From KCRW, I'm Evan Klyman, and you're listening to good food.

The Oscars are tomorrow, and in the spirit of Hollywood Excess,

we turn our gaze upon one well-worn path of many LA stars, the Celebrity Restaurant.

Almost a century before Robert DeNiro Bankrolled Nobu, Ryan Gosling-backed Tajine, and Lisa Vanderpump pumped-up pump,

stars were opening restaurants. But two of the first were at Thelma Todd, who ran the sidewalk cafe just off the Pacific Coast Highway, and filmmaker

Preston Sturgis, who opened the Players Club on the Sunset Strip.

Like the many outposts of Planet Hollywood, these restaurants were big hits, until they weren't. Because one thing that hasn't changed, this is a hard business to be in. This Oscar weekend, we're taking a little trip back in time with journalist and

historian Hadley Meirs to explore a couple of early Hollywood

celebrities.

Hi Hadley.

Hello, thank you for having me.

Oh, we're happy to have you.

Let's start with the Sidewack cafe.

Who was Thelma Todd? So was Selma Todd?

So Thema Todd was a really wonderful comedian

in an early slapstick comedy.

She was called the ice cream blonde or hot toddy and she was in a very successful screen duo with the legendary comedian Zazu Pitts. And she also did films with Buster Keaton, The Marx Brothers Joey Brown,

and she was kind of this beloved starlet on the Hollywood scene known for her

generosity and her high spirits and her mean lamb chops which she broiled over charcoal.

When and why did she decide to open a restaurant?

You know, it's really a fascinating story.

Thelma had always kind of seen herself as more than just an actress.

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