An early edition of Park Labrea News documented the continued construction of its namesake apartment complex. (Beverly Press/Park Labrea News archival photo)

It was 1946 and a giant development was underway in post-World War II Los Angeles. As soldiers returned home and headed west – perhaps via Route 66 – a new concept of living was being built. Eighteen towers – 13 stories high – were being erected and billed as “the largest community west of the Mississippi.” The Park La Brea complex was to be affordable for the aforementioned post WWII Americans looking to restart their lives. Soon the towers and the adjacent garden apartments became one of the toniest addresses in town in the burgeoning city of Los Angeles.

Residents collaborated – on social events and noted comings and goings of this new community and therefore they needed a voice. Hence, the “Parklabrea” newsletter was born. A mimeographed 8.5” by 11” pamphlet was created and distributed by residents. That was until publisher Joseph DuPlain took an interest in the budding community. He founded the Parklabrea News and the paper became a full-fledged, biweekly publication. He also founded the La Cañada Valley Sun in 1949. (more on that later.)

Bound archives retell stories of the era, profiling families, businesses and local politicians. Gently thumbing through the yellow-brown edged pages, one can read about famed residents like Fess Parker – who played both Davy Crocket and Daniel Boone and lived at Park La Brea in 1958. Or actor Telly Savalas, who was nominated for best supporting actor for his role as Feto Gomez in “Birdman of Alcatraz,” while he was living at Park La Brea in 1963. And actress Patricia Morison, who lived at Park La Brea since 1960 until she died in 2018 at 103 years old.

The newspaper reported on more than celebrities – it highlighted families who raised children in Park La Brea and walked to the nearby Hancock Park Elementary School. It focused on the vibrant Wilshire Boulevard which boasted of Miracle Mile retail stores like Desmond’s, Silverwoods, and of course, the May Co. at Wilshire and Fairfax, where the Academy Museum is now located.

The Original Farmers Market, founded in 1934, just across from Park La Brea, was well established, and provided folks fresh meats, produce and baked goods within walking distance. A hubbub of commerce, Park La Brea and the surrounding community became a central focus of Los Angeles. In 1958, Du Plain sold the paper to a local husband and wife, Nan and Clancy Dayhoff. The two entrepreneurs realized the potential of the neighborhood, and they set out to make the paper a vital voice in the city. 

In 1972, Charles M. and Olga Riley purchased the paper. “Chuck” Riley was a prominent, veteran Los Angeles journalist who served as the news director at KTTV. We are the fourth owners of this 80-year-old publication. The timeline is Joe DuPlain 1948-1958, Nan and Clancy Dayhoff 1958-1972, Charles (Chuck) and Olga (Bunny) Riley 1972-1990, and Michael and Karen Villalpando 1990 to present day. Thirty-seven years. Yep – that makes us the longest serving owners in the history of this newspaper.

So let me tell our story. It was 1984. I had just graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, one of the most prestigious journalism schools in the country – then and now. The day after I graduated, I received a job offer from the Los Angeles Daily News. I moved across the country a week later, and on my first day on the job, I met Michael Villalpando, who worked in advertising. I said, “Who is that?” Four years later we were married. A year and a half later, we bought the Park Labrea News.

Our first hire was a young graduate of the University of Texas, Brian Boyé. (See article on page 14 of the magazine). The three of us learned how to be newspaper people – writing, selling, cutting, waxing, pasting – and doing a darn good job. We grinded out weekly hard news, built a reputation for solid journalism and founded the Beverly Press as an expansion of the original PLB News, as we called it.

Our office was located at the Farmers Market – above the Dell – locals may remember it. The Dell was the retail part across the parking lot from the produce and grocery merchants, which housed retailers like Barbara Williams Cravats, The Paper Store, Black Orchid Boutique, owned by Jacqueline Naipo, and of course, Kip’s Toyland, founded by Irwin Kipper and still operated by his granddaughter, Lily.  It was rumored our offices were the former apartment hideaway for old man Gilmore. We used to open the sash windows, climb out onto the rooftop and drink beer during the hot summer on production nights.

