Orchid Avenue, Hollywood, California 1960’s
Neil Young Quote, when asked about Donna and Vicki.
“It was a magical time in history, those girls were my friends,
and we were living this thing together”
The Commodore Gardens Apartments stood on Orchid Avenue, just off Hollywood Boulevard, in a building that no longer exists. I did manage to locate a photograph of a nearby building with the exact same façade. Our apartment—the one Donna, Neil, and I shared—was on the second floor, right-hand side.
The Hollywood Theatre, open all night, was within walking distance of the Commodore Gardens. When Buffalo Springfield opened at the Whisky, after work Steven Stills, Donna, Neil, and I would head over to the theater to catch double features. The place was usually almost empty, except for a few homeless men who came in to sleep.
We would stock up on popcorn, sodas, and ice cream bonbons, stretch our feet across the empty seats in front of us, and settle in until daylight. Then we’d walk home as the sun came up and sleep until it was time to get ready for work again.
Dinner was at 7 p.m. at the Whisky, where musicians and waitresses were welcomed like family. Buffalo Springfield had made their live debut at the Troubadour on Santa Monica Boulevard that April. Comprising three singer-guitarists—Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Richie Furay—the band soon secured their own residency at the Whisky. They were an instant sensation.
