All of the photos you posted of the "New Violin Shop" on Wilcox made me cry. I had no idea you started so young...the picture of you from 1980 is absolutely gorgeous. This is the first time I had seen all of the photos from the incredible legacy which is the Craig-Scollard Violin Shop. I was crying over the incredibly rich history of the violin shop, but also over how very fast time passes before our eyes. I have vivid memories of you and the Hollywood shop on Wilcox and can't believe you still charge only $22.00 for a bow rehair, only a $5.00 increase since I first met you in the early 80's when it was only $17.00! I saw a photo of a receipt from 1985 which you uploaded on this webpage and it squeezed my heart. You have worked behind that sales counter repairing instruments for the entire city's musicians since you were so very young... All of the photos are amazing...I can't believe I had no idea all of these decades that the legendary violin soloists were some of your and Mr. Callier's customers. I never paid attention to all of the photos in the shop, until I saw your wonderful webpage. Goodness, even Einstein was one of Mr. Callier's good friends! I also remember your dear friend, Ernie, from back in the day. I didn't know he had passed away. I am so sorry! Ernie was a wonderful cellist. It was also very interesting to see the photos of Mr. Callier's statue collection. I love the enormous one with the sleeping boy with the violin at his side. I didn't know that the Green Hotel was a historical landmark until now...and your shop was one of its centerpieces. Incredible! What wonderful photos, Craig. Thank you for posting them. You mentioned that you wished you would have taken more photos of mariachi musicians who came to your shop dressed in Charro outfits over the last 40 years. I wouldn't worry about it. Although the mariachi world has exploded over the last couple of decades, and that enormous clientele has fallen on your shoulders, the only good thing about having been able to take a few pictures of those guys/gals is that it gives me an idea of the overwhelming amount of work you have had to do all by yourself in that iconic workshop. A mariachi musician can wear a hand tailored charro suit after having studied the instrument for 6 months, and then walk into an iconic violin shop in a costume to purchase strings and have his/her violin repaired and bow rehaired for only $22, but it takes a luthier like you to be called an artist and a saint who has been doing the immense and phenomenal work of taking care of the LA Philharmonic and its legendary soloists for over 45 years. LONG LIVE THE KING, you incredibly humble and hardworking human being! Of course reading the history of the Callier-Violin shop made me cry! Such incredible history! Such nostalgia!
Kolia Levienne
# 4
Monday, 05/22/2023
Leo Burstyn
Nicholas "Kolia" Levienne
12 November 1895 - 19 November 1965
Nicholas "Kolia" Levienne was born in 1895 in Baky, now the capital of Azerbaijan.
He was a child prodigy, who began his career as a cellist at age 12. His first solo concert was in 1907 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
After Kolia graduated from the Petrograd Imperial Conservatory in 1912, they sent him to continue his studies at the Conservatory in Leipzig, Germany. He studied there with professor Julius Klengel. He toured extensively throughout Europe as a cellist and part of the Orchestra.
Kolia performed with: Arthur Nikisch, Winderstein,A. Glazunov, Newmark, Hessin, Orloff, Cherepnin, Robert Laugs, Lucrezia Bori, Carmen Sylvia, Teresa Careno, Julia Culp, Marie Novello, Anna Pavlova.
Kolia's American debut was in concert with famous bass Fedor Shaliapin, in 1922. He toured the US with Shaliapin in 1922-1923. In 1923, he played at the Maine Music Festival.
In 1930-33 Kolia was working as a faculty at the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle, WA. During his stay in Seattle, Kolia often performed as part of the Cornish Trio, Kolia Levienne on the cello, Peter Meremblum, violin, and Berthe Poncy on the piano.
Early sound films became a new field for Kolia's talent. He was one of the creators of a new musical genre – film score.
In the early 1950s Kolia cooperated with Frank Sinatra, and these recordings are still available.
Nicholas "Kolia" Levienne met ballerina Lila Zali (Yelizaveta Borisovna Zalipskaya) in Los Angeles and married her in 1945.
Kolia and Lila joined with Michel Panaieff in a company called "Ballet Musicale" which later became Los Angeles City Ballet.
Kolia also did film studio work, and that led to Lila's involvement in films.
