The Back Door to Musso And Frank Grill
by Nina Silver
Title
The Back Door to Musso And Frank Grill
Artist
Nina Silver
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photograph
Description
According to their website, "the Musso and Frank Grill opened in 1919 by entrepreneur Frank Toulet, who joined forces with Oregon restauranteur Joseph Musso and brilliant French chef Jean Rue. The restaurant quickly became known for outstanding service and culinary excellence. The pair sold the restaurant in 1927 to two Italian immigrants, Joseph Carissimi and John Mosso, who years later moved The Musso & Frank Grill next door to 6667 Hollywood Blvd., where it still stands. Musso's exclusive, storied Back Room opened in 1934. Guarded by a discerning and austere maitre d’, the Back Room was a legendary private space reserved for the Hollywood elite. Eventually, the lease on the Back Room expired. Today, the restaurant’s New Room holds the Back Room’s original famous bar, light fixtures and furniture from 1934. Musso’s has been a favorite among Hollywood’s A-list. Charlie Chaplin was an early regular. Often seen lunching with Mary Pickford, Rudolph Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks. Chaplin — legend has it — would challenge Douglas to a horse race down Hollywood Boulevard, and the winner had to pick up the tab at Musso’s. Charlie would win and gloat over a plate of Roast Lamb Kidneys, his favorite Musso’s meal.
In the ‘20s and ‘30s, it wasn’t uncommon to see Greta Garbo and Gary Cooper having breakfast together — flannel cakes and fresh coffee, of course. Or to bump into Humphrey Bogart having drinks at the bar with Dashielle Hammett or Lauren Bacall.
In the ‘50s, Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe (flanked by Joe DiMaggio), Elizabeth Taylor and Steve McQueen could be found enjoying drinks and appetizers in Musso’s famous Back Room. Jimmy Stewart, Rita Hayworth, Groucho Marx and John Barrymore also had starring roles at Musso’s."
The owners and patrons of Musso’s still treat Hollywood stars the same way early owner John Mosso did — with respect and discretion, and apparently, many top names in Hollywood still frequent this restaurant, and they often enter through the back door to escape the paparazzi.
The restaurant is located at 6667 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA
Uploaded
February 14th, 2021
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