Although it would fall on hard times in the 1940s and 50s (thanks largely to Howard Hughes), in (circa) 1937, when this photo was taken, RKO was one of the five major studios. With its iconic globe and broadcast aerial at the corner of Melrose Ave and Gower St, this building was a landmark around Hollywood. It’s still there – sort of – but is now part of Paramount, but I do wish that “RKO RADIO PICTURES sign was still there—I love that font they used. It’s so 1930s, isn’t it?
There are still spots in Hollywood that look as they did back in the Golden Age, but they’ve become fewer and fewer. This area is no exception. Paramount has turned their Melrose exterior into a sterile very unwelcoming fortress, Western Costume and Nickodells are gone, all the small businesses. You can’t access the original gate anymore, they tore down the ’20s apartment buildings on Valentino Place and that charm is gone. Even the original RKO entrance on Gower – while cosmetically still there – is all sealed off.
Why does Hollywood allow this to happen?! Of course my head knows the answers – but my heart is sad. 🙁
Here’s before it all began – Melrose and Western in 1910:
Although it would fall on hard times in the 1940s and 50s (thanks largely to Howard Hughes), in (circa) 1937, when this photo was taken, RKO was one of the five major studios. With its iconic globe and broadcast aerial at the corner of Melrose Ave and Gower St, this building was a landmark around Hollywood. It’s still there – sort of – but is now part of Paramount, but I do wish that “RKO RADIO PICTURES sign was still there—I love that font they used. It’s so 1930s, isn’t it?
There are still spots in Hollywood that look as they did back in the Golden Age, but they’ve become fewer and fewer. This area is no exception. Paramount has turned their Melrose exterior into a sterile very unwelcoming fortress, Western Costume and Nickodells are gone, all the small businesses. You can’t access the original gate anymore, they tore down the ’20s apartment buildings on Valentino Place and that charm is gone. Even the original RKO entrance on Gower – while cosmetically still there – is all sealed off.
Why does Hollywood allow this to happen?! Of course my head knows the answers – but my heart is sad. 🙁
Here’s before it all began – Melrose and Western in 1910:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bb/96/be/bb96be9d083be3056e7f6fcbce1ea175.jpg
Thanks, Martin, for keeping our beloved Old Hollywood still alive! 🙂
Jean