The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hey everyone, I am currently in Los Angeles for an extended period of time, and I'd like to know what cool Beach Boys stuff I could see in my time here. I've already been to the memorial and Sunset Sound, but I'd like to see a lot more. Any suggestions?

here's some help:
beachboys.wikia.com/wiki/Historical_Sites

Apart from the monument and studios, I would go to the capitol tower, to their star in the walk of fame and the resting place of Carl. Maybe also grab a  bite in Hawthorne's Foster Freeze  ;D

Nah, don't waste your time with all the touristy sites. Cut to the chase and go catch the main man himself up at his favorite deli or at the little grocery store down the street from his crib.

there is no burger so good as the one they make for you at the "hamburger stand" of FFF fame; go there in your Daddy's T-bird. Fosters Freeze on Hawthorne blvd in the city of Hawthorne.

Since you're  in Los Angeles for an extended period of time, and don't have anything else to do with your time, you might as well visit as many of the touristy sites as you can,  first , as you'll probably be getting some solitary time after stalking the big man

Make sure to wash the Foster's burger down with a cherry slush so your lips are all red and you look especially deranged for primo stalking! I'm told Alan Boyd loves it when people creep up to his window and whisper about Smile tapes.

Some time ago I made a Bing map of Beach Boys locations in Southern California. Here's the link: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=39.543999~-104.968002&lvl=4&dir=0&sty=r&cid=877FE482AB60D2DE!181 (http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=39.543999~-104.968002&lvl=4&dir=0&sty=r&cid=877FE482AB60D2DE!181)

Looking at the list on that website - many aren't even there anymore (demolished) and there's nothing to see and others aren't even worth the gas getting there 'cause there's nothing to see. C'mon. 10452 Bellagio? Radiant Radish? 3701 119th St.? Gone years ago. The recording studios don't even look like they did in the 60's. Nothing to see at Capitol or what use to be on Sunset. Gold Star is gone. The Roxy? Why? Chez Jays? Maybe if Jay is there to recount a couple of stories. Carl's gravesite and Dennis' boat slip if you're in a morbid mood. The Landmark in Hawthorne might be worth the trip.

There use to be another web site with pictures of Hite Morgan's house and the house at Mt. Vernon & Fairway and Brian's apartment after he left the Hawthorne house and other places. Heck, watch David Marks' tour on Youtube - it's interesting in itself.

I wouldn't count on catching Jay there; ( RIP 2008)

If he was, that'd be a hell of a story.

I wonder what Brian usually orders at that deli. There's this deli in Houston called Kenny & Ziggy's I've been wanting to try, and the Reubens they serve there look delish.

Thread here for this very thing.

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,5541.0.html

Still nuthin' on that thread either that's really worth checking out.  Dennis' old houses - the one on Sunset and the big one where he had parties with the Manson family? Nah. Brother Studios on 5th St.? Goneski. The Beach Boys business offices on Ivar St.? Gone. A lot of years have gone by. Just old addresses now. Nuthin' much to see here, folks.

And now that Jay checked out, not much to see there except maybe old pictures on the wall.....

Trouble with a lot of BB's related sites is related to them being in LA. They were nothing of note back in the day to begin with. I've passed a few of the studios and to think such magic came out of these plain boring buildings.

I doubt anyone would ever go to LA JUST to see these locations but if you're on vacation and just want to see where they are at for curiosity sake then go check some out. I visit Paradise Cove a couple of times a year for the restaurant and location but always glance over at the cliff and visualize the album cover.

Billy, where is Kenny & Ziggy's?  Might check out next time we head south from The Woodlands area.

Chez Jay is absolutely worth a stop - still a great place.  It was named as the place where the Pentagon Papers were passed (others have been named, as well) but it's right next to where Rand Corp was, so I suspect it's legit.  It was a Liz Taylor hang out too, along with lots of other celebs.  Truly funky with pretty good food, as well.

