NOTE: This topic gets pruned from time to time in order to keep the information easy to find. This thread is for reference for those wanting places to visit relating to the Carpenters. Wanted to let you know so noone wonders why posts are deleted.

I've noticed in other groups that people often say they are visiting LA area and want to know all the places to visit that are Carpenters related. I would like to put together a listing on my site of all the different places along with the significance of the place, addresses etc.

So please post here info and I'll compile a list.

I dont know the locations for these...so if anyone knows... please post:

• Star on the Walk of Fame
  
• Close to You and Only Just Begun Apartments
  
• Each of their homes
  
• A & M Studios
  
• The Japense restaurant they visit alot. The one where they took their Dad just before Karen and her husband parted.

Thanks so much!
Pamela

*This is the post I will edit over time with the new info*

VARIOUS PLACES:

A & M Studios
1416 North LaBrea Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028

Star of Fame
631 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA

Karen's Resting Place
5600 Lindero Canyon Blvd.
Westlake village, Ca
- Pull in, pass the office - go straight up the hill, she and her parents are in a mausoleum on the left

A&R recording studios
A & R Recording Inc.
(212) 582 1070
322 W. 48th St.
New York, New York
-Where Karen recorder her solo album with Phil Ramone

The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center
California State University
6200 Atherton Street
Long Beach, CA
Map
*The Carpenters museum is open to the public on the first Saturday of each month, from 10am-12noon
For further information, call (562) 985-4274

Only Yesterday video
Spring 1975
Los Angeles, CA
Venue : Huntington Gardens

HOMES IN DOWNEY:

• First apartment when they moved to Ca.
  13024 Fidler Avenue
  Downey, Ca (That's in downey right?)
• The Newville Home
  9828 Newville Avenue
  Downey, Ca
• The home that Richard and Karen shared together
  8341 Lubec Street
  Downey, Ca
• Karen's condo
  2222 Avenue of the Stars
  Century City California

PLACES IN CONNECTICUT:

• Their home in CT
  55 Hall Street
  New Haven, CT 06512
  MAPQUEST
• Nathan Hale School
  480 Townsend Avenue
  New Haven, CT 06512
  Their elementary school
  INFO ON SCHOOL

Pam,

The first home or apartment that the Carpenter family moved into when they arrived in Downey was located at:

13024 Fidler Avenue

The Newville Home is at 9828 Newville Avenue

And the home that Richard and Karen shared together was at

8341 Lubec Street in Downey.

Karen's condo was located at 2222 Avenue of the Stars, Century City California.

And I am not sure about this one, but A & M records was located I believe on North LaBrea Avenue in Hollywood. But I might be wrong on that one.

Pam,

I looked thru a press kit that I have on the Carpenters. The letterhead is from A&M studios the address given is

1416 North LaBrea Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028

But I don't know if that is just where the offices are located or if that is where the recording studios are located. Not sure.

The A&M studios were first used by the silent movie star Charlie Chaplin in the early years of movies and was called the Chaplain Studios. There is some interesting and great history about those facilities from the start and there is plenty of written history for anyone interested in it. Walter.

Thanks!

I would love to know the place where Karen recorded her solo stuff in NYC with Phil Ramone. Actually... I should check the CD cover. But if anyone knows offhand.

Pamela

Walter,

You're right - here's what I found on the internet:

"A & M Records - 1416 North LaBrea - Hollywood, Calif,
Originally built by Charlie Chaplin as the Chaplin Studios, it is hard to believe that in the 1920's this was completely surrounded by orange groves. It went thru several owners before becoming A & M's home in the 1960's. Founded by herb Albert, his companies past roster included Sting, Blues Traveler, Sheryl Crow, Dishwalla, God Lives Underwater and Suzanne Vega. Their "A" history included the greatest acts of the last 30+ years such as James Brown, Carpenters, Joe Cocker, Cream, Flying Burrioto Brothers, The Moody Blues, Nazareth, Cat Stevens, Styx, Supertramp, The Bee Gees, Rick Wakeman, Joe Jackson, The Police, Squeeze, Oingo Boingo, Soundgarden and even Andrew Lloyd Webber! Many of the early videos of these artists were also filmed at this location. In March 1999, A & M Record's parent company shut down this historic Rock 'N roll location. Drive by soon before they make it into a strip mall".

