EVENINGS AT THE BARN

Hollywood historian Marc Wanamaker was the "headliner" for the first of the fall "Evenings" in early October when Hollywood Heritage members and friends gathered to hear Marc speak on the "History of the Lasky-DeMille Barn." Special Guest Betty Lasky contributed fond memories of her father and graciously answered questions. Both were ably assisted by Ms. Lasky's friends, Mr. Julian "Bud" Lesser and his sister, Mrs. Marjorie Fasman (children of famed Hollywood producer Sol Lesser) and the grandson of John Sterns. Mr. Stern is the son of Jacob Stern who, in 1904, purchased the Barn (then at the corner of Selma and Vine, in Hollywood) from the Northam Citrus Farm. The "Barn connection" was nearly complete with the presence of Jim Rollins and his wife, all the way from Santa Clarita. Mr. Rollins worked on the restoration of the Barn in the early 1980's after it arrived at its present site on Highland Avenue (also in Hollywood).

Marc's irrepressible enthusiasm for Hollywood and its history carried the evening. He showed many rare and wonderful slides of Hollywood on the eve of World War I and the creative life that thrived in the Lasky-DeMille Barn, first when it became the studio for "The Squaw Man" in late 1913, later when it became storage/gym/office/dressing rooms/ railroad station while on the Paramount lot, and then when it became a near-wreck, up on a wheeled platform in the Palace Theatre parking lot. No one can resist the happy ending of its acquisition by Hollywood Heritage in the early 1980's and its present use as a Museum and gathering place for Hollywood history fans

The photo above shows (l to r) Betty Lasky, Harry Langdon, Jr, and Marjorie Fasman . . . all children of famous parents, visiting us at the Hollywood Heritage Museum in the Lasky-DeMille Barn.