The Original Brown Derby
Built in 1936
Photo Circa 1956
3427 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
The Brown Derby was a chain of restaurants in Los Angeles. The first and best known was shaped like a derby hat, an iconic image that became synonymous with the Golden Age of Hollywood. It was opened by Wilson Mizner in 1926. The chain was started by Robert H. Cobb and Herbert K. Somborn (a former husband of film star Gloria Swanson) in the 1920s.
The original Brown Derby opened February 1926. Novelty architecture was in vogue and the restaurant was designed to catch the eye of passing motorists. It was founded by Wilson Mizner (brother to Addison Mizner) as a small cafe across the street from the Hollywood hot spot, the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel. Wilson was the front man and sat in both #50 almost every day. Somborn owned the property and Jack L. Warner put up the money. Warner was president and the driving force behind the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.
The origin of the Cobb salad is a subject of much debate, but it is widely believed to have been created by Robert H. Cobb, the owner of the Brown Derby restaurant in 1937 along with theatre magnate, Sid Grauman to satisfy a late-night urge for a snack. Legend has it that one evening, after a long day, Cobb wandered into his restaurant's kitchen at midnight, hungry and looking for a quick bite which was a way to use up his leftovers such as lettuce, bacon, eggs, avocado and tossing them with a house-made French dressing. It became a staple and the rest is history! Though there are several variations of the Cobb salad, the Hollywood Brown Derby way is to finely chop all the ingredients, likely making this the original chopped salad. The dressing is called "French dressing", but really its a simple vinaigrette.
The Brown Derby is famous for its walls of caricatures of famous stars who ate there in the heyday. If you are a foodie and appreciate even just a little history, make sure you try The Hollywood Brown Derby next time you're in Orlando.
The Derby cocktail comes with a glow cube you take home!
The original Brown Derby sign is now housed at the Museum of Neon Art. Younger generations might not be familiar with the sign's full importance, but its presence at MONA ensures its legacy continues. MONA currently holds 250 signs and exhibits 28 electrified signs in the "Neon Boneyard".
Another famous neon sign at MONA once appeared at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
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