l.a.’s k-town: culture and community i · 3790 wilshire blvd 1931, stiles o. clements and g....
TRANSCRIPT
Wiltern Theatre and Pellisier Building
3790 Wilshire Blvd
1931, Stiles O. Clements and G. Albert Lansburgh
This art deco gem originally opened as a part of the Warner Brothers Western The-atre chain. Closing only 18 months after opening , the theatre reopened in 1935 with its current name but by 1970s was in plan to be demolished. Reopened in 1985, the building is currently used for re-tail spaces and special events and live entertainment.
The Windsor Apart-ments
3198 W 7th St
1927/1949
This Tudor style apartment is located on what once was one of the most luxurious spots in Los Angeles.
Wilshire Colonnade 3731 Wilshire Blvd
1970, Edward Durell Stone
Formerly called the Ahmanson Cen-ter, Wilshire Colonnade was built as a tribute to the financier, Howard F. Ahmanson, his contribution to Los Angeles, and classical Roman architec-ture.
Wilshire Boulevard Tem-ple
3663 Wilshire Blvd
1929, Abram M. Edelman and Samuel Tilden Norton
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monu-ment #116
Congregation B’nai B’rith, the first Jewish congregation in Los Angeles, dedicated its current temple in 1929.
St. Basil Catholic Church 3611 Wilshire Blvd
1969, A. C. Martin & Associates
The $3 million project of massive concrete was the target of Chicano Movement pro-test for its extravagance. Started by Albert C. Martin Sr. and finished by his sons, Al-bert Jr. and John Edward, the building is inspired by early churches and monaster-ies.
Wilshire Professional Building
Address
Year, architect
[blurb]
Chapman Plaza 3451 W 6th St
1929, Morgan, Walls, and Clem-ents
Originally named Chapman Park Market, the plaza was one of the first automobile-centric, drive-in markets in the west coast.
Gaylord Apartments
3355 Wilshire Blvd
1924/1962, Walker & Eisen
Named after Henry Gaylord Wil-shire, founder of Wilshire Blvd
The Furrier
Talmadge Apartments
Bullocks Wilshire
3050 Wilshire Blvd
1929, Parkinson & Parkinson
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #56
One of the first department stores to cater to automobile, suburban culture, Bullocks Wilshire (originally Bullock’s, apostrophe was dropped in 1970 and can still be seen on the building plaque)
Legend
Blue: Saturday
Pink: Sunday
Oasis Church
634 S. Normandie Avenue
Robert Orr
Wilshire Christian Church was the first church built in the Wilshire area. The original bungalow style, set away from the street, was re-placed with a Romanesque struc-ture with Byzantine elements by Robert Orr. Visible from Wilshire is the rose window by the master craftsmen at Judson Studios, said to be a copy of one in the Rheims
Chapman Park Studios
The Mercury
3810 Wilshire Blvd
The Mercury was the last buildings designed by architect Cluad Beelman. Desinged for J.Paul Getty The Mer-cury was once the headqyartes of the Getty Oil Company.
I. Magnin
3240 Wilshire Blvd.
1938
The Equitable 3435 Wilshire Boulevard
Finished in 1969 this in-ternational style sky-scraper ties with Los An-geles City hall as the 26th tallest building in Los Angeles.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church 3300 Wilshire Blvd. Chauncey F. Skilling 1928 Modeled after French Gothic ca-thedrals, this church houses a con-gregation that dates to 1888 and today serves nearby Latinx, Filipi-no, Korean, and Ethiopian commu-nities. The building's stone-clad corner tower soars 205 feet above Wilshire, supported by a steel frame that allows for a strikingly
The line Hotel
Hotel Normandie 605 Normande Ave
1926, Walker & Eisen
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monu-ment #1013
Opened during the heyday of Wil-shire district, this former residential hotel hosted many famous names, most notably novelist Malcolm Lowry, who wrote Under the Volcano during his stay at the Normandie.
Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools. (Ambassador Hotel) 3400 Wilshire Blvd
2010,
Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools are a collection of six schools that now sits on the former site of the Ambassa-dor Hotel. The site of six Oscar ceremo-nies and assassination of Robert F. Ken-nedy, the Ambassador was demolished in 2005.
The Oriental Mission Church (Not shown)
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1 Da Wool Jung 1000 S. Normandie Ave. • 2006
DaWoolJung(“harmoniousgatheringplace”)isatraditionalKorean-stylepavilion.Itwasbuiltusingtime-honoredmethods–withoutanynailsorscrews–bycraftspeoplefromKorea.ItispartoftheMadangOpenSpaceProject,organizedbytheKoreanAmericanChamberofCommerceandLosAngelesNeighborhoodInitiative.TheprojectsoughttobuildaparkconnectingthepavilionwiththeKoreatownSeniorandCommunityCenterlocatedacrossthestreet.Theplanprovedunfeasible,andthepavilionisallthatwasconstructed.
2 Kim Bang Ah 3031 W. Olympic Blvd. • 1960, Immanuel H. Lewin
KimBangAhhasbeenownedandoperatedbythreegenerationsoftheKimfamilysinceopeningin1967.Abakeryanddrygoodsstore,KimBangAhprovidestheneighborhoodwithriceandacornfloursusedintraditionalKoreandishes,aswellassignaturericecakes.
3 Guelaguetza3014 W. Olympic Blvd. • 1975, Kang Ho Lee
OriginallyhometotheKoreanrestaurantVIPPalace,whichopenedin1975,thebuildingservednotonlyasarestaurantbutalsoasaculturalcenter.Built
byHiDukLee,whoalsobuilttheneighboringVIPPlaza,theVIPPalaceandPlazawerethefirstbuildingsinLosAngelestobeconstructedinthetraditionalKoreanstyle,withbluerooftilesandafaçadepaintedtoresembleKoreanpalaces.NowoccupiedbytheOaxacanrestaurantGuelaguetza,whichopenedin1994,therestauranthascontinuedtoserveasaneighborhoodgatheringplace,thistimecenteredaroundOaxacanfood,dance,andculture.In2015,itwasawardedtheJamesBeardAmerica’sClassicaward.
4 Hannam Market 2740 W. Olympic Blvd. • 1988, Lorand West
OpenedbyKeeWhanHa,HannamMarketwasthefirstofwhatwouldbecomeapopularchainofKoreangrocerystores.Asthe1992LosAngelesriotsspreadtoKoreatown,Harefusedtoleavehisstoreunprotected.HeorganizedhisworkersandotherKoreanbusinessownersindefenseoftheirproperties,assemblingatHannamMarkettotakeastand.Duringashootoutatthemarket,oneofHa’ssecurityguardswaskilled.HannamMarketwasleftintact.
5 Koreatown Gateway Signs 2716 W. Olympic Blvd./3250 W. Olympic Blvd. 2011, Anne Kim
Thesefourgateways,alongwiththeartisticcrosswalksanddecorativelampslocatedalongOlympicBoulevard,wereconstructedaspartofastreetscaperedevelopmentprojectin2011.Alongthebottomofeachgatewayarepanelsoftextthatofferabriefhistoryoftheneighborhood.PerchedontopisaBongHwang,anEastAsianmythicalbirdthatrepresentshappinessandprosperity.
L.A.’s K-Town: Culture and Community
Art Deco in Koreatown
Theterm‘ArtDeco’wascoinedin1968todescribethestyleofdesignpopularinthelate1920sto1930s.Post-WorldWar
I,designerssoughttocreateamoremodernlook,influencedbynon-anglocultures(mainlyMayan,Egyptian,andAssyrian)andthenewtechnologiesofthemachineage.Unlikepreviousclassicalarchitecturalstyles,suchasBeauxArts,ArtDecoemphasizedvertical,streamlinedmovementandincludeddecorationswithrepeatinggeometricshapesandzigzagpatterns.Glazedterracotta,glassandmirroredsurfaces,metalfittings,andcustom-designedfixtureswerealsoused.Built-insymbolicreferencestothebuildingowners,ortothetypeofbusinessconductedatthesite,werealsopopular.BesuretolookforthesefeaturesinArtDecobuildingsalongWilshireBoulevard,includingWilshireProfessional,TheWiltern,theWilshireGalleria,andBullocksWilshire/SouthwesternLawSchool.
