Patsy D'Amore and The Legendary Villa Capri Restaurant

Villa Capri Restaurant in Hollywood, CA Photo (C) LIFE

A few weeks ago I did a post about James Dean's final day and I mentioned how Dean was living in a log cabin home that he rented from the maitre d' of the Villa Capri restaurant in Hollywood. Dean was a frequent visitor at the Villa Capri, as was Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and many other Hollywood legends. The restaurant deserves its own blog post but instead of doing a post here, I think you should check out the great website that Filomena D'Amore has put together: http://www.patsydamore.com/

Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra at the Villa Capri (C) LIFE

The website has a lot of colorful information about the Villa Capri and about Filomena's father Patsy D'Amore, who started the Villa Capri, as well as the other establishments he started in Los Angeles. And if you want to get a taste for what the D'Amore's have been cooking up all these years you can visit Patsy D'Amore's Pizza  at the Third Street Farmers Market in Los Angeles, in operation since 1949 (Unfortunately, the Villa Capri is no longer).

James Dean's Final Ride

James Dean

On September 30, 1955 James Dean would take his final ride. After completing filming on his last film Giant, Dean was preparing to leave Hollywood for Salinas, California to enter a racing competition. Of course, he never made it to the races. Dean died in a major car crash on his way there. Here are some of the places Dean was on that final day.

James Dean's Home in Sherman Oaks

Prior to his death, James Dean was living in a log cabin house at 14611 Sutton Street, in Sherman Oaks, California. He rented the home from Nicco Romanos, the maitre d' at the Villa Capri, Dean's favorite restaurant, for $250 a/month plus utilities. The house had no bedroom, only a second floor loft. Guns belonging to Romanos decorated the place, along with Dean's bongos and bull fighting paraphernalia. Dean had a fascination with matadors, collecting bull horns and posters of bull fighters.

The morning of September 30, Romanos paid Dean a visit at 7:20a.m. Romanos made Dean coffee and got him going for the day. By 7:45a.m. Dean was leaving his home to pick up his friend and fellow car enthusiast Bill Hickman

14611 Sutton Street, Sherman Oaks as it appears today.

Dean's log cabin home has been replaced by this house.

Dean drove his Ford station wagon which towed his Porsche Spyder race car, over to Bill's home. After picking up Bill, the two drove down Sunset Boulevard and turned onto Vine Street, arriving at Competition Motors. The Spyder needed some final adjustments in order to be race-ready, so Dean left the car with the German mechanic Rolf Weutherich.

By 9:45a.m. Sanford Roth, a photographer, arrived at Competition. Roth had been following Dean for several days as part of  a photo essay he was doing for Collier's magazine. Roth was to continue his essay by taking photos of Dean up at the races.

1219 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California

(former site of Competition Motors, now a banquet hall)

Shortly after Roth arrived at Competition Motors, Dean's father and uncle came to visit. While Dean, his friends and family waited for the race car to be finished, the group walked a couple blocks down the street to the Hollywood Ranch Market where they had doughnuts and coffee. This market no longer exists and is not to be confused with the Fairfax Farmer's Market which still exists over on Fairfax and 3rd Streets.

Hollywood Ranch Market

(photo from yesterdayla.com)

Former site of the Hollywood Ranch Market on Vine Street

Dean's Porsche Spyder after the crash.

By around 1:30p.m. Dean and his entourage were headed for Salinas. Dean drove his Porsche Spyder, with his mechanic, Weutherich, as his passenger. Hickman and Sanford followed in the station wagon.  Of course, Dean never made it to the races. Dean had a major collision with a 1954 Ford Tudor which hit head on. The accident was at the intersection of Highways 46 and 41, not too far from Paso Robles, in Cholame, California.

Rebel Without a Cause: Film Location Update

James Dean dragged into Police Station

I recently took some new photos for another Rebel Without a Cause film location. This time I got the Police Station which can be seen at the beginning of the film when James Dean is being dragged by two cops. See the screenshot above.

The Police Station was actually a facade located on the the Midwestern Street of the Warner Bros. Studios backlot. Below is a photo showing how the same facade appears today.

Police Station Facade

If you look closely you can see that the facade is now being dressed to look like a high school, more specifically, "Eastwick High School," for the upcoming TV Show, Eastwick, airing this Fall on ABC.

The Police Station is now Eastwick High School

Police Station/Eastwick High School on WB Backlot

To see my full Rebel Without a Cause film post click here.

East of Eden: Film Locations

East of Eden

Much of James Dean's first major film, East of Eden, was filmed on location in central California, but there were a few scenes filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank. One scene in particular, the parade scene, was shot on the Midwest Street backlot. Here are some screenshots from the parade scene matched with some of my photos of the Midwest Street backlot.

