Events Calendar
Welcome to the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society Calendar. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.
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| Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society Invites You to Join a FREE ZOOM Webinar The History, Architecture, and Stories of Wilshire Blvd Wednesday September 23 @5pm Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85947603412 PLEASE RSVP GOING? Yes – Maybe – No more options In July, Sharon Boorstin’s article about an architectural driving tour of Wilshire Boulevard appeared in the Los Angeles Times. But the author has much more to say than her 1000-word limit allowed. Join Sharon in a ZOOM presentation covering the history, architecture — and fascinating stories — about the street once known as then “The Fifth Avenue” of Los Angeles. Bring your own memories of Wilshire Boulevard in the past to share. |
 Sharon Boorstin is a contributing writer for the Los Angeles Times, specializing in lifestyle and travel. She has written for magazines including Bon Appetit, Smithsonian and Town & Country Travel. Sharon edited guidebooks for cities including Los Angeles, New York and London, and with her husband Paul, she wrote dozens of screenplays for feature films and television including “Angel of Death” (ABC) starring Jane Seymour. Her memoir/cookbook “Let Us Eat Cake: Adventures in Food and Friendship” (Harper-Collins 2002) was a selection of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club. In 2019 Sharon won Visit California’s Eureka Award for Best Newspaper Travel Article. Sharon’s presentation is based on a July 23, 2020 article she wrote for the Los Angeles Times: “Wilshire Boulevard Architectural Driving Tour.” She will share the history of — and stories behind— the important L.A. landmarks on Wilshire Boulevard between MacArthur Park and Fairfax Boulevard. Remember Bullock’s Wilshire? The Ambassador Hotel? The Wiltern Theater? Bring memories to share during a Q&A at the end.  |
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| Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society Presents The History, Architecture, and Stories of Wilshire Blvd. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85947603412 Meeting ID: 859 4760 3412 One tap mobile +16699006833,,85947603412# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,85947603412# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 859 4760 3412 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k6cMBh9ha Going ? Yes – Maybe – No more options |
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On Sunday, August 29th at 4:00 you are invited to A Garden Party at the home of June Bilgore, 355 S. Windsor Blvd, Windsor Square. It is our Annual Meeting which usually takes place in June of each year. We had to pass over 2020 because of Covid but we are now back in the swing of things. This will be our first live event since February of 2020. This year our garden party will honor Captain Shannon Paulson of the Wilshire Division Police who, after years of watching over the Hancock Park area will be moving to a higher position within the Los Angeles Police Department. Her successor will also be present to be introduced to the neighborhood.
SUNDAY AUGUST 29, 2021
355 S. WINDSOR BLVD, WINDSOR SQUARE
SOLD OUT
I am happy to announce our special guest speaker will be Alison Martino who created the online community Vintage Los Angeles. Alison has over two million followers daily being delighted by her trivia and nuances on growing up in Los Angeles. Daughter of the late popular singer and actor, Al Martino, Alison has been dubbed the “Godmother Of Los Angeles.” since her father played a prominent role in the movie, The Godfather as singer Johnny Fontane. Alison will be charming us with her colorful memories and interesting tidbits of growing up in the City Of The Angels.
For more information on Alison go to http://alisonmartino.com/
Price includes dinner and refreshments.
Tickets: Member Price $55. Non-Member price $65.
SOLD OUT
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 27TH, 7:00 PM Clete Keith never had thoughts of writing a book, let alone one on the paranormal. He was not someone totally convinced of the existence of ghosts or spiritual hauntings-until he started working at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. After twenty-two years working at the mansion, he woke up one night with the idea of writing a book about the stories he has heard as well as his own experiences. Ghosts of Greystone – Beverly Hills is a landmark exposé of eyewitness accounts detailing supernatural activity associated with this extraordinary location.
$10 Presentation only – Members (Pay Below with small Paypal fee)*
$15 Presentation only – Non Members (Pay Below with small Paypal fee)*
$44 Presentation and autographed hardcover book including shipping, Member price (Pay Below with small Paypal fee)*
$49 Presentation and autographed hardcover book including shipping, Non-Member price (Pay Below with small Paypal fee*
*After your purchase you will be emailed the special presentation link by 6pm the day before the presentation and by 12pm on the day of the presentation.
