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Its My Life . I've Lived it • I Love it • Criticism Be Damned

coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 30, 2023 6:45PM in U.S. Coin Forum

Now that I have your attention :D I thought this Merchant card needs its own thread.........
So, if you let me walk you down a little bit of old Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

I first seen this advertising token years ago but, have never been able to find one in nice shape. Aluminum. 38mm.
It was for a Cocktail Lounge and restaurant in the 1940's. They are closed now. It is down the street from Cedars Sinai. Just happens to be the hospital where I received my second kidney transplant. Needless to say this is in some prime property location.

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House of Murphy – cocktail lounge at 410 S. San Vicente Blvd. 1940s. Their slogan was “It’s my life…I live it…I love it…criticism be damned.” The House of Murphy was a nightclub as well as a restaurant, and specialized in corned beef and cabbage. It was owned by Bob Murphy, an actor who had been a “singing emcee” in vaudeville and also had some work in the movies. He also owned Murphy’s Cellar in NYC. He died in 1948, but the restaurant continued in business.

As listed in the ‘Los Angeles Guide, 1941’ : “House of Murphy, 4th St at La Cienega Boulevard. The a la carte entrée is a complete meal. Cornbeef and cabbage cooked in an old-fashioned dish style. Master of ceremonies Bob Murphy provides impromptu entertainment and the crowd chimes in.”

The link here for above paragraphs of information
https://martinturnbull.com/hollywood-places/places-e-to-k/

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Some great pic's of the "joint"

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Menu.............check out the prices!!!
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Postcard
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Look inside
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CoinsAreFun Pictorials Album
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC

Comments

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 9,077 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Love the huge Gruen clock billboard on the roof. Lobster thermidor makes my mouth water. Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • hchcoinhchcoin Posts: 4,829 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great stuff!

  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,464 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Lovely read! Well written, Stef.
    The token is just fantastic! I've never seen that one before.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • kazkaz Posts: 9,210 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great stuff! Love the menu cover, a play on Salome' with the owner's head on a plate! hilarious.

  • MidLifeCrisisMidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,547 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Excellent!

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,594 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Gotta love those prices.

  • conrad99conrad99 Posts: 375 ✭✭✭

    Oh, for the days you could just eat whatever you want and no one had a second thought about it. Also, I like the post card.

  • Glen2022Glen2022 Posts: 947 ✭✭✭✭

    a couple of menus now being offered on eBay starting $85 plus shipping.

  • CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,313 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Really cool Stef! Love the headline and token. We all need some of that 'tude!

    Seated Half Society member #38
    "Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
  • U1chicagoU1chicago Posts: 6,195 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very neat!

  • NumisOxideNumisOxide Posts: 10,997 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So cool!! I've never seen one of those before either.

  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,068 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You always have some of the coolest posts (and tokens and coins to go with them)!

    I also love the attitude. Speaks to many of us I'm sure.

    Thanks for sharing Stef!!


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • RobertScotLoverRobertScotLover Posts: 974 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am from L.A. and that restaurant is still standing, just called something else. Still a restaurant, just cannot remember the name, but its popular and well known.

  • coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,739 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @RobertScotLover said:
    I am from L.A. and that restaurant is still standing, just called something else. Still a restaurant, just cannot remember the name, but its popular and well known.

    .
    I lived there for 35 years and only remember seeing the structure in the late 90’s. I didn’t know they were still open as something else. Could it be a different address.?

    Here’s a link to Google maps for the address.
    https://www.google.com/maps/place/410+S+San+Vicente+Blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90048/@34.0711626,-118.3761326,3a,86.7y,67.1h,83.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srL1s18f9Fcj3zrv9DI4EaA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m17!1m9!3m8!1s0x80c2b94c059d3ce9:0x719e7d15820cb680!2s410+S+San+Vicente+Blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90048!3b1!8m2!3d34.0713315!4d-118.3759576!10e5!16s/g/11c891qbb8!3m6!1s0x80c2b94c059d3ce9:0x719e7d15820cb680!8m2!3d34.0713315!4d-118.3759576!10e5!16s/g/11c891qbb8?hl=en-us&entry=ttu

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    Screenshot.

