Miracle Mile, 1964
Taking center stage is the highrise California Federal Plaza Building, which opened in February 1965.
Talks began in 1959 with renowned architect Charles Luckman who was hired to oversee the $17M, 28-story skyscraper (billed as the tallest in Southern California). Ground was broken in the Spring of 1962.
The diamond-shaped plaza proudly boasted its walls of marble, rare art objects, a sparkling fountain of magic beauty, and sky-high panoramic views. The impressive new masterpiece provided "Pretty Golden Girl Guides" to escort free tours throughout the building.
The sparking fountain, known as "Falkenstein Falls", was created by Malibu resident Claire Falkenstein (who passed away in 1997). Her work was featured across the street at the County Museum of Art. The fountain was removed years ago.
While California Federal occupied about a third of the space, Crcocker-Citizens National Bank took the ground floor (currently Union Bank).
The building was renovated in 1990 after California Federal packed its bags. By 1991, E! Entertainment Television moved in but later departed to Universal City.
Motion Picture Museum, 1961
First announced in 1959, the Motion Picture and Television Museum was set to be constructed on a two-acre, county-owned site near the Hollywood Bowl.
At a starting cost of around $4M, the long-planned facility progressed with plans by architect William L. Pereira and comprised of five buildings, covered by walkways and glass-covered corridors, and landscaped gardens.
Plans were based on the assumption that the museum would be financed from revenues with no cost to the taxpayers. The hope was to attract about 30 percent of visitors to Southern California, with estimates of producing roughly $1.5M in revenue. It was said the museum would pay for itself within 30 years.
The structures would include a 500-seat theatre, a sound stage for tourists, galleries, a museum, classrooms, and a restaurant.
In charge of the Hollywood Museum Commission was independent movie producer Sol Lesser (below), who announced in mid-1960 that the museum was a reality. However, the path to becoming a reality had to go through the legislature (as well as the approval of area residents), and in late-1960, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors submitted the proposal to state law to Sacramento for “Authorization for the operation of the proposed Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum.”
In August 1961, additional details revealed the location; a three-level structure on a parcel of land located on the east side of Highland Avenue and south of Odin Street and extending toward Las Palmas Avenue.
During this time, curator and film critic Arthur Knight was officially tasked with preserving rare film. A number of filmland’s finest had donated memorabilia including; Mary Pickford, King Vidor, and David O’ Selznick.
The project continued moving forward with an official unveiling of a detailed model that was shown at a three-day convention at the Disneyland Hotel in September 1961. On hand were Ralph Edwards and Maureen O’Hara.
With groundbreaking scheduled now moved ahead to June 1962, the museum’s next hurdle came when Los Angeles County Board Supervisor Kenneth Hahn threatened to withhold funds unless the movie industry cleaned up its act on “blue” films.
Despite the preposterous snag, the project inched ahead and with approval from county supervisors, various lots were purchased near the site. This included an option to buy the Kadorf Apartments, a 16-unit apartment complex at 2060 North Highland Avenue.
Finally, in October 1963, ground was broken. Billed as “the most important group ever to assemble in entertainment history for any single event”, the star-studded ceremony was attended among others; by Sol Lesser, Supervisor Ernest Debs, Gloria Swanson, and mistress of ceremonies, Rosalind Russell. Doing the honors with a trusty spade was Richard Powell, the 11-year-old son of late actor, Dick Powell.
In early 1964, financier Bart Lytton expressed doubts over the project (now at $6.5M) and called for a watchdog committee. His request was denied, and the Board of Supervisors moved forward with leases and approval of other expenses.
However, the Hollywood Museum Commission was soon disbanded in favor of three non-profit corporations, headed by Lytton. In December 1964, Kenneth Hahn said, “I don’t think we should spend another dime on the museum.
With a spiraling budget putting the cost closer to a whopping $14M, the Museum project resembled a white elephant. But additional troubles were down the road. During the process of acquiring property under an eminent domain ordinance, one homeowner staunchly refused to give up his condemned lot.
From his compound on Alta Loma Terrace (part owned by the Episcopal Home for the Aged), actor and bartender Steven Anthony (real name Ernest Vnuk) vigorously defended his right to remain, arguing the proposed museum was a “private” venture and unconstitutional.
In February 1964, after defying an earlier court order to vacate, a standoff ensued between the deputy sheriffs and Anthony – now with shotgun and small child in hand.
Hoping to assuage the situation, museum administrators offered the embattled father of three a year’s free rent in any other home he wished to lease, but this offer was rejected.
We might have bloodshed. Let’s all remember we are just building a motion picture museum. This isn’t a freeway, an overcrowded jail or a hospital. Let us re-evaluate his case.
- Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, 02/13/1964.
Although Anthony managed to ward off imminent bulldozing with appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Anthony’s final petition and refused to intervene.
Not holding back his elation at the news, Supervisor Ernest E. Debs told reporters, “This should remove the last stumbling block to getting work underway.” And indeed, work did get underway in April 1964, when a county wrecking crew, working under the protection of scores of deputy sheriffs, demolished the home with bulldozers and a clam bucket.
The wrecking was widely condemned. Locals argued it was a misuse of public funds and bomb threats were made on the Arcadia residence of Sheriff Peter J. Pitchess.
And despite the Museum’s overreaching efforts to claim its last obstacle, the project faltered, plagued by dwindling public support, and financial problems (the cost ballooned to a reported $21M).
Yet despite the county-level confusion and endless delays, there was surprising optimism. In early 1965, Lesser and members of various committees believed the project was still in operation, and predicted the new schedule to open would be in two years (there was even a rumor the ill-fated museum could be the new home of the Academy Awards).
Dead Dodo
Spearheaded by Kenneth Hahn (who felt money had been squandered), the city renewed its efforts to have the Museum open its books to the public, as well seeking a $5M guarantee from sectors in the entertainment industry.
After coughing up just over $1M on startup costs, the Board of Supervisors, and a three-member panel headed by financier Bart Lytton cut funding to what was dubbed “an unfeasible Taj Mahal”.
The proposed site of the former home became nothing more than a parking lot, which was graded and blacktopped in mid-1965, creating 90 temporary parking spaces for the Hollywood Bowl. Citing health reasons, Lesser resigned from the Museum project. For Sol Lesser, who died in 1980, it was the last of his public projects.
The respected philanthropist received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, located on the North side of the 6500 block of Hollywood Boulevard.
It’s worth noting that in 1968, the task of sorting and cataloging the mass of movie material for the intended museum was handled by the Parkview Photography Center, founded by Clarence Inman in 1961. The former World War II Navy photographer remained with the Center until retiring in 1982.
A dozen curators were assigned to manage the year-long project which comprised almost 2000 reels of film dating back to 1915, antique projectors, props, and costumes.
And yet the comatose project continued to hang around.
In 1967, grandiose plans were announced to construct Mt. Hollywood – a massive complex built atop Griffith Park. The commercial complex was intended as a year-round source of revenue. Plans included a walkway with 360-degree views, a revolving restaurant, a mall, and a Hollywood Hall of Fame, later evolving into the stalled Museum. The brazen concept also included an aerial tramway down to the Los Angeles World Zoo.
The project was met with strong disapproval.
Aftermath
Long after the dust settled on the Museum, former Supervisor Eugene Debs said the media overplayed the Anthony affair but conceded museum organizers and the industry shot it in the foot. Debs concluded, “The museum we envisioned, there just wasn’t the public support for it.”
As for Steven Anthony, the beleaguered bartender who was charged with battery and resisting arrest during his deceptive eviction, unsuccessfully sued the county in 1968 for $2M in damages. During sentencing to determine where he would serve his sentence, Judge Byron Walters called Anthony “an anarchist, rabble-rouser and publicity seeker.
The family moved to Tuolumne County in Northern California in 1971 where they lived until Anthony passed away in 1996.
Successive efforts to realize a permanent Hollywood museum came around again in the 1980s when the Lasky-DeMille Barn was saved and evolved into the Hollywood Studio Museum (now the Hollywood Heritage Museum).
Among the board members was Julian ‘Bud’ Lesser (d. 2005), son of Sol Lesser.
As for the donated artifacts — they found a new home at various storage facilities; one near County Hospital, and another at the city-owned Central Service Yard in Glendale.
Pigeon Hole garage, downtown Los Angeles, 1956
Directly ahead is the Pigeon Hole garage, with a capacity for 128 vehicles; perfect for dropping off your Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible.