Lila and Kolia vacationed in Laguna Beach, CA and decided to move to Laguna permanently in 1959. Kolia started the Laguna Beach Chamber Music Society, and Lila opened her dance studio.
Kolia Levienne Information
Tuesday, 06/20/2023
Craig Scollard
Leo, It's always nice to get detailed information about a customer from the original shop. Thanks, Craig
Kolia and Louis
Tuesday, 11/05/2024
Bill Rosar
Fancy that I have long studied the performances of Kolia Levienne and Louis Kaufman who at one time were Alfred Newman's first chairs in the Goldwyn Studios orchestra. The soundtracks of those films are adorned with their lovely playing which, Louis shared with me many years ago, was modeled on the "gypsy-cafe" style made famous by Fritz Kreisler, which seemed more appropriate for intimate dialog scenes than the typical bravura style of the concert hall. Lately I've been listening to Hugo Friedhofer's score for "Adventures of Marco Polo" (1938) starring Gary Cooper for which Louis said he had almost written a double concerto for them because so many passages featured them as a duo. Wonderful stuff to hear.
Morry King
# 3
Saturday, 05/29/2021
Barry P. King
Thank you for posting these most historic images. Over 65 years ago I was taken by my father, Morry King to Callier's Violin Shop at Sunset and Bronson. As of 2021 the same building exists.
You have posted an image of "Murray Korda" who was a good friend of my late father, however that image is actually of Morry King, as well as the other image that appears directly above.
There is also a signature on a post card from the Hotel Pontchartrain in Detroit where he worked in the late '60's, after being a headliner at the Sands Copa Lounge in Las Vegas.
Jack Benny was also a good friend of my father and at one time called our home in Las Vegas to ask if he could use Morry's Stradivarius. I remember picking up the phone, and at that time a long distance call was very important.
In closing, thank you for your remembrance of this fabulous place.
Barry P. King, Esq.
Morry King Photo
Saturday, 05/29/2021
Craig Scollard
Barry,
I knew Murry Korda many years ago and when he retired he opened a bed and breakfast in Virginia. For some reason I always thought that picture was of Murry. I'm sorry that I put his name on your Dad's photo, I'll get that corrected. Written in pencil on the back of that photo is the date: April 5/ '81. What do you think the date is of your Dad's other photo?
I knew Murry's brother Bobby Korda very well and would see Bobby fairly often in my shop. Unfortunately Murry and Bobby have both passed away. By chance would you happen to have a photo of Murry Korda?
Thanks for taking the time to post your comment,
Craig
Photos
# 2
Monday, 08/10/2020
Janine
What a great bulletin board full of such famous music history.
Thanks for uploading close-up photos for everyone to see.
remembering your old Hollywood shop
# 1
Saturday, 12/13/2014
Sue Sailhamer
My great aunt, Jane Haffa, taught violin in the Hollywood area. She passed away in her 80s in 1964. But I remember her talking about your shop on Sunset. I think she was a regular customer. She taught me some violin as a child but after she died (I was in 7th grade) other interests and the fact she was gone put an end to my violin playing. The good news is that 50 years later I am taking Violin lessons and loving it. I hope to visit your shop soon.
All of the photos you posted of the "New Violin Shop" on Wilcox made me cry. I had no idea you started so young...the picture of you from 1980 is absolutely gorgeous. This is the first time I had seen all of the photos from the incredible legacy which is the Craig-Scollard Violin Shop. I was crying over the incredibly rich history of the violin shop, but also over how very fast time passes before our eyes. I have vivid memories of you and the Hollywood shop on Wilcox and can't believe you still charge only $22.00 for a bow rehair, only a $5.00 increase since I first met you in the early 80's when it was only $17.00! I saw a photo of a receipt from 1985 which you uploaded on this webpage and it squeezed my heart. You have worked behind that sales counter repairing instruments for the entire city's musicians since you were so very young... All of the photos are amazing...I can't believe I had no idea all of these decades that the legendary violin soloists were some of your and Mr. Callier's customers. I never paid attention to all of the photos in the shop, until I saw your wonderful webpage. Goodness, even Einstein was one of Mr. Callier's good friends! I also remember your dear friend, Ernie, from back in the day. I didn't know he had passed away. I am so sorry! Ernie was a wonderful cellist. It was also very interesting to see the photos of Mr. Callier's statue collection. I love the enormous one with the sleeping boy with the violin at his side. I didn't know that the Green Hotel was a historical landmark until now...and your shop was one of its centerpieces. Incredible! What wonderful photos, Craig. Thank you for posting them. You mentioned that you wished you would have taken more photos of mariachi musicians who came to your shop dressed in Charro outfits over the last 40 years. I wouldn't worry about it. Although the mariachi world has exploded over the last couple of decades, and that enormous clientele has fallen on your shoulders, the only good thing about having been able to take a few pictures of those guys/gals is that it gives me an idea of the overwhelming amount of work you have had to do all by yourself in that iconic workshop. A mariachi musician can wear a hand tailored charro suit after having studied the instrument for 6 months, and then walk into an iconic violin shop in a costume to purchase strings and have his/her violin repaired and bow rehaired for only $22, but it takes a luthier like you to be called an artist and a saint who has been doing the immense and phenomenal work of taking care of the LA Philharmonic and its legendary soloists for over 45 years. LONG LIVE THE KING, you incredibly humble and hardworking human being! Of course reading the history of the Callier-Violin shop made me cry! Such incredible history! Such nostalgia!
