2
George Curious
2 Knowitall Way
Yorba Linda, CA 92686
October 31, 1985
Director, FBI
J.E.H. Building
9th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20535
Attn: FOIA
Dear Sir:
Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 USC 552, I am requesting access to information compiled on August Furst and his wife, Christine Furst and any activities involving their residence and their restaurant.
I am requesting this information as part of a genealogical project for the Southwest Genealogical Society that will be published in its publication “Out of the Closet Monthly.”
We are trying to prove or disprove rumors that have been circulating for more than 60 years – rumors that August Furst and his wife, Christine Furst were involved in the following activities:
§ Rumors that they operated a restaurant that was frequented by Nazis or Nazi sympathizers before, during or after World Warr II.
§ Rumors that they transmitted ham radio messages to German U-boats off the coast of California.
§ Rumors that they harbored Nazis in either their restaurant, the Old Vienna Gardens or in their residence atop the hill behind the restaurant.
We would like copies of any documents, transcripts, tape or wire recordings, films, photographs, maps or computer data involving:
§ August Furst, Social Security number 553-84-7536, born in Germany on August 3, 1891. Mr. Furst died March 1, 1982 in Los Angeles, California (certified copy of death certificate attached).
§ Christine Furst, nee Christine Schneider, born on June 28, 1898 in Germany. Mrs. Furst died December 20, 1981 in Los Angeles, California (certified copy of death certificate attached).
§ A restaurant, tavern, café or dance hall knows as Old Vienna (hereafter referred to as the “restaurant” located at 9955 Sunland Boulevard in the Shadow Hills/Sunland district of the city of Los Angeles, California.
§ The residence, also knows as August Furst’s castle (hereafter referred to as the “residence”) located at 9983 Sunland Boulevard in the Shadow Hills/Sunland district of the city of Los Angeles, California.
Specifically, we request the following information between the years 1932 to 1982:
§ Directives, memoranda or any correspondence instructing the investigation of August Furst, his wife, the restaurant or the residence
§ Investigative reports or notes, photographs, maps, copies or transcripts relating to interviews or statements by August or Christine Furst
§ Copies of tapes or wires recordings relating to other people regarding August or Christine Furst or activities at or near the restaurant
§ Copies of intelligence reports relating to activities of August or Christine Furst or others at the restaurant or residence
§ Copies and transcriptions and descriptions of any recorded or monitored radio or telephone conversations involving August or Christine Furst or anybody on or near the restaurant or residence.
§ Copies of any directives, memoranda or reports relating to the findings and conclusions relating to August or Christine Furst, the restaurant or the residence.
§ Copies of any other documents not listed above that relate to August or Christine Furst, the restaurant or the residence.
If there are any fees for searching for or copying the records I have requested, please supply the records without informing – as long as the fees do not exceed $100. As you know, the Act permits you to reduce or waive the fees when the release of the information is considered as “primarily benefiting the public.” These files will be used as part of a published historic publication. I believe that this request fits that category and therefore I ask that you waive any fees.
If you deny all or any part of this request, please cite the specific exemption(s) which you believe justifies your refusal to release the information, and inform me of your agency’s administrative appeal procedures available to me under the law.
I would appreciate your handling this request as quickly as possible and I look forward to hearing from you within 10 working days, as the law stipulates.
Sincerely,
George Curious