About the Author

Erika Thomas writes for the lifestyle publications Southern California Life, Los Angeles Confidential, Chevrolet New Roads and others. A former actress and voiceover artist, Erika made the rounds at Paramount, Warner Bros. and the Culver Studios (her drive-on pass often taking her through the Ince Gate), where she was always more interested in the history of the famed structures than she was in booking the acting job itself. She holds a degree in English and creative writing from California State University-Northridge. Her love of golden-era Hollywood began at the age of nine, when she saw a rerun of the 1959 film Some Like It Hot. Since then, she's been an enthusiast of old school haunts that range from Lana Turner's favorite booth at Formosa Café and Liz Taylor's bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel to every Googie-era bowling alley and coffee shop in between. Erika enjoys writing about Southern California history, architecture and design.