Religion and Its Role in Koreatown
Koreatownishometooveronehundredreligiousinstitutions.ManyofthelargerhousesofworshipinKoreatown,such
asWilshireChristianChurch,WilshireBoulevardTemple,andImmanuelPresbyterianChurch,wereconstructedinthe1920s.ThesegrandstructurescateredtotheaffluentpopulationlivinginWilshireCenteratthetime.Asthedemographicsoftheneighborhoodbegantochangeinthe1950sand1960swithnewwavesofimmigrants,theroleofreligiousinstitutionsintheneighborhoodbegantochange.TheOrientalMissionChurchonWesternAvenuewasoneofthefirstplacestoserveasacommunalgatheringsiteforearlyKoreanimmigrants,providingessentialsocialservices.Itandthechurchesthatfollowedinitsfootstepsemphasizedtheneedforeducationandencouragedpeopletostarttheirownbusinesses.Today,mostchurchesinKoreatownconductservicesinEnglish,Spanish,andKorean,andcontinuetoplayanimportantrolewithinthecommunity.
Skyscrapers in Koreatown
FearfulthatthedowntownstreetsofthegrowingcitywouldfollowthepathoftheEastCoast’shulking,shadow-casting
skyscrapers,LosAngeleschoseadifferentroute.By1911,theLosAngelesCityCouncilpassedabilllimitingbuildingheightsto150feet.Additionalheightwouldonlybeallowedtoaccommodateunoccupied(i.e.non-leasable)spaceforrooftopmechanicalroomsandsimilarconsiderations.Asaresultofthismandate,mostoftheolderbuildingsindowntownLosAngelesandthosealongWilshireBoulevard,suchastheGaylordApartmentsortheTalmadge,arenotallerthantwelveorthirteenstories–themaximumnumberoffloorsa150-footheightlimitwouldallow.
ThearrivaloftheArtDecostyle,whichfavoredtaperingtowersintheveinofNewYork’sChryslerBuilding,allowedarchitectstopushtheboundariesofwhatcouldconstituteunoccupied“mechanical”rooms.TheBullocksWilshirebuilding(nowpartofSouthwesternLawSchool)erectedin1929,topsoutat241feet,thankstoanearly150-foot-high“mechanicalroom”atopitsstructure.DespitetheCity’sheightlimit,LosAngelesgotits“skyscrapers.”
In1957,LosAngelesmaderoomfortrueskyscraperswhenvotersrepealedtheheightlimit,replacingthepreviousguidelinewithaFloor-to-Area(FAR)ratioformula.This“density-based”formulaallowedbuildingstobetwiceashighasbefore,aslongastheyoccupiedonlyhalfoftheirpropertyfootprint(orfourtimesashigh,occupyingonlyone-quarteroftheirproperty).TheresultisevidentindowntownandalongWilshireBoulevard:tallerbuildingswithlarge,openplazassurroundingthem.
The34-storyEquitableLifeBuilding,completedin1969,exemplifiestheCity’srevisedheightordinance.Though453feettall(onefootshorterthanCityHall),theskyscraperissetwellbackfromtheboulevard,anditoffersspaciousplazasandopenspaceonallfoursides.TheMercury,completedin1963,looms312feetabovethecornerofWilshireBoulevardandWesternAvenue,yetprovidesopenspaceonitssouthernandwesternelevations.
L.A.’s K-Town: Culture and Community
Intheearlytwentiethcentury,LosAngeles’KoreanandKorean-Americanpopulationlivedprimarilyondowntown’sBunkerHill,oneofthefewplacesthatallowednon-whiteresidents.Overthenextfewdecades,thecommunitybegantoshifttoapartofdowntownadjacenttotheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia.ThenewKoreancommunitynearJeffersonBoulevardbecameahubfororganizationsthatprovided
Koreanimmigrantsandfamilieswithservicessuchasmedicalandfinancialassistance,aswellaspoliticalandreligioussupport.Bythe1950s,asecondwaveofKoreanimmigrantsreelingfromtheKoreanWarmadetheirwaytotheUnitedStatesandLosAngeles.The
populationofwhatisnowcalled“OldKoreatown”swelledwithnewcomers.Adecadelater,thankstorelaxedfederalimmigrationrules,itgrewevenmore.
