If you need a refresh on part 1… here it is… but finally… Part 2! (Apologies for the delay!)
Let’s set sail on the HMS Bounty!
After touring the Gaylord apartment complex, Steve and I learned that there was an AMAZING ballroom, fountain and fireplace that used to be on the ground floor, but William Randolph Hearst tore it down to make the HMS Bounty… a dark, nautical themed bar/restaurant… so he could do ‘business” away from the paparazzi who stalked the Ambassador across the street. Eric, the manager, showed us a picture of the original grounds… what a tragic loss!
The Fountain Room…
Now feast your eyes on THIS!
Old Glory…
Now I haven’t been in a really dark bar in the middle of the day in a long, long, time (I tend to block those days from my consciousness), but once your eyes adjust to the light… or lack thereof… there is some beauty to behold in the details of this place (you can take that statement with a crusty old grain of sea salt ;)).
The HMS Bounty was originally founded in 1948 on the bottom floor of the Gaylord Hotel and was known at the time as the “Gay Room”. Both the hotel and the restaurant were named in honor of legendary land developer and longtime socialist Henry Gaylord Wilshire, for whom Los Angeles’ famed Wilshire Boulevard was also named. The Gay Room became extremely popular with the Hollywood elite and the political luminaries of the day and just a few of the legends who were regulars there included British statesman Winston Churchill, actor Jack Webb, radio commentator Walter Winchell, and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.
Since its inception in 1948, the Gay Room has changed hands several times and has been known as the Gaylord Dining Room, the Secret Harbor, and the Golden Anchor. In 1962, it opened as the HMS Bounty Bar and Restaurant and it has remained so to this day. Amazingly enough, even with the numerous changes of ownership, the eatery’s interior remains largely the same as it was when it was first founded over six decades ago. (Thanks to I Am Not A Stalker for this bit of history…)
Today you can catch a celeb here on any given night due to its low key, low lit nature… and films and TV shows (such as Mad Men) take advantage of the old world ambience too.
Steve and I? Well we just took advantage of the cheap but surprisingly REALLY tasty food and shared in some VERY interesting conversations with the bar patrons.
This would not be, in any way, my normal “haunt”… but I enjoyed it enough to consider revisiting. If you are in any way of fan of LA nostalgia… then this is the place for you. Cheers!
Food and Grog…
Entrance from inside The Gaylord…
Old Iron Sides…
Just one of MANY ships sailing by…
Had your fix yet?
Cha Ching! (for realz!)
I’ll take “Just Left” for $3.00…
Aren’t these lamps back in style 😉 ?
Oldies but goodies…
The Happy Hour “Wise Man” combo… 1 can of Tecate and a shot of house whiskey or tequila for 5 buckaroos.
A seriously good burger…
One final note. I received this question from a reader after the first post. If anyone has the answer… please share!
“Great pics and a nostalgic trip for me as I lived there for a time in 97/98 and was a regular at the HMS Bounty. I wonder what happened to the photo albums? Once a week the proprietor would take pics of everyone in the bar and hand out chocolates to the women. There were loads of albums and it was great to see your pic every now and again. If you have any info about them, please mail me.”
All the best,
Tess
