A Los Feliz Passing

Martini Republic's Joseph writes on the passing of Carl Ferraro, who bought Los Feliz's Dresden restaurant in 1954 and remained involved in its operation until his death Jan. 20 at the age of 91.

The 1996 film "Swingers," of course, brought fame to the restaurant/bar and its kitschy entertainers, Marty & Elayne. But Joseph remembers a time before that:

Long before Swingers or even The Two Jakes brought different stripes of Hollywood lounge salamanders to The Dresden, Carl purveyed martinis to an afternoon crowd of amateur duffers. Through the eighties, he brought in bar talent from paleolithic LA. Les from The Windsor. Teddy from Michael's. Gray-haired gents with suspenders and problem girlfriends and thin white moustaches, who poured one for you, and the next round one for you and one for them. Guys who said "Ballantine's and sodee?" on hearing the door open a certain way, and cut lemon peel wedges to micrometer precision.