Filling in the blanks:Did you notice where...

Filling in the blanks:

Did you notice where the world’s most famous anonymous singer used his full name--Prince Rogers Nelson--when he married a backup singer in Minneapolis the other day? A real testament to the power of love--and marital agreements. Perhaps Prince will be immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, after all. The committee rejected his nomination several months ago because no one could figure out what name to put on his plaque.

Our favorite commentary on the singer’s situation was made by “The Simpsons” TV show in a spoof of the movie “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.” In one scene, the mutts are lined up to eat in the Simpson kitchen. Their bowls carry such names as “Rover” and “Fido”--and “The Dog Formerly Known as Prince.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: James Major of La Verne sent along an announcement that his wife noticed in an Arizona newspaper (see accompanying). We’re sure the restaurant didn’t mean to say it that way. But you can’t blame Major for observing: “This is the first time I have seen a business apologize for being open for business.”

HERE TODAY, GONE TODAY: Landmarks aren’t what they used to be in L.A., as the saying goes. It’s heartening that Angels Flight has returned after a 26-year absence. But numerous other local institutions disappeared for good during that period.

R.I.P.:

* The Brown Derby (died, 1980): A world-famous symbol on Wilshire Boulevard, supposedly built on a bet by restaurateur Arthur Somborn that he could sell food out of a hat. Part of the Derby was transplanted to a Korean restaurant.

* The Coconut Grove (died 1989): Another internationally known site, also unaccountably allowed to die. The only good news is that Donald Trump gave up plans to build a 125-story hotel there.

* The Main Street Gym (died 1984): Housed a wacky collection of boxing characters as well as a sign on the wall that said: “Please do not bring children under 8 years old in the gym. We don’t want anyone smarter than us in here.” It’s now a parking lot.

* The Cock’n’Bull (died 1993): The Sunset Boulevard eatery introduced the drink, the Moscow Mule. Other colorful eateries that vanished over the last quarter-century include Vickman’s (died 1993), Nickodell (died 1993) and the place where you didn’t need a wristwatch, Hollywood’s clock-festooned Tick Tock (died 1988).

* The Pan Pacific Auditorium (died 1989): With its distinctive facade, it was the scene of appearances of everyone from the Harlem Globetrotters to Elvis and President Eisenhower.

* The Richfield Building (died 1970): A black-and-gold Art Deco treasure that author Kerry Tucker called “the most striking office building” in downtown L.A. Compare it with its replacement--the ARCO Plaza.

* Schwab’s Drug Store on Sunset Boulevard (died 1983): Another symbol of Hollywood glamour, famous as the place where Lana Turner really wasn’t discovered. Fortunately, it is preserved in the film “Sunset Boulevard.”

And, finally, we’d give anything for one more glimpse of the old City Hall. You remember the original--the one without the ugly black armband?

miscelLAny

1996 seems to be shaping up as the Year of the Divorce. We’re barely two months along and the Michael Jacksons, the Larry Fortenskys, the Charlie Sheens and, now, the Prince Charleses have all split up. Kudos to the Sheraton Long Beach Hotel for deciding to go ahead with Sunday’s “Day to Remember Bridal Expo,” anyway.