East of Eden - Parade Scene

Above, the parade goes through town in what is supposed to be the Salinas Valley, but really it is the Warner Bros. Midwest Street backlot. Below is my photo showing the same area as it appears today. Notice one big difference? No dirt in the streets. Yes, dirt was brought in to cover the streets of the backlot in order to establish the time period of when the film takes place - 1917.

Midwest Street, Warner Bros. Studios

Chapel as seen in East of Eden

Above is a screenshot showing a chapel that can be seen during the parade scene. Below is the same chapel as it appears today.

Chapel on Midwest Street, Warner Bros. Studios



Drug Store - East of Eden

Above is a screenshot of the drug store. Julie Harris and Richard Davalos can be seen cutting between the cars.

Drug Store Location - Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank

Watching the Parade from the Park

Above Julie Harris and Richard Davalos watch the parade go by from the middle of the park. Below is a photo showing the park looking further out. That fountain in the middle is actually a set piece for a new TV show called Eastwick, based on the film The Witches of Eastwick. The show will be airing on ABC this fall.

Park in Midwest Street Backlot, Warner Bros. Studios

James Dean Stands Along Parade Route

Below is a photo I took of the buildings that appear behind James Dean when he stands along the parade route. Although the buildings have been repainted and changed slightly you can still make out the patterns on the windows.

Midwest Street, Warner Bros. Studios

If you want to see where James Dean lived when he left New York for California to film East of Eden check out an earlier post of mine here.

If you want to see some film locations from another James Dean film click here.

You're thoughts?

Rebel Without a Cause: Film Locations

Rebel Without a Cause (C) Warner Bros.

With the upcoming United States of America Independence Day celebration coming up I thought I would do a Rebel related post. The Americans rebelled against Britain and James Dean rebelled, well, just because, in the film Rebel Without a Cause. Ok, bad comparison, but I thought I would work it in somehow. Here in today's post are some of the locations from the film Rebel Without a Cause.

James Dean outside house at 7529 Franklin Ave, Hollywood

The opening shot of the film is of James Dean laying in the middle of the street outside a house. That home is located at 7529 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood. The location is near the main stretch of Hollywood Boulevard where many tourist attractions are located and would be very easy to visit if you have a vehicle. Below is a picture of how the home appears today.

7529 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California

James Dean being dragged into Police Station.

Above is a screenshot of James Dean being dragged into the Police Station. The exterior of the police station was actually a facade located at the Warner Bros. Studios backlot. Below is a photo I took showing the same facade as it appears today. This facade is located on the Midwestern Street and can be seen if you take the Warner Bros. Studio tour.

Police Station facade located at Warner Bros. backlot.

Here is another photo of the same facade. If you look closely you can see that they are dressing this building as "Eastwick High School" for the upcoming TV series Eastwick.

Another view of the Police Station facade at Warner Bros.

Dawson High is really Santa Monica High School

The above screenshot from Rebel Without a Cause is of James Dean's new high school, Dawson High. The school is really Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California. Although the exteriors of Dawson High School were filmed at Santa Monica High School, I've been told that some of the interiors were filmed inside John Marshall High School, located in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Santa Monica High School, California

Dawson High, really Santa Monica High School


Santa Monica High School


Griffith Observatory as seen in Rebel Without a Cause

Many of the scenes filmed in Rebel Without a Cause were shot at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. The Observatory even has a statue of Dean on the grounds because of the extensive use of the Observatory in the film. Above is how the Griffith Observatory appears in Rebel Without a Cause and below is a picture of how the location appears today.

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California



Inside the Griffith Observatory entrance as seen in the film.



Inside Griffith Observatory 2009


Griffith Observatory, Rebel Without a Cause fight scene




Griffith Observatory fight scene location 2009

Getty Mansion, 641 N. Irving Boulevard

Near the end of the film, James Dean, Sal Mineo, and Natalie Wood's characters go up to an abandoned mansion. This home is the Getty Mansion and is the same home featured in the film Sunset Boulevard. Above is a screenshot of Dean, Mineo, and Wood in the same pool that was used in the opening scene of Sunset Boulevard where William Holden's character is found dead. Below is a screenshot of the same pool as seen in Sunset Boulevard.

Getty Mansion as seen in Sunset Boulevard

641 N. Irving Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

The mansion was torn down shortly after the filming of Rebel Without a Cause. Above is photo of the location as it appears today.

You're thoughts?

James Dean Comes West for "East"

James Dean, East of Eden (C) Warner Bros.

