Sometimes when I arrive in the LA area, I think of the original (1982) Annie movie clip where she sees Oliver Warbucks’ mansion and just keeps singing, “I think I’m gonna like it here!”

I could list SO many reasons why LA is one of my loves, but to keep this brief, I’ll just give you my top three:

(1)The first time I went to LA (back in 2009) was the fulfillment of a childhood dream. I grew up in Missouri, and pretty much never went anywhere, but my mom grew up in the Los Angeles area–Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. She would tell me about seeing the ocean, jumping over the waves on the beach, and sunning in the sand.

My mom had several Beach Boys 45 records, which I played constantly (often while standing on a couch cushion and pretending it was a surfboard). California Dreamin’, Surfin’ USA, and California Girls were some of my favorites. I spent countless hours daydreaming of going there.

(2)My grandparents, great grandparents, and extended family lived in the LA area–and I love the thought of being where they were.

I didn’t know my grandparents (or any of my extended family, for that matter), so I didn’t get the chance to visit them while they were alive. It makes me feel a sense of identity, wholeness, and connectedness to visit their burial sites.

My great grandparents, Louis and Frieda, and great uncle and aunt Edward and Peppi are buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

My grandmother Eleanor Laemmle Musser and many great aunts, uncles, and cousins are buried at Home of Peace Memorial Park, including Carl Laemmle, Recha Stern Laemmle, Junior Laemmle, Rosabelle Laemmle Bergerman, Carole Laemmle Bergerman, Laura Lee Bergerman, Joseph Laemmle, and Carla Laemmle. I try to put a rock on each grave when I visit, to let them know they are remembered.

(3)I have family members living in California today! Two of our kids are there–both pursuing careers in the film industry. Alyssa is working as an assistant editor for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon show, and Isaak just finished his freshman year in college. And, we have lots of cousins there, as well! Shout-out to all the “Laemmle Faemmle” members in California!

Uncle Carl Laemmle has a very large faemmle! ~Ogden Nash, American Poet

Well, now that I’ve given you my top 3 reasons I love LA, I will spend the rest of this blog post sharing what we did on this particular trip in May of 2025. I hope you enjoy!

Laemmle Faemmle Brunch

We gathered together for a “Laemmle Faemmmle” brunch with cousins we hadn’t seen in a while, and many we had never met before! It was amazing to be with everyone–I think the ancestors would be proud!

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Tour

We (Dan, Alyssa, and I) took a tour of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. This is where my mother attended as a child, as well as her parents, grandparents, and extended family. Amazingly, my mother had the same Rabbi (Edgar Magnin) as her grandparents and great uncle Carl Laemmle!

Uncle Carl donated one of the chandeliers–perhaps the one seen in the first photo below. The sanctuary itself is preserved–practically unchanged over the past 96 years. It was a peaceful feeling to be in the presence of my ancestors. Shalom.

Carl Laemmle’s Funeral was held on September 25, 1939 at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple–with a tribute paid by Rabbi Magnin. “To shed a tear or two in memory of a little man who was a big man…” He went on to say, “What makes his life impressive is not the money he made or the power he wielded–it’s what he did with the money and the power.” Just to provide context to that last quote, my great uncle Carl Laemmle signed over 300 affidavits to save Jews from the Holocaust. When I think of those 300 saved lives–and their families and future generations (likely thousands of lives), I am overwhelmed with awe and wonder at the impact one person can make!

My cousin Antonia Carlotta created a wonderful YouTube video remembering our Uncle Carl–including the original classic radio broadcast of his memorial service! To watch, click below.

Hollywood Bowl

We went to the Hollywood Bowl! My mom has frequently mentioned that she saw the Beatles live at the Hollywood Bowl in 1964 with her cousin Carole Laemmle Bergerman.

Well, I finally went to the Hollywood Bowl! It wasn’t Beatle-mania or anything, and we were in the nosebleeds, but it was still so much fun! Dan and I, along with Alyssa, Carl, and Isaak, attended the Outlaw Music Festival and saw lots of great bands–as well as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson!

To hear a clip of Willie Nelson, click on my video below.

We even had a picnic there at the Hollywood Bowl before the show–with Porto’s!

