Customer Reviews

Early Beverly Hills (CA) (Images of America) (Images of America (Arcadia Publishing))

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This wonderful book provides many great black-and-white photographs of Beverly Hills, California. Unfortunately, none are in color. The first photographs date from 1900 and the last depict Beverly Hills just before 1940. There are many photos of Hollywood stars and their homes, including Pickfair, Falcon's Lair, and the Frances Marion estate There's also an entire chapter devoted to Greystone, the magnificent mansion built by Ned Doheny. I would have preferred the book have an index and more maps, but you'll find this a treasure trove of great images and well-written descriptions.

These are not your stereotypical images of Beverly Hills. Instead, the photos often show a Wild West-type ambiance that one might think better suited to Fargo or Dodge. Rather than to what is now a global catchphrase for affluence, ensconced within a megalopolis.

Which is part of the point of Wanamaker's story. He shows that there was a time when Beverly Hills and indeed Los Angeles was just a small town. Rather rough and seedy on occasion. With colourful characters, sometimes spouting grandiose development plans. The irony, of course, is that today's Beverly Hills surely exceeds all those often failed dreams.

A great book. Excellent photos and provides a wonderful overview of Beverly Hills in text and photos.