James Dean started his acting career in Los Angeles, but after struggling for roles in Hollywood, he took the advice of his mentor, radio director, Roger Bracket and moved to New York City. While in New York, Dean would land roles in several episodes of various television series which then led to him being accepted in to the legendary Actors Studio, an acting school led be Lee Strasberg. Dean's acting skills began to blossom and the young actor was starting to make a name for himself in New York. Soon Hollywood would be calling him back West.

Director, Elia Kazan was casting his film East of Eden and was looking for an actor who could play the character of the young, emotional Cal. Marlon Brando, another Actors Studio alumni, was first considered for the part. Paul Newman also did a screen test for the role. Ultimately, Dean would win the part.

Formerly the Olive Drug Store, Now part of Warner Bros. Studios

Kazan arranged for James Dean to move from New York City out to California to start work on East of Eden. Hoping to create a brotherly relationship between his two young actors who would be playing on-screen brothers, Kazan found a one bedroom apartment located above what was then the Olive Drug Store on Olive Avenue in Burbank, for Dean and his Eden co-star, Richard Davalos to share. At this time, the Olive Drug Store was located across the street from Warner Bros. Today, the Olive Drug Store business no longer exists. The building is now part of the Warner Bros. lot and is building #5. Above and below are photos of the building as it appears today from the side facing Olive Avenue.

Building #5 on the Warner Bros. Lot, Burbank, CA

While Dean lived above the Olive Drug Store he did not necessarily develop the brotherly relationship with Davalos that Kazan was hoping for. Dean often did his own thing. Sometimes Dean would join his other co-star, Burl Ives, and the two would go to the nearby Smoke House restaurant or Bob's Big Boy (both still operating today) for lunch or dinner.

View of Building #5 from inside the Warner Bros. lot, Burbank, CA

Dean started getting into too much mischief while living in the apartment above the Olive Drug Store so Kazan, in order to keep an eye on his troublesome actor, had Dean moved out and arranged for the two of them to share a living space inside one of the bungalows on the Warner Bros. lot. Kazan and Dean continued to live in the bungalow on the WB lot during the rest of the East of Eden production. Story goes that Dean continued to live in the bungalow even after production wrapped and was eventually forced out when word made it's way up to the top Warner brass that he was living on lot.

If you take a tour of the Warner Bros. studio this is not one of the areas of the lot you will get to see. However, you can easily see building #5 when driving along the outside of the studio along Olive Ave.

Your thoughts?

Smoke House Restaurant: Established 1946

Smoke House Restaurant, 4420 Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA

The Smoke House Restaurant, founded in 1946 at the corner of Pass Avenue and Riverside Drive, is one of the oldest restaurants in Burbank with a long going connection to the Hollywood crowd. When the original restaurant opened you could see such stars as Bob Hope, who was a Burbank resident, as well as Bing Crosby. Because of the restaurants proximity to both Warner Bros. and the Disney Studios you could see any number of stars.

Smoke House Restaurant

In 1948, the Smoke House Restaurant moved up the street to it's present day location, taking over what was then the Red Coach Inn. Originally built in 1947 by Danny Kaye, the Red Coach Inn never opened as a restaurant because Kaye couldn't build a large enough dance floor in the space.

Across from the Smoke House is Warner Bros. Studios

Because of the restaurant's proximity to the Warner Bros. Studios, you could see any number of stars dining and imbibing at the Smoke House. It wasn't unusual to see stars like Errol Flynn, Milton Berle or Judy Garland. During the filming of East of Eden, Burl Ives would pick up his young costar James Dean and they would sometimes head to the Smoke House for lunch or dinner.

Many Disney animators and stars have also come to the Smoke House because of being close to work. One tragic Disney connection involves the legendary animator Wolfgang "Woolie" Reitherman, the man responsible for animating such characters as Goofy, Timothy (from Dumbo), Captain Hook, amongst many others. In 1985, Reitherman stopped for lunch at the Smoke House, then afterwards, he went to the bank. On his way home on the other side of Burbank, Reitherman crashed into a stop sign and a tree just two blocks from his place. Reitherman's body was thrown into the steering wheel of his Lincoln Continental. Almost 2 hours later, at St. Joseph's hospital, Reitherman was pronounced dead.

Valet at the Smoke House Restaurant, Burbank, CA

Even today the Smoke House Restaurant attracts stars. Andy Garcia and George Clooney are frequent visitors. Clooney in fact enjoys the restaurant so much that he named his production company after the business: Smokehouse Productions.

The restaurant has appeared to change very little over the years. The inside feels like you are stepping back in time, with the red booths and old-fashioned telephone jacks at the table (in case you got an important call). My favorite time to go is for Sunday brunch. It's a champagne brunch and includes many excellent choices beyond the usual brunch fair. No matter when you go you should try the Smoke House's famous cheese bread. It's delicious!

For more information on the Smoke House check out their official site here.