Meanwhile,thecentralWilshireareawasgrowingbyleapsandbounds.In1957,theCityliftedbuildingheightrestrictions,andhigh-risecommercialbuildingssproutedupalongthecorridor.Originalresidentsofthearea,luredbythesirensongofaffluentpostwarsuburbia,migratedwestandtothesuburbs,leavingtheneighborhoodfreefordenserdevelopment.
LowerrentsandabundantcommercialrealestatedrewtheburgeoningKoreancommunitytothearea,manyofwhomsetupstorefrontsandeateriesinthearea’snowubiquitousstripmalls.InandbetweenthepastelterracottaofsomeofLosAngeles’finestexamplesofitsearlyarchitecture,Koreanimmigrantsmadetheirhomes.
AswithsomanyneighborhoodsinLosAngeles,thebuildingsandhistoricsitesencompassedwithinKoreatownarehometomultiplecommunityidentities,layeredoneatopanother.Roughly53%ofthepopulationinKoreatownidentifiesasLatinx.TheElSalvadorCorridor,formallydesignatedin2012,islocatedjustsouthofKoreatownonVermontAvenue,andLittleBangladeshbordersfourblocksofKoreatowntothenorth.ThepeopleintheseneighborhoodsinfluencetheblocksandbuildingsofKoreatownthroughthefoodtheyeat,thelanguagestheyspeak,andthebuildingstheyinhabit.ToexploretheiconicbuildingsinKoreatownistoexploreastoryscapeofcommunities—thecommunitiesof
LosAngeles.
Exploring Olympic Boulevard: Sunday, November 5, 2017
Security Pacific National Bank Collection/Los Angeles Public Library
Alex Inshishian
1 The Wiltern and Pellissier Building 3790 Wilshire Blvd. 1931, Stiles O. Clements and G. Albert Lansburgh
TheWiltern,aclassicexampleofArtDecoarchitecture,originallyopenedaspartoftheWarnerBrothersWesternTheatrechain.In1956,theWilternwassoldtoFranklinLifeInsuranceCompany.Itthereafterfacedasteadydecline,eventuallyclosingitsdoorsin1979,thesameyearthebuildingwaslistedintheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces.Whenthebuildingwasthreatenedwithdemolition,alongwithaveryyoungLosAngelesConservancy,alongwiththeCitizens’CommitteetoSavetheWiltern,cametotherescue.ThecomplexwassavedfromthewreckingballthroughtheinterventionofdeveloperWayneRatkovichandhisfirm,Ratkovich,Bowers&Perez.
2 The Mercury 3810 Wilshire Blvd. • 1963, Claud Beelman
ThisMid-CenturyModernskyscraperwasthelastbuildingdesignedbyClaudBeelman.CommissionedbyJ.PaulGetty,itservedasheadquartersoftheGettyOilCompany.In2016,itwasadaptedintoluxurycondominiums.
3 Wilshire Professional Building
3875 Wilshire Blvd. • 1929, Arthur E. Harvey
TheArtDecodesignofthis13-storycommercialofficebuildingfeaturesastepped-backtower,emblematicoftheArtDecostyle.Theterrazzopatternoutsidethemainentrancewascustom-madebythePortlandCementCompany.
4 Wilshire Colonnade 3701 Wilshire Blvd. • 1967, Edward Durell Stone
FormerlyknownasAhmansonCenter,WilshireColonnadeisatributetoclassicalRomanarchitecture.ThecentralcourtyardisdesignedtoresembleaEuropeanplaza,andtheentirebuildingiscoveredintravertinemarbleimportedfromItaly,withwalkwayspavedwithmarble.Thecourtyardisoneofthefewpublic,openspacesintheneighborhood.
