In this glorious 1957 color photo, we’re looking at the Janss Dome Building where Westwood Blvd meets Broxton Ave in Westwood Village near UCLA. The building was the first one built in Westwood Village and served as the headquarters for Edwin and Harold Janss, the brothers who were the original developers of the area. In the background, we can see the soaring tower of the Fox Theater, which went up in 1931 and became a popular venue for Hollywood premieres. But the detail I really love about this photo are the two orange cars approaching the intersection, which makes me think we just don’t see enough orange cars on the roads these days.
The Dome building is still there – it’s currently a restaurant – and the Fox Theatre is too, not that either are easy to see. They’re both hidden by lots of lovely trees! This image is from July 2021.
This brings back a lot of memories! My grandmother used to take us shopping at the Bullock’s in Westwood Village in the 50s when we were very small. Sadlu, she had a stroke and didn’t drive later. She tooks us to see Santa there, too. I even bought my high school graduation dress there — Young Edwardian for those who still remember that label!
I loved all the little independent shops. Too many shopping areas now are just filled with the same-old same-old chain stores. Boring.
I arrived in Los Angeles from northeast Ohio on Dec. 5, 1981. After parking my car at my cousin’s house in Holmby Hills, I drove over to Westwood, where I was greeted by the sight of people strolling in T-shirts and shorts at this very intersection. I remember thinking to myself, “Well, all right!” I’ve never had any reason to reconsider my opinion since then.