There wasn’t enough to room in today’s column to do justice to the Formosa Cafe, this week’s “Restaurant of the Week.” So let’s visit some of the legendary stories. Owner Max Gold purchased the Red Post Cafe in 1939, added a Pacific Electric Red Car and renamed it the “Formosa Club.” Gold reportedly lost the restaurant in a poker game. He was reportedly found murdered … Continue reading The Friday Column Supplement

Galco’s Old World Grocery, Eagle Rock (1897) Famous for having more than 700 flavors of soda. Also carry candy like Big Hunk, Abba-Zaba, Oh Henry!, U-No and Zagnut. The Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills (1912) Located in the Beverly Hills Hotel, this was originally the only rest stop between Hollywood and Pacific Palisades for celebrities like Will Rogers and Rudolph Valentino who were playing polo. Howard … Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Restaurant Talk

This the 1951 menu for Ciro’s nightclub on Sunset Blvd. Look at those prices! This is where Frank Sinatra famously punched columnist Lee Mortimer after Mortimer hurled a racial slur at him in 1947. Ciro’s closed in 1957 and eventually became The Comedy Store. Anyone remember Earl’s Car Cafe in Alhambra? Continue reading USC Friday Column Supplement

Did you think I forgot? Art’s Chili Dogs Stand, Los Angeles (1939, closed) Damon’s Steakhouse, Glendale (1937) Fosselman’s Ice Cream Co., Alhambra (1919) Bay Cities Italian Deli, Santa Monica (1925) Katella Grill, Orange (1993) It closes Sunday. Ricci’s Italian Restaurant, Bellflower (1940) Western Bagel, Van Nuys (1947) El Adobe, San Juan Capistrano (1948) HMS Bounty, Los Angeles (1947) The Ranch House, Ojai, 1956 Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Restaurant Talk

RESTAURANTS OF THE WEEK George Petrelli’s Steak House, Culver City, 1931 They also serve hamburgers. Gary’s Bric Ramp, Burbank (Closed) They used to have signs saying no cell phone calls allowed. And if someone used their phone, they would tell them to hang up. I went here once because it was a location for The Rockford Files. Talk of the Town, Pasadena (Closed) This was … Continue reading USC Friday Column Supplement: Restaurant Edition

The Oscars are tonight, so here are some USC winners/connections to the award. Former USC quarterback Cotton Warburton won an Oscar in 1965 for film editing for “Mary Poppins.” Warburton was also nominated in 1954 for “Crazylegs.” He was an All-American in 1933 and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975. Aaron Rosenberg was also an All-American in 1933 and nominated for … Continue reading USC And The Oscars