By: Virginia Schneider
Actor Tobias Jelinek is part of a vast, enthusiastic team of celebrities and Los Angelenos who are participating in a year-long celebration of the iconic Hollywood sign. From parties, exhibits and historic recreations, it seems everyone is finding a way to honor the famous sign atop the Hollywood Hills that symbolizes the allure, magic and mystery of Hollywood.
As a child actor, Tobias fell in love each time he passed the sign on the way to auditions and to movie sets, as it’s a reminder to all artists of the power of Hollywood. As 2023 rolled in, Tobias found his own contribution to the 100th Anniversary celebration. What could be more symbolic of old Hollywood in the Roaring ‘20’s, than a gin cocktail! The Hollywood Times caught up with Jelinek and asked him to share his soon to be iconic cocktail mix. Try it yourself, as you sit back and toast the symbol of the City of Angels.
Tell us an overview of the Hollywood Sign
The Sign was first erected in 1923 as a billboard for an upscale real estate development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. It soon took on the role of a giant marquee for a city that was constantly announcing its own gala premier. Intended to last just 18 months, the Hollywood Sign will have endured 100 years in 2023. Along the way, the Sign has been in its share of award winning films, TV shows, and music videos and has rallied movie stars, rock stars, directors, producers and philanthropists to help keep it intact, including the 1978 restoration when Hugh Hefner, Andy Williams, Alice Cooper, Gene Autry and other donors pledged funds to help the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce rebuild the famous monument. The Hollywood Sign Trust was also formed in 1978 to preserve and maintain the Sign and is the official source for news and information about the Sign. http://www.hollywoodsign.org
How did it make YOU feel as a youngster?
The first time I saw the Hollywood Sign I was 15-years-old driving to my first film audition for a little Bette Midler film called Hocus Pocus. I was kind of a hippy kid from Santa Barbara and I remember when we hit that LA traffic it drove my mom nuts. In the midst of 101 chaos, I caught a glimpse of the sign. On the hill— HOLLYWOOD. I had seen it in classic movies, photos, but here it was— the reality was thrilling and larger than life. And I think a lot of people share this experience seeing the Sign for the first time from the 101 freeway. It surprises you and you only get a glimpse before it’s gone. Purely iconic. The best part of this memory is we made it to the audition, my first anything, and I booked the job. The Hollywood Sign has embodied the chaos, the dream, and the magic possibility of our city ever since.
Have you ever been to the Sign?
No, but who doesn’t want to climb the Sign? I was recently speaking to the owner of Shampoolio salon, Julio Romano, a great LA storyteller, and he painted this nostalgic image of childhood in Hollywood, hanging out with all his friends on the Sign because they could just do that in the 70s. Today it exists as more of a vision than reality. Forever daring you to trespass the forbidden boundaries and join the party.
What drew you to cocktails?
The socializing aspect. It’s magic and a fun home hobby. A good cocktail brings people together like nothing else. On par with a brilliant storyteller who keeps you mesmerized in high spirits throughout a night. A well-made Old Fashioned or Martini just makes things classy and fun. Cocktails are charismatic and sexy.
What’s your fave spirit?
I like Bourbon most of all. The breadth and depth of its flavor. The heat. A truly American spirit with rough sweet roots that grows on you.
What is so magical about gin?
The botanical balance. What’s magical I think is getting past the juniper which is what most people think about and know when they think of gin. Get past the juniper and the spirit opens up in delightful ways.
What’s gin’s particular connection to the roaring ’20’s?
The interesting thing about gin and its history in the States is we didn’t really learn about gin until Prohibition. British and Dutch immigrants of course knew how to distill it but the rest of the country only discovered gin out of necessity when whiskey became scarce. Prohibition gave birth to “Bathtub Gin” which still gives gin a bad name. People were using turpentine, essential oils, chemicals, and doing god knows what to mask low grade homemade spirits by adding botanicals. On the upside, barkeeps at speakeasies were very creative during those years which is why so many Prohibition Cocktails have not only stood the test of time but originated with gin.
Have you become a ‘mixologist” at home?
Yes! I am my wife’s personal mixologist and she loves it completely. What I’d like to do, and it’s actually quite simple, is start making cocktail punches for our house cocktail parties instead of individual cocktails. Punches are one of those fun communal experiences. People gather around them like a fire place. And now that we have two wild boys running around with friends I need all the shortcuts I can get.
What do you want folks to know (and maybe love) about gin cocktails, particularly yours?
A well-made gin cocktail does things no other spirit can do. I’m not talking about Bombay Sapphire with that bold Juniper taste. Get into the new wave of small batch distilleries. Check out multiple gin bottles next time you go to a great L.A. bar. It’s a lot more fun this way. We often think when we go out we need to make a spirit selection in five seconds or less. Great bartenders don’t mind turning your drink into an experience. Take your time, get inspired. I think looking at a few bottles up close is the ticket, and when you find a good bartender who knows how to use gin to blow your taste buds and inspire your night.
So, this centennial cocktail, The Roaring 23, is a spin on one of our favorite at home classics— The French 75. My wife and her friends love bubbly so this cocktail is just a 100. The twist for the Hollywood Sign Centennial is a simple touch of Lavender sweetness because that’s all you really need with a classic like this, and it’s also the fun in mixology because you don’t want to compromise balance. The art of it is ‘liquid Jenga’. To me, lavender has the scent of Quintessential California and, of course, classic Hollywood. It’s irresistible and always steals the room. I hope you enjoy.
The Roaring 23 Prohibition-Era Cocktail
½ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz lavender syrup
1 oz Gin
Give a long shake with ice, strain into a champagne flute, top with champagne, fresh lavender flower and a channel cut lemon twist garnish.