LOST ANGELES with Host Laura Craven

LOST ANGELES Episode 20 features Part 2 of Host Laura Craven's two-part exclusive in-depth and entertaining interview with author, preservationist, architectural historian and longtime Senior Editor at Los Angeles Magazine CHRIS NICHOLS! 

On this episode, Chris talks about researching and writing his epic “Disneyland” book for Taschen and the architectural history of the theme park, protecting atomic age bowling alleys (the subject of a future book!), the trials and tribulations of his preservation work protecting historic architecture in Southern California, and of course his popular 20+ year “Ask Chris” column in Los Angeles Magazine.

CHRIS NICHOLS has worked with the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee, serving a term as chairman of the group. In addition to creating tours, exhibitions, and lectures about historic Los Angeles, Nichols has advocated for endangered buildings all over Southern California including the Cinerama Dome and the world’s oldest McDonald’s in Downey. His books include "Walt Disney’s Disneyland" for Taschen and "The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister.” He writes the "Ask Chris" column in Los Angeles magazine and has served on the board of Hollywood Heritage.

Go to Episode 19 of LOST ANGELES For Part 1, where Chris talks about growing up near the legendary Downey McDonald’s that began his illustrious career in architectural history and preservation, his early mentorship with “googie” architecture author Alan Hess, Early 20th Century cafeterias and drive-ins and how the mid-century leisure architecture of Southern California was created, and much more…

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On LOST ANGELES Episode 19, Host Laura Craven sits down for Part 1 of an exclusive 2-Part in-depth and entertaining interview with author, preservationist, architectural historian and longtime Senior Editor at Los Angeles Magazine CHRIS NICHOLS!  

On part 1, Chris talks about growing up near the legendary Downey McDonald’s that began his illustrious career in architectural history and preservation, his early mentorship with “googie” architecture author Alan Hess and his revealing work about mid-century modern master architect Wayne McAllister, and getting married at McAllister’s massive historic property the “Agua Caliente” in Mexico.  Laura and Chris also get into Early 20th Century cafeterias and drive-ins and how they influenced the space-age structures to come later, as well as how the mid-century leisure architecture of Southern California was created, and much more…

CHRIS NICHOLS has worked with the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee, serving a term as chairman of the group. In addition to creating tours, exhibitions, and lectures about historic Los Angeles, Nichols has advocated for endangered buildings all over Southern California including the Cinerama Dome and the world’s oldest McDonald’s in Downey. His books include "Walt Disney’s Disneyland" for Taschen and "The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister.” He writes the "Ask Chris" column in Los Angeles magazine and has served on the board of Hollywood Heritage.

Go to Episode 20 of Lost Angeles for Part 2 of this fascinating conversation where Chris talks about researching and writing his epic “Disneyland” book for Taschen and the architectural history of the theme park, protecting atomic age bowling alleys (the subject of a future book!), the trials and tribulations of his preservation work protecting historic architecture in Southern California, and of course his popular 20+ year “Ask Chris” column in Los Angeles Magazine. 

SUBSCRIBE to LOST ANGELES with Laura Craven wherever you get your podcasts or live & direct on JASONCHARLES.NET Podcast Network 🟤ARTS & CULTURE Channel

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On Episode 18 of LOST ANGELES, Host Laura Craven sits down for more conversation with biographer and Marilyn Monroe historian GARY VITACCO-ROBLES, author of "Cursum Perficio: Marilyn Monroe's Brentwood Hacienda,"  the only book about the icon to focus exclusively on the architectural history and significance of her 5th Helena Drive home; the location of her untimely death in 1962.  For Part 2, Gary talks more about Marilyn's life in Brentwood that year, including the neighbors, residents and history of the neighborhood up until that time, Monroe's association with Frank Lloyd Wright, more insider information about the furnishings and the architecture of the hacienda, and what the star's daily life was like during her final months there.  We also get Gary's take on the controversial Netflix film "Blonde," currently making headlines...he offers many alternatives for those interested in learning more about the icon and her personal life. 

Gary is also the writer, co-producer, & commentator of the dramatized, multi-season podcast Marilyn: Behind The Icon, adapted from his three-volume biography.  The all new third volume, "Icon: Who Killed Marilyn Monroe,” is available for pre-order now! He has appeared on various news shows and is a media personality.  Currently, Gary writes the blog "Tampa Bay Author's Social Diary" & is co-producer of the film short Marilyn's Dark Paradise (2022), directed by Remi Gangarossa.  For more information about Gary, follow him @gvrovr on Instagram, and find his books on Amazon or wherever you get your biographies!

