Life Without Reservations

Carlyn Frank Benjamin (1921-2017) was a rare Los Angeles native and natural storyteller who, though never published, filled notebooks and hard drives with poetry and personal reflections. Her life was dedicated to advocacy, philanthropy, and service to underserved communities.Growing up at the iconic Ambassador Hotel from 1921 to 1938, Carlyn developed a unique insider's perspective, sharing her firsthand knowledge with historians and journalists writing about the Ambassador and Old Hollywood. She was a staunch supporter of the preservationists who fought relentlessly to save the hotel from the wrecking ball, raising her voice alongside them.In 1944, Carlyn married Ben Benjamin, a legendary and highly respected ICM agent. Their home was filled with actors, writers, producers, and directors, and she channeled those relationships into her greatest passion-the Children's Booklift Fund, a social initiative she founded in the mid-1960s. An avid reader, Carlyn believed that children who embraced reading would be inspired to pursue their dreams. Her charity donated tens of thousands of books to elementary schools in the city's most underserved districts.Carlyn and Ben were married for 47 years and raised two children who became smart, funny and creative adults. Both Carlyn and Ben were devoted to doing the right thing and paying it forward. Carlyn and her daughter Lisa, who co-wrote Life Without Reservations, shared an exceptionally close bond, and in her later years, Carlyn cherished time with family, especially her three grandchildren.