Thursday, September 28, 2017

It's Flapper Time...

Ladies pull out your flapper frocks & pearls and Gents put on your best linen suits or classic tux... Tomorrow night, Friday, Sept 29th, from 6- 9pm, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles will be hosting an event in the HMS Bounty. While there, enter into the Gaylord and peruse the memorabilia in the many glass cases throughout our lobby. For more info, go to the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles website at adsla.org or their facebook page.

A big thank you to our gracious Threa for informing us on this fun event!

Before Hitting it BIG...

Returning for her second season, this year, as a featured player on the popular 'Saturday Night Live' television program, will be Melissa Villasenor. Before hitting it big with SNL, Melissa played the Gaylord for our resident comedian, Carl's monthly 'Comedy Pajama Party.' Pictured below is the program from when she appeared in June 2011.
Back in the 1920's, the Gaylord would broadcast live it's own radio program from our lobby on station KHJ, which usually featured the 'Gaylord Trio' with musical performances. Below, the 'Radio Digest' issue from January 17,1925, listing the 'Gaylord Trio' on the program (barely visible, top right corner) for Friday, January 23rd.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Perspective...

It is all about the perspective in this fantastic shot of our stately Gaylord, from 1946. You are impressed by it's standing along the boulevard. And, just look at that classic woody parked out front!
At the time of it's opening, in 1924, the Gaylord would be the tallest standing structure in the City of Los Angeles.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Native Californian Blueblood Was in our Midst...

You never know who is living amongst us... I recently just came across this intriguing article from the LAWeekly, from March 2016. The photo (above) was shot in our Gaylord lobby. Though rarely seen during her time with us, Lauren kept an apartment here at the Gaylord for 3 1/2 years. You can follow Lauren and her many life adventures on the varied social media outlets and V Magazine had also done a brutally honest story on her in 2015. This may be reason for her online popularity with her no holds barred, no excuses life.
Her great, great, great, great grandfather, Jose Loreto Sepulveda, would be the 2nd Mayor of Los Angeles, under Spanish rule from 1837- 1848. In my previous life before moving into the Gaylord, I would see Lauren's grandmother, Alice O'Neill Avery (L.A. philanthropist) riding in her golf cart, at the Horse Shows I would attend at Rancho Mission Viejo, in San Juan Capistrano.
That Gaylord history continues to be full of surprises!

Friday, September 22, 2017

Pleased to Meet You...


Construction of the Gaylord begins in 1922 (photo above). Look at the size of those steel beams & girders! The horse drawn cart, in front (photo top), reminds us of how far back the Gaylord began. It would not be until April 9, 1924, that the Gaylord officially opened it's doors.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Sorry Peeps...

Sorry folks, no available units at this time... Keep checking back!

Pictured above, from our May 1927 issue of 'Gaylord Glimpses' is former Chief of Detectives and Deputy Commissioner for the City of New York and Gaylord residents, George S. Dougherty and his wife. For a couple of years, the Dougherty's would winter with us here at the Gaylord. The Dougherty's were also frequent guests of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author & creator of "Sherlock Holmes,' on their journeys to England.
Mr. Dougherty wrote a number of books and articles on the criminal mind and introduced modern day fingerprinting to the U.S. Knowing how well connected the Gaylord residents were to the motion picture industry, we think he may have been trying to further fulfill his acting bug desires while residing here, after having appeared in a couple of silent pictures, as himself, in 1914, or to become a screenwriter.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Plays With Animals...

Pictured here from our June 1927 issue of  'Gaylord Glimpses' is silent film actress Helen Foster. While residing at the Gaylord during this time, Helen had the enviable (or unenviable, depending on how you look at it) task of playing opposite popular animal stars, such as Ranger the Dog and Rex the Wonder Horse, in a number of films. In 1928, she also starred with fellow Gaylord resident, Gertrude Olmstead, in 'Sweet Sixteen.' Helen's last feature film appearance was in 'Around the World in 80 Days,' from 1956, as an uncredited extra, which starred David Niven, the incomparable Cantinflas and Shirley MacLaine. Helen passed away on Christmas Day, 1982, in Los Angeles, but her spirit lives on here at the Gaylord!

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Captains of Industry & Their Wives...

From the September 1927 issue of 'Gaylord Glimpses,' is pictured Mrs. G.J. Kuhrts  (Myra H. Bennett), who was married to George Jacob Kuhrts. While living at the Gaylord, Mr. Kuhrts became the President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Railway Corporation. He took this position upon the death of Henry E. Huntington (of the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, in San Marino), who had been Owner and President.

Along with the Kuhrts, a familiar name to many southern Californians, Mrs. George A. Ralphs (yes, that Ralphs), was married to the founder of the Ralphs grocery store chain and also kept an apartment here at the Gaylord, during this time, after Mr. Ralphs' passing. Mrs. Ralphs would travel the world, but always return to her home at the Gaylord.

These were just some of the well moneyed people who resided here at the Gaylord. The Gaylord history is full of many more such notables.