One-story building advertising Universal Pictures’ movie “Broadway” on the corner of Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood, 1929
The northwest corner of Hollywood and Vine has been many things, but in the 1920s, Carl Laemmle, who owned Universal studios also owned the one-story building that stood there. In 1932, he opened the Coco Tree Café, but before that it looks like he used it as an expensive billboard. This shot from 1929 is advertising his “all talking, all singing, all dancing” movie, “Broadway.” Based on a hit stage play that ran for more than 600 performances, it also featured at 2-strip Technicolor finale.
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Love the artwork on that poster.
If I had any vacant wall space, I’d probably go looking for a copy of it.
Looks like the words “Fountain” and “Ice Cream” on that window sign behind the gentleman.
The name “Cross Key Cafe” was found on a map of known businesses on the street. But here we can read “Cross Keys Fountain”. So, can we make it an official reference name? Anyone find that smoking gun evidence on some lost ephemera?
A possible clue may be ex-boxing dentist Leach Cross who built and sold the Cross Arms Apartments (Cahuenga & Yucca) and went into the restaurant business. Reports have two such venues, one of which was the Leach Cross Cafe in the Hotel Regent near El Centro in 1927 (close to Legion Stadium). The other place is unidentified but he reportedly went under with the crash after 1929. He might also have a earlier film tie in to Universal Pictures which controls this corner. A long shot, but you can’t always pick the winners at the gate.