city: west hollywood
the phone booth (former)
from jim morrison, the doors posted in music by pete_nice
Although today it is an unassuming flower shop called L.A. Premier, in the late 60's and early 70's this location was the home to a strip club called The Phone Booth. Jim Morrison lived across the street at the Alta Cienega Motel from 1968 to 1970 and would frequent the strip club to catch up on his poetry.
The exterior of this location can be seen in the unfinished, unreleased, and thoroughly uninteresting film by Morrison, HWY: An American Pastoral (1969).
view full location details...the alta cienega motel
from jim morrison, the doors posted in music by pete_nice
From 1968 to 1970, Jim Morrison lived in a number of rooms at The Alta Cienega Motel. At the time, the motel was within walking distance of several strip clubs, bars, and the Doors Workshop, where the band culminated this era with the album L.A. Woman.
Morrison's favorite room was #32, which can still be rented, and where numerous devotees of the Lizard King scrawl graffiti on the walls. The motel repaints the interior every year, but you can't stop stupid people sometimes. The room does afford interesting views of La Cienega and Santa Monica Blvd, and you have to wonder what bad poetry crept into Morrison's drug-addled brain.
the doors workshop
from the doors, jim morrison posted in music by pete_nice
Once a former antique store, this two-story building was also home to The Doors Workshop. Used as an office and recording studio for the band, The Doors recorded with engineer Bruce Botnick at this location for the tracks of L.A. Woman. Apparently, Jim Morrison recorded the vocals in the bathroom to get a fuller sound.
Today, the location is a restaurant named "Mexico." The unisex bathroom still exists, and local legend is that the ghost of Jim Morrison haunts the place.
The manager of the restaurant was quoted as saying:
“Funky things happen all the time we can’t explain. Lights popping on and off at weird times. But when that bathroom door handle jiggles by itself, that’s the weirdest sign. It’s totally inexplicable.” (from The Tucson Citizen)
The anniversary of Jim Morrison's death is July 3. Unfortunately, the restaurant is currently closed. Hopefully it will open in time for the anniversary.
view full location details...the viper room
from river phoenix posted in movies by donkeyoti
Outside this establishment is where the film star, River Phoenix, died on Oct. 30, 1993. He was 23 years.
R.I.P.