Meher Baba's Life & Travels
1932 VISIT
2400 North Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
This was the home of Pricilla & Marc Edmund Jones
REACHING LOS ANGELES at eight-thirty on Sunday morning, May 29th 1932, Baba went to stay at the home of Priscilla and Marc Edmund Jones, at 2400 North Gower Street in Hollywood. Mr. Jones was an astrologer by profession and a friend of Malcolm Schloss. Chanji, Quentin and Meredith stayed with Baba at the Jones home. Kaka, Adi Jr. and Beheram stayed at a nearby house. Jean, Malcolm, Margaret Starr and the others invited by Baba stayed at the Mission Hotel.
Baba remained in Hollywood for seven hectic days, each packed full of interviews and receptions. Norina Matchabelli and Elizabeth Patterson had driven all the way from New York to help in arranging Baba's schedule.
Lord Meher Volume 5, Page 1642
http://sabian.org/marc_edmund_jones.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Edmund_Jones
The 6 images of the house were obtained from Google Earth- Street view & maps and appear as they would now.
Steve Cubine the current owner of this property kindly supplied the images below of his backyard where Meher Baba was photographed in his white suit and alphabet board.
1840 Camino Pamero, Hollywood, LA.
The address of the house in this photo that Malcom and Jean Schloss rented is 1840 Camino Palmero, Los Angeles, California 90046, December 18, 1934 through January 7, 1935.
The train arrived in Pasadena, California on the morning of the 18th of December, 1934. Baba was delighted to be in California. Jean and Malcolm Schloss greeted Baba and his group at the train station. They drove to a rented house in Los Angeles at number 1840 Camino Palmero where they were to stay for a month.
Once settled in, Baba warned the group, "We should not spend more than is necessary on food, so arrange the meals in ways that they may not be costly." Rather than eating at restaurants, they hired a woman to do the cooking and Ruano began to manage the shopping. Baba wanted spinach every day and Ruano washed it herself before having it cooked.
Lord Meher Volume 6, Page 1934
Pickfair, 1143 Summit Drive,Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
1932
Douglas
Fairbanks and his wife Mary Pickford
invited Baba and his group to their home Pickfair. Others from the film industry were also invited, including ; Gary Cooper, Charles Farrell, Lottie Pickford ( Mary's sister ) also Countess Dentice di Frasso, a gossip writer.
Lord Meher - Vol.5 - Page 1654 - 1659
Gossip : The silent film star legend Mary Pickford who was the wife of Douglas Fairbanks is know to haunt the first floor den of her former home known as Pickfair located at 1143 Summit Drive, Beverly Hills.
801 N Alpine Drive, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
This was the home of the famous actress - Marie Dressler
On June 4th,1932, Baba had lunch with Marie Dressler at her home at 801 Alpine Drive. Marie was a famous actress who had co-starred in many of Charlie Chaplin's movies, and had won the Academy Award the previous year for best actress and was nominated again for it in 1932. Marie had a keen wit and humor, and Baba thoroughly enjoyed her company; they were soon sharing stories and joking like old friends. In the middle of lunch, she said, "Baba, if you permit me, I would like to take you out to the woods and dance with you. And even if you want to speak a few words to me, I promise not to tell anyone!"
Baba revealed, spelling on his board, "Before breaking my silence, it is essential for me to proceed to China. On my return, I will break my silence on July 13th at the Hollywood Bowl."
Marie said, "When you break your silence, I will be at your side."
Lord Meher Volume
5, Page 1661
Knickerbocker Hotel, Los Angeles, California
There was a public reception at the hotel of about 1,000 people for Baba on the 31st May, 1932.
That night at 8:30 P.M., a large reception of one thousand people took place at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood. Many from Los Angeles and the surrounding area came to the "spiritual" or "love" gathering. There were so many people that the hall had to be cleared of all furniture. Men, women and children stood in line, waiting to meet Baba. In a theatrical setting, Baba was seated higher on a platform with the four Eastern mandali on one side and six Westerners on the other, forming a semicircle at his feet. Behind Baba, like two angels, two harpists were playing softly.
