This latest entry comes from Cindy Farnsworth, who messaged us memories of her time at the Cockatoo Inn, where her mother worked as the head cocktail waitress for Andy Lococo. The Head Cocktail Waitress Cindy wrote in to tell us about her mother, who worked and partied with Cockatoo owner, Andy Lococo. She paints a…
Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys and one of the most influential songwriters and producers in American music history, has died at age 82. Widely regarded as the genius behind hits like “Good Vibrations” and the groundbreaking album Pet Sounds, Wilson leaves behind a complicated but profound legacy that reshaped pop music forever. Early…
Hello readers! A quick website note: we have been compiling lots of stories and memories over time, and we have updated our Notable Figures page this week. We updated biography info, added musical acts who performed or were have known to perform at the Cockatoo Inn; as well as added former Cockatoo Inn owners and…
When viewers were asked which guest they would like to see on political comedian Bill Maher’s podcast, they chose director, Quentin Tarantino. In his August 2024 appearance on Maher’s Club Random, Tarantino names the best trilogy ever made, talks Robert Blake’s murder case, and Alec Baldwin’s Rust shooting. The Podcast For those who have never…
A little girl dancing with jockeys at a grown up social. A young man having a drink and the time of his life with his pals. A married couple celebrating their 25th anniversary. No matter where a person is in his or her life, a visit to the Cockatoo Inn is often a memorable encounter….
Throughout its time, the Cockatoo Inn was home to many events: anniversaries, banquets, retirement dinners, and more. We’ve uncovered awards ceremonies for local colleges, family reunions, and even political events with celebrities like Muhammad Ali. One July evening in 1961 saw the Lawndale Business and Professional Women’s Club come together for an International Relations event….
Imagine being a 6 year-old in the 1960s, walking into the grandeur that was the Cockatoo Inn. In its prime, the Cockatoo drew patrons from all corners. Recently, one lucky lad sent us his memory, feasting like royalty in the dining room decorated in ‘ye olde English’ style. This is the brief tale of Eric…
Quentin Tarantino shot some of his Jackie Brown scenes at the Cockatoo Inn, as we all know. But it wasn’t as easy as setting up shop inside the condemned building. The famed hotel was buried in bureaucracy during the mid 1990s. So how did they get in? According to an interview in LA Taco, prolific…
Over the years, the Cockatoo has had many employees, managers, proprietors – all the people who contributed to make it the memorable landmark it was. Recently, we learned about someone who statedly worked at the Cockatoo, bartender Allan Rivelli. Early Days Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Allan Rivelli was listed in the 1940 US Census…
Andy Lococo and his prized hotel and restaurant are a big part of 20th century American history. However, this month we celebrate a somewhat forgotten figure whose important midcentury work still impact us today. Roy A. Sealey was born in 1917, one year prior to Andy Lococo’s birth. The prominent African-American architect played an integral…