5 Radio Korea 3700 Wilshire Blvd. • 1966, Gordon Bunshaft and Edward Charles Bassett for SOM
HousedintheMid-CenturyWilshireParkPlacebuilding,RadioKoreaisoneofseveralradiostationsinLosAngelesthatbroadcastsentirelyinKorean.Thestation,whichwasfoundedin1989,servedavitalroleduringtheLosAngelesriotsbyactingasaninformationcenterforthecommunity.Whentheneighborhoodwascutofffromthepolice,fire
department,andotheremergencyservices,RadioKoreacancelleditsregularprogrammingandopeneditsphonelines,allowingpeopletocallforhelpandexchangeinformation.
6 Wilshire Boulevard Temple
3663 Wilshire Blvd. 1929, Abram M. Edelman and Samuel Tilden Norton
WilshireBoulevardTempleishometotheCongregationB’naiB’rith,whichwasfoundedin1862andistheoldestJewishcongregationinLosAngeles.Thetemple’sexteriorfeaturesatraditionalRomanesquethree-archportalandrose
window,alongwithavastByzantine-styledome.ItwasdesignatedasaLosAngelesHistoric-CulturalMonumentin1973andlistedintheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesin1981.Thetempleunderwentanextensiverestorationfrom2011to2013,earningitaLosAngelesConservancyPreservationAward.
7 St. Basil Catholic Church 3611 Wilshire Blvd. • 1969, A. C. Martin & Associates
ThedesignofSt.BasilCatholicChurch,begunbyAlbertC.Martin,Sr.andfinishedbyhissons,AlbertJr.andJohnEdward,wasinspiredbythird-andfourth-centuryChristianchurches.ConstructedintheBrutaliststyle,itcomprisesover9,000cubicyardsofconcrete,includinga160-footspire.ThechurchfeaturespouredconcretereliefsdepictingthefourteenStationsoftheCross,sculptedinjusttwenty-eightdaysbyFrancoAssetto.
8 The LINE Hotel
3515 Wilshire Blvd. 1964, Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall (DMJM)
OriginallyopenedastheWilshireHotel,theupdated384-roomLINEHotelretainstheessenceofitsMid-CenturyModernroots.Itsroomsfeaturefloor-to-ceilingwindowsandindustrialchicfurniture.TheLINEhaspositioneditselfasacommunityspace,openingitslobbytothepublicandservingasagatheringspotforgroups,suchasthepopularKoreatownRunClub.ItisalsohometotwooflocalchefRoyChoi’sestablishments,CommissaryandPOT.
9 Hotel Normandie 605 Normandie Ave. • 1926, Walker & Eisen
TheRenaissanceRevival-styleHotelNormandiewasoneofthemostprominenthotelsonWilshireCenter.NotableresidentsincludedEnglishauthorMalcolmLowry,whocompletedhismagnumopusUnder the Volcanohereduringthe1930s.JLouArchitectspurchasedthehotelin2010andbegananextensiverestoration,earninganL.A.ConservancyPreservationAward.Today,thehotel’s91roomshavebeenrestoredtotheir1920sgrandeur.
10 Oasis Church 634 S. Normandie Ave. • 1926, Robert Orr
OasisChurch,oncetheWilshireChristianChurch,wasthefirstchurchbuiltinthearea.DesignedintheRomanesquestylebyparishionerandarchitectRobertOrr,thebuildingreplacedtheparish’soriginalbungalow-stylestructure.VisiblefromWilshireBoulevardistherosewindowbythemastercraftsmenatJudsonStudios,saidtobeacopyofoneintheRheimsCathedralinFrance.
11 Chapman Court
3511 W. 6th St. • 1928, Morgan, Walls & Clements
ChapmanCourt,onceknownasChapmanParkStudios,wasoriginallyownedbytheChapmanbrothers,whoalsoownedChapmanPlazaandthenow-demolishedChapmanHotel.AllthreehadChurrigueresquefaçades,apopularlookintheearly1920s.ChapmanCourtincludesground-floorretailunitsandunique,two-storylive-workspacesontheupperfloors.Theroomsfeaturedetailedmolding,paneledwalls,archedwindows,andhighceilings.
