This fountain and park looks so different now, I doubt I would have recognized it if it hadn’t come with a caption. This is the fountain in the Will Rogers Memorial Park across from The Beverly Hills Hotel. That park was dedicated in 1915—back then it was called Sunset Park until 1952, when it was renamed in honor of Will Rogers, who served as the first Honorary Mayor of Beverly Hills and frequented the park often with his family. These days that park is a haven of plush greenery, but back then things were just getting started—as was Beverly Hills by the looks of that single house in the background.
After his father died in a plane crash (1933?) Will Rogers, Jr. became mayor of B.H.
and had something to do with a local newspaper (I forget what). An amazing and much loved family.
Do you have a picture of the fountain on the NE corner of Wilshire & Santa Monica Blvds.? It had a rotating disc which turned the water the colors of the rainbow one after the other, and I always loved watching it.
This fountain and park looks so different now, I doubt I would have recognized it if it hadn’t come with a caption. This is the fountain in the Will Rogers Memorial Park across from The Beverly Hills Hotel. That park was dedicated in 1915—back then it was called Sunset Park until 1952, when it was renamed in honor of Will Rogers, who served as the first Honorary Mayor of Beverly Hills and frequented the park often with his family. These days that park is a haven of plush greenery, but back then things were just getting started—as was Beverly Hills by the looks of that single house in the background.
After his father died in a plane crash (1933?) Will Rogers, Jr. became mayor of B.H.
and had something to do with a local newspaper (I forget what). An amazing and much loved family.
Do you have a picture of the fountain on the NE corner of Wilshire & Santa Monica Blvds.? It had a rotating disc which turned the water the colors of the rainbow one after the other, and I always loved watching it.
Beautiful serene pictures both! At least this wasn’t replaced by a parking lot or high-rise.
I never knew this was here.
Thanks, Martin, for posting this.
Hi Louella – Will Rogers passed August 15, 1935. Here’s a nice little bio on this very special man:
http://www.cmgww.com/historic/rogers/about/biography.html