Read Valhollywood on Amazon
US: https://amzn.to/3CX0aks
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BZ2JC6VY
India: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B0BZ2JC6VY
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The Garden of Allah is a lost landmarks of Los Angeles which still exists in Valhollywood. I knew I wanted to use it as a location after reading Sheilah Graham's book about it. It filled a spot in early Hollywood lore similar to the role later played by the Chateau Marmont across the street--a discrete playground for movie stars.
In the time I it took me to write my book, Martin Turnbull set a whole series of novels here.
#oldlosangeles #indieauthor #fantasybooks #valhollywood #nazimova
The Daisy (not to be confused with the Lazy Daisy) was a private club and discotheque in Beverly Hills where locals could hang out without tabloids or fans bothering them. It was previously the original location of Romanoffs, located near the Frank Lloyd Wright spire on Rodeo Drive.
The club was owned by Jack Hanson, whose Jax boutique made slacks for Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy. Regulars at the Daisy got menu items named after them.
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Valhollywood is available on Amazon. Read free on Kindle Unlimited.
US: https://amzn.to/3CX0aks
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BZ2JC6VY
India: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B0BZ2JC6VY
#indieauthors #fantasybooks #mysterythriller #bookstagram #bookreview #iartg #valhollywood #classicfilm #oldlosangeles
Not much to look at on the outside, but tiki bar Don the Beachcomer is mentioned in in my novel Valhollywood. Unfortunately for Don, my protagonists apartment building occupies the same space as the restaurant, so when Jake Neumann arrives, the Tiki bar is erased from the shifting landscape of Valhollywood.
Don's claimed to be the birthplace of the Mai Tai (as does rival Trader Vic's.) You can see Villa Capris at the end of the street.
In my novel Valhollywood, Jake attends a party at the Sunset Tower, which has survived the wrecking ball that has claimed so much older Los Angeles architecture. It's a cool venue.
The party sequence changed a lot over the development of the book. It was originally was at someone's home, and the party was much wilder in early drafts, but it ran way too long. I may revisit some of the material I cut in the future.
Googie's attention getting exterior was designed to look like it was wedged in next to Schwab's, causing it to bend toward the sky. The coffee shop was designed by John Lautner and gave it's name to the whimsical modernism of the era. This was a favorite late night haunt of James Dean. In my novel Valhollywood, Jake stops by after running into trouble. He finds some new friends and a hot cup of joe.
Villa Capri was famous for its pizza. When it moved slightly north to this location of Yucca, Sinatra bought in to help finance the move. It was a popular spot with musicians because of its proximity to Capitol Records. In my novel, it is right behind Jake's apartment, so it was a no-brainer for inclusion in Valhollywood.
#classichollywood #newbooks #valhollywood #oldlosangeles
http://martinostimemachine.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-villa-capri-in-hollywood.html
Christopher Appel