Denny's Harmony boat slip is a beautiful spot - not at all morbid to me - where he loved being, but the docks are locked and for slip holders only, unless you can get someone to take their dinghy over to the spot from the water.  A dear friend had a boat in the same marina, and he loved Denny too, so we always did a champagne toast at the slip on Denny's birthday.  When I had a boat there it was in another marina (Dolphin) across the street.  You need a key for the slips at each of the individual marinas and the bathroom/shower facilities - sorry!  I wouldn't try breaking in, although someone there might let you in.  You could get arrested for that as well as stalking Brian, I would guess!

I haven't looked at the maps.  Did anyone list Patrick's Roadhouse on PCH?  It's still there and is another great place that was one of Brian's spots for a period of time when he lived in Santa Monica Canyon off Mesa Rd.  You can go there and not be stalking him(!) and have another great view of the ocean at a fun place. 

I wish Michael Wilson still had his restaurant in Culver City.  He is a great chef and the life-size poster of Denny was great.

What's morbid to me is the Greentree address in Pacific Palisades where Brian lived and Landy took over the house after it had been remodeled.  Landy memories send a real shiver up my spine, not Denny's happy days on the water.  While I haven't had the fortune of seeing it, the Landy years will better be covered by seeing "Love & Mercy" I feel pretty safe in assuming from all I've read. 

Another place Brian loved and visited regularly, (by limo -it was great) for awhile was Disneyland...As far as I know, he probably still loves it. 

Have fun - LA is wonderful...

Oh, and they used to let Brian in through the underground "city" for employees of Disneyland to miss the crowds at the entrance.  If you can get some employee to get you in there, it might still be a "surreal" place.

Thanks Debbie. Cool to have your ideas and more welcome I'm sure.

A real shame the group didn't have a 'must see' such as the crossing outside Abby Road of Beatles fame.

Story on Chez Jay's here BTW. See it before its tarted up!

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/mar/25/local/la-me-chez-jay-20130325

Thanks, Pretty Funky, but oh crap re:  Chez Jay!  Yes, see it while you can then!

And re:  the deli - it's a public place so I can't imagine why anyone who goes there to eat would be a problem.  It's just basic, "Don't Be a Jerk 101."  Don't interrupt anyone's meal or private conversation and everyone's cool, right?  I only had the soup there once when I was on my way to a memorial service at a church nearby on Mulholland, so can't speak to the food. 

A Tour Of Beach Boys' Haunts In Their Hometown Of Hawthorne, California - With Pictures!
http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2011/11/01/a-tour-of-beach-boys-haunts-in-their-hometown-of-hawthorne-california-with-pictures


They Got Around: A Visual Tour of the Beach Boys’ History
http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2013/09/04/beach-boys-photo-essay-they-got-around-los-angeles/#sthash.z017hNJe.dpbs


Let’s Go To Hawthorne: A Beach Boys Pilgrimage
http://www.rebeatmag.com/lets-go-to-hawthorne-a-beach-boys-pilgrimage/


(Let's Go To) Hawthorne CA with David Marks! Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3zqUU73riY

can you rate each of these, as to which you personally enjoyed the most?

Brian has mentioned the name of his favourite Deli many times in interviews!  Good to know he's still a regular guy and can enjoy getting it and about without being hassled.  :)

I went to Chez Jay's in 1996 on a trip to LA.  It was exactly as described in Gaines' book and it was great to go there and have a quiet couple of beers and a chat with the guy behind the bar (not Jay).  When I told him I was a Beach Boys fan from near Glasgow, Scotland he said jokingly said, "do you guys surf up the Clyde (which is our big river)?".  So he obviously knew his Geography and told us about the history of Jay's including the Watergate stuff, Warren Beatty and Madonna and the peanut from the bar going to the moon!  Happy days!  ;D

God, I'm practically sobbing thinking about this place being gentrified into something bland...It's like defiling a sacred site...in fact, that's EXACTLY what it is!

I agree Debbie. :(

Actually Chez Jay was exactly the same just a few years ago.  I lot of people fought to make it an historic site to preserve it, and got it done.  Then this public park think apparently did it in recently.  Arggghhh!

