That is certainly the best use for a corner with a rather strange history of
retail stores and failures. The monster truck perched twenty feet in the
air on the Fairfax side did nothing to pique my interest but once inside I
was enthralled with the dioramas and the L S history they described. The
place is well done from a visitors standpoint.
I used to work five blocks down Wilshire. The store (which dated from the
twenties) was closed 25 years ago after the second customer was shot and
killed in a robbery in the parking lot. This was in the "Miracle Mile" ...
in the '30's to '50's an extremely nice part of the Los Angeles shopping
scene. With the L A County Art Museum complex across the street and on to
the East for a couple of blocks and the La Brea tar pits right there, it has
been a big part of business, culture and a valuable part of oil production
history too.
The Petersen building is two blocks away, Bob Petersen has to get some
satisfaction from seeing the place on a frequent basis. Certainly a nice
thing to do for the community. I'm just wondering how they got so very far
in the hole financially.
Wes
----------
> From: "Thomas E. Bryant" <saltracer@awwwsome.com>
> To: Glen Barrett <speedtimer@earthlink.net>
> CC: "land-speed@autox.team.net" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Re: Peterson Museum
> Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 16:26:17 -0800
>
>Glen,
>By my estimation that makes $40 Million Peterson has invested in this
>museum. It certainly should bear his name!
>
>Tom
>
>Glen Barrett wrote:
>>
>> In todays L.A. Times Robert E. Peterson has offered 25 million from
>> their private foundation to save the museum and pay off existing debts.
>> Approval is waiting from the board of goveners. they are hoping for a
>> final agreement in April 2000. How can they turn this down, but
>> stranger things have happened. Heres hoping they vote the right way.
>> Glen in Long Beach
>
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