Celebrity Footprints OC Style

Part of a continuing series of articles about interesting, unusual or underappreciated things Orange County has to offer. Click here for all Orange County articles.

One of the most iconic symbols of old Hollywood can be found on the cement just outside the historic Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I'm talking, of course, of the cement enshrined foot- and hand-prints of celebrities from the golden age. Did you know Orange County has its own collection of cement celebrity footprints?


Marcel Marceau

The Orange County version can be found in Buena Park, CA, just outside the building that once housed the Movieland Wax Museum. Although Movieland Wax Museum shut its doors permanently in October 2005 (see my previous article discussing Movieland Wax Museum's final days), its collection of celebrity foot- and hand-prints is still accessible to anyone who wishes to see them.


Dorothy Lamour

Now before I continue, let me first warn you that the calibre of stars enshrined in Orange County is not exactly A-list. Don't expect to find Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, or Paul Newman there. But do expect to find the likes of Dudley Moore, Ray Charles or Liberace. My personal favorite is probably one of the smallest stars, both in terms of celebrity rank and stature: Herve Villechaize (aka "Tattoo" from Fantasy Island).


Herve Villechaize - Tattoo from Fantasy Island

The other thing you'll notice is that the celebrities feel like they came straight out of an early 1980s time capsule. We've got people like Loni Anderson from WKRP Cincinnati, Jack Klugman from The Odd Couple and Quincy, M.D., and Lou Ferrigno from The Incredible Hulk TV series. In fact, looking at all those names, it seems the only thing missing is the cast of Barney Miller.


Ray Charles

Although the collection seems a little dated, it's still pretty cool considering you can see it for free. When the Movieland Wax Museum closed, developers announced they would raze the building and replace it with "Movieland Plaza," a movie-themed retail center anchored by a Best Buy store. The retail center even planned to display some of the original wax stars in glass cases.


Eva Gabor

It's been more than three years, and there's still no sign of "Movieland Plaza." And with the current economic climate, I don't expect bulldozers any time soon. All that sits there now is the empty building, the iconic sign, and a Starbucks.


Vincent Price

So the next time you're craving a venti non-fat, sugar-free vanilla latte and want to compare shoe sizes with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Tom Selleck or Gloria Estefan, you know where to go. Located at 7711 Beach Blvd. in Buena Park, CA. Ample free parking. For more pics, click here.

Sunday Brunch Nixon Style

It seems Richard Nixon is all the rage again, what with the fascinating film Frost/Nixon having been nominated for five Academy Awards (and deservedly so). So when we were looking for something to do yesterday morning, we decided to have brunch at one of Richard Nixon's favorite restaurants, El Adobe, in historic downtown San Juan Capistrano.


Nixon's favorite restaurant: El Adobe. (02/15/2009)

You don't have to search very far in Southern California to find Nixon history. Nixon was born and raised on the family lemon farm in Yorba Linda, where his birthplace, burial spot and presidential library now sit. He served as a congressman and U.S. senator representing California. Nixon even ran for California governor in 1962 (the loss was said to be the end of his political career).

But Nixon's fondness for El Adobe wouldn't come until 1969 when the newly-elected president purchased La Casa Pacifica in nearby San Clemente (just 10 miles away from the restaurant). The home, which became known as the Western White house, became his presidential getaway during his one-and-a-half terms. The Nixons lived there full time after his 1974 resignation until moving to New York in 1980.


A framed photo of President Nixon leaving El Adobe restaurant. (02/15/2009)

The history of the restaurant goes further back than that, however. The building it currently occupies was built in 1797 as a private home. In 1812 a courthouse and jail was built next door. In 1910, a local purchased both properties, combining them into a single structure. In 1948 the building changed hands again and became El Adobe restaurant.

Upon entering, you realize that this is one of those great, old-school Mexican restaurants, with thick terra cotta tile floors, heavy wooden chairs and wrought iron decor. And just in case you didn't know already that the restaurant was a favorite of Richard Nixon, you'll know when you see the Nixon-autographed menu on the wall, flanked by several 1970s photos of Nixon arriving there.


Inside Nixon's favorite restaurant, El Adobe. (02/15/2009)

Within moments of sitting down, the wait staff had already brought us a basket of chips and a bowl of freshly-prepared salsa to enjoy while we poured over the menu selections. When I saw "The President's Choice" on the menu, I knew instantly what I was having.

The plate includes a chile relleno, a chicken enchilada, a shredded beef taco, beans and rice. According to the menu, "President and Mrs. Nixon's favorite [was] served on countless occasions at El Adobe & the Western White House."


