Bookstores on Hollywood Boulevard in 1976 – Continued<\/h1>\n

by Paul Hunt<\/h1>\n

Hollywood Book City. \u00a0Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

Walking to the next block, we now arrive at what can loosely be called the Cal Worthington of the used book business,\u00a0HOLLYWOOD BOOK CITY.<\/strong> \u00a0This store has the largest stock of used and out-of-print books in Los Angeles, somewhere around a quarter of a million books if you care to count. \u00a0The store is co-owned by Alan Siegel and Jerry Weinstein. \u00a0And here we must pause and say a few words about Los Angeles’ first family of books, the Weinsteins. \u00a0They are to books what the Kennedys are to politics, there seems to be a never-ending supply of them. \u00a0As far as I can tell, each and every Weinstein is a bibliophile at birth, having both ink in the veins and a natural instinct for buying and selling books.<\/p>\n

The Weinstein dynasty is particularly strong at this location, as Jerry’s sister is married to partner Siegel.<\/p>\n

Now where were we? \u00a0Oh, yes,\u00a0BOOK CITY.<\/strong> \u00a0The store has a large general stock of just about everything you can think of, including one of the largest sections of books on art and books on the arts, cinema, theater, graphic arts, architecture, television and radio history. The store is well laid out, with different sections clearly marked, and even an upstairs balcony to rummage through. \u00a0Book City seems to agree with my theory of constant expansion to avoid overcrowding. \u00a0It was not too long ago that a large hole was made through the west wall, adding on what is now mainly a section of new books at discount, and remainders. \u00a0Now it seems that the east wall is going to get the same treatment and on or about June 1st the book hunter will find a new doorway leading into the “scarce, rare and antiquarian department.”<\/p>\n

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Walking on a few doors will bring you to HOLLYWOOD BOOK SHOP.<\/strong> \u00a0This store has been here about three years, although one of the owners has been in the book business in Hollywood about 10 years. \u00a0They carry a large general stock of used and out-of-print books. The partners, Jack Garvin and Ray Cantor are polar opposites, at times engaging in bitter quarrels. \u00a0Garvin, a stocky man who resembles Nikita Khrushchev, started as a book scout, operating out of a garage behind some storefronts on Adams Avenue, east of Western, a once rich area that has seen better days. \u00a0He is also into minerals and geology, and this specialty led him to buy equipment to cut geodes and polishing machinery to further enhance specimens that he buys. \u00a0Jack is a chain-smoking, gruff man to deal with, Ray the nicer of the two, but they have built up an excellent stock of books.<\/p>\n

Recently they purchased a large warehouse stuffed with magazines and pamphlets. \u00a0The story behind this is an odd one. \u00a0There was a periodicals dealer down in the South Los Angeles area by the name of Nick Kovach, who was dealing in scholarly periodicals back in the 1950s. \u00a0When the Russians launched Sputnik, it was a big kick in the rear to the U.S. educational system, which all of a sudden woke up to the sad fact that this great country was falling behind in science and technology. \u00a0Kovach found himself to be center stage in the arena of scientific and mathematical periodicals, courted by libraries across the country who needed this material. \u00a0He bought and sold enormous quantities of paper goods and magazines, filling up many warehouses. \u00a0In later years he realized that the collections included a lot of non-scientific stuff that was of no use to the libraries at the great universities and corporations. \u00a0So Kovach started to dispose of tonnage of this stuff, which was mainly popular culture and mainstream magazines.<\/p>\n

Along came a roving dealer named Mark Trout, who traveled around the country in a van, looking for this kind of material. \u00a0He “leased” the rights to an old, long closed-down bowling alley in South Los Angeles from Kovach \u00a0that was jam packed with just the right stuff that he wanted: \u00a0popular magazines, like Life, Time, Fortune, and the such. \u00a0Trout made a great amount of money over the years selling this at flea markets. \u00a0One time, at the Rose Bowl flea market, Trout showed up with a stack of over 50 Number 1 Life magazines in mint condition. The collectors went berserk. \u00a0After milking the contents of the bowling alley for a number of years, Trout offered to transfer the “lease” to Jack Garvin and his partner. \u00a0All the great popular magazines had been removed and sold by Trout, but the place was still jammed with pamphlets, ephemera and lesser-known periodicals. \u00a0Garvin pulled out van loads of great stuff, including a world-class collection of pamphlets and rare broadsides on the subject of American radicalism, which he is selling to libraries at big prices. Garvin and Canter go down to their bowling alley once a week and pack their old van full of paper goodies and rare ephemera. \u00a0“It’s like owning a gold mine,” Jack once told me. \u00a0“Every once in a while we hit a particularly good vein!” \u00a0And it is enough material for years to come.<\/p>\n

