Rebuilding the Garden

What fools we are to tear down places of charm, “A New Landmark” (May 15).

Gone is the Garden of Allah Hotel. Now, “opening soon,” another McDonald’s restaurant whose golden arches will welcome Sunset Boulevard’s hungry motorists, while its next-door neighbor, Great Western Bank, will often provide the money to buy burgers, french fries and diet Cokes.

Great Western and the great McDonald’s should team up to rebuild the Garden of Allah on that hallowed, triangular plot of ground. If they were to do it and, astrologically speaking, it’s not impossible, Robert Benchley and all the other greats would soon be back among us, where they belong. I needn’t ask which bank and burger business would become number one forever in the hearts of the world’s literati.

DUKE RUSSELL

Hollywood