1921-2002

Jerry's autograph, signed at the Nickodell Restaurant, which was beside KCAL 9 on Melrose. Warner Brothers bought the Nickodell lot and tore it down sometime around '93. The Nickodell was one of the last great LA steak and martini restaurants of the cholesterol era. In some ways it resembled the Smoke House in Burbank. The Nickodell would make a Caesar salad on a cart in front of your table, always a treat. The Nickodell had an adjacent bar that was as large as the restauant area. The bar itself was a long, old-school number with stool seats and smoked glass. There were plenty of nauga-hyde booths for those that wanted to dine in the cocktail atmosphere. Regulars probably remember the nude paintings for sale on the South wall, which looked like they were straight out of a 1971 Playboy Funny. Dunphy was a regular at the Nickodell, slowly milking a single martini before he walked next door to do the 10 o clock news on KCAL. Sometimes the owners would open up the back room for parties, and one night in 1991 while celebrating a birthday there, I was lucky enough to get Dunphy's autograph. The Nickodell's matches, which in the 90's still boasted air conditioning, were a testament to their unchanging ways. I love the way they referred to themselves as the "home of screen, television radio & recording stars". I miss the Nickodell. And I miss Jerry already...

Dunphy's credits on imdb.com

Nickodell pictures at the bar, circa 1992

The Nickodell ashtray, a cherished posession.