Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe

From Adam Tunney on facebook.



A memento signed by Loni Anderson who played the role of Thelma Todd in the film, "Hot Toddy."

Menu.

 

 

 

The stairs leading up to the grill of the restaurant, still intact, currently serving as a tool shed.

 

 

 

That wall used to be a dumbwaiter. 

 

 

 

 

The garage where Thelma Todd died of carbon monoxide poisoning in 1935. 

One of the original refrigerators. Above the refrigerator are windows where clams and oysters would be served to beachgoers. The refrigerator has been there since 1934, despite not having been used and still smelling like seafood

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entrance to Thelma Todd's Roadside Café. It was eery to see the door open after driving around it for years and knowing the history behind the building. I walked in, called for my contact a few times, and heard nothing. It was an amazing experience. For a moment, I was alone in Thelma Todd's Roadside Café and it was awesome.

 

 

 

Director Roland West's "quarters". When I read about him and Thelma Todd, I assumed that because they shared "separate quarters," that he lived on the opposite side of the upstairs. Nope. Same room, with a slideable partition. Gotta love morality clauses in the days of old Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the outside courtyard, looking down upon the entrance of Thelma Todd's Roadside Café.

 

 

 

 

 Upstairs, above the restaurant.

 

 

 

The door that Thelma Todd banged upon in vain after a night of partying at the Trocadero. Her roommate, Roland West, refused to let her in on that cold December evening because he was sick of her coming home late and drunk. What happened after that night remains a mystery, but it resulted in the untimely death of Thelma Todd.

 

 

 

Upstairs, between Thelma Todd's bedroom to the right and the offices to the left.

 

 

Thelma Todd's bathroom. Not quite what I expected.

 

 

 

 

 

Outside second floor patio on top of what used to be Thelma Todd's Roadside Café.

 

 

Thelma's room is the right portion. Roland West, her still technically-married on-and-off-again boyfriend, lived in the "separate quarters" on the left.

Thelma Todd's bedroom

The view from Thelma Todd's bedroom.

View from Thelma Todd's window

 

 

 

 

 

 

The haunted stairway. According to some psychics, Thelma's spirit constantly, and vehemently tells them, "I was murdered! I was murdered!" The official cause of death was ruled a suicide. It appears she is adamant that people know otherwise.

A