A new memoir from the late founder of Dan Tana’s hit shelves this month. It tells the story of how a small Italian restaurant in a little old yellow building on Santa Monica Boulevard outlasted nearly every rival built during its heyday. In a town famous for building new identities and swaping out old name Dan Tana has a similar story to tell. Norma Jean became Marilyn Monroe, Issur Danielovitch became Kirk Douglas, Maurice Micklewhite became Michael Caine and Frances Ethel Gumm became Judy Garland. Turns out Dobrivoje Tanasijević born in Belgrade would one day become Dan Tana. He put it on a restaurant instead of a movie poster.
“Everybody Came to Tana’s: An American Dream Come True” was published June 23 by Radius Book Group. Tana completed the manuscript shortly before he died last August at 90. His daughters, film producer Gabrielle Tana and filmmaker and interior designer Katerina Tana, are promoting the book.
WEHOonline bought a copy. It’s a fascinating read. We recommend it. You don’t need to be a regular at Dan Tana’s to enjoy it. You don’t even need to have eaten there. West Hollywood residents will find the history worth the price alone…