Tag Archives: Hollywood Brown Derby

Hollywood, The Brown Derby

More on the 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.

The Hollywood Brown Derby
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”.

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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 LS Noire
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:

Hollywood, Recipes, The Brown Derby

Lucy Eats Spaghetti at the Brown Derby

lucyeatsspaghetti-brownderbyhollywood
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
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.

brownderbyspaghettisaucerecipe
Derby Meat Sauce original recipe from The Brown Derby cookbook.

derbyashtrayOriginal Vintage Brown Derby Ashtray Seen on Etsy – Click to View Details

Hollywood, Recipes, The Brown Derby

Lucy’s Brown Derby Mixed Green Salad


Lucy,Ethel and Fred have Lunch at the Brown Derby in Hollywood
The Brown Derby Cook Book – click here to find it on eBay

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.

Brownderbymixedgreensalad
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.

 

French Dressing for the Derby Mized Green Salad
The Old-Fashioned French Dressing for the Derby Mixed Green Salad
Recipes, The Brown Derby

Lucy’s Lunch at the Hollywood Brown Derby

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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

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Lucy browses the menu at the Holly Brown Derby Restaurant

The Menu Lucy choses from is similar to the vintage menu pictured below

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The Brown Derby Luncheon Menu

 

Lucy,Ethel and Fred have Lunch at the Brown Derby in Hollywood
The Brown Derby Cook Book – click here to find it on eBay