12 Chapman Plaza 3451 W. 6th St. • 1929, Morgan, Walls & Clements
OriginallyChapmanParkMarket,theplazawasoneofthefirstautomobile-centric,drive-inmarketsontheWestCoast.Withafortress-likefaçadeandChurrigueresquetowers,theSpanishColonialRevivalstructureattracteddriverswithitsrooftopsign.Motoristscoulddrivedirectlyintothecourtyardandbuyalltheirgroceriesinonespot.RenovatedbyWayneRatkovitchin1990,itisnowoccupiedbyavarietyofprimarilyKoreanbusinesses,andremainsapopularlocale.
13 Equitable Life Building 3435 Wilshire Blvd. • 1969, Welton Becket & Associates
This33-storyInternationalStyleskyscraperiscurrentlythetallestbuildinginKoreatown.BuiltontheformersiteoftheChapmanHotel,theEquitableLifeBuilding’slobbyhousesrotatingpublicartexhibitions.
14 Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools (former site of the Ambassador Hotel) 3400 Wilshire Blvd. • 2010, Gonzalez Goodale
RobertF.KennedyCommunitySchoolsareacollectionofsixschoolslocatedontheformersiteoftheAmbassadorHotel.DesignedbyMyronHuntin1921withlaterrenovationsbyPaulWilliams,theAmbassadorfueledthewestwardexpansionofWilshireBoulevardandhousedtheworld-famousCocoanutGrovenightclub.TheAmbassadorhostedeveryUnitedStatespresidentfromHerbertHoovertoRichardNixon,aswellassixAcademyAwardsceremonies.ItwasalsothetragicsiteofRobertF.Kennedy’sassassinationin1968.DespiteyearsofefforttosavetheAmbassadorbytheLosAngelesConservancyandothergroups,itwasrazedin2005.AllthatremainsareanArtDecopylonattheWilshireBoulevardentrance,portionsofthehotelentranceportal,andtheeastwalloftheCocoanutGrove.
15 Brown Derby 3377 Wilshire Blvd. • 1937
ThepopularityoftheoriginalBrownDerbyrestaurant,builtin1926,resultedinitsrelocationandexpansionhalfablockeastto3377WilshireBoulevardin1937.
Shapedlikethehatitwasnamedfor,theBrownDerbywasdesignedtodrawtheattentionofpassingmotorists.Inanefforttosavethebuildingmid-demolition,theLosAngelesConservancyandHollywoodHeritagenegotiatedtokeepthedomeofthehatintact.Thedomewaslatermovedandincorporatedintothe2ndflooroftheBrownDerbyShoppingCenter.
16 Gaylord Apartments 3355 Wilshire Blvd. • 1924, Walker & Eisen
Thebuilding–aswiththeboulevarditself–takesitsnamefromtherealestatemogulGaylordWilshire.Openedin1924asaluxuryhotel,theGaylordwaslaterconvertedtoapartments.Thefirstfloorincludesthehistoricrestaurant,H.M.S.Bounty.In2006,theLosAngelesConservancyhelda“wake”onthissitetogrievethelossoftheAmbassadorHotel,whosedemolitionwascompletedthatyear:hundredsattendedtopaytheirrespects.2017markstheH.M.S.Bounty’s50thanniversary.
17 Willard H. George Building
3330 Wilshire Blvd. • 1929, Richard D. King
ThisArtDecobuildingwasoncehometotheWillardH.GeorgeCo.Furrierstore,ahigh-endboutiquethatspecializedinchinchillafur.Knownas“thechinchillaindustry’sgreatestfriend,”Willarddevelopedagradingsystemforchinchillafurthatwasadoptednationwide.Astuccofaçadewasaddedin1948coveringmostoftheArtDecoflourishes,includingtheziggurattower.Thebuildingwaspurchasedin2016andisundergoingacarefulrestorationtoreturnittoits1929design.