Brian stayed with us for four years and then “graduated” to bigger and better jobs, as did many of the young men and women we hired over the years. Former writers went on to work for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Men’s Health Magazine, KTLA and were assigned to the White House Press Corps. Michael would often draw an analogy comparing baseball to being a journalist. He would say that baseball players do it because they love it and feel that desire in their hearts. It is the same for journalists. Millions of kids play Little League and maybe high school and college ball, perhaps getting to the minor leagues. Very few make it to the big leagues – “the show.” There are currently 780 major league players today. Michael would say, “if you want to get to ‘the show,’ we will help you get there. It takes determination and commitment. If you want to be at the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN or the BBC, consider us your steppingstone.”

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of our other long-time writers, like Shirley Firestone, who was our restaurant writer from 1985-2010. She knew every restaurateur in the business and they all adored her. Wolfgang, Celestino, Selvaggio, Emilio, and Roberto and Vito Somma. Let’s not forget Madeleine Shaner, former theater reviewer, turned columnist. She and her husband John Shaner were the Hollywood socialites everyone wanted at their parties. They often spoke of the out-of-work actor who would babysit their kids in exchange for a night or three on their couch.  That actor is Jack Nicholson. John cast him in a movie he wrote, “Goin’ South.”  Not that Jack needed a leg up at the time. Madeleine weaved the best yarns I ever read. And she was the most gracious host. Elegance on a page and in life.

Our office location has changed several times – we had to move from the Farmers Market when The Grove was built. We moved to Melrose for a while then to 5150 Wilshire – still we kept our wits about us (well… you know.) And then where we are now – 8444 Wilshire Boulevard – in a glorious Art Deco, 1930s building at The Saban Theater.

It hasn’t always been an easy ride – lots of ups and downs. Not just for the newspaper, but also for the city. It has always been interesting. Plaques have hung on our wall for nearly 30 years – one says, “Newspapers are the acoustic guitars of journalism.” Another says, “Never argue with someone who buys ink by the gallon.” And finally, one that says “I think it would be fun to run a newspaper,” – Charles Foster Kane. Yes, from “Citizen Kane.” We like to say it is an everyday adventure.

Publishing a weekly newspaper requires commitment from writers, editors and advertisers. When breaking news happens, sometimes the front page gets reworked with minutes to spare until deadline. The Beverly Press and Park Labrea News have been on the scene for hundreds of headlines. We covered the 1992 riots, which saw many businesses ransacked and even burned to the ground. In the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the 10 Freeway over La Cienega collapsed, and was remarkably rebuilt in three months.

I remember a packed Los Angeles City Hall hearing where the A.F. Gilmore Co. was pushing for a new development on the southeast section of the Farmers Market property. Many residents were railing against the development. Ultimately, it passed and a decade later, The Grove opened. It revitalized the Market and launched a vibrant shopping district – a win-win for all parties.

Watching the Metro tunnel under Wilshire Boulevard since 2014 and finally come to fruition was an exciting moment, especially with an office along the construction route.

Enduring COVID, the Screen Actors Guild and Writers strikes of 2023, the fires of 2025, were hard challenges for residents, businesses and the newspaper – yet not only did we survive, we thrived.

Since 1990, the Park Labrea News and Beverly Press have seen six Los Angeles mayors and seven U.S. presidents. The newspapers have been recognized by the United States Congress, the California State Assembly, Los Angeles County Supervisors and the City Councils of Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. We have received numerous awards from the California News Publishers Association and the Los Angeles Press Club.

So many stories, so many adventures, so many memories. We have raised a family – two daughters, gained a son-in-law, now have a granddaughter, and one on the way. And the aforementioned La Cañada Valley Sun? When we moved to La Cañada in 1992, the publishers of the paper gifted us some old “hot type” of PARKLABREA NEWS that they still had in the newsroom.

We are proud of this 80-year-old bastion – something that lives and breathes to this day. That is because of you. Our readers. We are proud to have produced a newspaper, serving the most important people we know – YOU – our readers.

Thank you for your loyalty and for keeping local journalism alive.