I would think Denny had Marina hangouts in the Marina other than the Harmony, but I either don't know them or don't remember.  I'll bet Eddie Roach knows.  Has he ever said?  There was a Chart House and a Cheesecake Factory nearby.  I lived in the Marina as well as having a boat there for about 14 years.  Lots of restaurants, bars and funky little yacht clubs in the area (and one chi-chi one) - CA Yacht Club...

I suggest somebody starts a poll thread on Beach Boys Pilgrimage links.

off of post oak, near the galleria

This is really deep fan stuff, but I always wanted to do a Good Vibrations Promo Film Then-And-Now tour, and take shots of how the scenes look today versus 1966. Same angles, same backgrounds, whatever. I love that film, it's just one of those really obscure fan things I hope to do someday that I'm sharing for some reason... ;D

Some still-photo examples of my "tour" itinerary whenever it happens in person:

The apartment complex seen just off the on ramp to 101:
1966
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/gvhouse2.jpg)
2011
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/gvhouse.jpg)

On ramp from North Cahuenga to the 101:
1966:
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/gvtowers.jpg)
2011:
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/gvhill.jpg)

The Los Angeles Fire Department, formerly "Fire Station 27" where the GV firehouse scenes were filmed:
http://www.lafdmuseum.org/museum_hollywood (http://www.lafdmuseum.org/museum_hollywood)

And in 1966 outside Station 27 with a famous guy behind the camera:
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n178/micky_040/smile__bri_filming_fire.jpg)


Things like hiring a worker from the Streets Dept. to spray water on me and whoever else is filling in for Michael Vosse, get a shot of everyone drinking Cokes with the firemen, all that stuff.  ;)

 I just realized that I inadvertently may have been too casual about visiting LA restaurants where celebs go.  I know most people here are far too cool to do such things, but just in case someone innocently unknowing might screw up...There are LA restaurant unwritten rules for all of these places - no gawking, listening in on conversations or asking for autographs or photos.  People go sell them and stars know it.  No following the celebrity ANYWHERE, there are laws and something innocent could seem really weird.  All this stuff is just not DONE in LA...It's their home and they want some degree of privacy, just like you and your family do at home or at your regular hang-outs.  No one wants to be pestered.  And the restaurants are running a business.  Eat and leave in a reasonable length of time.  Celebs go to these places because they aren’t bothered there.   

Finally, it would probably be best to avoid the deli.  No one wants to be the crappy fan who disturbs Brian when he's having private time with family, or when he wants a burger, right?  He has meet and greet's at his shows for photos and autographs, as you know.  As an example, I remember once many, many years ago being at a restaurant with Brian.  A really sweet little family came up with their little kid to meet Brian, but we happened to be in the middle of a discussion about something somewhat serious - have no memory of what it was, but it was really, really jarring to be interrupted.  It was innocent on their part, but I'm sure neither of us responded well, simply because our heads weren't in a "be friendly to the nice stranger" place. I think we both just looked a little stunned and they may well have been disappointed meeting Brian - it's best to just avoid something like this.

That could be why Brian ignored Jeff Beck at the deli.

He was off the clock! ;D

Really? 
 Anyone that really wants to meet Brian and is in the LA area, should take a chance and go by the deli. What's there to lose?   If Brian doesn't want to be amiable and say hello, he won't.
 But to suggest people instead go to M&G's is bordering on the insane. Is the  cost of the M&G the same as the cost of walking into a deli?  Of course it's not.

  Go to the deli. Say hello.
 

I really hope it's Kenny Rogers and the son of Bob Marley that teamed up after Kenny's chicken franchises went under....

Have to disagree. I don't think he has ever mentioned the fact he goes there. Its just commented on in a lot of stories about the guy which he may or may not read so that makes it off limits in my book.

If Brian won't stop and chat with Jeff Beck on his way out of the deli, there's a pretty damn good chance he wouldn't talk to some Beach Boys freak interrupting his meal.




Here's what I'd do: get a job at there. It's the only way you're guaranteed to have a conversation with the big man even though it will mostly be repeating his order back to him.  ;D


By the way, Debbie, I am VERY glad that you chose to stick around this place and continue posting after those kinda iffy first days. Your input and positive vibes are very much appreciated by me, and I'm sure others as well!!!