18 Immanuel Presbyterian Church 3300 Wilshire Blvd. • 1928, Chauncey Fitch Skilling
ModeledafterFrenchGothiccathedrals,ImmanuelPresbyterianhousesacongregationthatdatesto1888andtodayservesamixtureofnearbycommunities.Thebuilding’sstone-cladcornertowersoars205feetaboveWilshireBoulevard,supportedbyasteelframethatallowsforastrikinglyspaciousinterior.Thetraditionalstained-glasswindowswerecreatedbytheDixonArtGlassCompanyofLosAngeles.
19 Talmadge Apartments
3278 Wilshire Blvd. • 1923, Claud Beelman and Alan Curlett
NamedaftersilentfilmactressNormaTalmadge,whosehusbandJosephSchenkdevelopedthebuilding,theTalmadgewashometoavarietyofactors,starlets,andsocialites.Today,itremainsahigh-endapartmentbuilding.
20 Wilshire Galleria
3240 Wilshire Blvd. • 1939, Myron Hunt
TheWilshireGalleriawasoncehometoI.Magnin,aniconicdepartmentstorefamousduringWilshireBoulevard’sfashionableheyday.TheArtDecobuildingincorporatesaneye-catching,all-marblefaçadewithblackmarblealongthestreetlevelandwhitemarbleabove.Thishigh-enddepartmentstorechainspecializedincouturefashionsandeventuallymergedwithBullocks.In1990,thestoreclosed,reopeningtwoyearslaterastheWilshireGalleriashoppingcomplex.
21 Southwestern Law School
3050 Wilshire Blvd. • 1929, Parkinson & Parkinson
OriginallybuiltforthedepartmentstoreBullocksWilshire,thisArtDecoiconwasdesignedtoincorporateonsiteparkingandaporte-cochere.Itwasthefirstdepartmentstoretocatertotheemergingautomobile-driven,suburbancultureofLosAngeles.BullocksWilshireattractedHollywoodstarsandelites,aidingthewestwarddevelopmentofthecityalongWilshireBoulevard.SouthwesternUniversitySchoolofLawpurchaseditin1994,restoringthebuilding’shistoricelementswhileadaptingitforacademicuse.TheprojectearnedtheL.A.Conservancy’sPresident’sAward.
Wiltern Theatre and Pellisier Building
3790 Wilshire Blvd
1931, Stiles O. Clements and G. Albert Lansburgh
This art deco gem originally opened as a part of the Warner Brothers Western The-atre chain. Closing only 18 months after opening , the theatre reopened in 1935 with its current name but by 1970s was in plan to be demolished. Reopened in 1985, the building is currently used for re-tail spaces and special events and live entertainment.
The Windsor Apart-ments
3198 W 7th St
1927/1949
This Tudor style apartment is located on what once was one of the most luxurious spots in Los Angeles.
Wilshire Colonnade 3731 Wilshire Blvd
1970, Edward Durell Stone
Formerly called the Ahmanson Cen-ter, Wilshire Colonnade was built as a tribute to the financier, Howard F. Ahmanson, his contribution to Los Angeles, and classical Roman architec-ture.
Wilshire Boulevard Tem-ple
3663 Wilshire Blvd
1929, Abram M. Edelman and Samuel Tilden Norton
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monu-ment #116
Congregation B’nai B’rith, the first Jewish congregation in Los Angeles, dedicated its current temple in 1929.
St. Basil Catholic Church 3611 Wilshire Blvd
1969, A. C. Martin & Associates
The $3 million project of massive concrete was the target of Chicano Movement pro-test for its extravagance. Started by Albert C. Martin Sr. and finished by his sons, Al-bert Jr. and John Edward, the building is inspired by early churches and monaster-ies.
Wilshire Professional Building
Address
Year, architect
[blurb]
Chapman Plaza 3451 W 6th St
1929, Morgan, Walls, and Clem-ents
Originally named Chapman Park Market, the plaza was one of the first automobile-centric, drive-in markets in the west coast.