Operated by Standard Stations, the multi-level structure opened in 1953 and was located at Flower and Wilshire. The vehicle was picked up by a lift and hauled to the elevator and gently lifted or placed into a parking spot.
The structure was eventually razed and became the 770 Wilshire Building in 1972 , designed by Charles Luckman.
On the right was one of the oldest custom tailors in the city; Chas Levy & Son. In business since 1900, they began with a location on South Spring Street (currently home to the Spring Street Park).
The Wilshire location seen here seems to have vanished by around 1963 (most likely the firm going out of business).
Rapid Transit System
“Rapid Transit Stations for Southern California for Rapid Transit District’s recommended, first-phase Rapid Transit system will be the most modern in the world.
Plans provide for stations to be individually designed to accommodate specific community needs in coordination with District’s requirements for Rapid Transit operating in the subway, skyway or at surface.
Parking will be provided at suburban stations and terminals with provisions also being made for kiss ‘n ride commuters whose wives drive them to the stations and call for them again in the evening, and for those who drive and park ‘n ride.
Shown is a proposed surface station for the median strip of the San Bernadino Freeway in the San Gabriel Valley Corridor.”
Rocket Messenger Service, 1962
Located in Hollywood, the company bragged it delivers “everything except babies.” The firm was founded by Nelson Thurston (1915-1973) in 1947 and soon expanded and began operating in San Francisco.
The messenger service moved to downtown Los Angeles in the 1980s.
Sardi’s Cafe, 1934
Pictured here is the filming of Paramount’s "Hollywood Boulevard”, which opened in September 1936.
Located near Hollywood and Vine in a small retail complex, Sardi’s (“a distinctive and popular-priced restaurant“) opened in 1933, at the height of the Great Depression. With room for 200 diners, the interior and exterior design was handled by Rudolph Schindler. The site was formerly the Chinese Garden Cafe.
Sardi’s was operated by Eddie (Adolph) Brandstatter. Born in France, the noted restaurateur had been involved with multiple eateries since the halcyon days of the silents, including; the Victor Hugo Cafe, the Sunset Inn (with Mike Lyman), Marcell Cafe, the Embassy Club, and Cafe Montmartre.
Brandstatter told the Los Angeles Times Sardis “will be open twenty-four hours every day with service available at all times”. Much of the property was destroyed by a fire in 1936, though Brandstatter rebuilt an expanded restaurant a year later.
Brandstatter sold the restaurant to his partner Dave Covey in 1938. His next venture was the Bohemia cafe on Ventura Blvd, though it was never completed.
Sadly, the “Host of Hollywood” took his own life in 1940 in the garage of his Sherman Oaks home. His wife Helen (née Stumar) told police she believed financial difficulties were to blame.
The popular spot for hobnobbing became Chi-Chi Restaurant until 1948 and was reborn as a Dixieland joint known as “Eddie’s”. A decade later and still unable to shed its origins, the Hollywood and Vine spot became Zardi's Jazzland.
Changing gears in the late 1960s, the site was the Haunted House cocktail lounge.
St. John’s Church, 1926
A moment in time, as well-appointed wedding guests gather outside St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Los Angeles. Today, of course, the view is a little different; across the street is a Popeyes chicken restaurant.
Located on the corner of West Adams and Figueroa, the church was built for a reported $600,000 by brothers Walter S. and F. Pierpont Davis and completed in 1924 (the cornerstone had been laid two years earlier).
St. John’s Episcopal Church was described as being “designed in the manner of an 11-th century Florentine church. Above the entrance, in the light-gray Tufa stone façade, is a large rose window set in a carre of bas reliefs by S. Cartaino Scarpitta. The ceiling on the main auditorium is a copy of that in the Church of Sin Minato in Florence. The corpus on the rood beam and the Christus above the altar were carved from oak by a protégé of Anton Lang of Oberammergau”.
Taking a stand against the war, the church closed in May 1970 until US military forces withdrew from Southeast Asia. The Reverend E. Lawrence Carter lamented the doors would remain closed, “as a reminder that the spiritual leaders and concerned citizens of our nation were derelict in permitting our government to follow this course of action in Vietnam.”
Referred to at the time as “one of the most beautiful and costly edifices in the country…”, St. John’s Church remained a landmark in the West Adams area for decades and became
St. John’s Cathedral in 2007.
Original architect Francis Pierpoint Davis also designed the Villa D’este in West Hollywood in 1928