What They Saved From the Palisades Fire

by

My Mom’s Emmy

Melissa Rivers: TV host and daughter of Joan Rivers

Residing in Los Angeles, I’ve experienced several evacuations. When it was time to prepare for another potential move, I ensured we had our passports ready, among other necessities. Then, I picked up a photo of my father, a baby picture of my son, Cooper, and some snapshots of me with my mom. Unfortunately, all the other family photos were lost forever. Additionally, I took a simple sketch that my mother drew, depicting Cooper and me on a beach during our vacation.

(Or)

As a Los Angeles resident, I’ve gone through numerous evacuations. When it was time to gather essentials for another possible relocation, I made sure we had our passports handy, along with other necessary items. After that, I selected a picture of my father, a baby photo of Cooper, and some memories with my mom. Sadly, all the other family photos have been lost forever. Furthermore, I chose a casual drawing my mother made, capturing Cooper and me on a beach during our holiday.

I picked up her Emmy since she held it with such pride. It’s surprising to think that, throughout her career, she only won one [in 1990 for The Joan Rivers Show]. After my father’s passing in ’87, she had managed to get back on her feet, and this award was especially meaningful to her at that time. I understood the emotional significance of it to her, as it symbolized a fresh start in her life. She always kept it in her office.

I’ve had it since she passed.

Apart from picking up her watch, I collected a few assorted items too, including my father’s dress watch that I had passed onto my son when he turned 18. However, what I believed to be a particular bracelet of sentimental value – though not particularly valuable – seemed to have been left behind unintentionally. I thought I’d slipped it into my pocket. That was all she mentioned in her note.

Everything they had accumulated over the years, including Fabergé items and my mother’s valuable jewelry, were stored in a safety deposit box at a bank located in the Palisades. Unfortunately, that bank, along with the safety deposit box, was destroyed by fire. Despite claims that these boxes are both fireproof and bomb-resistant, I am unsure of what happened. Does it get heated like a microwave? I’m not sure. Eventually, we should be able to access it, but I don’t know when. All I know is that the bank itself has been completely demolished.

In our family, we unfortunately no longer possess an extraordinary art collection that had been accumulated over a lifetime, which included a Robert Rauschenberg piece. My mom developed a friendship with him later in life, and he even selected a specific Rauschenberg piece as a gift for her. The collection was not massive but held significant value to us. I can vividly recall the locations of each art piece adorning the walls of my childhood home, my mom’s New York apartment, and subsequent homes we lived in. Over the past 30 years since my father passed away, I remember every addition to the collection. After my mother’s passing, I knew where they were situated in my last residence. Regrettably, I can now tell you where they hung in our recently sold home as well.

Moving our family from Los Angeles to New York left me feeling disoriented. I can still recall the moment in my mother’s New York apartment when the collection was unpacked, and tears filled my eyes – for that assemblage symbolized home to me. The attachment began when I turned 10 years old, which was also when they acquired their initial piece of art. It wasn’t particularly grand, but it held a special significance as it marked the beginning of their art collection.

Among my godparents, Vincent Price held a special place. On every significant birthday milestone, he would present me with a small piece of art. This collection has always been dear to me, as it serves as a vivid reminder of my journey from childhood to adulthood. Losing this connection is one of the harder aspects I’m struggling with due to its sentimental value.

The humoristic files, well-known due to the 2010 documentary “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work,” are secure. They’ve become part of the collections housed at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York. Fortunately, they’re planning an exhibit on my mother, and just a few months ago, they gathered much of the materials. Most of our archival items were recently moved from our house into storage. Now, it’s all kept at the National Comedy Center.

Regarding my mother’s garments, they are currently kept in storage. There were some deeply sentimental items at my place, such as her preferred travel sweater and similar items, which hold no significance for others but me. I had both my father’s and mother’s bathrobes. Fortunately, most of it wasn’t in the house. Unfortunately, all my collection of awards show clothing has vanished, though it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

On my third occasion of ending a night with life as I know it, only to find it flipped on its head upon waking, I’ve found solace in checking up on others’ well-being, as it keeps my own concerns at bay. When conversing with someone experiencing similar circumstances, be mindful and attentive. At present, I have little interest in discussing trivial matters such as “My clothes smell from smoke damage.” Instead, pay attention to the situation – that’s crucial. In essence, be aware of your surroundings and respond accordingly.

The Horses of Will Rogers State Historic Park

Cha Cha Jago: Equine riding concessionaire at the park

Cha Cha Jago sadly lost her house to the devastating Palisades Fire. However, for now, she’s prioritizing her concern towards how this wildfire’s aftermath is impacting the horses, horse handlers, and riders at Jigsaw Farms, her equestrian business. In recent times, it was the manager of Will Rogers State Historic Park, a place known for its association with Hollywood’s iconic screen cowboy. Regrettably, both the main ranch house and stables at this property, which were part of the 23,000-acre fire that razed over 1,200 structures across Pacific Palisades and parts of eastern Malibu, were completely destroyed by the blaze.