Cherokee Book Shop. \u00a0Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

A couple of doors further we arrive at one of the finest book shops in the world. \u00a0CHEROKEE BOOK SHOP<\/b>. Established about 25 years ago, it has a large selection of Americana, occult, fine bindings, first editions, fine illustrated books, military history, and so on without end. \u00a0Upstairs is the famous comic room with 200,000 comics. \u00a0They also now have about 20,000 old Playboy Magazines. \u00a0Browsing through the store I noticed a couple of interesting items in a glass case near the counter. \u00a0One was a large folio Bible printed in London in 1683. \u00a0I’m not much for buying and collecting old bibles, but this one was quite unusual. \u00a0I am not referring to the fact that it is bound in a rich, glistening morocco, or that the morocco is covering heavy oak boards. \u00a0It is the fore-edge painting that attracts attention, mainly because it is an “open” painting, clearly visible where the book is lying on the table.<\/p>\n

Inside Cherokee Book Shop. Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

Another interesting item (among thousands) is a limited edition of “The Life of Our Lord,”<\/em> by Charles Dickens, published by Merrymount Press in 1934. \u00a0This also is in full red morocco.. \u00a0Laid in the front inside cover is a cancelled check that Dickens made out to “self” for five pounds, not a small sum when you glance at the date August 27, 1864. \u00a0One can’t help wondering what that illustrious gentleman spent \u00a0the money on: \u00a0was it something special or just enough to cover some day-to-day expenses? \u00a0Curious as we are, we will never know. \u00a0Also to be found inside this volume, placed loose between two pages, is an old invitation to a dinner on November 2, 1867, in honor of Dickens’ “forthcoming” departure on a trip to the U.S. \u00a0The banquet took place at Freemason’s Hall, Great Queen Street, London. \u00a0Ahh, if we only had a time machine, we could put that invitation to good use. \u00a0And don’t forget to take along some items for Mr. Dickens to sign, maybe even the Merrymount edition of “The Life of \u00a0Our Lord.<\/em>” \u00a0Now that would be a rarity, having a signed edition of a book that was printed sixty-five years after the author’s death. Since we don’t yet have a time machine, if you see a copy, be advised that it is either a “spirit signature” or a forgery.<\/p>\n

Atlantis Books. Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

Leaving Cherokee, we go down the \u00a0Boulevard a couple of blocks to ATLANTIS BOOKS<\/strong>. \u00a0This is one of those secret bookstores, one that you have probably walked past and never seen because it sits well back from the Boulevard, tightly packed into the rear of an alcove. \u00a0Even if you have the exact address you may miss it, so I’m going to give you two important landmarks. \u00a0The first is Mr. Howland’s miniature jewelry store and watch repair stand, which sits at the front of the alcove. \u00a0The second landmark is to watch the names of the stars embedded in the famous sidewalk. \u00a0When you see the name “Rochester” (Legs, do yo’ stuff!) you will be there.<\/p>\n

The store itself is deceptively large, but not large enough for the seventy thousand volumes nestled into every nook and cranny (no lie, the store actually does have little nooks and crannies.) \u00a0Sometimes the new arrivals are piled so high on the counter that the only thing visible of the owner is an occasional puff of smoke from his pipe that drifts over the top of the stacks, lazily floating up toward the ceiling. \u00a0You know right away that this is your kind of store.<\/p>\n

More often than not, there is a book scout leaning on the front counter, trying to sell some books to owner “Doc” Burroughs. \u00a0One can always tell how tough is the haggling over price by the amount of cigarette butts the fearless scout has deposited in the ashtray. Dr. Burroughs always wears a suit and tie, not to be flashy, but he is a Veterinarian who makes house calls only, he does not have a clinic. \u00a0In between the stops to treat sick dogs and cats, he stops at thrift stores, estate sales, and other bookstores to pick up some good inventory. \u00a0His Volkswagen station wagon is always piled with coolers full of medicine for the animals, surrounded by boxes of books, filling up the rest of the space. \u00a0It’s a winning combination because even if book sales are slow, sick animals abound, so the rent will always get paid.<\/p>\n

