Brown Derby Restaurant [Hardcover]

Sally Wright Cobb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1996

The heart of Hollywood when Hollywood defined glamour, romance and sophistication, The Brown Derby was once the most famous restaurant in the world. Sinatra, Davis, Bogart, Tracy, Olivier, and Leigh dined, partied and romanced at its tables. The Cobb salad was created here, and its location, at Hollywood and Vine, has become part of the vernacular. Sally Wright Cobb remembers the heyday of the restaurant her husband founded in this richly illustrated cookbook and Hollywood memoir. Reproduced here are dozens of drawings, photographs and menus from the restaurant's unpublished archives. Many of the Derby's signature dishes are included, most notably, Cobb Salad.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sally Wright Cobb was married to Bob Cobb, the owner of The Brown Derby, for 25 years, and ran the restaurant after his death in 1970.

Mark Willems is a writer and artist

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847819256
• ISBN-13: 978-0847819256
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Brown Derby: Wonderful Photos and Stories, January 22, 2000

By 

Tony Mauk (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brown Derby Restaurant (Hardcover)

A priceless photo collection of Hollywood Stars that have never been released or seen since the 1940's and 1950's. The photos are from the late Sally and Bob Cobb's personal photo collection and some photos were taken by Geroge Hurrell. The stories are captivating, heart warming and a part of Hollywood history that is a must for movie buffs and the novice a like. Clark Gable and Bob Cobb spent many years together, hunting and fishing. One night after the kitchen at the Durby was closed, Bob mixed a salad together made mostly from left overs. Since that night the famous salad has been referred to as the "Cobb Salad". The story that best describes the Cobbs is the one story about the WWII soldier..very touching! A great gift or a nice coffee table conversation item!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where's George???, January 18, 2006

By 

Arthur E. Thompson, Jr. - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Brown Derby Restaurant: A Hollywood Legend (Paperback)

Who today could know anything about the Brown Derby restaurant and not immediately recall what generated its legendary fame? Was it the food? The service? The décor? The clientele? Of course it's a given that all these were truly exceptional, yet none adequately explains how any Tom, Dick, or Harry from Kalamazoo would be so well acquainted with the name of this particular restaurant. After all, they were not patrons. For us non-celebrities, the Brown Derby probably entered our world through the hilarious exploits of Lucille Ball in the television situation comedy "I Love Lucy" in which she starred along with husband Desi Arnaz. Who can forget Lucy's attempts to be "discovered" by a studio executive, or to get a closer look at William Holden, at the Brown Derby?

If you lived in greater Los Angeles at that time, you might have heard live KNX 1070 News Radio broadcasts at noon from the Brown Derby, and the question of the day would always be, "Tell us, George, who's at the Brown Derby today?" That was how Lucy knew which celebrities were at the Brown Derby. And, because Lucy knew, all of America knew: this Brown Derby restaurant was the stars' favorite gathering place.

So, what's the point of this review? Simply the sad fact that "George," the maître d', radio announcer, friend of Robert Cobb, and the central figure to all the famous patrons at the Brown Derby restaurant, is no where to be seen in any of the multitude of celebrity photographs in the book. It had to be the most deliberative, vexing, and laborious part of Mrs. Cobb's work in producing this incomplete book to find enough photographs that somehow did not show a trace of Mr. George Aguilera among the celebrity patrons. It was no oversight. Word is that following Mr. Cobb's death, major differences arose between the Head Waiter and Mrs. Cobb as to business practices, and that Mr. Aguilera took an uncompromising stand in favor of maintaining the renowned level of quality, rather than to expand the tourist element, and in so doing, risk losing the exceptional level of service of which he was justifiably proud to offer his friends. This book is testament to the bitter parting of ways that resulted. How ironic then, that Mr. Aguilera's face, commonly seen on Brown Derby advertising billboards that said, "Go see George...," appears nowhere in this book of photographs. Nor will you find any evidence that the man who announced to the world the presence of his famous dining guests, his friends, was ever there himself. I rate this book as missing at least one star.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Brown Derby Restaurant: A Hollywood Legend, March 29, 2002

By 

Jerry Mezerow (Anaheim, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brown Derby Restaurant (Hardcover)

Anyone who is interested in old Hollywood must read this book.It is not only filled with pictures andrecipes, but nostalgia and history ofbygone days.Robert Cobb, not only owned the BrownDerby, but also owned a baseball team.The Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League was in existence from 1939to 1957. The Los Angeles Dodgers cameWest in 1958 and the Stars were gone.The book was co-written by Sally Cobb,widow of the owner. Her personal thoughts and love are written throughout this book. I personally ama collector of old menu's and a historian regarding the Pacific CoastLeague. I certainly was fascinated andwrapped up in the book.