Take a Ride on the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round

Los Angeles Magazine calls the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round "a time machine, an art lesson, and a thrill ride all in one." 

The merry-go-round has entertained and enthralled park visitors for over 75 years, thanks to the Davis family.

In the early 1900s, Oliver Funk Davis, a master carpenter, took merry-go-rounds to carnivals and fairs throughout California.

The family also became the operators of large carousels in Tilden Park (Berkeley), Long Beach and Lincoln Park (Los Angeles). The machines were built by the Herschell-Spillman Company of North Tonawanda, New York.

The Tilden Park merry-go-round was constructed in 1911, and operated in San Bernardino County, San Diego and Griffith Park before it was permanently placed in Berkeley.

The Griffith Park merry-go-round was originally built in 1926. It was brought to the park from San Diego in 1937 by Ross R. Davis. The “Davis Merry-Go-Round Shop” was located at 5210 Alhambra Ave. in Los Angeles.

“Spillman designers took highly detailed horses that had been destined for a two-row machine and carved larger detailed horses for the out rows, then added huge jeweled horses from about 1885 that had probably been taken in trade. Most of these were from carousels built by master carver Charles Looff and others from one of the Looff’s head carvers, Charles Carmel. Looff had a factory in Long Beach during the 1960s.”

Charles I.D. Looff was born in Denmark in 1852 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1870. During his lifetime he manufactured more than 50 carousels, and numerous amusement parks, roller coasters and Ferris wheels, as well as the Santa Monica Pier.

J.O. Davis supervised the operation of the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round and snack stand from June 1968 to August 1972, calling it "a great family business."

Nonprofit Spotlight: Goals for Life

Goals for Life is an educational program that teaches at-risk youth in underserved communities the skills and strategies needed to succeed in life.  Founded by former NFL player Reggie Berry, Goals for Life sends former professional football players into schools to teach students goal setting and provide them with the tools needed to achieve their full potential. The thirty week program has been implemented in numerous schools throughout Southern California.  To date, over 100 players have impacted and helped change the lives of more than 20,000 youth.



Goals for Life mentors and kids

Reggie Berry played with the San Diego Charges and World Football League before launching Goals for Life.  The group’s mission is to reach students “before they have fallen through the cracks and end up dropping out, in prison, on drugs, parenting prematurely, or worse, dead.”  The program’s curriculum has been designed to help students "understand, embrace and practice success principles."

Dia de Los Muertos Festival Comes Alive

San Pedro's Dia de Los Muertos Festival on November 1^st was a lively event that overflowed with Latin American entertainment, including mariachis, folklorico and Aztec dancers; great cuisine and creative costumes.  Presented by the San Pedro HistoricWaterfront Business Improvement District, the 6^th street activities also included an alter of rememberance, art exhibition and Artists’ Village with handmade crafts.

The festival took place during the city’s First Thursday ArtWalk, which is held every month between 4th and 8th streets.  During FTAW, San Pedro art galleries and studios remain open late into the evening, and the streets are filled with music and some of the finest gourmet food trucks in the area, including  the Grilled Cheese Truck, Asian Fusion, Slummin’ Gourmet, Lobsta Truck and Waffles del Liego.

The Spirit of Old Hollywood: Hollywood Arts Council

"The Spirit of Old Hollywood"

“The Spirit of Old Hollywood” was the theme of the Hollywood Arts Council membership salon on October 21st. The event, which was held at the Hollywood Post 43 American Legion, included ghost tours and live jazz by the Hollywood Rhythm Kings.

The American Legion is a registered historical landmark with decades of Hollywood history.  Built in 1929, the three story building has a ballroom, dining room, auditorium, museum, library and basement art deco bar with original light fixtures and mirrors.  You can read about the building’s colorful past here.

Hollywood American Legion: Basement Art Deco Bar

The Hollywood Arts Council promotes and supports the arts through advocacy, events and local school programs such as Project S.O.A.R. (Students Overcoming All Risks).  S.O.A.R. workshops encompass a broad range of arts, including painting, dance, photography and ceramics. The group also sponsors the annual Charlie Awards, a celebration of the arts and culture of Hollywood.

San Pedro International Film Festival

The San Pedro International Film Festival (SPIFFest) opened Friday night, October 12th at the Warner Grand Theatre with a screening of the "The Loneliest Planet," an award-winning indie film. 

Congresswoman Janice Hahn, LA City Attorney Carmen Trutanich; film and TV director James Fargo (The Enforcer, Every Which Way But Loose, Beverly Hills 90210); composer and producer Janet Cole Valdez; actors Dana Lee (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Rambo: First Blood Part II) Golden Brooks (The Great Divide, Hart of Dixie), Brea Bee (“Nikki” in Silver Linings Playbook), Rick Mora (Yellow Rock, Deadliest Warrior) and Veronica Milagros (The Gundown) attended the red carpet festivities. which were produced and managed by Ann | Rose.

The inaugural festival continued throughout the weekend with additional film screenings and workshops.  Festival winners included:

• Best Feature: "Silver Linings Playbook," directed by David O'Russell (USA)
• Best Documentary: "Return to Byzantium," directed by Adelina Suvagau (Canada)
• Best EcoDoc: "Quest For Energy," directed by Vinit Parmar (USA)
• Best Screenplay: "Dogs of the Pacific," written by Julian Surface (USA)
• Best 3D Documentary Short: "Cosmic Journey," directed by Jonathan Kitzen (USA)
• Best Animated Short: "Reality Clock," directed by Amanda Tasse (USA)
• Best Short: "Get a Move On," directed by Peter Oreskovic (Croatia)

SPIFFest was created to celebrate San Pedro's cultural diversity and film production history.

Seeley Building Grand Opening

The Seeley Building, a Glendale landmark, has finally been restored, redesigned and reopened as an urban office space. The grand opening on Wednesday, September 19th included a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by an art show, music and entertainment.

The building, which has been vacant for six years, was originally built in 1925.  George Seeley remodeled it for his furniture warehouse during the 1940s. After 60 years in business, Seeley's Furniture closed. 

Now called Seeley Studios, the property is managed by Live Work Loft and features offices, creative lofts, residential lofts and retail units. The renovations took six years to complete at a cost of $8 million.

Image Credit:  Urban Drywall