Mid-Wilshire

The Cocoanut Grove, 1963

The mid-Wilshire district of Los Angeles is home to Paramount Studios, where Barbra filmed her third musical. Nearby was the Cocoanut Grove (recently torn down), the prestigious nightclub Barbra played in 1963. Barbra returned to the neighborhood in 1995. You'll remember a brief scene from "Funny Lady" when Fanny briskly runs out of the NBC radio studio following a "Baby Snooks" broadcast. The Pan Pacific Auditorium represented NBC in the film

Cocoanut Grove - 3400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
The Cocoanut Grove has a storied Hollywood history. Located within the Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire Blvd., the Cocoanut Grove was the location for many Hollywood movies, including Judy Garland's "A Star Is Born" in 1954. In the 1920's, the Grove played host to the Academy Awards ceremonies and it was there that the familiar gold statuette was first presented.

The center of the Hollywood social scene revolved around the Cocoanut Grove for many decades, including the 1960's when Barbra made her mark there. Her performances in August and September were legendary and important moments in her career. All of Hollywood had come out to see Barbra, who by her own recent admission was "the least known person in the room."

Sadly, the Los Angeles Conservancy group lost its legal bid to prevent the demolition of The Ambassador hotel. The hotel was torn down in 2006. Amazingly, the only remnant from the facility to survive the 2006 demolition was the Cocoanut Grove, a separate structure on the hotel grounds. The Grove received a short lived reprieve from the wrecking ball when the LA School district, the property's owner, agreed to preserve and renovate the former night club. Plans were drawn for its use as an auditorium when a series of middle and high schools are built on the site. Alas, the Cocoanut Grove is now a faded memory. Deemed structurally unsound, it was torn down in early 2008.


Pan Pacific Auditorium - 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles

The Pan Pacific Auditorium: then and recently

One of LA's art deco treasures, the Pan Pacific Auditorium was used as an external location shoot for Barbra's film, "Funny Lady." It was situated in LA's Miracle Mile district and represented the exterior of the NBC radio studio where Fanny Brice broadcast her "Baby Snooks" show. In the film, Fanny is seen running out of the studio to a waiting limo.

The auditorium was built in 1935 for the the Los Angeles National Housing Exposition, the hey day of American deco architecture and remained as a recognized symbol of Los Angeles for many years. Tragically, the auditorium was destroyed by a spectacular fire in 1989. It was eventually demolished in 1992.


Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles
Barbra's made her third film, "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" for Paramount Pictures. Located on Melrose Avenue in the heart of LA's Mid-Wilshire district, the Paramount lot has a very interesting Hollywood history. Desilu Studios, built and made famous by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the 1960's is now part of the Paramount campus.

Barbra made only one film for Paramount, but it is a fan favorite. The soundstages were used for all the interior scenes, including the elaborate rooftop of Daisy Gamble's NYC apartment. Additional scenes from the film were shot on location in Brighton, England and New York City. The "Come Back To Me" number featured Barbra's character romping all over Manhattan.

Barbra and fellow Paramount players, 1970