Pam,

Karen's solo album was recorded in New York at A&R recording studios and also at Laand Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California

I couldnt find an address for either of these but I'll keep looking. Is Laand Kendun Recorders where Karen recorded her solo only while in Ca or did the Carpenters record there too? I know that the C's recorded another place.

Pamela

Pam,

This is going to drive me nuts, because I just read about this somewhere. Only I can't remember where. Must have been on another website. I will ask at amcorner.com. They usually have someone there that would know for sure. I know that Karen recorded some of the solo album there because she was too sick to fly to New York and so they finished it up there. But as far as the Carpenters recording there - I'm just not sure. I want to say yes they did, but it's a guess.

Sorry

Pam,

I'm getting closer. A & R records was a studio opened in 1967 by Phil Ramone - it is located at 48th Street in New York City. I put a post on the amcorner site. Hoping to get even more inforomation for you.

Hi everyone,

I'm new here (from Holland) and a big fan of Karen's lovely voice. I especially like the solo album. Will be flying to New York City later this year and I would love to see the place where Karen recorded her solo album plus other KC locations in NYC... does anybody here know of any other places where Karen was during her visits to NYC in 1979?

Pam, I found a very interesting book titled "The rock year book 1981". It's actually from 1980 and in it you'll find lots of information on what went on in the music business in the US and in the UK (from musical styles to week-by-week charts) between September 1979 and August 1980... And yes, it also lists many recording studios both in the US and the UK (and even Canada)!!

So the following address is a true must-see for me later this year :

A & R Recording Inc.
(212) 582 1070
322 W. 48th St., New York


BTW, the Burbank studio is listed as well in this book:

Kendun Recorders
(213) 843 8096
619 South Glenwood Pl.,
Burbank, Ca.


Till later!

Greg

Another point of interest might be the Seabreeze Pet Cemetary in Huntington Beach California. That is where "Lady" and "Mush" are buried (Karen's dogs). There is a headstone for each dog - I believe "Lady's" is inscribed "She was a true lady - Karen & Richard". don't know about Mush's headstone.

Also, I'm trying to find the address for Joe Osborn's house. Where K & R first started recording in his garage. I believe it is in North Hollywood - still checking on that one

Weird story!!!

I flew down to Long Beach this week for business. (monday and tuesday)
I was on my cell phone inside this office, and I noticed an envelope hanging out of someone's mail slot that said "Karen Carp. . ."

Out of obsessive curiosity, I meandered closer, so as not to look like a snoop staring into someone else's mailbox.

Anyway, sure enough, this envelope said something about the Richard and Karen Carpenter theater west.
Do you all know about that?

Apparently, there is this beautiful theater in Long Beach named after the Carpenters that also has a gallery of Carpenters memorabilia.

The info is at http://www.musical.org/d6carpcent.html

Totally freaked me out to see that envelope, though. You just don't do that to obsessed people.

Phlipper,

Are you talking about the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at Long Beach State University? If so, yes, Richard is a main benefactor to the Performing ARts Center and there is a "Carpenter Museum" that is open 2 Saturday's a month - I believe. It has Richard's Wurlitzer electric piano and Karen's original drum kit and gold records and other Carpenter memorabilia. I'm going to Southern Cal next April - I hope to get there to see it.

jayne

Here is the link to The Richard and Karen Performing Arts Center.
http://www.carpenterarts.org/index.asp

There also was a link to the Center in the website which phlipper posted. There is the beautiful picture of Arts Center at home, isn't it? Thank you very much, phlipper.

philipper, renata,
You should got to the Center on first Saturday of months if you can.
Carpenters Exhibit is shown between 10:00:00 AM – 12:00:00 PM
The Carpenters' memorabilia on display in the Carpenter Center's lobby. Please check the Calendar of Events page
http://www.carpenterarts.org/calendars.asp

and Carpenters Exhibit page.
http://www.carpenterarts.org/event.asp?ID=54&Date=

You can see the pictures from the Center at Yuka's page.
http://www.kamome.or.jp/yuka/english/Carp/index.html
"Unveiling March19,2k" of "*Special!" (pink letters in menu).
You can see pictures of Richard, Richard's children, John Bettis, Ron Gorow
and Frank Pooler. And Pictures of Grammies, the American Music Award and
Gold Records.