I think you should stay away from the deli and let BW and all the other celebrities have some degree of privacy.

I never been to the USA so I enjoyed all of them just about the same...

Perfect.  My wife needs to run down to the Galleria one day soon.  Let's do lunch (as they say). Or some other time.

It's been six months since I was last at Chez Jay.  At that time the park was complete and Chez Jay was still a cool, funky dive bar.  Concerned about the long term plans for the restaurant, I just called and spoke to Juan, the manager, asking him about the long term plans for Chez Jay as discussed in the LA Times article of a year and a half ago.  His response was, "I don't know what they're taking about.  They can't change this place, man, it's a landmark."  During our conversation he reiterated that Chez Jay is an historical landmark and can't be changed.  Jon Stebbins or Ed Roach may have additional info about the status of Chez Jay, but hopefully Juan's take on the situation is 100% correct.

Chez Jay is quite small inside, with a cool vibe and presentation that's a zillion miles away from corporate cookie cutter chain restaurants.  It's a great place to enjoy a beer or other libation, along with free peanuts, while sitting at the bar or small tables in the center.  Or order a meal and sit at one of the booths on the right side.  Definitely a recommended stop for those checking out historical LA area BB sights.

(http://i57.tinypic.com/eu4rd4.jpg)

Wheeew! That was a close call.

Have to disagree. I don't think he has ever mentioned the fact he goes there. Its just commented on in a lot of stories about the guy which he may or may not read so that makes it off limits in my book.
[/quote]

I beg to differ.  He's revealed quite a few things in interviews, including favourite places.  I won't post the links out of respect for Brian's privacy.

Thank you for that update on Chez Jay, Custom Machine! I've been there several times and always enjoyed the vibe. Good food there, too!

I beg to differ.  He's revealed quite a few things in interviews, including favourite places.  I won't post the links out of respect for Brian's privacy.


[/quote]

I stand corrected then.

Custom Machine - thanks for the info on Chez Jay!  I am greatly relieved.  I mean, what's a beat up old CA blonde to do without the dark lighting and ambience of that place!?  And thanks Stack-O-Tracks!  I wasn't even aware that it looked like I "left in a huff" in those early days until I read it later. I'm just busy and I post under my own name and I don't want to comment on stuff that could get me a letter from someone's attorney, so I avoid a few subjects. Christ, remember where I've been guys, thin-skinned and huffy would never have worked.

Love your perspective and sense of humor, Debbie!


Yes, MDH, hopefully Chez Jay will continue to enjoy a long run!

Did anybody here attend this?

http://www.danaddington.com/dennybash/chez.html

:lol Nah, it's a Jewish Deli that gets a lot of rave reviews, and even appeared on Diners, Driveins and Dives on Food Network.


Yeah, would suck to be eating a Rueben, look up and see this:
(https://38.media.tumblr.com/9ea731352eb72505eb6dcb9b21182e67/tumblr_nddgmh2k1F1rh6rw0o1_250.gif)

That'd it be cool.

Jon Stebbins.

http://www.danaddington.com/dennybash/denniswilsonbash.html

Actually seeing that picture of Dennis's sons again is a shock. To think that was almost 11 years ago.....Yikes!

I attended. It was great, and really felt like witnessing a family reunion (which it literally was), though obviously from an outside observer's perspective. I arrived early and sat at the bar, and Gage sat down by me. While I had never seen him before, I instantly had a hunch it was him. He was a nice guy. I still have my Denny Wilson Bash T-shirt, pin, and tote bag.

A very similar warm family reunion type vibe which I also felt whenever I attended the Carl Wilson Foundation shows.

I was at the Denny Bash too. It was a lot of fun, especially the sharing stories and sing-a-long part. It was so cool watching Dennis' sons from various marriages getting together as a family.

So you sat next to Gage, who was back in the old neighborhood from when he was a baby. I think he stayed briefly at a motel nearby if I remember right.

This should have a spoiler alert Billy!  ;D I've not watched it yet!