A rounded front building faces the street, atop it a tall spire stretches toward a bright blue sky. Near the bottom red letters spell out "Crossroads of the World." Atop the spire a globe.

The Violent History of LA’s Iconic Crossroads of the World

April 18, 2019, 4 Comments

Sunset Boulevard is synonymous with Hollywood. It’s home to a plethora of iconic buildings and linked to many legendary people. One such building is Crossroads of the World, a bizarre little 1930s shopping center turned office complex that looks like something out of a Disney theme park, with a steamship style building “sailing” past storefronts…

The red neon sign outside which reads "El Coyote Mexican Food"

The Kitschy Mexican Restaurant Where Sharon Tate Had Her Last Meal

April 11, 2019, 3 Comments

On August 8, 1969, four people, including young actress Sharon Tate walked into El Coyote and sat down for what would unknowingly be their last meal, for just a few hours later they would be brutally murdered by members of the Manson Family. El Coyote first opened in 1931, on First and La Brea by…

Cut out images of James Dean and Vampira set against a yellow and red background.

The Mysterious Horror Hostess that Reportedly Cursed James Dean

October 18, 2018, 5 Comments

The inside of a “dingy frame house” on Larrabee Street in West Hollywood looked more akin to a “witch-doctor’s shack in the wilds of Haiti.” Scattered were “objects of the kind associated with Black Magic” and stuck to the wall by a small golden dagger were cut-outs of James Dean’s eyes and ears. On the…

To the right a mural of Snow White seated in the forest, with bunnies and birds around her. To the left a brick wall and a sign reading "Cold Beer Served Here."

Snow White Cafe: Hollywood’s Fairytale Dive Bar

September 11, 2018, 1 Comment

In the heart of Hollywood, right next door to the Hollywood Wax Museum is the Snow White Cafe. Boasting a slice of pizza and a pint of beer for just $7, faux exposed brick walls, and buzzing neon advertising beer, it seems an unlikely setting to have multiple murals that feature Snow White. But not…

The archway into the Jurassic Park ride, just like in the film - a medium brown stucco like material with red text outlined in yellow reading "Jurassic Park"

Welcome to Jurassic Park

September 4, 2018, 1 Comment

Well it’s been awhile since I wrote about Universal Studios…The reason being we let our annual passes expire last year, and didn’t get new ones again until last month, and just in time to say farewell to Jurassic Park: The Ride. When Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park hit theaters in 1993, it was an instant success.…

To the left, the Babylonian arch/bridge, over six stories in height. A white elephant sits atop a pillar to the right, also towering over five stories tall.

The Shopping Mall Based on the Set of a Silent Movie Flop

August 29, 2018, 4 Comments

March 2022 Update: Ovation Hollywood, formerly known as Hollywood and Highland, is currently undergoing a $100 million remodel after being purchased for $325 million in 2019 by Gaw Capital, a Hong Kong real estate investment firm. The remodel started in 2021 with the removal of the elephants, and continues in removing the Babylonian elements, replaced…

Old photograph of the exterior of The Pink Pussycat, painted pink and black, including a large mural of a cat rubbing against a fishnet covered leg.

The Pink Pussycat College of Strip Tease Where Yesteryear’s Strippers Learned Their Craft

July 11, 2018, 8 Comments

Imagine you are a woman living the high life in early 1960s Hollywood, you have a great husband, who after working hard as a door-to-door salesman, elevates himself to running a haberdashery in Beverly Hills and then enters the nightclub business. It’s a classy life. Then, one day, your loving husband comes home and tells…

Bronson Canyon – The Batcave and More

February 6, 2018, 1 Comment

Over the years on the blog, I have made my love of two particular TV shows, Batman and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., very apparent, whether through cosplay, cons, museum visits, or filming locations. One thing these two shows have in common is the use of the Bronson Canyon and Caves as a filming…

Batman ’66 Exhibit and More at the Hollywood Museum

January 17, 2018, 7 Comments

Over the weekend some of my friends and I went to the Hollywood Museum to see the recently opened Batman ’66 exhibit. We also took time to explore the rest of the museum, which is housed in the famous former Max Factor building, a stunning Art Deco masterpiece. So, needless to say, this is a…

Valley Relics

March 8, 2017, 1 Comment

2020 Update: This post features photos from Valley Relics Museum’s older location. For a more updated look at their museum, please see this post. After visiting Corriganville, Patrick and I headed to Valley Relics Museum. Valley Relics is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of the San Fernando Valley, with a wide array of…