Above L to R. Bob and Sally Cobb of the Brown Derby, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance at the screening party for the Brown Derby episode.
Bob Cobb of the Brown Derby restaurant gave a party for the screening of The Brown Derby episode of I Love Lucy. The screening party took place in a new private dining room at the Los Feliz Brown Derby.
The Brown Derby location used in the “L.A. at Last” episode was located at 1628 Vine Street in Hollywood, just below Hollywood Blvd. Sadly, in 1987 this historic restaurant was lost in a fire. The Taft Building and a facade of the nearby Dinner Bell cafe remains, which has been part of the Hollywood revitalization since the 1990’s.
Screen Grab of The Hollywood Brown Derby sign from I Love Lucy Episode “L.A at Last!”
Here is the screen grab of the ‘watering hole’ where Lucy, Fred and Ethel meet William Holden and below a fun, vintage postcard of the actual location with arrow indicating the approximate colors of the same sign with the yellow neon of “The Brown Derby” and the white neon of “Restaurant”.
Vintage postcard of the The Hollywood Brown Derby showing the approximate colors of the sign with the yellow neon of “The Brown Derby”
1950’s color footage of The Hollywood Brown Derby near the start of this video.
And the same location as it is today…
The Taft building on left and facade of the Dinner Bell Cafe is all that remains in today’s picture
A comparison of a 1940 photo with a current picture shows the Taft building with its fire escape on the left and a facade that corresponds to the Dinner Bell Cafe ( the old street no. of the Dinner Bell Cafe was 1604-1/2 North Vine Street). The Brown Derby location seen on the right of the old photo has been taken over by newer buildings.
Scene from the Game LA Noire
The Hollywood Brown Derby features in the the video Game L.A. Noire see walkthrough on Youtube here
Reference:
Dinner Bell Cafe “On October 7, 1939, Deputy Swift stumbled his way into The Dinner Bell Cafe at 1604-1/2 North Vine Street, adjacent to the Brown Derby in Hollywood.” http://derangedlacrimes.com/?p=4297
Lucy eats her spaghetti and meatballs at The Brown Derby in I Love Lucy, LA at Last!
At the Brown Derby Restaurant the meat sauce was a specialty of the house according the the 1949 Brown Derby cookbook, Lucy Ricardo ordered her spaghetti and meatballs with extra meat sauce, The set decoration scene looks very like the real Brown Derby. ( see archival photo here ).
Willow Pattern dinnerware at the Brown Derby L to R. Sally and Bob Cobb of the Brown Derby, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance.
In real life Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz along with many Hollywood stars regularly dined at the Brown Derby. Google image search brings up numerous 1950’s photos that match the decor of the scene. The dinner ware in use in the restaurant was classic Willow Pattern – in the original color photos of the day pink/red willow pattern dishes can be seen.
Derby Meat Sauce original recipe from The Brown Derby cookbook.
William Holden orders Cobb Salad at the Brown Derby in I Love Lucy, L.A. at Last!
Bill Holden gets the Cobb Salad he ordered in the hilarious Brown Derby scene from the I Love Lucy show. The Brown Derby was the birthplace of the Cobb salad invented by owner Robert H. Cobb. The original Cobb salad recipe uses a French Dressing – not blue cheese. Get the Brown Derby Old-fashioned French dressing recipe at the end of this post.
The Brown Derby Cobb Salad Recipe from the Brown Derby Cookbook
Vintage Brown Derby Luncheon Menu – the blank spaces are for pasting in the daily specials
The Brown Derby Sign in the backdrop on the I Love Lucy set
The Cobb Salad was invented by Bob Cobb of the Brown Derby however another house salad the Derby Mixed Green Salad was very popular as a side dish. In the Brown Derby Scene, episode “L.A. At Last!,” Lucy selects a tossed salad from the menu which the waiter explains is a mixed green salad. The Derby Mixed Green Salad recipe can be found in the Brown Derby Cookbook.
Make your own Mixed Green Salad and the Derby Old-fashioned French Dressing to go with it from the original recipes pictured below from The Brown Derby Cookbook.
Derby Mixed Green Salad Serves 4
1/2 head romaine cut in 1-in pieces 1/2 head (medium size) Lettuce, pulled 1/2 bunch watercress 1/2 head chicory 2 tomatoes,peeled and quartered 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup Brown Derby Old-fashioned French Dressing (see recipe below)
Toss the greens in a large cold salad bowl and mix lightly. Garnish with the tomatoes. Sprinkle chopped celery on top. Just before serving add French Dressing and toss lightly.
Brown Derby mixed green salad original recipe
Brown Derby Old-Fashioned French Dressing, 1/ 1/2 qts.
This is the French Dressing which became so popular among the stars that the Brown Derby was prevailed upon to bottle it for home use. The cup of water is optional depending upon the degree of oiliness desired in this dressing.
1 cup water 1 cup red wine vinegar 1 tsp. sugar Juice of 1.2 lemon 2 1/2 tbs.* salt 1 tbs. ground black pepper 1 tbs. Worcestershire Sauce 1 tbs. English mustard 1 bead garlic chopped 1 cup olive oil 3 cups salad oil
(*Uk readers note a US tablespoon = British dessert spoon)
Blend together all ingredients except oils. Then add olive and salad oils and mix well again. Chill. Shake before serving.
This dressing keeps well in the refrigerator. Can be made and stored in a 2 qt. Mason jar.
The Old-Fashioned French Dressing for the Derby Mixed Green Salad
Lucy, Ethel and Fred have Lunch at the Brown Derby in Hollywood
The I Love Lucy Episode “L.A. At Last!,” 1955, is memorable for the famous scene at the Hollywood Brown Derby. Lucy is hoping to spot movie stars, so she and Ethel and Fred go to the Hollywood Brown Derby for lunch where she has the hilarious scene with Bill Holden. Lucy orders a Derby tossed salad and spaghetti and meatballs with lots of meat sauce and Ethel opts for the same. I have an old Brown Derby cookbook – pictured below – so I looked up the recipes. You can find the Brown Derby Mixed Green Salad, on p. 74. Spaghetti Derby p 27 and the Derby Meat Sauce on p 28
Lucy browses the menu at the Holly Brown Derby Restaurant
The Menu Lucy choses from is similar to the vintage menu pictured below
Above L to R. Bob and Sally Cobb of the Brown Derby, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance at the screening party for the Brown Derby episode.
Wilshire Brown Derby original location
Original Vintage Brown Derby Ashtray Seen on Etsy – Click to View Details
