Hollywood Boulevard

Before Frederick’s of Hollywood was a best-selling lingerie brand boasting over 200 brick-and-mortar shops, there was one World War II veteran with lingerie-selling dreams. In 1947, inspired by the glamorous lingerie he witnessed overseas, Frederick Mellinger created the push-up bra. The same year, he opened up a storefront on Hollywood Boulevard, and the Frederick’s of Hollywood brand was born. Known to many Angelenos as simply, “Mr. Frederick,” Mellinger started out selling his lacy wares in his shop and through mail-order lingerie catalogues.

The original Frederick's of Hollywood storefront, nicknamed “the purple palace,” pictured in 1987.

Frederick Mellinger in 1962, showing off two new designs that nod to the popular “twist” trend of the time.

Comment thread from a Los Angeles history blogpost, written under a gallery of photos of the Hollywood Boulevard Frederick's shop.

Frederick Mellinger’s star on Hollywood Boulevard.

One draw to the Hollywood Boulevard store was the free-admission “Lingerie Museum” that featured undergarments worn by celebrities in film, television, and music. Visitors to the Lingerie Museum could see Madonna’s black and gold cone-bustier worn on her “Who’s That Girl” tour, Tom Hanks’ boxers from “Forrest Gump,” Ingrid Bergman’s corset from “Cactus Flower,” Zsa Zsa Gabor’s black lace underwear, and panties from the cast of “Beverly Hills 90210.” In 1992, the Lingerie Museum was famously broken into during the Rodney King riots, during which an estimated $200,000 or more in lingerie was taken.

A neon sign in the window beckons customers into Frederick’s Lingerie Museum.

Madonna's black and gold cone bra bustier, from her "Who's That Girl" tour, at the Lingerie Museum.

Storefront of the Hollywood Boulevard location of Frederick's, pictured in 1992, just after the window was smashed during the Rodney King riots.

An up-close view of the window smashed in the same 1992 looting.