Standard Insurance Building
Formerly the site of NCHA (National Ceramic Hobby Association), the northeast corner in Beverly Hills was purchased from film producer Irving H. Levin in 1961 by investment firm Boyar-Kessler (headed by Louis H. Boyar and Jerry Kessler).
Initially known as Hamilton Towers, the the $2M multi-story office building was designed by Kite & Overpeck. The Beverly Hills architectural firm designed the Hillcrest Hotel on Pico Blvd a year later.
The Standard Insurance Building was home to a variety of tenants, including ‘The Citizens for Good Government’, which sought to elect Hubert Humphrey when he ran to oppose Richard Nixon in 1968.
Additionally, Tom Bradley had an office there when he ran for Mayor in 1969 ("Two terms with Yorty is enough!").
During its run of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, the Fine Arts Theatre across the street utilized the building's parking garage in early 1974. Later tenants included the Bosley Medical Group ("It could change your life!").
Standard Oil
What looks like an office building, was actually an oil drilling lot. The Standard Oil Company of California opened the facility in 1968 (two years after Occidental Petroleum’s Cardiff Tower drill site in Beverly Hills).
Known as the Packard Drill Site, the place was previously open to the public. Today, the nondescript, roofless, four-sided enclosure on West Pico Blvd is operated by Houston-based oil company PXP.
Standard Station, Beverly Hills
While it might appear that the back row of this group of could figure out your deferred compensation as it related to minimum funding standards in order to amortize equal annual installments, they were in fact, executives from Standard Oil of California.
And the bowtied gentleman in front, while ready to cook you an old-fashioned Double Double animal style burger, were actually better suited to topping off the radiator, washing your windows, and pumping gas.
This new service station was located on the corner of Wilshire and Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, adjacent to the Warner Beverly Theatre. The single-screen theatre was taken over by Pacific, and later rebranded as the Beverly Theatre, alternately used as a synagogue, and closed for good in 1988.
In the background is Thrifty Drug Store, which is currently a high-rise tower.
Down the street was Bekins Storage at 215 North Canon, which added a cold fur storage facility in 1948. The new structure accommodated up to 15,000 fur coats, kept nicely between 18 and 41 degrees.
About twenty-five years later, the air-cooled vault was paid a visit by G-men searching for possessions belonging to Daniel Ellsberg, who insisted he only kept personal items there, and not government records.
The facility was sold in 1979 and two adjacent buildings were soon replaced with new retail stores. In recent years, a colossal bit of bollocks that doubles as a hotel sits on that site. And across the street was the celebrity-invested Bistro restaurant, which became a diluted version of Chasen’s in 1997.
After adopting the Chevron brand, the gas station remained until the early 1990s. The corner site was razed and replaced around 2010 by a glass box posing as a bank.
Of the few recognizable storefronts in the back is Beverly Charcoal Barbecue, which became a ticketing office for Lufthansa airlines in the early 1960s. A decade later and after extensive restructuring to the buildings, the new spot served up delicious New York-style hot-dogs when it was Brooklyn’s Famous (which turned into the Beverly Hills Roadhouse).
Wrapping itself around Wilshire and Canon was the new home of Willson’s apparel store until becoming an office for Guy Price realtor.
The entire lot was razed in 2018.
Sunset Strip
It’s another Monday night on the Sunset Strip for these scurrilous mature-looking teenagers. Taken in the late-1960s, this perilous scene happened across the street from Dino’s Lodge. The joint opened in 1955 and was formerly; Gypsy Camp, 22 Club, and New Trocadero.
The adjacent building belonged to David Wolper Productions (the logo is somewhat visible), which gave way to the Tiffany Theatre later on.
In the background was the 8490 Building, developed by Donald Appel and Larry Slaten in 1964, with architecture by Daniel L. Dworsky. The ground floor became the new Sunset-La Cienega branch of Bank of America.
The building was purchased in 1967 by the Petersen Publishing Company and razed around 2012.
Tower Theatre, downtown Los Angeles, 1974
Located in downtown Los Angeles on the southeast corner of Broadway and 8th Street, the Tower Theatre was built in 1927 by architect S. Charles Lee. The site was formerly the Garrick Theatre (demolished).
The playhouse was owned by Herman Gumbiner, head of Gumbiner Theatrical Enterprises, which operated a number of theatres in Chicago.
The Tower Theatre was renovated in 1965 under the eye of Herman Gumbiner’s daughter and continued operating until 1987 when it was briefly used as a club. The nearby Globe Theatre down the street also shut its doors and was reborn as a swap meet.
