This blog consists of my observations about the mid-century: its history, nightlife, classic dining, and architecture.
Born in Concord, Massachusetts and raised in Hawaii, I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and later attended the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. In 1999, I founded the Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS ModCom) an architectural preservation group. I’m the author of “Havana Before Castro: When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground,” “Palm Springs Holiday: A Vintage Tour From Palm Springs to the Salton Sea,” “Classic Dining:Discovering America’s Finest Mid-Century Restaurants,” “Palm Springs Paradise: Vintage Photographs from America’s Desert Playground,” and “Greetings from Los Angeles.”
Peter Moruzzi's Mid-Century 
Pingback: Los Angeles’ “Googie World” Structure Tour Took Us Again To The Future - News.TKT
HI Peter,
I’m currently writing a book titled, “The Lives of Lowbrow Artists: Vol 1”. I’ve interviewed the following artists thus far:
Tim Biskup
Miles Thompson
Brandi Milne
Luke Cheuh
Derek Yaniger
Shag
The book’s title and format is akin to Giorgio Vassari’s “The Live of Artists” which is the foundation of everything we know about Renaissance artists.
Josh mentioned that you purchased his first painting “Tiki Bowl” back in 1995 at Cacao coffee shop. I would love to hear your side of the story. I could interview you over the phone and it wouldn’t take more than 30 min of your time.
Also you can visit my website to read the Derek Yaniger chapter (www.lowbrowliterati.com).
Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Fritz Costa
fritzcosta@icloud.com
LikeLike
I found you!
Ive been looking for you for 40 years!
I’m from Kailua – enchanted lakes
LikeLike
Oh, I just saw this…two years later. Who’s this?
LikeLike
Peter!
This is Patrick DonEgan!
We were friends in grade school – then you moved away or something.
I live on the Big Island of Hawai’i about 6 miles from the active lava flow.
LikeLike
I have a lousy memory, but your name rings a bell. What grade school are you referring to?
LikeLike
wow –
Well, you lived right behind Enchanted lakes Elementary …
And I think you were in boy scouts for a bit. Troup 179? I was in that for a few years.
And we spent tons of time reading all your Mad Magazines – and books –
you had them all.
I think we also attempted to sell greeting cards door to door.
And your dad had a mystery job – my guess it was like the main characters
in that TV show called “The Americans.”
LikeLike
Now I remember. Hello Patrick! I still have those damn Mad Magazines. Really. Yes, we did all of those things and my dad did have a mystery job. I think “The Americans” are Russian spies, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yup – the main characters are Russians – what fun!
LikeLike
Dear Peter,
(I, too, am having issues with the info@havanabeforecastro.com address, and thought I’d post my request here!)
My organization is very interested in reproducing one of the posters from your (truly beautiful) “Havana Before Castro” book on an invitation for our biennial fundraising gala. Could you let me know whether this is something you would agree to, and if so, what the next steps would be?
Thank you so much!
Best regards,
Leah
LikeLike
Hi Peter,
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your Havana Before Castro book. We will be hosting a 1950’s Havana themed dinner party in January, however, I’m having trouble tracking down what menu items were served at the the famous casinos and hotels during that time period. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you in advance for any input you might provide.
Judee
LikeLike
Judee, thanks for the kind words about the book. As relates to your question, I have several hotel menus that would be helpful. Do you want examples of entrée items?
LikeLike
Yes, please! I have exhausted the internet looking for options. I’ve even tried viewing old menus from the Tropicana, etc. as auction items. All with no luck. We are part of a dinner club where each couple brings one of the courses assigned by the host and the host supplies the entree and cocktails. Each meal revolves around a particular theme.
It would most helpful if you would be able to offer suggestions for other courses as well.
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
I have scanned the dinner menus from the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, the Habana Hilton’s El Caribe restaurant, and the Havana Riviera’s Copa Room. Send me your email address and I’ll provide pdf copies for you.
LikeLike
Hi Peter,
the info@HavanaBeforeCastro.com-email won’t work, so let’s try here on the blog 🙂 I have a request about some issues from the book Havana before Castro. I want to built up a german website and want to know if it is possible to use some pictures of the book for this website. I would be very pleased if it is possible. I would be give you some more details in a private email if want. So far I wish you some nice days. Greetings from Berlin, Matthias
LikeLike
Hello Matthias! Thanks for finding me through my blog. Let me know what images you’re interested in from the book. By the way, I spent some days in Berlin in 1987 and found it to be a fascinating, exciting city.
LikeLike
Hey Peter,
I just read your delightful Classic Dining book (this instant) and discovered that you and your partner are in the same neighborhood as my partner and I, and I wonder if we’ve met before.
And if we haven’t, I think I’d like to.
My partner Tim Lawson lived in Hawaii also, and I’ve spent many formative times there myself.
The mid-century restaurant thing is a big fat passion of mine…in fact, one of my designs in toy form is suspended from the ceiling at the 21 Club at “my” table, which is actually also Bogie’s table…and I think he deserves the ownership a tad more than myself. But the staff likes me there, and that spot is a special home away from home for me.
In any case, if you have any interest in corresponding I’d be delighted. My name is Scott Chambliss, I’m a motion picture production designer, and I thought your book was big fun.
Cheers & Pip,
Scott
LikeLike
Scott – It’s amazing that we have so much in common! Is your neighborhood Silver Lake or Tahquitz River Estates in Palm Springs? I wrote the book especially for people like you who love classic restaurants and are concerned about them vanishing. I don’t know if you’ve been to the Dal Rae in Pico Rivera, but it remains my favorite in the Los Angeles region. Hey, if you wouldn’t mind writing a short review on my book’s amazon page I would be most appreciative. It would help me get the word out; just search amazon books under “Classic Dining.” Thanks for contacting me and let’s continue corresponding.
LikeLike