To hear an exclusive site-only Lost Angeles "Extra" outtake featuring Gary's top resources for Marilyn circa 1961-62, go to this episode's page on the Lost Angeles series page on www.jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Arts & Culture Channel.
 

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On Episode 17 of LOST ANGELES, Host Laura Craven sits down for an interview with biographer and Marilyn Monroe historian GARY VITACCO-ROBLES, author of "Cursum Perficio: Marilyn Monroe's Brentwood Hacienda,"  the only book about the icon to focus exclusively on the architectural history and significance of her 5th Helena Drive home; the location of her untimely death in 1962.  Gary and Laura talk about the development of the area and the history of the house before Monroe owned it, how she came to acquire it, the reasons she chose to make this her home, and of course the interior and exterior details of this lovely Spanish-style hacienda in the middle of Brentwood.  And of course, Gary will explain more about the title "Cursum Perficio," from the Latin inscription on the home's original front doorstep tiles, ominously translating to "I have completed my journey."

Gary is also the writer, co-producer, & commentator of the dramatized, multi-season podcast Marilyn: Behind The Icon, adapted from his three-volume biography.  The all new third volume, "Icon: Who Killed Marilyn Monroe,” is available for pre-order now! He has appeared on various news shows and is a media personality.  Currently, Gary writes the blog "Tampa Bay Author's Social Diary" & is co-producer of the film short Marilyn's Dark Paradise (2022), directed by Remi Gangarossa.  For more information about Gary, follow him @gvrovr on Instagram, and find his books on Amazon or wherever you get your biographies!

To see an exclusive photo gallery of Marillyn’s house, go to the Lost Angeles series page on the Arts & Culture Channel at www.jasoncharles.net Podcast Network.
 

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LOST ANGELES Episode 16 PRIDE SPECIAL featuring guest JANE CANTILLON, Director of the feature film "The Other Side: A Queer History's Last Call,” a documentary about LA’s last piano bar located on Hyperion Avenue in Silverlake.  Host Laura Craven chats with the director about the history of this landmark mid-century modern building and the bar and lounge that was home to the local queer community for decades before its unfortunate closing in 2012.

Jane’s 2013 film is an insightful, provocative and poignant exploration into the history of gay Los Angeles through personal stories from the 1940s to the 1960s, set against the backdrop of The Other Side, a venerable LA gay piano bar and a neighborhood fixture for more than forty years.  Rent or buy the film on Amazon NOW!

Jane Cantillon is an LA-based director and producer for film and television.  In addition to her feature films, “The Other Side…” and “Paintings by Mary Woronov,” her television production credits include Entertainment Tonight, “Anderson,” Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers, The Talk, and Ask Oprah’s All Stars, among others.  Also a prolific musician and performer, her band “Dick and Jane Family Orchestra” plays regularly at Akbar in Silverlake and in and around LA and the West Coast. For more info and upcoming shows, follow her on Instagram @janecantillon

Special thanks to Carmen Grillo at Big Surprise Music & Studios and to Kathleen Sullivan, Executive Director of Openhouse in San Francisco, for their assistance in making this special episode happen!

Listen/Subscribe to LOST ANGELES wherever you get your podcasts and live & direct (with exclusive site-only extras, photos and outtakes) on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Arts & Culture Channel

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On Episode 15 of LOST ANGELES, Host Laura Craven goes inside the architectural history of the Sunset Strip landmark, The Chateau Marmont, featuring special guest Author SHAWN LEVY.  His critically acclaimed 2019 bestseller "The Castle On Sunset: Death, Art, Love and Scandal At The Chateau Marmont" is the definitive biography, if you will, about the infamous Hollywood hotel and sometime residence of a who's who of film and music giants, dating back to the late 1920s.  Laura and Shawn discuss the original 1927 property and how it developed through the decades,the various owners whose personal stories informed the architectural and cultural changes of the property, and of course, plenty of inside information about its Hollywood lore.