Activity picked up in recent years, as the Tower was used for various events and film locations, but it received extensive attention when it was converted into an Apple store in 2021.
United California Bank, 1961
Located on the corner of Wilshire and Camden in Beverly Hills, the new home for the newly minted United California Bank was built by developer S. Jon Kreedman in 1961, with architecture by Charles Luckman.
The expansive multimillion dollar structure comprised eight stories, mezzanine, penthouse, and an impenetrable vault built underground. At the time the building permit was the largest ever issued in the city, as well as making it the largest single structure in Beverly Hills.
In all likelihood, it wasn’t a stressful move for UCB (unless they were paying hourly) — they were relocating from previous digs down the street. Their former office was remodeled in 1954 by Douglas Honnold and John Rex. Today, the Art Deco building is the Sterling Plaza.
The building changed its masthead when UCB came under the First Interstate Bank fold in the early-1980s, and then acquired by Wells Fargo in 1996.
Utopian Society building
Mysterious in origin and nature, the L.A. Utopian Society had its headquarters at 831 South La Brea Avenue. Constructed in 1928, the 2-story building housed stores, an apartment, and a church.
The Utopian Society of Los Angeles was formed in 1934, supposedly by a group of local Technocrats.
Given the organization's secretive character, the press delved a little further revealing the founders were a writer, a lawyer, and a former employee of a large oil company. With its rapid spread in Southern California, the group soon fell under scrutiny. Group leaders spoke out to quash charges that its aim was “Communistic” and that it would support “no political candidate.”
Labeled in some quarters as subversive, the group taught “new economics”; one cardinal objective being that goods should be produced for consumption rather than profit. Numbers may have varied but the part-time political group had approximately 100,000 members.
The Society was headed by Jonathan F. Glendon, until his ouster in 1934 (which also saw the California chapter move to New York). The former actor and economics lecturer died three years later.
Wallich’s Music City, 1965
Just in town and ready to grab some vinyl from Wallichs Music City... perhaps The Beau Brummels, Stones, Sonny & Cher, maybe even Peter and Gordon. I honestly don't know.
Personally, I might have shown my street cred and politely asked for the latest Françoise Hardy 45.
The imposing building in the background is the West Coast headquarters for Radio Corporation of America, designed by Albert C. Martin.
The nine-story structure was completed toward the end of 1963 and RCA occupied four lower levels. Actress Ann-Margret was on hand for the groundbreaking.
The building on the southwest corner of Sunset and Vine has a billboard for eyewear from Sea & Ski, which was available from May Co. Cosmetic Department in 1965.
By late 1966 however, that building would become the Hollywood Main Branch of Bank of America, which opened to much fanfare.
How much fanfare? Gale Gordon from The Lucy Show was on hand, as was Johnny Grant. Today, my bank would be hard-pressed to get the cast of Bananas in Pyjamas to show up.
Wallichs Music City
Behind the ladies to the right is Wallichs Music City, which opened there in 1931.
Later became Wallichs Music City/Shelley's Audio/Spelvin Music Center, which soon went kaput. After a brief spell with Warehouse Liquidators and Art City... everything shuttered in the early 1980s.
Out of frame are DOT Records and the adjacent Gaiety Restaurant at 1511 North Vine. Owned by Stanley Youngerman. Along with his wife Esther, the Bronx-born restaurateur moved the deli to Palm Springs in the late 1970s.
The northwest corner block is mixed-use condos and retail. Barely a recognizable remnant of history is left.
West Hollywood, 1987
A billboard in the background is advertising the movie “Cry Freedom”, which opened in November 1987. Richard Attenborough’s well-received movie played the Cineplex Odeon in Century City, Universal City, and the Showcase on La Brea (since closed).
The C-shaped structure on the left was the Sunset Plaza Center (renamed the Sunset Collection), which opened around 1985. Shoppers willing to drop $70 on The Karate Kid could do so at 20/20 Video. Available in both VHS and Beta. Your choice.
Alternatively, twelve sessions of the Ultrabronz Reflector UVA system at Total Tan was yours for seventy bucks. The carcinoma was free. Other tenants included Attitude for Hair, and Della Spiga.
Two buildings in the background are no longer here; the 1960s Petersen Publishing Building on the southeast corner of La Cienega, which became a gargantuan bit of bollocks around 2015.
And directly across was the Trouville/Sunset Marks apartments. A staple since the 1960s, the timeworn units were demolished in 2021, making way for a new complex that has something to do with global influencers.
And in the distance is Le Mondrian hotel, which opened for business three years earlier.
