Another Hollywood Landmark soon to go…
The Villa Capri Restaurant is located just a few doors down from the demolished Don the Beachcomber, not too far from the demolished original Brown Derby… you get the picture. The original owner is responsible for bringing the pizza to Los Angeles, and his daughter proudly carries on the tradition with a pizza joint in the Farmers Market.
Although the Villa Capri has been closed for ages, and housed a radio station and a film production office, it is still comforting to know that the place where James Dean had what would be his “last supper” still stood. It’s true. The evening before he died, Dean (who was friends with the kitchen staff) entered through the back door (heh),
and had his last dinner. He would be dead in less than 24 hours. It was also a Rat Pack hangout, but then, any place that sold booze was.
Imagine my disgust when I found notice
that it too would be razed, to make way for 54 new condominiums. This, along with Perino’s and the Ambassador Hotel being destroyed, has prompted me to join the LA Conservancy. We don’t have a lot of history here, but I’m really sick of it being destroyed. There. I said it. Soon, all that will be left of the Villa Capri will be the grotty old apartment building next door.
Correct about Dean last supper. He went to Villa Capri on McCadden next to Don the Beachcomber. These places are long gone demoed and replaced by apartments.
I like the story, except that the comment about the Villa Capri apartments is so unwarranted. The Villa Capri is a streamline moderne building from the 30s and it is the only “vintage” building (not to mention affordable!) on that block. Also, all the apts are updated inside and the manager takes good care of the property. Be kind. People live there.
James Dean left from Patsy D’Amore’s first “Villa Capri” restaurant in September, 1955. This second location was on Yucca and didn’t open until January, 1957. So it’s not the place where Dean had his “Last Supper”. But it was the one where Sinatra owed 25%.