Los Angeles, May 1939: Top Hats Out To Honor Benchley. Top hats and business suits were in order as fellow-wits gathered in Chasen’s Cafe here for a testimonial dinner honoring Robert Benchley. Pictured at the festive affair are, left to right: Bert Lahr, Herbert Marshall, Benchley, David Niven and David Chasen.

Thanks to Hollywood history experts on Facebook and at Nitrateville, I was able to ID the gentlemen in the photo — I recognized Benchley and Niven, and thought that was Herbert Marshall, but wasn’t sure about the men on the extreme right and left who turned out to be Bert Lahr and Dave Chasen, respectively — as well as the reasons for the hats.