk shake was part of that package too!

Twin Giant Dippers

San Diego’s Giant Dipper, also known as the Mission Beach Roller Coaster, was built in 1925.  The original coaster was constructed by a crew of 100 to 150 people in two weeks. When the coaster opened on July 4, 1925, it was the centerpiece for Belmont Park. The park was a huge hit in the 1940’s and 1950’s, but fell into disrepair in the late 1960’s. The coaster finally closed in 1976, and was scheduled to be torn down in the early 1980’s. [photo credit]

Luckily, a group of citizens formed the “Save the Coaster Committee”, intervening in the demolition of the Giant Dipper, and had it designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The coaster was restored, to the tune of two million dollars, and re-opened on August 11, 1990.

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk Giant Dipper is the twin sister of the San Diego Giant Dipper. And I can say from first-hand experience, that the Santa Cruz coaster is every bit as much of a thrill ride as its sister!

The Santa Cruz Giant Dipper opened on May 17, 1924, and is the fifth-oldest roller coaster in the United States today. [photo credit]

Over 55 million riders have ridden the coaster since its opening. The United States National Park Service recognized the Giant Dipper as part of a National Historic Landmark also covering the nearby Looff carousel in 1987. [Wikipedia]

The Santa Cruz and San Diego Giant Dippers are the only remaining coasters on the West Coast built by the noted coaster builders Prior and Church.

But hang on to your hats folks …  there’s one coaster that deserves a mention, even if it’s not “officially” historic …

The Matterhorn Bobsleds, Disneyland Resort

What the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride lacks in historic clout, it more than makes up for in kitsch. And I mean that in the BEST possible way. Because the Matterhorn Bobsleds are awesome! [photo credit]

Walt Disney was inspired to build a miniature of the Matterhorn at his park in Anaheim, while filming the live-action drama “Third Man on the Mountain” in Zermatt, Switzerland (1956). Under Walt’s direction, his team of Imagineers recreated the mountain to scale (exactly 100 times shorter than Switzerland’s 14,700-foot-tall original), and designed special tubular steel tracks for the coaster to simulate the smooth motions of bobsleds gliding over ice. The ride contains two separate tracks that intertwine with each other as they descend the mountain, another stroke of genius by the man with the magic. The ride opened for the first time in 1959, and has been a favorite ever since.

The Matterhorn underwent its first major renovations in 1978, with the significant addition of the Abominable Snowman. The Audio-Animatronic creature roars at passing bobsledder as he glares with red glowing eyes. As if to say, “Get the hell off my mountain!” Uh, huh. Like that’s really working, Big Guy. I don’t know about you, but he’s one the main draws for me on that ride. The Skyway attraction, the buckets that passed through the middle of the mountain, were taken down in November 1994. And in 1995 the Frank Wells Lost Expedition tribute was added in honor the late Walt Disney Company President, who was an avid mountaineer.

The silhouette of the Matterhorn rising above Fantasyland is iconic. Yet oddly enough, Disneyland (in Anaheim, California) is the only Walt Disney park in the world with a Matterhorn ride. I’m not sure why. If anyone out there knows the “official” story, I beg you … please share.

Never ridden the Matterhorn Bobsleds; can’t make it out to Anaheim for face time with Mr. Abominable? No worries!

Check out the video of a real-ride experience … lederhosen are not required … but screaming is highly encouraged.

what Experience always says “summer” to you?

Abominable Bobsleds!