12 November 1895 - 19 November 1965
Nicholas "Kolia" Levienne was born in 1895 in Baky, now the capital of Azerbaijan.
He was a child prodigy, who began his career as a cellist at age 12. His first solo concert was in 1907 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
After Kolia graduated from the Petrograd Imperial Conservatory in 1912, they sent him to continue his studies at the Conservatory in Leipzig, Germany. He studied there with professor Julius Klengel. He toured extensively throughout Europe as a cellist and part of the Orchestra.
Kolia performed with: Arthur Nikisch, Winderstein,A. Glazunov, Newmark, Hessin, Orloff, Cherepnin, Robert Laugs, Lucrezia Bori, Carmen Sylvia, Teresa Careno, Julia Culp, Marie Novello, Anna Pavlova.
Kolia's American debut was in concert with famous bass Fedor Shaliapin, in 1922. He toured the US with Shaliapin in 1922-1923. In 1923, he played at the Maine Music Festival.
In 1930-33 Kolia was working as a faculty at the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle, WA. During his stay in Seattle, Kolia often performed as part of the Cornish Trio, Kolia Levienne on the cello, Peter Meremblum, violin, and Berthe Poncy on the piano.
Early sound films became a new field for Kolia's talent. He was one of the creators of a new musical genre – film score.
In the early 1950s Kolia cooperated with Frank Sinatra, and these recordings are still available.
Nicholas "Kolia" Levienne met ballerina Lila Zali (Yelizaveta Borisovna Zalipskaya) in Los Angeles and married her in 1945.
Kolia and Lila joined with Michel Panaieff in a company called "Ballet Musicale" which later became Los Angeles City Ballet.
Kolia also did film studio work, and that led to Lila's involvement in films.
Lila and Kolia vacationed in Laguna Beach, CA and decided to move to Laguna permanently in 1959. Kolia started the Laguna Beach Chamber Music Society, and Lila opened her dance studio.
Thanks, Craig
You have posted an image of "Murray Korda" who was a good friend of my late father, however that image is actually of Morry King, as well as the other image that appears directly above.
There is also a signature on a post card from the Hotel Pontchartrain in Detroit where he worked in the late '60's, after being a headliner at the Sands Copa Lounge in Las Vegas.
Jack Benny was also a good friend of my father and at one time called our home in Las Vegas to ask if he could use Morry's Stradivarius. I remember picking up the phone, and at that time a long distance call was very important.
In closing, thank you for your remembrance of this fabulous place.
Barry P. King, Esq.
I knew Murry Korda many years ago and when he retired he opened a bed and breakfast in Virginia. For some reason I always thought that picture was of Murry. I'm sorry that I put his name on your Dad's photo, I'll get that corrected. Written in pencil on the back of that photo is the date: April 5/ '81. What do you think the date is of your Dad's other photo?
I knew Murry's brother Bobby Korda very well and would see Bobby fairly often in my shop. Unfortunately Murry and Bobby have both passed away. By chance would you happen to have a photo of Murry Korda?
Thanks for taking the time to post your comment,
Craig
Thanks for uploading close-up photos for everyone to see.