The Vern Lanegrasse Papers (1961-2010) consist of materials from the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine and the California Restaurant Writers Association as well as event programs, menus, and other materials related to food and wine.
The Vern Lanegrasse Papers (1961-2010) consist of materials related to gastronomy and wine tasting. Vern Lanegrasse lived in Los Angeles, California where he was known as “The Hollywood Chef” and hosted television and radio programs about cooking. He held leadership positions in the wine society, Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine, and the California Restaurant Writers Association and the collection documents events held by both organizations. The collection also contains event programs, menus, and other materials related to food and wine as well as menus from Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Collection is open for research.
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Materials are arranged by topic.
Vern Lanegrasse lived in Los Angeles, California where he was known as “The Hollywood Chef” and hosted television and radio programs about cooking.
Vernon B. Lanegrasse was born August 22, 1924 to Bertrand and Pearl Lanegrasse in Louisiana. He earned a music degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and performed as a singer with the New Orleans Opera Company. He later went to work for NBC in New York City where he began as a page and progressed to supervisor of the page and tour staff. He moved to Southern California and worked at NBC’s Burbank studio.
After leaving NBC, Lanegrasse began working in hospitality and food. He went by the name “The Hollywood Chef” and hosted radio and television programs about cooking. He also wrote regular columns about cooking and dining. He gave lectures and worked as a guest chef across the United States. He served as president of the California Writers Association. He also worked as a spokesperson and a judge for food and wine competetions.
Lanegrasse also taught wine appreciation classes and held the position of Master Vice Commander of the Los Angeles chapter of the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine as well as membership in several other wine brotherhoods. He was also active in the Twelfth Night Revelers.
Lanegrasse died on January 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
Source:
Vernon B. Lanegrasse obituary,
Vern Lanegrasse Papers, 1961-2010. MS-00295. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Materials were received periodically from Vern Lanegrasse from 1982 to 2010; accession numbers 82-46, 88-107, and 90-95.
Materials were inventoried by Special Collections staff as they were received. In 2019, as part of an archival backlog elimination project, Paola Landaverde rehoused and arranged the materials, and Angela Moor revised the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards.