Edelweiss Chocolates

I just adore the window display at Edelweiss Chocolates in Beverly Hills. This charming little chocolate factory has been in business in the same location since 1942. Those are the original Art Deco glass blocks on both sides making it one one of the very last vintage store facades left in the neighborhood – and one of the oldest confectionaries in America that still process its chocolates by hand. Frank Sinatra’s favorite were the Maple Creams and Lauren Bacall and Katherine Hepburn’s were the Chocolate Turtles (also a favorite of my father’s). Many think this is where that famous Lucy episode was filmed, it wasn’t – but it WAS where Lucy got the idea for the episode since she’d always entered through the back door and walked past by the machines. That’s what triggered the idea of her and Ethel wrapping chocolates off a conveyor belt at lighting speed. The story goes she actually worked there for one week to get the feel of it and the rest is history. In 1996, agent Marty Ingles purchased the entire store for wife, actress Shirley Jones. She sold it in 2004 to current owner, Madlin Zahir and if you get there early enough she might even give you a brief tour. (I was lucky enough!) In fact one of my earliest ‘Vintage LA’ memories was witnessing fresh chocolate coming down the conveyor belt on grade school field trip. I literally felt like a kid in a candy store. Until this day Edelweiss sells 85 different kinds of chocolates. That’s enough to impress to Willy Wonka!

Many think this is where that famous Lucy episode was filmed, it wasn’t (it was actually filmed at See’s Candy in Culver City) – but Edelweiss WAS where Lucy got the idea for the episode since she’d always entered through the back door and walked past by the machines.

Alison Martino is a writer, television producer, and pop culture historian. She founded the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles in 2010. Alison muses on L.A’s. past and present on Twitter and Instagram.