Visitors were admitted one at a time through a side door of the hall. Each was introduced to Baba, receiving a handshake and his radiant smile. Passing in a circle through another side door, they were then led outside to the lounge where refreshments were being served. In the dazzling light of the hall, Baba looked beautifully divine in his white robe and with loose locks of hair falling to his shoulders – a figure that captivated the hearts of all.
Baba's instructions were that one was not to ask questions and to leave after a handshake with him. But there were many who were so enthralled, who felt so intoxicated, they would not leave. Their words of wonder echoed throughout that hall:
Lord Meher - Vol.5 - Page 1650
Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, California
Sidney Grauman invited Baba and his group to his theatre on the 2nd June,1932.
Baba enjoyed the variety acts that followed the film Grand Hotel with Greta Garbo. The comedian Will Mahoney also performed.
Although the mandali were often kept in the background, that night Baba took them to Grauman's Chinese Theater where he had been invited by the manager Sidney Grauman. Baba enjoyed the variety acts that followed the film and the performance of the comedian Will Mahoney. Greta Garbo's latest film Grand Hotel was playing and Baba praised her performance.
Lord Meher - Vol.5 - Page 1660
1712 N Stanley Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
|
1932
When it was announced that Baba wanted to leave, Tallulah asked Adi if it was possible for him to come to her house the next day for lunch, for she had something to talk about with him. Adi said that he thought it would be possible, but that he'd have to ask Baba. When he approached Baba, Baba replied, "Fine." Then in a stern tone, he further warned, But do not touch her and Adi went to Tallulah's home, the following afternoon. When he met her, he immediately blurted out, "I am happy to behere, but please do not touch me." She blushed, saying she would not embarrass him. During their lunch, Adi asked what was it that she wanted to talk to him about. Tallulah said that she was in love with a certain man, but that he did not love her, nor showed her any affection. She wanted Adi to persuade his brother (Baba) to cast a "love-spell" on the man, and thereby he would fall in love with her and be hers. Adi was taken aback and assured her that Baba did not do such things and that she was greatly mistaken about the kind of spiritual things Baba taught. Tallulah, nevertheless, insisted that Adi ask his brother if he would cast such a spell. Adi said he would, but explained again that he doubted if Baba would do such a thing. |
Lord Meher Volume 5, Page 1661-2
1524 North Crescent Heights Boulevard, West Hollywood, California
1st August 1956
AFTERWARD, at 4:45 P.M., Baba visited Hilda Fuchs' home, at 1524 North Crescent Heights Boulevard, West Hollywood, where about thirty of her friends met him. Hilda had first heard of Baba in Vienna, in 1935, through Alice Trau-Fisher. She was forced to flee the country when Adolf Hitler rose to power, as her husband was Jewish. By sheer coincidence, she met Norina in New York. Norina introduced her to other Baba lovers, and convinced her of Baba's greatness. She began arranging Norina's lectures, and in the 1940s, when Norina and Elizabeth were searching for a property for Baba, Hilda accompanied them on their tour of the West Coast.
Lord Meher Volume 14, Page 5050Lord Meher Online Edition Page 4056
Los Angeles Olympics
The Olympics were being held at the time that Baba visited LA.
Lord Meher - Vol.5 - Page 1642
Meher Baba, an Indian spiritual leader who has been observing a rigid self-imposed silence for 31 long years on spiritual grounds, arrived here yesterday for a two-day visit.
The Indian, who has followers on all five continents, is on a round-the-world trip to meet the faithful and reiterate his message. Arriving in New York, July 20, he has already visited strongholds of his following on the East Coast. His American disciples are said to number in the thousands.
Baba is a short, stocky man with striking features, penetrating eyes, and flowing hair. Placid, smiling and affable, the spiritualist, in exotic Hindu costume, presented yesterday a marked contrast to his Hollywood environment.
Meeting the press in his Roosevelt Hotel suite, he answered queries through the medium of an alphabet board: "What message does he have to our world and times?"
"Philosophers, atheists and others may affirm or refute the existence of God. But as long as they do not deny their very existence, they continue to testify their belief in God."
Baba maintained his mission is not to found a new religion but to revitalize the existing ones. He formulated the kernel of his message:
"God is existence, eternal and infinite. He is everything. The only one aim in the life of man is to attain unity with God."
Alhambra train station
