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Valeria Belletti

Day nineteen of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s entry from 1925 is from a letter written by Valeria Belletti. She wrote many letters during her time as Samuel Goldwyn’s secretary, and would’ve remained unknown if not for being published by Cari Beauchamp (who’s book this excerpt is taken from). She mentions encounters with several notable names, and we’ve included their photos below.

We love you, Los Angeles!

Valeria Belletti was rescued from obscurity by Cari Beauchamp

Valeria Belletti was rescued from obscurity by Cari Beauchamp

Samuel Goldwyn

Samuel Goldwyn

William Randolph Hearst

William Randolph Hearst

Vilma Banky

Vilma Banky

Anton Grot

Anton Grot

Christopher Isherwood

Day eighteen of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s entry from 1968 is from Christopher Isherwood, an author and screenwriter who left Europe for Santa Monica in 1939, where he would remain until his death in 1986.

We love you, Los Angeles!

Christopher Isherwood

Christopher Isherwood

His work “A Single Man” was adapted to film in 2009. It was the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford, and stars Colin Firth who received an Oscar nomination for his performance.

Anaϊs Nin

Day seventeen of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s entry from 1957 is from author Anaϊs Nin, who was best known for her ground-breaking erotica. She led a fascinating life balancing two husbands, keeping them secret from each other, one in New York and one in Los Angeles (in addition to many other lovers).

We love you, Los Angeles!

Anaϊs Nin at her home in Silver Lake

Anaϊs Nin at her home in Silver Lake

Anaϊs lived in a glass house overlooking Silver Lake that she referred to as her 'house of mirrors.' The house was built by Eric Lloyd Wright, the grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright. She lived there from 1962 until her death in 1977. The house, at 2335 …

Anaϊs lived in a glass house overlooking Silver Lake that she referred to as her 'house of mirrors.' The house was built by Eric Lloyd Wright, the grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright. She lived there from 1962 until her death in 1977. The house, at 2335 Hidalgo Ave, is registered as LA Historic-Cultural Monument No. 892.

quotes by Anaϊs nin

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”

Jewel’s “Morning Song” which references Anaϊs Nin and her lover Henry Miller

Groucho Marx

Day sixteen of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s entry from 1954 is written by comedian Groucho Marx, offering some industry advice and foreshadowing the split that would come two years later between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

We love you, Los Angeles!

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in their famous “That’s Amore”

In the early days

In the early days

Reunited after 20 years, in 1976

Reunited after 20 years, in 1976

Jessie Benton Fremont

Day fifteen of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s entry from 1901 comes from Jessie Benton Fremont - author, activist, and notably the wife of John C. Fremont. While you could spend weeks reading up on their contributions to the state of California, we’re fascinated by the subject of this very brief excerpt.

We love you, Los Angeles!

The “Fremont House” at its original location on the northwest corner of Hoover and 28th St. It was built in 1891 and designed by architect Sumner P. Hunt. The home was ultimately relocated twice before sadly being demolished.

The “Fremont House” at its original location on the northwest corner of Hoover and 28th St. It was built in 1891 and designed by architect Sumner P. Hunt. The home was ultimately relocated twice before sadly being demolished.

Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont on the porch of her home, which was presented to her by a committee of ladies of the city of Los Angeles as a token of their great regard, after the death of her husband John C. Fremont.

Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont on the porch of her home, which was presented to her by a committee of ladies of the city of Los Angeles as a token of their great regard, after the death of her husband John C. Fremont.

William Faulkner

Day fourteen of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s entry from 1943 comes from a letter William Faulkner wrote to his nephew. Faulkner was one of the great American authors and his work remains deeply relevant.

Re: the face mask - read LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s recommendation here.

We love you, Los Angeles!

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Quotes by William Faulkner

“· The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past.
· I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail.
· Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.
· Between grief and nothing I will take grief.
· An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn’t know why they choose him and he’s usually too busy to wonder why.
· Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.
· Tomorrow night is nothing but one long sleepless wrestle with yesterday’s omissions and regrets.”

James Franco in “As I Lay Dying”"

Richard Burton

Day thirteen of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s entry comes from 1970, from the (very) personal diary of Richard Burton.

Some additional interesting reading can be found here and in this Town & Country feature.

We love you, Los Angeles!

Burton and Taylor starred in one last play together, Noel Coward's Private Lives. The production received such bad reviews that Taylor actually got drunk and missed a performance. While it's rumored that she was hoping to use the play to get close t…

Burton and Taylor starred in one last play together, Noel Coward's Private Lives. The production received such bad reviews that Taylor actually got drunk and missed a performance. While it's rumored that she was hoping to use the play to get close to Burton again, he was so angry about her missing the show that he turned to his assistant Sally Hay, whom he later married. Taylor was then engaged to lawyer Victor Luna. (credit: Town & Country)

Burton and Taylor, 1971

Burton and Taylor, 1971

Burton and Taylor in “Sandpiper” - one of the first films shot on location, in Big Sur, California.

