3 responses to “Art deco entrance to the E. Clem Wilson building at 5217 Wilshire Boulevard, circa 1930”

1. Hilary. H says:

   September 23, 2015 at 4:49 pm

   Oh God NOOO!! Martin T, you just had to bring this up didn’t you?!
   This is my biggest rant ever on social media. Let me cut it real short by saying WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!! I mean really did someone actually have a paper and pencil and say ”HEY I GOT AN IDEA”… And drew the sh*t that actually was the outcome I mean seriously picture it just sit down and picture how this conversation transpired into that horrific horrifying outcome. Okay now sit, sit and just imagine!! …. mm mm hmm. No, no, a whole lot of NOPE I can’t I have sat for days trying to but I get nothing. I call this an act of terrorism they should go to jail and here’s why… Vandalism is illegal , right? When people do graffiti or smash things in abandon buildings they go to jail cause they have ruined something . Well this is exactly the same thing except they pay to do it. I am offended when I drive by here I;m truly traumatized and effected by it and yes have lost sleep over it. Which is worse than any graffiti on the planet this poor building I say just bulldoze it don’t slowly torture it 1st, Even though Samsung took that disgusting ad off the top it is just a lost cause the family who owns it are douche bags too the son is a spoiled jerk womanizer and films porn and other appalling things there to say the least RANT RANT RANT! What have we all become to accept such terrible acts on art!?
   P.S__ I LOVE YOU MARTIN TURNBULL SOMETIMES THIS PLACE IS THE ONLY PLACE I CAN ESCAPE TOO AND IT TAKES ME AWAY ”CALGON LIED” YOU ARE THE TRUE ESCAPE THAT REALLY WORKS THANKS!

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   • Martin Turnbull says:

     September 23, 2015 at 5:31 pm

     Oh, I feel you, Hilary, and your pain. If you want to rant about lost architectural gems, you’ve come to the right place – this is a safe space! Rant away! I didn’t know about the ratbag son of the family who owns this building. All I knew was the neglect it’s suffered and prefer to think (read: dream) of it the way it was in this photo. Ditto the building next door – the one with the black marble. It’s in slightly better shape but not like it used to be!

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2. PDQ says:

   January 27, 2016 at 6:27 pm

   When the subway opens up at LaBrea, I would expect this building to undergo an extensive renovation that will maximize return. That could involve the current owners selling it to someone who is interested in historic preservation.

   With construction going on 24/7 right now, they’re lucky to find a tenant who is willing to put up with the noise, dirt and disruption. Luna Park restaurant is now closed. I would imagine that any residential units (assuming there’s residential upstairs) are renting CHEAP. Once construction is finished, that building will once again be prime space and it will command top dollar.

   It will come back, you can bank on it.

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