Events Calendar

Welcome to the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society Calendar. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.

Sep
18
Sat
Mansions, Moguls & Movie Stars Twilight Tour
Sep 18 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Mansions, Moguls & Movie Stars Twilight Tour

September 18, 5pm to 7pm. Please join us on a fascinating twilight walk through of historic Windsor Square on September 18th from 5:00 to 7:00. Explore the architecture and learn about the current and former residents of this beautiful area right in the center of Los Angeles. This is the second in our new series of walks around Windsor Square and Hancock park with Eleanor Schrader and Bret Parsons. Wear comfortable shoes. You won’t want to miss this.

This event has been SOLD OUT.

Member $50. Non-member $60 (You may pay below with a small Paypal fee)

The Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society

presents

Mansions, Moguls & Movie Stars Twilight Tour

with Eleanor Schrader & Bret Parsons

Please join us September 18th, 2021,  5:00pm – 7:00pm

Refreshments will be Served

Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author.  She lectures worldwide on the history of architecture, interiors, and decorative arts and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world.  She has been named a Distinguished Instructor of design history at UCLA Extension.  She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby’s Institute in London and New York and has served as Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills. She is co-author of “Master Architects of Southern California, 1920-1940: Wallace Neff”.

Bret Parsons has written five books, including Colcord Home (2008), the biography of the beloved Southern California architect Gerard Colcord. He is the co-author of books on Paul R. Williams, Roland E.Coate, Gordan B. Kaufmann, and Wallace Neff among others in the Master Architects of Southern California 1920-1940s published by Angel City Press. A residential Realtor, he founded Bret Parsons Real Estate in 2008. He is the founder and executive director of the architectural division of Compass. Bret resides in Los Angeles.

 

Nov
10
Wed
Saving Radio City Music Hall – A Dancer’s True Story @ Virtual Event
Nov 10 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

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.”

Dec
12
Sun
SOLD OUT: WSHPHS Annual Holiday Party
Dec 12 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Sunday, December 12th, 5 – 7pm. Please save the date to join us for our annual Holiday Party at the Landmark Home of Joseph Guidera.

**SOLD OUT**

5pm – 7pm

303 North June Street

$45 for Members
$55 for Member’s Guests
Open to members and guests who have been vaccinated

Mar
29
Tue
HAPPY HOUR IN HISTORIC RESTAURANTS AND BARS: FIRESTONE TIRE STORE/ALL SEASONS BREWING @ FIRESTONE TIRE STORE/ALL SEASONS BREWING
Mar 29 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
HAPPY HOUR IN HISTORIC RESTAURANTS AND BARS: FIRESTONE TIRE STORE/ALL SEASONS BREWING @ FIRESTONE TIRE STORE/ALL SEASONS BREWING

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

Apr
10
Sun
THE MANSIONS, MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS TOUR #4
Apr 10 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
THE MANSIONS, MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS TOUR #4

SOLD OUT. Saturday, April 10, 2022, 10:00-Noon. Join us for a walking tour of Los Angeles’ premier Hancock Park enclave with realtor Bret Parsons and architectural historian Eleanor Schrader. You’ll learn the secrets that illuminate this historic HPOZ neighborhood founded in the 1920s by George Allan Hancock. Be regaled with details about its architecture and architects, movie and television filming locations, plus anecdotes about the lavish lifestyles of the famous (and infamous!) personalities who resided here. This tour focuses on Muirfield Road and Rossmore Avenue. Wear comfortable shoes.

$50 Members
$60 Non-Members

SOLD OUT

Photo: Alex Elliott
Nov
5
Sat
Rimpau Boulevard Home Tour
Nov 5 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Rimpau Boulevard Home Tour

Saturday, November 5th, 2022 from 11:00 to 3:00, Please join us for the continuation of the Windsor Square~Hancock Park Historical Society home tour. This annual event was put on a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic and is now back. This year’s home tour features a selection of century-old houses on one of Hancock Park’s premier streets, Rimpau Boulevard. Join us as these generous homeowners open their seldomly seen houses for you. There will be food and refreshments as well as a silent auction. Three of the homes were designed by renowned architect Gordon Kaufmann.