Click here to read the full story.

Rock History: An Iconic Dress

Steve Martocci: Tech entrepreneur

Steve Martocci, a tech innovator, launched his initial venture, GroupMe – a messaging app, which he later sold to Microsoft. Subsequently, he teamed up to establish Blade, often referred as the ‘Uber of helicopters’, and Splice, a platform for music sampling. At present, he is beta-testing SuppCo, an online resource designed to simplify the intricate world of supplements. Unfortunately, his home in the Palisades was destroyed by a fire.

We had recently completed a two-year long renovation of our home, only a week prior. On Tuesday, my wife and I awoke with excitement, telling each other, “Here begins the next chapter of our lives.” However, just two hours later, our house was destroyed.

I picked up some unique items, among them being a dress once owned by Phish drummer Jon Fishman from 1998 to 2011, which I acquired through an auction.

Since my 10th grade year, I’ve been attending Phish concerts and have managed to catch more than 200 shows. My passion for jam bands like the Grateful Dead and The Disco Biscuits has driven my professional path – it was this passion that led me to create GroupMe, an app specifically designed to facilitate group outings to concerts with friends.

For approximately 100 performances, I’ve watched Fishman wearing this particular outfit. The original one fell apart completely, and this is one of the two custom-made replacements. There’s a small tear on the side with a patch sewn over it from where his drumstick has rubbed repeatedly.

Lisa Simpson, the designer, expressed delight upon learning that her dress made it through safely. It’s a cherished item, something so significant and influential beyond just herself. — AS REPORTED BY SHIRLEY HALPERIN

My Grandfather’s Rolex 

Kevin Cooley: Fire photographer

For the past decade or so, my focus as an artist has been capturing images of wildfires. Although I’m not a professional journalist by trade, my work primarily revolves around exploring the emotional bond between humans and their environment, with a specific emphasis on the role of fire in this context.

While capturing images of the Palisades Fire, I received a call from my wife urging me back to Altadena. Despite my extensive experience with wildfires, I found myself struggling to evacuate effectively. In such situations, it’s challenging for one’s mind to remain clear when your child is in distress. Fortunately, we had a fire safe and were able to retrieve all our important items. Unfortunately, most of my studio equipment, including negatives and personal belongings, were lost. I didn’t even have a toothbrush with me.

Although my salvageable items are rather scant, one of them is a gold Rolex once owned by my grandfather. Sadly, his home was destroyed in the 1964 Bel Air Fire. My grandfather was an attorney who worked for a bank in Westwood. The fire was tragic, but it only affected about 500 homes compared to the current blaze. The following day, my mother found and rented another house. They rebuilt and remained there.

This particular watch holds a deeper significance for me. I’d removed its strap before, but I recently reattached it as I don’t wish to lose it. Now, the most secure place for it is on my wrist. Its value has become more personal and meaningful to me.

As a concerned parent, I’m deeply affected because my wife teaches at Pasadena High School and tragically, three-quarters of my son’s class have lost their homes. The uncertainty about what school will look like for them is overwhelming. Right now, it feels crucial to keep my son connected with his community. My wife shares this sentiment, feeling a strong sense of responsibility towards her students. Yet, we’re both at a loss as to how we should proceed in these challenging times.

A Very Special Christmas Album Signed by Keith Haring

Diana Baron: Music executive

Diana Baron has lived in Pacific Palisades for a long time. For most of her professional life, she worked as an agent for music artists, initially at A&M Records and later through her own public relations company. Some of her clients have been Shakira, Avicii, and the estate of Michael Jackson.

For decades, the Palisades have been my home and sanctuary, and it’s heart-wrenching to see so much of it disappear. My space was filled with a wealth—what once seemed an endless treasure trove—of artworks, including platinum records that adorned the closet, and the walls displayed a gallery of stars from Shakira to Avicii, right down to Barry White. Among those wall decorations were some stunning vintage photographs of me and Barry, capturing cherished moments we shared over the years.

During my evacuation, I made sure to collect a few sentimental items – my grandmother’s necklace from Italy and my signed copy of the “A Very Special Christmas” album by Keith Haring, which holds great significance as I had worked on the project. It was a link to my past in many ways. Additionally, while working for Warner Bros. Records at 21, they created a phony cover of Rolling Stone featuring my face. I didn’t want to leave that behind either. Strange, indeed.

If only I had brought my grandmother’s stunning 1920s bronze lamps with me, but I didn’t, as I assumed I could retrieve them the following day. Instead, I thought to myself, “I can always pick it up tomorrow.” — AS TOLD TO SHIRLEY HALPERIN

You can find this article in the January 17th issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Consider subscribing by clicking here.

Read More

2025-01-17 17:28