Benefit Concert "Top Of The World" as Jayne talked
http://www.carpenterarts.org/TopWorld.asp

and when I click on "Download the latest newsletter" of newsletter page before,
I could see more pictures of Richard & Mary and their son.

Good luck!

If you go to the Center, would you let us know your comment?

Sakura

Carpenters Collection at Downey City Library
http://www.downeylibrary.org/services/#carpenters

map
http://www.downeylibrary.org/map/
11121 Brookshire Ave.
Downey, CA 90241-7015

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?csz=Down...&resize=s&mag=8
maybe too long, try next one
http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=&ed=V...0241&country=us

The Carpenters Collection is on permanent display in the lobby of the
library, located at 11121 Brookshire Ave.
http://www.geocities.com/reallyrudy/carpdidyouknow.html
Scroll down to bottom, please.

October 22, 2001 PRESS RELEASE:
Carpenters Collection Debuts at Downey City Library
& Richard's pictures at library
http://www.yesterdayoncemore.net/collection.html

Sakura

According to Coleman's book, KC staying initially at the UN Plaza Hotel, then stayed with Phil and Itchy Ramone at their home in Poundridge, CT...

I was thinking out great it would be to get a group of 10 of us together to go next year for the 3rd annual TOTW Benefit in Long Beach...

Any takers?? Let's see, can 10 of us fit in my 500 sq ft apt that I share with my sheltie, Sadie??

Probably for tax purposes, the Carpenters had their own company which officially owned all their musical instruments for tour. That company was called "Moresound." The Moresound warehouse served dual purpose as a rehearsal facility for Carpenters thruout the 1970's and K & R spent many hours there working up new songs, getting the band up to speed, etc. It is mentioned several times in Coleman's bio. Moresound was located at 7069 1/2 Vineland Ave in North Hollywood. The building is still standing -- it's part of a fading industrial complex, situated at the west end of the Burbank airport runway. 7069 1/2, whose hallowed walls must still contain the echoes of so much great music played within them so very long ago, is today a drab, non-descript warehouse for a battery company. Just thought you'd all like to know....

Hi Sonia! Nice to meet you on the board.

If you are looking for Sambi in Downey, here is the link.
http://www.sambi.com/index.shtml
They have information page which has link to a map.


I read that Karen and Richard used to go to Japanese restaurant Sambi. Richard
occasionally ate there with Mary before he moved to Thousand Oaks, CA. His
picture was on the wall in the restaurant.

If this is another restaurant, would you anyone correct me?


Have a great time in LA, Sonia!

Sakura from Japan

Old A&M Studios from another topic

For those visiting Karen's condo in Century City, you should also visit the ABC studios just a couple of blocks away... it's where thay taped all of their specials.

THE ABC ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
2040 Avenue of the Stars (Plaza level),
Century City (Los Angeles), CA. / (310) 557-7777

But you'd better hurry!! I found this recently

"As for the ABC Entertainment Center, it has recently been announced that the Center will be razed, and replaced by a new $280 million office building (with no connection to ABC). This will also mean the destruction of the well-known Shubert Theatre."

Some other minor poins of interest not already mentioned include:

The Hollywood Bowl (Where they won the "Battle of the Bands " competition)

Disneyland!! (Karen's favorite place)

Maybe even the Shrine Auditorium (where they attended the Oscars)

BTW, anyone visiting A&M, now Henson Studios, MUST stop by Pink's hot dogs, a couple of blocks north on LaBrea. It's a Hollywood landmark that boasts an incredible "photo wall of stars" comparable to anywhere in the world... Oh, they have great hot dogs too

Marcus

I haven't been there in quite awhile, so I don't know if Rich or Karen have a photo on the wall. The picture shows only a small part of it--they cover the whole place! They say you haven't really made it in Hollywood until you get your picture on the wall at Pink's.