Member tickets are $65 (+ a small Paypal fee)
Non-Members $75 (+ a small Paypal fee)

Food and Refreshments Silent Auction

Saturday, November 5th, 2022 from 11:00 to 3:00

Location will be provided with the purchase of your ticket

Dec
11
Sun
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLIDAY PARTY AT TAM O’SHANTER @ Tam O’Shanter
Dec 11 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLIDAY PARTY AT TAM O’SHANTER @ Tam O’Shanter

Please mark your calendars to join your fellow members of the Historical Society for our annual holiday party on Sunday, December 11th at 1:00. This year we will be enjoying the festivities at the much-loved 100-year-old Tam O’Shanter in Atwater Village. This was Walt Disney’s favorite place for lunch and the plaque on table 31 is a testament to it.  Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, fresh salmon, roasted chicken, Martinis and rum toddies, etc.

Sunday, December 11th at 1:00
Tam O’Shanter
2980 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Festive all year long and especially this time of year.

Members: $75
Guests: $85

Apr
16
Sun
The Museum of Neon Art
Apr 16 @ 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
The Museum of Neon Art

Come to a guided tour of a very special place by museum owner Carrie Siegel.

The Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society

Invites you to join fellow members on a short voyage to Glendale to The Museum of Neon Art.

Sunday, April 16th at 1:00pm

Members: $10
Non Members: $15
Admission + Tom Ziimmerman’s book of historic L.A. neon Spectacular Illumination: $30

Limit 30 People (so get your tickets today)

216 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA. 91204

Convenient parking at The Americana right across the street

No host lunch following at either Shake Shack or In and Out Burger following. Both a short walk from the museum.

Dec
10
Sun
CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY PARTY LAWRY’S PRIME RIB
Dec 10 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY PARTY LAWRY'S PRIME RIB

Please join us for our annual Holiday Christmas Party at world-famous Lawry’s Prime Rib this year. The original location was on Restaurant Row on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California, and was opened in 1938 by Lawrence L. “Lawry” Frank and Walter Van de Kamp. It now has restaurants all over the world.

Please bring a Toys For Tots gift.

Member and guests: $125 (with a small Paypal fee)



WSHPHS Holiday Party


Our Holiday dinner will be in the Oval Room, can hold up to 100 and includes:

PLATED HORS D’OEUVRES
Potato Pancakes with Caviar & Creme Fraiche

SALAD COURSE
Lawry’s Famous Original Spinning Bowl Salad
Crisp romaine, iceberg lettuce, baby spinach, shredded beets, chopped eggs, croutons, Lawry’s Vintage Dressing, with sourdough bread

ENTREE SELECTIONS
The server will take orders for the choice of one at dinner
Roasted Prime Ribs of Beef
8 oz. Cut Carved to order, served with mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding,au jus, whipped cream horseradish
Choice of:
Creamed Spinach
Creamed Corn
Salmon Rockefeller
Skuna Bay salmon, sautéed spinach, scampi shrimp
Crispy Roasted Chicken
Half of a jidori bird, wilted chard
Vegetarian Entrée of the Day

DESSERTS
Vanilla Ice with hot fudge ( no berries)

Classic Dinner
Includes freshly brewed Lavazza Coffee or Harney & Sons Hot Tea

For more on the rich delicious history of Lawry’s go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawry%27s_The_Prime_Rib

.

Jan
21
Sun
ANNUAL HIGH TEA, WOMAN’S CLUB OF HOLLYWOOD
Jan 21 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
ANNUAL HIGH TEA, WOMAN'S CLUB OF HOLLYWOOD

Your Presence is Requested
THE WINDSOR SQUARE HANCOCK PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL AFTERNOON TEA

*SOLD OUT*

The Historical Society also accepts checks. Mail to WSHPHS 137 N. Larchmont Blvd. #135 LA, CA. 90004

Sunday, January 21st2024
1pm – 4pm

At the Historic
WOMAN’S CLUB OF HOLLYWOOD

1749 N. La Brea Avenue

Founded in 1905, With its roots deep in Hollywood history, the Club property is the site of the former Hollywood School for Girls (1908-1932), which is still standing on the property. Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Joel McCrae, the daughters of Cecil B. DeMille, David Selznick, Louis B. Mayer and many other Golden Era legends attended. Oscar winning costume designer Edith Head was a teacher. Actor Charles Laughton taught Shakespeare here.

For more on the WCH: https://hollywoodclubla.org/about-us/