Retro: Betty White Show, Circa 1954

In 1954, Betty White briefly hosted a daytime talk show for NBC.

R.I.P., Two L.A. Landmarks: Tom Bergin's and Williams' Book Store

This is why we can't have nice old things in Los Angeles: They keep disappearing. We've said goodbye to the likes of Bahooka this year (and I'm still nervous about the return of Clifton's Cafeteria). And now L.A. is saying farewell to two more retail landmarks: The 77-year-old Irish saloon Tom Bergin's and the 104-year-old Williams' Book Store in San Pedro.

Here's the L.A. Times story on the surprise Tom Bergin's shut down:

The pub -- one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles -- posted a message on its Facebook page announcing the closure. A reason was not given. The message simply said: "We are sorry to let everyone know that this Sunday will be Tom Bergin's last day of business. Please join us in our last few days; we'd love to see as many familiar faces as possible."

Someone who answered the phone at Bergin's this evening attributed the closure to "lack of sales." The man -- who declined to give his name -- added: "The ownership wasn't reaching the revenue needed to sustain itself."

The tavern had recently been taken over by Los Angeles restaurateur Brandon Boudet, closed for some retooling, and then reopened. Efforts to reach Boudet were unsuccessful.

Tom Bergin's Tavern first opened in 1936 on Fairfax Avenue, south of Wilshire. L.A. Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold said walking into the restaurant's dining room was like stepping back in time to Raymond Chandler's L.A.

The tavern was known for its rare Irish whiskeys, a well-drawn Guinness and hefty servings of coconut cream pies, as well as for the signed shamrocks that festooned the wooden rafters above the bar, signed by regulars and tourists alike. Still, the menu offered a bit of whimsy, such as a jambalaya.

And here's the L.A. Times on what's to become of Williams' Book Store:

Opened in 1909, Williams' Book Store is considered by some to be the oldest continuously operating bookstore in Los Angeles (Vroman's, which opened in 1894, is in Pasadena). But it stands to be the latest casualty in a business that has been moving increasingly online.

Williams' Book Store was opened by E.T. Williams, a Welshman who landed in San Pedro and decided to stay. When he died in 1940, it passed to his daughter Ethel; in 1941, when Anne Gusha graduated from college, she began working at the store full time. Ethel brought Anne and then Jerry into the business, and in 1980, the Gushas took ownership of the bookstore.

The store has moved to various locations in its century in the book business, always looking for a lower rent that would allow it to continue to serve the same community.

Williams' Book Store will close the first week of August, after San Pedro celebrates its 125th anniversary.

(Pic credits: KCRW; Williams' Book Store)

Press Release of the Day: Wax Antonio Villaraigosa's Day At The Beach

From my Inbox just now: "As outgoing LA Mayor Villaraigosa steps down from office, he enjoys a day at the beach and Santa Monica Pier courtesy of his wax figure from Madame Tussauds Hollywood."

Come on, Madame Tussauds. To make this realistic, you should have surrounded him with wax figures of some of L.A.'s top TV news anchor babes.

FRANKLIN AVENUE IN BANFF: A Week in the Canadian Rockies

Last month I returned to the Banff Media Festival in beautiful Banff, Alberta, Canada, in order to moderate several panels. The highlight, as I wrote here, was my chat with "Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson. But outside of the TV festival, I also brought the family up this year, in order to share the beauty of the region with them. And it didn't disappoint. The weather may have been overcast, but the mountains, the lakes and the nature still thrilled our city bones. It was a week the Franklin Avenue kids won't forget. Some highlights:


A bird's eye view of the magnificent Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.


Elk on the side of the street in Banff.


Vermillion Lakes, outside of Banff.


Banff's farmers' market.


Buffalo Dawgs and Buffalo Smokies.


The Buffalo Smokie.


Two rivers run through Banff; here's one of them.


The Blogger Kid on horseback.


Deer on the side of the bike path in Banff.


The Banff Gondola ferries passengers up the side of Sulphur Mountain.


View from the top.


Moraine Lake.


More of Moraine Lake.


The Franklin Avenue boys take in Lake Louise.


More of Lake Louise.


Lake Louise, with the Fairmont hotel overlooking it.


I figured it would be cool, but unlikely, that we'd encounter a bear (from a safe distance, of course) on our trip. But sure enough, as we were driving on the freeway back to Calgary, we spotted this little guy on the side of the road (behind the fence). A quick u-turn and we got close enough to snap a few pics.


So I guess this sign is pretty accurate.


A trip to Canada isn't complete without the required stop at Tim Horton's. We waited until the very last day of our stay up north to finally enjoy a donut the way Canada intended. And here's a shot of the Tim Horton's located at Calgary's airport.

Last year, I wrote at length about The Town of Banff; the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel; the Banff Gondola Ride; and some Canadian Food Finds.

License Plate of the Day: Pelvic Exam Edition

Thanks to Emily Solis, who writes: "Plate of the day submission here, because we all love a good pelvic exam. Photographed by me in July of 2012." Send us your License Plate of the Day entries!