Purchase book or additional books separately
The Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society
presents
GHOSTS OF GREYSTONE – BEVERLY HILLS
with author Clete Keith
Please join us WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 27TH, 7:00 PM
Having been approached by many guests, patrons, and employees over the years, Keith has heard it all. “Two tourists walked up to me and asked how they could get inside the mansion for the tour. When I told them the interior is closed to the public one replied, ‘Oh, because we saw a man in period clothing staring out the window and we thought he was part of the tour.’” This marks just one encounter of 237 paranormal stories documented at Greystone Mansion. Keith spent nearly three years researching the supernatural activity at the estate. With 86 interviews, including guests of the park, City staff, police officers, movie crew personnel, and janitorial services, Ghosts of Greystone – Beverly Hills promises you a riveting history and ghostly encounters. For more than two decades, the mystery surrounding the strange events taking place in and around Greystone Mansion has been suppressed, ignored, and disbelieved. Along with rare photographs and intriguing details about the landscape and architecture, Keith delves into the family of Ned and Lucy Doheny, including the fateful murder/suicide on the night of February 16, 1929, and other unfortunate deaths that surround these enigmatic grounds that may have stoked the paranormal fire of activity. “People from all over the world come to visit this iconic location. They want to peek behind the curtain and observe this ghostly estate for themselves. Ghosts of Greystone – Beverly Hills will allow them to do just that.”
November 10th at 7:00pm. In Saving Radio City Music Hall, published by TurningPointPress, Rosemary Novellino-Mearns reveals how Radio City Music Hall, Art Deco masterpiece and New York City’s premiere tourist attraction for generations, was saved from demolition. After years of struggling with intense, sometimes painful memories, “Rosie” tells the honest, fact-filled, emotionally charged, and often humorous story of how she organized the gargantuan effort to save Radio City Music Hall in the Spring of 1978. Against all odds, and in only four months, she succeeded. Readers will be shocked by the “no good deed goes unpunished” climax of the story in which Rosie reveals her reward for spearheading the movement to save “The Showplace of the Nation.”
*$10 Presentation only – Members (Pay Below with small Paypal fee)
*$15 Presentation only – Non Members (Pay Below with small Paypal fee)
Book available through Amazon
*After your purchase you will be emailed the special presentation link by 6pm the day before the presentation and by 12pm on the day of the presentation.
Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society
Presents
Saving Radio City Music Hall – A Dancer’s True Story
by Rosemary Novellino-Mearns
November 10th at 7:00pm
A modest but determined young dancer from Glen Rock, New Jersey, Rosemary Novellino joined the Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company, the classical dance counterpart to the world-famous Rockettes, in 1966. After a shaky beginning, she danced with the group for twelve years, eventually becoming its Dance Captain and Assistant to the legendary choreographer Peter Gennaro. In the mid-1970s, questionable behind-the-scenes changes in Music Hall management alarmed hundreds of employees, but no one was prepared for the official announcement in early 1978, that Radio City Music Hall was slated to close that April and be demolished.
Drawing upon formerly untapped inner strengths, Rosemary refused to let this happen. She became President of “The Showpeople’s Committee to Save Radio City Music Hall” and motivated fellow workers, friends, thousands of Radio City fans around the world, New York and national media, cultural leaders and politicians to support the cause. As a result of these efforts, the Art Deco palace was declared a National Historic Landmark. saving not only the building but the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of Music Hall employees on stage and behind the scenes who have entertained millions to this day. This “heartfelt and very personal account of that effort,” says Booklist, “provides a backstage glimpse of the drama that ensued and features a cast of characters that includes performers, politicians, the media, and some very heavy hitters in the world of New York real estate that will delight readers interested in the performing arts and their history in the U.S.”
On Tuesday evening, March 29 at 5:00pm we will have our first Historical Society Happy Hour of the year. We intend on doing these meetings for happiness at least quarterly going forward. This one upcoming will be held at the former Firestone Tire shop, 800 S. La Brea Avenue now repurposed into All Season Brewing. The Historical Society gave one of its prestigious Landmark Awards to the building last August at our Annual Meeting. pm was on hand to accept. He will also be on hand for this event to answer any of your questions.
This is a no-host bar event
Sunday, September 11 at 10:00 the gates of Greystone Manor open. Soon afterward at 10:30 Ghosts Of Greystone author, Clete Keith will take 20 Historical Society members on a special guided “ghost tour” of the Mansion. Clete Keith worked at Greystone for 20 years and his book is based on his experiences as well as his interviews with others. This is not an architectural tour of Greystone. Those who come at 10:00 will experience the beautiful gardens leading up to the house and will then meet in the courtyard of the mansion.
$25 Members Only
SOLD OUT
Sunday, September 11th
10am
905 Loma Vista Drive. Beverly Hills
Parking is in the upper parking lot.
Please wear comfortable shoes for there are a lot of steps and no elevators involved with this tour.
No food or drinks are allowed inside the Manor.
The Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society
Presents
A Tree Walking Tour with The Urban Lumberjack
Members: $25
Non Members: $35
Saturday May 6th 10:00 am
More info at TheUrbanLumberjack.com