I do love the clean Streamline Moderne lines on this building. In 1949, Capitol Records bought what had then been the studios of KHJ radio at 5515 Melrose Ave, which put it sandwiched between RKO and Paramount. The fact that one of Capitol’s original investors was Buddy DeSylva, who was a producer at Paramount probably isn’t a coincidence.
Vintage LA says: “The first session held there was for Scatman Crothers.”
Sam I says: “Early on it was Decca’s studio. Bing recorded “White Christmas” there. Convenient for him since he filmed at Paramount.”
Tony V says: ‘The building was originally occupied by the NBC radio network. Capitol Records was next, then KHJ/KCAL, Channel 9 television.”
And here is a floor plan:
The building is still there, and is now part of the Paramount lot, which has since taken over the whole block, including the old RKO lot at Gower St.
Has anyone else noticed that when buildings in Los Angeles, or most anywhere else in the world, are discussed, this is what people like–what you wrote in your first line, MT: “I do love the clean Streamline Moderne lines on this building.” People love art deco and streamline moderne buildings. I say to new building designers and architects: Design some new ones in that style. People LIKE them. Stop trying to outdo each other with increasingly bizarre and impractical designs (I’m talking to you Frank Gehry) that no one really appreciates. Anyone seen a lot of the proposed designs for several new buildings on Sunset Blvd.? Sheesh!
It won’t surprise you in the least to know that I agree with you 100%!
The trouble is we lack perspective in the moment. It is only after time has passed that we can really evaluate timeless quality of design. We should not forget many people thought modern and its precursors of art deco and moderne were not necessarily loved by everyone in their day. What Mies and his predecessors and contemporaries were working on was radical. Some of the locals in Oak Park thought what Frank Lloyd Wright was doing was outrageous. Although I tend to struggle with most architecture starting with the post-modern movement it will be for future generations to decide. Although my tastes probably align closely with both Martins (Pal and Turnbull) I also say that without each new generation giving us their best work (inclusive of the ones we don’t like) we wouldn’t have had the gorgeous Victorian architecture, Beaux Arts, Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, etc. As for Sunset Blvd, Baldwin Hills, and many other areas I too shrug but much the same you’ll be hard pressed to have a better set of acoustics anywhere in the world, at any time in history, than Disney Concert Hall.
You make a good point, NW. Each new era either builds on the taste of the previous one, or rejects it altogether.
KHJ was there in 66-67, I remember Rboert W Morgan and Real Don Steel from that era
Remember Sam Riddle?
I think Sam just passed last year…Gary Mack is still going LOL
I enjoy your pictures from the past. I have always been interested in reading about The Garden of Allah when it was known as a party hotel. Do you have any pictures of the rooms that the stars rented? I’ve seen lots of pictures of the grounds but not too many of the actual rooms.
I’ve seen a few photos of the foyer of the Garden of Allah Hotel. There also some informal snapshots of people inside their villas, but not many, and they’re not high quality because of the era. As for books, the only non-fiction account of the hotel is by gossip columnist, Sheilah Graham, but it’s not very accurate or reliable. It does, however, capture the feel of the place. On the fiction front, you might like to consider my series of nine novels that take place in and around the Garden of Allah and studio-era Hollywood.
I have no idea if it really happened, but I have a mental image of Nat King Cole recording in that studio. I know he was with Capitol Records for part of his career. This idea brings a smile to my face — he’s one of my favorite vocalists although he was gone from this world before I was even born.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he did, Ken.
Nat was known as the man who made Capitol Records