Burton and Taylor in “Sandpiper” - one of the first films shot on location, in Big Sur, California.

John Fowles

Day eleven of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s entry from 1964 is by author John Fowles. He writes of his visit to the historic Marineland of the Pacific, which operated from 1954 to 1987. Terranea Resort, which now stands there, opened in June 2009.

We love you, Los Angeles!

Palos Verdes Peninsula - Then and Now

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trailers for his film adaptations

Get ready for an electrifying and chilling film experience that lays bare the intimate longings of a man--and the woman who has become his captive. Based on ...

The one and only Meryl Streep in one of her highlight performances. A film is being made of a story, set in 19th century England, about Charles, a biologist ...

Aaron Paley

Day nine of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s brief entry from1979 is from Aaron Paley, who would go on to become the President of Community Arts Resources (CARS) and co-creator of CicLAvia. He continues to be a driving force in our city in the present day.

We love you, Los Angeles!

Aaron Paley

Aaron Paley

Local heroes share what they think makes Wilmington so special and why they're excited to welcome CicLAvia on April 28, 2019.

Ruth Shellhorn

Day seven of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s excerpt from 1955 comes from Ruth Shellhorn, a landscape architect who was responsible for designing many celebrities’ gardens, and who left her biggest mark on the project of a lifetime - Disneyland. Much more than just plants, Shellhorn was actually responsible for designing a complete pedestrian circulation plan for the entire park. 

We love you, Los Angeles!

Ruth Shellhorn with Walt Disney, 1955

Ruth Shellhorn with Walt Disney, 1955

Octavia E. Butler

Day six of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s excerpt from 1968 comes from Octavia E. Butler, author and Pasadena native. In 1995 she became the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship.

And it seemed appropriate to feature a female guest reader (Amanda Riccio) - you’ll see why!

We love you, Los Angeles!

Bertolt Brecht

Day five of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s excerpt from 1942 comes from Bertolt Brecht, German author and playwright most famous for Galileo and Mother Courage. He fled Europe for Santa Monica, only to flee back to Europe after WWII during the McCarthy era.

We love you, Los Angeles!

Eleanor Roosevelt

Day three of our daily readings from “Dear Los Angeles,” a collection of letters and diary entries from 1542 to 2018, while all of us quarantine in 2020.

Today’s excerpt is from a diary entry by Eleanor Roosevelt. We were inspired to delve into her life and found an interview she gave in 1959, which felt quite timely in today’s world. We’ve included a link for you to watch that video here.

We love you, Los Angeles!

Golden Dragon Parade

Happy Lunar New Year!

Did you know that the Golden Dragon Parade, which takes place each year in LA’s Chinatown, is one of the most long-standing events in the city’s history? This year’s parade on February 1, 2020 will mark the 121st Annual Golden Dragon Parade!

To put it in perspective, the parade has been around longer than

  • The Tournament of Roses (1902)

  • The Hollywood Bowl (1922)

  • The Academy Awards (1929)

Perhaps even more impressive, it is the longest-running Lunar New Year parade outside of China.

It began as a unit within the city’s larger La Fiesta de Los Angeles parade, until the 1940s when La Fiesta came to an end. But the Chinese Chamber of Commerce quickly took over, and made it into what it is today. Now with over 110,000 spectators lining the parade route and thousands more viewing the TV broadcast each year, it has become the biggest Lunar New Year event in Southern California.

Along with floats, the parade features dragon dancers, current and former Miss Chinatowns, and celebrity Grand Marshals - maybe the most notable being Bruce Lee in the 1970's. Since then other Grand Marshalls have included David Carradine and Keye Luke from the television series “Kung Fu”, Hugh Hefner (for the Year of the Rabbit, of course!), Lindsay Wagner from “Bionic Woman”, Kieu Chinh from “Joy Luck Club”, and Garrett Wang from “Star Trek Voyagers”.

For more information about this year’s parade visit Golden Dragon Parade.

For a detailed history of the parade check out this article in LAist.

And for information about a customized Private Tour of LA’s Chinatown click here.

The long dragon stands at rest in the street for the La Fiesta de Los Angeles parade, 1901. (The California Historical Society and University of Southern California Digital Library)

The long dragon stands at rest in the street for the La Fiesta de Los Angeles parade, 1901. (The California Historical Society and University of Southern California Digital Library)