Wilshire Blvd., 1934
The caption of this 1934 photograph reads “Famous Boulevard is Linked from City to Sea.”
Gently winding its way around MacArthur Park Lake toward the Westlake Theatre sign and downtown Los Angeles is the new Wilshire Boulevard causeway. The entire area — once a neglected parcel (“waste pueblo land because it could not be sold for two-bits an acre” — had thrived with manicured lawns, a beautiful lake, canoes, concerts, and a playground.
Surrounding the lake was Westlake Park, which despite opposition, officially changed its name to General MacArthur Park in 1942. Residents of the area appealed to have the name changed back in 1975.
The area made full use of its many hotels and apartment houses during the war; the Gaylord, the Talmadge, the Park-Wilshire, and the Aracady each advertised comfortable and affordable solutions to people’s war-time living problems.
In the 1970s, the lack of new housing plus an increase in Central and South American immigrants transformed the area
By the mid-1980s, MacArthur Park was labeled the centerpiece of the city’s most crowded neighborhood, one of its bustling and varied, and one of its poorest. The 32-acre park (“an emblem of urban deterioration”) had rapidly declined into a crime-infested space even Paul Kersey might avoid.
A revitalization project began in 1983 when Al Nodal of the Parsons/Otis Art Institute “adopted” the park and initiated a public art program.
Other improvements included daily foot patrols and new lighting. The historic neighborhood continued its efforts in June of 1986 - the park’s centennial. One remnant that didn’t make the cut was Hotel Ferraro, on the corner of 6th and Alvarado. The hotel for ex-cons even came with its own parole agent.
The friendly inn was shut down by the Fire and Building and Safety department, but a new owner invested enough money to maintain it — with help from City Councilman John Ferraro (hence the name), who then represented the district.
A suspicious fire in 1988 brought down the hotel, which by then operated as SRO. After much discussion on whether to rebuild, the corner was later replaced with a retail complex.
Despite efforts, problems persisted. Councilwoman Gloria Molina and Police Chief Darryl F. Gates attempted to rid the park of crack-related crime.
Westlake Theatre
Designed by architect Richard M. Bates Jr., the Westlake Theatre opened in 1926 at Wilshire and Alvarado Street. Leased in 1927 to the West Coast Theatre chain, the picture palace closed briefly during the Depression, underwent a makeover, and came back in 1935 with 25-cent matinees.
The elaborate electric roof sign was originally ornamented with shooting stars, although the sign was replaced and abbreviated. During the late 1920s, the theatre was also home to All Souls’ Church, where unsuspecting patrons sat through sermons such as “The Criminal Doctrine of Moral Imbecility Associated with the Name of Clarence Darrow.”
Fortunately, regular programming resumed and the theatre ran the gamut of film genres. In 1965, radio station KFWB hosted a Bomp Club premiere of “Beach Blanket Bingo”.
Behind the theatre on the northwest corner is the Westlake Professional Building, built around 1928. Today it’s the MacArthur Park Medical Plaza. Across the street is the 1927 Wilshire Medical Building. The highrise was built by architect John D. Parkinson.
Wilshire Blvd., late 1960s
Located front and center in this aerial shot of the Wilshire District (now Koreatown) is the Ambassador Hotel, bounded by 8th Street and Wilshire.
Directly opposite the hotel is the Gaylord Apartments. The T-shaped building to its left is the 1958 12-story Texaco building. It was occupied by a branch of California Bank. The building was converted to apartment living more recently.
Not yet visible is the Lee Tower office highrise, across from the three identical Tishman buildings). Built on the site of the Chapman Park Hotel, the 22-story high-rise became Equitable in 1968 and is still a recognizable landmark.
Overlooking a vast near-empty parking lot is the Picadilly Apartments. Built in 1930 (when rent was $65 and up), the place was renovated in 1976 and is still occupied.
Wilshire Blvd., 1970s
Looking east along Wilshire Blvd in Koreatown, the building to the right is the 11-story Beneficial Plaza (later known as Wilshire Park Place). Built in 1966 by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the building cost approximately $16M and occupied a square block.
Further down on the same side is the 12-story office building, which was completed in 1973 and designed by Palmer/Shapiro. The main floor was a branch of Great Western Savings. Today, the primary tenant is Hanmi Bank.
The partially obscured blue and white highrise behind is the 22-story Travelers Insurance building, designed by Welton Becket & Associates in 1960. At the time it was the city’s tallest building. Shortly after completion, Security First National Bank moved in. Today it’s occupied by Bank of Hope.