The President's Choice on the menu. (02/15/2009)

It didn't take long for our food to arrive. The first thing I noticed was the sheer volume of food. My God it was enormous! I'm telling you, there's no way that Pat Nixon ever finished her plate. Lord knows I know how to pack it down, but even I still had to take the chicken enchilada, rice and beans home with me.

But the food itself was delicious. Normally I think chile relleno is just okay, something I'd eat if you made it for me in your home, but not something I'd ordinarily order at a restaurant. But this one was very well done ... not too eggy like some I've had before.


President's Nixon's favorite dish. (02/15/2009)

And the taco? Pure bliss! A crunchy deep fried outer shell stuffed to the gills with perfectly-cooked shredded beef, crisp lettuce and fresh grated cheese.

I didn't get to experience the enchilada until this afternoon, and that too was fantastic, even after sitting in the fridge for a day. The chicken was still juicy, yet still shredded apart easily with your fork. I can definitely see why the Nixons enjoyed it so much.


The bar inside Nixon's favorite restaurant, El Adobe. (02/15/2009)

So if you're in for some great Mexican food, and some presidential history to boot, definitely check out El Adobe. Located at 31891 Camino Capistrano, in downtown San Juan Capistrano. (949) 493-1163. Open 7 days a week. For more pics, click here.

100 Fantastic Years of Carmen Miranda

Today marks the 100th birthday of the legendary Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian bombshell who took Broadway and Hollywood by storm in the 1940s. A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog post about her on the 50th anniversary of her passing. Today I'm using her 100th birthday as the reason to retouch on this woman's amazing journey.


Carmen Miranda sings The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat.

Although Carmen was born in Portugal, she spent most of her formative years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was there that she had become the country’s most successful entertainer.

At the height of her popularity in Brazil, someone asked Carmen what she needed to be happy. She replied: “A good bowl of soup and the freedom to sing.”


A portrait of Carmen Miranda from her Brazilian career.

She made her American debut in 1939 after legendary Broadway impresario Lee Schubert saw her show in Rio de Janeiro. He immediately booked her for his Broadway review: The Streets of Paris. Carmen went to New York and became an overnight sensation.

That show marked the beginning of an 18-month string of successive Broadway reviews and nightclub acts. Although her career in the U.S. was skyrocketing, she found an entirely different reception when she returned to Brazil after finding her success in the U.S.


Carmen Miranda in Brazil.

Upon her return to her home country, audiences rejected her. She had become "Americanized," they complained. She was no longer their Carmen Miranda.

The response broke Carmen's heart. It would be 14 years before she would ever return to her homeland.


Carmen sings The South American Way.

Back in the U.S., Carmen landed a new contract with 20th Century Fox. She was starting a new life in a new country, and she took the town by storm. Six months after the fateful return trip to Brazil, Carmen's hands and feet were enshrined in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Soon she would become the highest paid woman in the U.S.

By the mid 1940s, however, Carmen's novelty began to wear off. Despite Carmen's desire to expand her talents, 20th Century Fox wouldn't permit her to do anything else other than sing and dance in supporting roles.


Carmen sings Brazil.

She would later buy out her contract, dye her hair blonde, and take a lead role opposite Groucho Marx in the 1947 film Copacabana. The film was a flop. By then Carmen was unable to escape the type of roles that once made her so famous.

She went back to the nightclub circuit, but by then, she was almost a novelty act. After working two shows a night for months on end, Carmen began having problems sleeping. So she began to take a sleeping pill. Within a few years, she was taking up to 10 sleeping pills a night.


Carmen became the highest paid woman in the U.S.

After a nervous breakdown, Carmen entered into a deep depression. She went back to Brazil to recuperate with her family. Doctors there put Carmen through shock treatments, which were common at the time. A few months later, she began to show signs of life again.

But her own ambition turned out to be her downfall. She returned to Hollywood in 1955 and threw herself back into the turmoil of appearances and TV guest spots.


The last recorded image of Carmen before her death at age 46.

Three months later, appearing on the Jimmy Durante Show, she collapsed suddenly while dancing and had trouble breathing. But being the trooper she was, she picked herself up and finished the show, dancing gracefully out the door.

It would be the last time the public would see Carmen Miranda alive. She died later that night. Cause of death was a heart attack. She was 46 years old.


Carmen Miranda at the height of her career.

Fortunately today, Carmen Miranda continues to touch the lives of fans through her movies. Happy 100th birthday Carmen!

James Turns 350,000 Hours Old Today

A couple of years ago, I plotted out all my alternative birthdays according to the Alternative Birthdays Calculator. And my calendar just reminded me that I turn 350,000 hours old today!


James turns 350,000 hours old today.

I don't even want to think about how many of those hours I've spent watching TV or wasting time on the Internet. So let's just celebrate my 350,000th hour on this planet. :)