Post #624150 by bigbrotiki on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 2:24 PM

Re: MOBY buys Wolf's Lair

"...Mr Wolf was a chaser of aspiring starlets, hence the secret apartment under the gatehouse. It still has the original south seas decor of the 1920's, including a bamboo piano and a couch that turns into a bed at the touch of a button. Wolf would woo the lovelies while his unsuspecting wife slept in the Castle a few hundred feet away. He would tell the cuties that he had connections in the big house and coulld possibly help their careers..."

I wrote earlier on this thread:

On 2010-04-03 00:43, bigbrotiki wrote:
I would venture a guess that that Pre-Tiki rumpus room might have been a contributing factor to the purchase of the place. He has Polynesian pop in his blood:
"Born September 11, 1965 in Harlem, New York City. Given the legal name Richard Melville Hall. Given the nickname 'Moby' at birth due to having Herman Melville as an ancestor."

Well, as it turns out, that was pure wishful thinking. A disappearing act, so to speak:

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/04/moby_turning_wolfs_lair_tiki_bar_into_private_magic_club_1.php

I have it on good authority now that Moby had it all ripped out. What a crying shame. Here are some pics of what once was:

Looking at the decor now, especially the paintings, I would say that it actually was NOT "untouched since the 30s", but RESTORED by its later (pre-Moby) owner, Bob Crane (not the actor):

"It was owned by Bob Crane for many years....he is a renowned dealer and restorer of landmark properties, and the author of a book on Hollywood. Bob's preservationist eye and attention to meticulous detail restored this home to it's original splendor."

Well, original splendor no more. Of the many sad stories I have heard about original home bars being torn out of mid-century homes, this is one is among the most tragic.

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2012-03-21 15:57 ]