Shawn Levy is the former film critic of The Oregonian and KGW-TV. His writing has appeared in Sight and Sound, Film Comment, American Film, Interview, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Black Rock Beacon. He is the author of eleven books, including Rat Pack Confidential, Paul Newman: A Life, King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis, and Dolce Vita Confidential. He jumps and claps and sings for victory in Portland, Oregon.  For more information about Shawn Levy, and his latest book "In On The Joke," about the history of trailblazing female comedians, go to www.shawnlevy.com

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LOST ANGELES Episode 13 features Part 1 of the 2-part JOHNNY CARSON'S PROPERTIES Special, a deep dive into the television legend's Southern California homes and historic locations, including the Bel-Air manse he shared (and gave to) his third ex-wife, to his famous Malibu beach spot on Carbon Beach, and the Point Dume masterpiece of coastal architecture where he spent his last two decades.  For this first part, Host Laura Craven is joined by “CARSON PODCAST" creator and host and Carson expert MARK MALKOFF.  Having Interviewed hundreds of Carson's friends, family and associates on his long-running and popular show, Mark shares what he knows about Johnny's homes and the landmark LA properties he frequented throughout his life in Southern California.

For more information about Mark Malkoff go to www.carsonpodcast.com and www.markmalkoff.com

For Part 2 of the LOST ANGELES Johnny Carson's Properties Special, featuring a rare and exclusive interview with Carson's Malibu architect ED NILES, go to Episode 14 of LOST ANGELES on the jasoncharles.net Podcast Network or wherever you get your podcasts

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LOST ANGELES Episode 14 features Part 2 of the 2-part JOHNNY CARSON'S PROPERTIES Special, a deep dive into the television legend's Southern California homes and historic locations.   On this episode, Host Laura Craven presents a rare and exclusive interview with Johnny Carson's Malibu-based architect ED NILES. 

ED NILES designed Carson's Malibu masterpiece, located high on a bluff on Point Dume, where the television legend spent the last two decades of his life.  The architect originally designed the property in 1978 and he worked closely with Carson over the years to develop and upgrade this spectacular oceanfront property to Carson's specifications.  Niles shares never-before-heard stories of his long friendship and working relationship with the television legend. 

For more information about ED NILES go to www.ednilesarchitect.com

For Part 1 of the LOST ANGELES Johnny Carson's Properties Special, featuring "Carson Podcast" host MARK MALKOFF, go to Episode 13 of LOST ANGELES on the jasoncharles.net Podcast Network or wherever you get your podcasts.

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LOST ANGELES Episode 12 features a fascinating conversation with special guest MATT SEVERSON, Director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ MARGARET HERRICK LIBRARY.  LOST ANGELES host Laura Craven sits down for an exclusive interview at this world-renowned, non-circulating reference and research collection devoted to the history and development of the motion picture as an art form and an industry.  Established in 1928 and now located in Beverly Hills, the library is open to the public and used year-round by students, scholars, historians and industry professionals.  Matt and Laura get into the library's massive collection, including original scripts, drawings, sketches, interviews, objects, papers, documents and more from Hollywood’s most legendary studios, films and filmmakers.  Matt also talks about how he landed his dream job there and the films that inspired him to become a reference historian for this esteemed organization.  Check out www.oscars.org/library for more information.

Included at the end of the episode is an exclusive piece of audio from the library’s Alfred Hitchcock Papers collection, Francois Truffaut’s interview with Hitchcock, originally recorded for the classic film book Hitchcock/Truffaut.  In this segment, the two directors (and their french/english translator!) discuss some important details about “Rear Window.”  Special thanks to Matt and the Margaret Herrick Library/AMPAS for the use of this fascinating piece of film history!

For an exclusive site-only "extra" go to the LOST ANGELES page on the jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Arts & Culture Channel to hear another excerpt from "Hitchcock/Truffaut" about "The Birds," courtesy of the Alfred Hitchcock Papers, Margaret Herrick Library/AMPAS.

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LOST ANGELES Episode 11 features an exclusive interview with legendary L.A. songwriter/musician NED DOHENY, a true original and important part of LA’s music history and one of the most respected artists to come out of the Hollywood Hills scene of the 1970s, not to mention a member of one of the city’s most recognizable family names.  Recorded in a studio overlooking PCH, Ned and LOST ANGELES Host Laura Craven talk about being longtime residents of Malibu, the mysteries of Paradise Cove, a lifetime of surfing, the hidden spots and changing face of the historic area, and of course life in the Laurel Canyon days and music!  Ned Doheny has written for, played on and sang with hundreds of LA’s biggest legendary artists, including Glen Frey, David Foster, Linda Ronstadt, JD Souther, Warren Zevon and so many more…his songs have been recorded by Chaka Khan, David Cassidy, Tata Vega and the Average White Band, among others.

Check out the amazing vinyl reissues of Ned’s historic catalogue of music at Be With Records and The Numero Group and listen anytime on all streaming platforms.

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