Gaylord Apartments
3355 Wilshire Blvd
1924/1962, Walker & Eisen
Named after Henry Gaylord Wil-shire, founder of Wilshire Blvd
The Furrier
Talmadge Apartments
Bullocks Wilshire
3050 Wilshire Blvd
1929, Parkinson & Parkinson
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #56
One of the first department stores to cater to automobile, suburban culture, Bullocks Wilshire (originally Bullock’s, apostrophe was dropped in 1970 and can still be seen on the building plaque)
Legend
Blue: Saturday
Pink: Sunday
Oasis Church
634 S. Normandie Avenue
Robert Orr
Wilshire Christian Church was the first church built in the Wilshire area. The original bungalow style, set away from the street, was re-placed with a Romanesque struc-ture with Byzantine elements by Robert Orr. Visible from Wilshire is the rose window by the master craftsmen at Judson Studios, said to be a copy of one in the Rheims
Chapman Park Studios
The Mercury
3810 Wilshire Blvd
The Mercury was the last buildings designed by architect Cluad Beelman. Desinged for J.Paul Getty The Mer-cury was once the headqyartes of the Getty Oil Company.
I. Magnin
3240 Wilshire Blvd.
1938
The Equitable 3435 Wilshire Boulevard
Finished in 1969 this in-ternational style sky-scraper ties with Los An-geles City hall as the 26th tallest building in Los Angeles.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church 3300 Wilshire Blvd. Chauncey F. Skilling 1928 Modeled after French Gothic ca-thedrals, this church houses a con-gregation that dates to 1888 and today serves nearby Latinx, Filipi-no, Korean, and Ethiopian commu-nities. The building's stone-clad corner tower soars 205 feet above Wilshire, supported by a steel frame that allows for a strikingly
The line Hotel
Hotel Normandie 605 Normande Ave
1926, Walker & Eisen
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monu-ment #1013
Opened during the heyday of Wil-shire district, this former residential hotel hosted many famous names, most notably novelist Malcolm Lowry, who wrote Under the Volcano during his stay at the Normandie.
Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools. (Ambassador Hotel) 3400 Wilshire Blvd
2010,
Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools are a collection of six schools that now sits on the former site of the Ambassa-dor Hotel. The site of six Oscar ceremo-nies and assassination of Robert F. Ken-nedy, the Ambassador was demolished in 2005.
The Oriental Mission Church (Not shown)
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7TH STREET7TH STREET
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Exploring Wilshire Boulevard: Saturday, November 4, 2017
ThismapwasproducedinconjunctionwithtoursheldNovember4-5,2017.
SpecialthankstothosewhogenerouslysharedtheirtimeandresourceswiththeConservancy:QuincyAllen,SilviaCarluccio,RamonCastaneda,EdwardT.Chang,CarolCho,RoyChoi,FloraChou,EricCutton,HectorFigueroa,SandraFigueroa,CherylGarland,JanetHansen,GeorgeHarb,BryanZaragozaHurtado,HeatherJun,JoyKang,JamesKim,KatherineKim,RyanKim,DebbieLeathers,BrendaLevin,BriciaLopez,FernandoLopez,Jr.,JingboLou,EricNeedleman,MattNeman,CarolPark,WayneRatkovitch,NevilleRhone,Jr.,MichaelRussell,CouncilmemberDavidE.Ryu,JohngHoSong,JudithSwingler,JamesYi,andtheKoreatownYouthandCommunityCenter.
AspecialthankstoalltheamazingConservancyvolunteers,withoutwhomourtourswouldnotbepossible.
MajorfundingfortheLosAngelesConservancy’sprogramsisprovidedbytheLaFetraFoundationandtheKennethT.andEileenL.NorrisFoundation.
523WestSixthStreet,Suite826LosAngeles,CA90014(213)623-2489laconservancy.org
©2017,LosAngelesConservancy.Allrightsreserved.
Adrian Scott Fine
Alex Inshishian
Tom Bonner
Alex Inshishian
Los Angeles Library Photo Collection
Adrian Scott Fine
Adrian ScpttFine
Alex Inshishian
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