And doesn't that lady on the left look like Karen a little??? Sorry if this is

Karen's new grave - PIERCE BROTHERS VALLEY OAKS
5600 Lindero Canyon Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362


WALK OF FAME STAR address
6931 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028-6103, US

This house was torn down to make an entrance ramp to the freeway.

Joe P.

There is now a big statue of KERMIT were the spinning A&M sign used to be... sad.

I remember seeing it when the A&M logos was wrapped in black sheeting, once they announced they were closing it down. It was really sad to see it like that.

oh wow... I didnt know that. Is there a picture of the place floating around? I cant remember if I've seen it or not.

Pamela

That photo is strange. It would be like driving by your old church that was sold to a restaurant chain and seeing the cross on top of the steeple replaced by a hamburger.

I don't meant to be disrespectful, but that image is hilarious

That reminds me of a place not far from here- it's an old church-turned-restaurant that's now called Heavenly Pancakes. It's bizzare

I bet they have saintly syrup, alter ommelets and Sunday-school sausages.

I know Karen sang "Rainbow Connection" but this is ridiculous.

Did you know there was a Carpenter Elementary School in Downey?

I stopped by my last night in Downey and took a picture.



The school is located very close to Fidler Ave.

Carpenter Elementary School
Grades: 4-5
Type: public
9439 East Foster Rd.
Downey, CA 90242

I knew it existed, but didn't realise how close it is to Fidler Avenue, where the Carpenters first lived in Downey. You can see it on the Google Earth map here:



Stephen

Haha. Heavenly Pancakes...

Here are my Carpenters places to go...

1. Downey Public Library - it has a whole exhibit near the door that features rare books with the Carpenters, all of their CDs released internationally, some of their gold records, and some memorabilia. They even have some Carpenters CDs for rental. Sadly, I couldn't get it because we were leaving Los Angeles that day.
2. CSULB Carpenters Exhibit (anyone know the real name of it? It just slipped my mind!) - has ALL of the Carpenters' OFFICIAL gold records (both '33 rpms and '45 rpms), plus Karen's drums and Richard's piano with the original "Close To You" sheet music on exhibit, some of their awards are on exhibit, some of their photos, and the "Top Of The World" Billboard Hot 100 paper laminated and hanging on the wall.
3. The Carpenters at the Hollywood Walk Of Fame - It looks different in person than the picture of it in "Top Of The World." I think they re-made the star, because the color's brighter, and the text looks different. Wonderful sight though. Lindakron has this picture as her avatar with her son standing on it.
4. Last but definitely not least, the Carpenter Crypt. It was so sad to see the crypt. It had an ominous feel to it. It was peaceful, yet solemn. It was locked (as usual), with Harold and Agnes' graves at the top and bottom, and Karen at the middle. It had the Carpenter family's gold-plated signatures on their graves, and it was just too sweet.

Those are my places of interest, and I hope you like it!

Hi!

I tried to collect some images some month ago, but unfortunately I gave to that topic
a bad title. I hope that also from this topic many people can see those images.

Images of Carpenters locations

Zoltan

I live in Downey and I am concerned about the future status of the Carpenter's former homes. These buildings are not safe from demolition. A historic preservation ordinance has not been passed and without it, we could lose these homes forever. I urge all of you to e-mail the city council members with a cc to the city clerk (all of their e-mail addresses are the city of Downey website) and let them know how important these sites are to you and millions of other fans who want to visit Downey because of the Carpenters.

Hi everybody,

I also live in Downey and nothing is safe here from demolition. There is a historical preservation plan that has been stalled in city hall for a while. In talking with one of the council members recently, I was told me that the council needs to see support for preservation ordinance in Downey. So a letter writing campaign would be a huge help to get the preservation ordinance passed by the council. If you folks could please write them it would really help.