The real fun at Atlantis is to slip towards the back aisles and dig around in, say, the Russian History section, or root through one of L.A.’s best World War 2 collections. \u00a0On the way out (or in), don’t forget to check out the three bargain carts that are dutifully wheeled out into the alcove each day.<\/p>\n

Marlow’s Bookshop. Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

Leaving Atlantis, walk up to Argyle and cross the street to the south side of Hollywood and work your way back. \u00a0The first stop is right on the corner of Hollywood and Argyle, \u00a0MARLOW’S BOOKSHOP.<\/strong> \u00a0Owned by -you guessed it – a gentleman named Marlow, this store has been open about five years. It has a general stock of used books, but specializes in back issue periodicals and in research (mainly for the film industry). \u00a0A graduate engineer before he got into the book business, Marlow said he recently got a call from the filmmakers of All The President’s Men<\/em>. \u00a0They needed to duplicate the library of The Washington Post<\/em> for some of the scenes, so \u00a0Marlow rented them an entire set-up of 10,000 books. \u00a0It was a rush job , he put it together overnight so the film company could start shooting the scene the next day!<\/p>\n

Notice the 50% off sign in the window. \u00a0This came about when Marlow had stopped over to Hollywood Book City. \u00a0While chatting with Book City owner Alan Siegel, he complained that business was a little slow. \u00a0“Why don’t you have a sale?” said Alan, “It’l bring in some new business.” \u00a0Marlow said he would try it, but didn’t know how to start. \u00a0Alan generously loaned Marlow a beautiful large banner that said “Anniversary Sale, 50% Off”. \u00a0Marlow borrowed the banner and put it up on his shop (not shown in the photo). \u00a0It worked so well that he kept the banner up there permanently, and refused to give it back to Alan. “That damned banner cost me over a $100,” said Siegel. \u00a0“No good deed goes unpunished on this street” he said sadly. To make matters worse, a couple of Marlow’s customers claim that he doubled the price on most items in order not to sell too cheaply. \u00a0I can only say that these are at the moment unsubstantiated and unproven claims, but certainly in the realm of bookstore lore.<\/p>\n

Universal Book Store. Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

A few doors west is UNIVERSAL BOOKS<\/strong>. \u00a0This store has been in business for about 10 years. \u00a0The present owner is a former insurance agent who got into the book business “because of the easy pace and the interesting people.” \u00a0Universal carries a general stock, specializing in first editions, rare and scarce books and occult.<\/p>\n

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“I really like book people,” says the owner Jules Manasseh,, “but once in a while you get a nut in. \u00a0Like once a guy came in and went back to the shelves and started looking around. \u00a0Before long he starts goose-stepping around the store yelling ‘Sieg Heil’ and giving the Nazi salute. \u00a0I had to ask him to leave, he was bothering the customers. \u00a0Then, a couple of weeks later he came back in, tried to sneak past me wearing one of those pair of phony glasses with the big nose attached. \u00a0I guess he thought I wouldn’t recognize him. \u00a0I threw him out again. \u00a0He was a real nut.” \u00a0Well, that’s Hollywood, folks!<\/p>\n

Gilberts Book Shop. Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

Next is GILBERT’S BOOK SHOP<\/strong>, the oldest book store in Hollywood. \u00a0It has been there since 1928 (although not with the same name), it was formerly The Satyr Book Store and began life actually around the corner on Vine Street. \u00a0They carry new and used books, mainly in the fields of metaphysics and astrology, and also push best-seller novels, first editions and fine sets. \u00a0You can also buy old movie lobby cards for $1.00 each on a bargain table near the door. \u00a0During World War II Henry Miller used to receive his mail here. Mr. Gilbert, the owner, is married to one of the daughters of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Don’t even think about finding any rare Tarzan books, Mr. Gilbert keeps them all at his house.<\/p>\n

Proceeding west to Cahuenga and then taking a few steps south to 1952, you will find WORLD BOOK AND NEWS<\/strong>, a 24-hour newsstand. \u00a0The large display room also offers magazines and pocketbooks, with a generous selection of the latest comics stretching along the outside wall of the building.<\/p>\n