Farmers Market LA

We went to the Original Farmer’s Market— where my ancestors used to go. I can’t believe some of the restaurants–like the old ice cream shop and candy store–have been there since my mom was there in the 1960s! Thanks to our cousins Rosemary, Roxanne, Cassandra, Zachary, Lila and Lottie for meeting Dan, Alyssa, and I there–it was SO great being with you!

Hollywood Walk of Fame

We visited Carl Laemmle’s star! It’s always good to find that piece of our ancestral past and memorialize it once again with the traditional feet-picture!

La Brea Tar Pits

We went to the La Brea Tar Pits! I had never been before, but it’s one of those places my mom went as a kid. It was amazing to think about the geological history captured within this heritage site. I may never look at California–or our earth–the same way again! And, oddly enough, Alyssa found Carl Laemmle’s name on the wall!

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

We visited the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and saw an exhibit about the Jewish founders of Hollywood, including our beloved Uncle Carl Laemmle!

The artifact that moved me most was a letter Uncle Carl wrote to his cousin William Wyler, asking him to join him in writing affidavits to save Jewish Germans. To see the letter, view my video below.

Santa Monica Pier

In the spirit of Forrest Gump, we reached the end of the Santa Monica Pier! We walked around the boardwalk, bought some ice cream at Pier Burger, got a sticker for the van, and watched a series of brave humans try to hang on a spinning pull-up-bar for two minutes to earn a prize (a big stuffie). No one got the big stuffie, though.

We also stopped by the old carousel building–which (fun fact) my mom rode when she was a child!

But, the rest of the pier has changed a lot over the years!

Jimmy Kimmel Live

We were in the audience of Jimmy Kimmel Live! We saw Barry Keoghan and comedian Luenell. It was a very fun experience, and I was amazed that Jimmy Kimmel did most everything in one take–with no mistakes!

Click my video below to see how excited we were!

Beverly Vista

We visited Beverly Vista–where my mom went to grade school. We walked down Rexford Drive, where she lived with her grandparents Louis and Frieda Laemmle–and she walked to school. We don’t know which house was theirs, or if it even exists anymore.

Click my video below to see our walk.

A security guard stopped us to ask why I was taking pictures. When I told him my mom attended Beverly Vista in the 1950s, he was intrigued and told us that he probably had a picture of her! (Read on!)

First, he showed us around the campus, and explained that the building and grounds had been completely redone since the 1950s when my mother was there, but there were a few things that were the same–like, this tree! It’s fun to think that Alyssa’s grandma Peppi might have sat under this same tree when she was a little girl at Beverly Vista!

The security guard took us inside the school to a long hallway where there were framed photographs of every graduating class from the late 1930s to the 1990s. Most of the photos did not have dates, so Alyssa and I went about trying to study each face looking for Grandma Peppi. We both agreed that this photo could be the one. And, we both chose the same girl–second row from the back, eleven girls over. Tell me what you think!

Address Scavenger Hunt

We also went on a sort-of scavenger hunt to find two old addresses where my grandparents and mother lived–according to census data–to see what they looked like today!

(1) 266 S. Lasky Drive, Beverly Hills, California–Louis, Frieda, Eleanor, and Frieda’s sister Gertrude Heller lived in a house here according to the 1940 census.

Click to watch my video below.

Click this video below to see another potential house.

(2) 2415 34th Street, Santa Monica, California–Louis, Frieda, and Peppi lived in an apartment here according to the 1950 census. I think this must be where my mom remembers living alone with her grandma Frieda after her grandpa Louis died.

Click to watch my video below.

Food

While in LA, we ate SO much delicious food! Now, I am officially on a diet!

In Koreatown, we tried Bibimbap, Bao buns, and lots of other new foods! Since Alyssa was the expert and had tried them before, we asked her to pick a selection for us. Most of it was delicious–although some was a bit spicy!

I had a lot of fun saying, “Bibimbap” over the next few days. Still do, actually!

Alyssa took us to one of her favorite restaurants–Din Tai Fung. And, now, it is official–my new favorite food is soup dumplings!!

More Food

I guess I’ll close this post with a gallery of food photos–what better way to go, right? And, I really better close because as I write this, I am getting SO hungry….

Final word–these strawberries were good, but not $35 good! :O

Until next time, LA!

XO,

Joanna