Here are the council emails

Council
abayer@downeyca.org
dgafin@downeyca.org
kcartozi@downeyca.org
rtrejo@downeyca.org
mguerra@downeyca.org

City Clerk
kmidstok@downeyca.org

If you would like to write a letter to the local paper please email your letter to the Editor of the Downey Patriot
downeypatriot@yahoo.com

Thanks!
Retrocool

Hey!

I've wrote to the council, and had an article of mine featured in the Downey Patriot. I've done all I could and I wish I could do more. It's up to fate now.

Let's hope!

Thanks Marti.

If anyone is interested in classic cars, there will be a Holy Ghost Cruise to save Harvey's Broiler. The Los Angeles Conservancy is putting it together and it is scheduled for Oct. 14, 07. Here is the link.
Harvey's Broiler Link

Cheers!
Retrocool

This past weekend i had an opprotunity to visit some friends in long beach. So I decided i would make a stop in downey home to the carpenters. I left my home with my yahoo maps in hand anxiously anticipating my trip. Since I read that the newville house had been split in two, i made it a personal mission to visit the home before it is no more. When I approached the florence avenue exit in downey it just seemed natural for me to drive this route. Once I found the house I was somewhat shocked to see that it is so much smaller. A few years ago I visited the home when it was one whole home. At that time I was impressed with the landscaping and the size of the house was huge. Now back to my trip, the section that was torn away from the main house was still there but there was a chain link fence around the entire lot that it occupied. the backyard you could tell that it has fell into disrepair. The windows were blocked so that you could not see into this section. The outside of the main house was decorated for halloween. In front of the garage was a halloween decoration in the form of the grim reaper, that reached to about the second level of the house. This form of the grim reaper was just beneth the window that was once karen's room. At first I was shocked to see the grim reaper under karen's bedroom window. I was able to snap some pics of the addition that is no longer attached to the main house, as well as the main section as well. next on my journey I drove to richard's old home on lubec street, I was somewhat impressed by the home it seemed to be well kept the doors were open to the home so i caught a quick glimse inside the house.
My job is transferring me to long beach so i decided to mix business with pleasure i went looking for apartments, a dream come true for me would be to live in the close to you or only just begun apartments. So i drove to 5th street to check the apartments out. They are well kept and clean, the close to you is a lot more bigger than the only just begun. I decided to call the number and inquire about the apartments. The manager was very friendly and quoted me rent prices. She even showed me an empty apartment, they are very spacious. I am now on the waiting list, i hope my dream will come true.
I than drove about two blocks further up the road and visited the downey library to see the carpenter display it was very nice and I read some of the old fan club newsletters. I than visited downey high school which is across the street from the library.

After the high school I than ventured out to firestone ave and ate lunch at sambi the japenese restuarant that the carpenters would go to. The food is good and the atmospehere is nice.
That ended my trip to downey, but over the next couple of days I visited the carpenters exhibit at cal state long beach and braved the 405 freeway and the 101 to pierce brothers valley oaks cemetery to pay my respects to karen and her family. I laid flowers outside the crypt and sat on a bench for a few minutes while I was doing this I played yesterday once more from my ipod. I sat there with tear stung eyes at the loss of karen and her gift of song to the world but her memory live on. When I was leaving I decided to leave my favorite picture of karen at the crypt.

So ended my trip to the many monuments to the carpenters. I hope to visit newville avenue before more changes are made. I took some pictures of these special sites. I am new to this but I will figure out how to put these pictures on the forum. So please be patient. thank you

This picture was posted on Flickr.com under Downey California. It's there first apartment in Downey.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dyingindowney...pool-326375@N25

Retrocool

First apartment when they moved to Ca.
13024 Fidler Avenue
Downey, Ca


=(

One of the places mentioned was Karen's Century City Condo, I wonder who bought it after she passed....wonder if they kept the Only Just Begun door chime?

i wanna visit A&M studios.