Peter the Hermit in Studio City, 1950s
Peter the Hermit with Thareen and Mimi/Courtesy Stewart Edward Allen
From Stewart Edward Allen comes this photo of his two grandmothers with their friend Peter the Hermit. It's the first color photo I've seen of Peter, and comes with this description:
I had two very eccentric grandmothers by the names of Thareen Auroraa and Mimi Reed. They were terrific women who worked in Burlesque and "Showbiz" for many years. They lived on Reklaw Drive from 1946 until their deaths in 2005. They knew Peter the Hermit. They loved him. They told stories of how we would come and visit them and sit in their home and say "This place has good vibrations." They said he would hang out. They would have something to eat with him. Knowing my grandmothers I am sure they had a little drink or two too.
Peter certainly got around. Readers of this blog will know that he was widely photographed throughout his life in Los Angeles, and that his image turns up in all kinds of unexpected places. Coincidentally, just today I was shown another photo of Peter--an unusual cyanotype portrait done in the 20s by a well-known Hollywood photographer. I hope I'll be permitted to show it in the future.