Originally Posted by oldstuff
Here is some biography on the owner of Berger's which gives confirmation to the 1940's date of the restaurant:
Francis (Frank) Michael Berger was born in Missouri on November 30, 1875 to German immigrant parents. His father was a mechanic. He is found, at the age of four, in the 1880 Census, living in Appleton, St Clair County, Missouri.
He married Luella Thomas, born in Nevada in 1871, on August 7, 1900 in Silver Bow County, Montana. They had a daughter, Lorena (Lola), who was born in Montana in 1901, (She married a Rutherford Beck) and a son Lewis Frank Berger (born in 1907, in Nevada)
He appears in directories, prior to his marriage, in Montana, working in various capacities, including as a mining smelter. The area had many copper mines at that time.
They appear in the 1910 Census, living in Sacramento, CA. At that time he is listed in the Census as being an employee of a restaurant. They moved to Los Angeles before 1918 when he appears in the draft registrations for the First World War.
His WWI draft registration card describes him as being of medium build with blue eyes and dark brown hair. They lived at 215 N. Broadway, Los Angeles when his draft card was filled out in 1918. This is, of course, now the lawn in front of City Hall, part of Grand Park.
The 1930 Census lists him as being employed as a confectioner. His wife was listed as being a saleslady at the confectionery. At that time they lived at 4037 Glassell Avenue. (now apparently Glassell Street, the area is now condos) Her mother lived with them.
The Bergers lived in Eagle Rock in 1937, according to a directory. He is listed as being a restaurant worker. At that time, they lived at 4041 Eagle Rock Blvd.
The 1940 Census gives the clue as to the date of the restaurant. It lists Frank as being the proprietor of a restaurant. Frank and Luella were living with their daughter and her husband at 4805 York Blvd., at the time of the 1940 Census in April of 1940. This house, built in 1921, is still there.
He died on March 3, 1952 in Los Angeles.
His wife died in Los Angeles in December of 1962
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