Wouldn’t it be nice if all of Los Angeles still looked like this California Bank building at 5620 Hollywood Boulevard from the early 1930s? Fortunately for Angelenos, at least this gorgeous building is still here. And that’s probably because it was built by the father-and-son architects, John and Donald Parkinson. These guys gave us a whole bunch of iconic L.A. buildings: Union Station, LA Memorial Coliseum, Bullocks Wilshire department store, and the icon of icons—Los Angeles City Hall. Knowing that, this beautiful soaring Art Deco tower makes sense, doesn’t it?
This takes me back. When my girlfriend and I moved to Hollywood in April 1989, we stayed at the Downtowner Hotel (with its glorious neon sign) kitty corner to this building. We promptly found an apartment just north of this building on Gramercy just south of Franklin. Franklin had a little jink if the road there, and there were numerous
accidents as people obliviously left their lane and hit someone head-on. Of course, people would pour out of their apt buildings and head towards the wreck… exchanging guilty looks at each other.
It made a great theater at the end of the street, during the pot bust in “LA Confidential”. I remember seeing it in 1994, just after the quake though, where the glass top had come loose and was tilted at the top of the tower. I thought it was done for, but was pleasantly surprised a few years later to come back and see it all put back together.
I was in Hollywood today and drove by this building. I wondered what the story was on it. I noted the address, thinking I’d email you if I couldn’t find anything on the building.
Also lived right up that block in an apartment (with pool), but back in 1968-9. There was a church down by there on the north side of da boulevard where they filmed “How To Commit A Marriage” with Hope & Gleason. I believe that’s the one that caused Hollywood Bob to quit the movie business due to flopping. Who wants to become box office poison?
Wouldn’t it be nice if all of Los Angeles still looked like this California Bank building at 5620 Hollywood Boulevard from the early 1930s? Fortunately for Angelenos, at least this gorgeous building is still here. And that’s probably because it was built by the father-and-son architects, John and Donald Parkinson. These guys gave us a whole bunch of iconic L.A. buildings: Union Station, LA Memorial Coliseum, Bullocks Wilshire department store, and the icon of icons—Los Angeles City Hall. Knowing that, this beautiful soaring Art Deco tower makes sense, doesn’t it?
Simply beautiful!
This takes me back. When my girlfriend and I moved to Hollywood in April 1989, we stayed at the Downtowner Hotel (with its glorious neon sign) kitty corner to this building. We promptly found an apartment just north of this building on Gramercy just south of Franklin. Franklin had a little jink if the road there, and there were numerous
accidents as people obliviously left their lane and hit someone head-on. Of course, people would pour out of their apt buildings and head towards the wreck… exchanging guilty looks at each other.
It made a great theater at the end of the street, during the pot bust in “LA Confidential”. I remember seeing it in 1994, just after the quake though, where the glass top had come loose and was tilted at the top of the tower. I thought it was done for, but was pleasantly surprised a few years later to come back and see it all put back together.
You’re right, Paul! It was very memorably used in “LA Confidential”!
I was in Hollywood today and drove by this building. I wondered what the story was on it. I noted the address, thinking I’d email you if I couldn’t find anything on the building.
I Googled the address and this page popped up! ?
Hey PDQ – all roads lead to Hollywood, and all roads in Hollywood lead to me!
Also lived right up that block in an apartment (with pool), but back in 1968-9. There was a church down by there on the north side of da boulevard where they filmed “How To Commit A Marriage” with Hope & Gleason. I believe that’s the one that caused Hollywood Bob to quit the movie business due to flopping. Who wants to become box office poison?