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    CoinsAreFun Pictorials Album
    .
    CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
    .
    Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
    .
    More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
  • CocoinutCocoinut Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Interesting token, and the menu has my mouth watering. In case you're wondering, the following article from the November 17, 1941 issue of Life magazine states that their average reader had an annual income of $2,500. Inflation was an issue back then, as shown in the comparison of the prices of some food staples compared to 2 years earlier. A dinner at the House of Murphy would have been an extravagance for many people.

    Countdown to completion of my Mercury Set: 1 coin. My growing Lincoln Set: Finally completed!
  • OldIndianNutKaseOldIndianNutKase Posts: 2,709 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I love this post Stef. Cool token that takes us back to another era. My best memories of California only go back to the 50's in Long Beach.

  • LazybonesLazybones Posts: 1,495 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 30, 2023 9:52PM

    Love it!

    USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 13,917 ✭✭✭✭✭

    :)

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @coinsarefun.... Great post Stef.... Neat token, will have to look for one of those. I am not a token collector, but that has a great message. Cheers, RickO

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 13,917 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 31, 2023 5:54AM

    Great post, great history, great token
    .
    .

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,313 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If that's a depiction of Murphy on the obverse, then I'd say he was well fed! :D

    Seated Half Society member #38
    "Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 13,917 ✭✭✭✭✭

    .
    Can't have an ash tray without matches
    .

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • FrankHFrankH Posts: 982 ✭✭✭✭✭

    There was a House of Murphy in Stockton, CA. Ate there many times.

    Now if you look closely, you will see it is House of E.J. Murphy.
    No idea if it was an intentional copying or what, but Stockton was home to a plethora of fine dining.
    :)

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 13,917 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The 'cover' in the OP was done by Henry O'hara Clive, quite a talented artist.
    .
    .
    Henry Clive (October 3, 1883–December 12, 1960) was an Australian-born American graphic artist and illustrator. Clive is known particularly for his illustrations in The American Weekly and cover series, which were posed for by screen celebrities.
    .

    Sketch of Clive, 1911

    Sultana by Henry Clive

    1933 Photograph of Henry Clive Painting Actress Alice White

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • coinhackcoinhack Posts: 1,162 ✭✭✭✭

    So fun. Best post of the week!

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,344 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Awesome stuff!

    My YouTube Channel

  • BarberianBarberian Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Murphy looks like George Conway.

    3 rim nicks away from Good
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 13,997 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very, very cool😎👍

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • CusterlostCusterlost Posts: 72 ✭✭

    I remember Sultana from high school. She was in the class behind ours.

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,594 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sultana has a Max Parris look about it.

  • mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 6,257 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Corned beef and cabbage <3

    Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein

  • ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,588 ✭✭✭✭✭

    ❤️ Thank you Steph for sharing a personal story.
    I love the little bird on his curls 🤔

  • BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,486 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I didn't notice the bird till you pointed it out, PF.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • LakesammmanLakesammman Posts: 17,409 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great post and read - Murphy sure looked prosperous ...... :D

    "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose.
  • joeykoinsjoeykoins Posts: 16,480 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2, 2023 7:54AM

    Awesome dudette!
    Now, you have me fired up to search for that token.
    ❤ 😎
    Across from Wrigley Field, in Chicago.
    There is a long establishment called, "Murphys".
    Could there be a connection?
    :*

    "Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!

    --- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.
  • coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,739 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thank you so much everyone for you kind comments. I have another interesting one coming soon!

    CoinsAreFun Pictorials Album
    .
    CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
    .
    Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
    .
    More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
  • tokenprotokenpro Posts: 884 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For those of you now seeking an example of the Murphy token you should not find the search to be overly difficult (other than competing against each other). The token is listed as Los Angeles K-502 in the Kappen catalog of California trade tokens, still the standard catalog for that state. While the values in the catalog are out of date they still carry relative consistency to each other. The Murphy token carries a $3.00 catalog value compared to $35.00 cat values for better saloon tokens or scarce towns (which were already very undervalued when the catalog came out). Translated to a rarity scale it would be a R-2 or R-3 on a R-1 to R-10 (unique) scale.

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