Ellis Lempriere -- At The Lighthouse

Ellis Lempriere -- At The Lighthouse

Mike's favorite jazz saxaphone player, Art Pepper, made his early career at The Lighthouse at Hermosa Beach (just South of Los Angeles) in the early 1950's. Of course while the family was visiting friends nearby we'd just have to make the pilgrimage there. Today (May-2001) it seems to be just another restaurant/bar, though there is still a daily music calendar on the wall featuring local talent.
Mike is kneeling next to Ellis (still in helmet) in the stroller (bottom center); The Lighthouse is the brick building to the right.
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I couldn't resist getting a photo of me in the back entry. Although in the photo it may not look so bad, it's not a real pleasant place.
However, I could easily imagine jazz musicians hanging out here between sets having a cigarette, a beer, and probably even shooting up. Although this is not exactly behaviour I endorse, that's probably the way it was back then; looking at it from 50 years later, as a responsible middle-class parent, this scenario has a certain romance.
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