In 1963 Larchmont Boulevard sported four grocery stores, a record store, a department store, and a singular restaurant. Jane Gilman arrived on the boulevard that year, sized up the picture-perfect small-town block in the heart of a fast-paced city, and smelled opportunity. Shortly  thereafter Gilman and business partner Dawne Goodwin started the Larchmont Chronicle with a 12 page edition that was mailed to local residents. The paper still survives and thrives today, celebrating 50 years of serving the Larchmont community.
“It’s amazing to have a job you look forward to every day,” Gilman told the Buzz from her cozy office at 542 1/2 North Larchmont. “The area has grown from a sleepy neighborhood in the 1960s to a happening location these days with beautiful historic housing, an excellent selection of schools and real neighborhood involvement.”
Gilman remembers Larchmont life in the early days of the paper, when the construction of the Larchmont Medical Building was the controversy of the day, looming tall above the rest of the neighborhood. The days when the boulevard shut down at 5 pm every day and businesses were closed on Sundays. The days when a Beverly Hills Freeway was under discussion – an eight lane wide belt of high speed traffic routed along Beverly and Melrose from the 101 to Beverly Hills and beyond – that would have cut up the greater Hancock Park area. Thanks in part to the Chronicle covering that story, and many others throughout the years, the neighborhood has had a voice – a voice for historic preservation, for community interconnectivity, and for people to learn about one another.
Throughout the fifty years of delivering news, real estate listings, school reports and “On the Boulevard” columns once a month to the front doorsteps of residents, Â the Chronicle has become a mainstay of life in Larchmont community. We have Jane Gilman to thank for that.
This Friday, May 17th the community will honor Jane Gilman and the Larchmont Chronicle‘s Golden Jubilee Anniversary at the Ebell Club. Tickets are sold out for the evening dinner gala. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ebell’s Preservation & Restoration Fund.
As I recall, the ‘mont rolled up the sidewalks on Mondays too. And back in the day we were kinda, sorta coffee-less, not a Starbucks in sight. Was great having a Safeway.
Yay! It’s good to see this up. I’ve learned a lot working for Jane and I love that we get to celebrate this.
love the larchmont chronicle!
Jane Gilman is not only a wonderful human being, she’s a female entrepreneur who has kept her wonderful paper going for 50 YEARS during the most turbulent upheaval print media has ever seen. Congratulations to Jane for her spirit, heart and perseverance. You’re an inspiration for us all!
Oh yea that too, love the chronicle been reading it ever since I’ve moved here. Found my current apartment from the chronicle (some 12 years ago), one that had been driven over a number of times in the driveway of a biz on the ‘mont.
JANE,Congradulation on 50 years. Thats a lot of words. I remember going to the Sound of Music at the Hollywood Bowl with you ,peggy and victoria.It was something different for a person growing up in Minnesota. It was so much fun.