In this aerial shot of Hollywood follows Highland Ave as it crosses Hollywood Blvd (near the bottom of the photo) then bends to the right before it heads north into the Cahuenga Pass. That white triangle to the right is the wall of the Mulholland Dam/Hollywood Reservoir. The photo was taken in 1926, so it predates Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, which opened the following year. That house on the hill about halfway up Highland was built in 1909 by real estate investor, lawyer, banker, newspaper editor, and philanthropist, Rollin B. Lane. In 1961 it was redeveloped as the Magic Castle, a private club for magicians.
This satellite image from May 2022 shows us how Highland Ave still follows the same bendy path through Hollywood.
The house that eventually became the Magic Castle is also there at the foot of the hill where Yamashiro’s is. Although it didn’t become the Magic Castle until the 50s or so, the house was built in 1909.
I used to travel that route for years to and from work, on buses, and it’s so interesting not to see the bank building on the NE corner of Hollywood and Highland which opened in 1928.
Did this shot predate the Hollywood Bowl?
This photo is 1926 and Bowl opened in 1922, but is hard to see from this angle.
I’ve drive south on Highland many times here, after taking Ventura Boulevard across the Valley. I’m embarrassed to admit that I had no idea the dam was there. I don’t think I want to be strolling down Hollywood Boulevard at Highland when the Big One hits!
I’ve always found this surprising to note, too, that dam, because it’s just not something you readily see traveling around there. I thought the same thing you did when I first saw an aerial that had the dam in it.
I believe you can see the Hollywood Hotel and at the very edge to the left of the hotel, Grumman’s Chinese under construction.
Why, yes, we can indeed!