A block away at 1638 N. Wilcox is BOND STREET BOOKS<\/strong>. \u00a0Owners Steve Edrington and Jim McDonald maintain a large stock of used and back issue comics, back issue magazines, and a good selection of movie stills and posters. \u00a0They’ve been in business here eight years and their crowded store contains lots of goodies.<\/p>\n

Hollywood Book Service invoice. Collection of Paul Hunt<\/p><\/div>\n

HOLLYWOOD BOOK SERVICE<\/strong> \u00a0is also just south of the Boulevard, at 1654 Cherokee Ave. \u00a0The owner, Helen Hall, is the only woman bookstore owner in the Hollywood Boulevard area. \u00a0She started as a book scout but found that she had accumulated so many books that she had to open a store, which was in 1965. \u00a0With over 20,000 books, Ms Hall specializes in searching for out of print books, movie stills, posters, and magazines, used encyclopedias and sets of The Great Books of the Western World. There is a good stock of autographed movie stills, including George Raft, Cagney, Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, and Edward G. Robinson.<\/p>\n

Ms. Hall fondly recalled one of the most pleasant moments in her career as a bookseller. \u00a0She had once bought some books from a private school library, and as she was leaving the librarian gave her, free of charge, about 30 bound volumes of Railroad magazine \u00a0She took them back and set them on the floor of her shop, near the door, and the next day a customer walked in and purchased them for $250. \u00a0Now, if you could only have a windfall like that every day!<\/p>\n

Larry Edmunds Book Store. Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

Back on the Boulevard again, we go into LARRY EDMUNDS BOOKSHOP<\/strong>. \u00a0This has the world’s largest collection of books and memorabilia on cinema. \u00a0Larry Edmunds died about 1941. \u00a0He had originally worked for the Stanley Rose Bookstore, but left Rose and went into partnership with Milt Luboviski, the present owner.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For you bookstore history buffs, Stanley Rose’s shop was across the street from present day Edmunds, in what is now a part of Musso & Frank’s Grill. \u00a0At the time, the 1930s, Rose was known as one of the most flamboyant of the Los Angeles booksellers. \u00a0He was a friend of the famous: Cagney, Faulkner, Thomas Wolfe were among his friends. \u00a0Rose was known to carry his satchel of fine books around town to personally show them (and sell them) to his high rolling customers, the movie producers, directors and stars. \u00a0He was also known to spend a lot of time at Musso’s, where he held court daily, as the expression goes. \u00a0Rose died after the war.<\/p>\n

Larry Edmunds Book Store. Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

But back to Edmunds. \u00a0The shop has over one million items, including antique cameras and movie paraphernalia. \u00a0It is here that you will find the literature of the cinema: \u00a0books, biographies, sheet music, scripts, magazines, posters, press books, lobby cards, and so on. \u00a0A nice place to spend the summer!<\/p>\n

Our last two stops are both on a side street, Las Palmas, a few steps south of Hollywood Boulevard. \u00a0The first is UNIVERSAL NEWS<\/strong>, another 24 hour newsstand. \u00a0They stock everything fro current magazines to out of town newspapers. \u00a0If they ain’t got it you’re in trouble! \u00a0A lot of Hollywood industry people stop here to pick up the latest copy of Hollywood Reporter, or the Racing Form.<\/p>\n

Baroque Book Store. Photo by Wayne Braby<\/p><\/div>\n

Lastly, we come to BAROQUE BOOK STORE<\/strong>, which almost adjoins Universal News. \u00a0Owner Sholom “Red” Stodolsky specializes in modern literature, literary criticism, music theater, film, poetry and first editions. \u00a0You can get an added thrill to that exciting out-of-print tome you find by reading it while strapped into the electric chair that sits in the middle of the store. \u00a0Don’t worry about the volts, it’s only a make-believe mock-up from a movie set. (Who said that book dealers are eccentric?)<\/p>\n

Now that you have the list, the only thing left to tell you is “Happy Hunting”, and I hope you are fortunate enough to have a bank account much larger than mine!<\/p>\n

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Bookstores on Hollywood Boulevard in 1976 – Continued by Paul Hunt Walking to the next block, we now arrive at what can loosely be called the Cal Worthington of the used book business,\u00a0HOLLYWOOD BOOK CITY. \u00a0This store has the largest … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[107,115,112,106,110,72,116,105,68,111,108,109,114,113],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p78StZ-68","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/380"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=380"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/380\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":532,"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/380\/revisions\/532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bookstorememories.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}