The southwest corner of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave in Hollywood has been home to many things over the years. When this photo was taken (I don’t know the date, but from the style of the photography—this is probably from a postcard—my guess is 1960s) it was the Rexall Lee Drugs drugstore, which had been there from at least the mid-1950s. It does give us an idea of what Hollywood looked like at night and how brightly those neon signs must have shined. I’ve also never noticed that sign for the Park Hotel next door.
Glen N says: “The street lights on Hollywood Boulevard date this image no later than mid-1960. The “5-Star” street lights (and the Walk of Fame) were constructed later that year.”
Charlie B says: “Lee’s Drugs even had food counter service in mid-70s when I worked a few blocks away at The Hollywood Reporter at 6715 Sunset. Lee’s had terrific tuna melt sandwiches for $1.50, and a breakfast special for 99 cents with eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee.”
Lori S says: “Looks like this was built in 1924 or 1935, which explains the amazing architecture. https://npgallery.nps.gov/…/236d3254-47ee-4b31-9045…/ has this building and several surrounding it in a historic places inventory with a date of 1935, but property management sites list it at the earlier date of 1924.
Searching for that address in early newspapers reveals that these companies were there:
1929: The Crescent News Co
1928: The Ever Ready Drug Co
Looks like this was built in 1924 or 1935, which explains the amazing architecture. https://npgallery.nps.gov/…/236d3254-47ee-4b31-9045…/ has this building and several surrounding it in a historic places inventory with a date of 1935, but property management sites list it at the earlier date of 1924.
In 1933 The Ever Ready Drug Co went through bankruptcy, but I did find an advertisement with pictures of their locations from 1927. It is definitely not the same building as today so the later date of 1935 must be accurate for the current construction. Interesting that I cannot really find anything on it until much later. Other than a couple mentions of the Hollywood Hotel the next business I can find is Apple Lee Drugs in 1956.
That corner is now home to a souvenir store and the Park Hotel is now a hostel. All things considered, the building is in pretty good shape. This is how it looked in August 2022.
What kind of patron would have stayed at the Park Hotel? Was it for long-term residents? Or traveling salesmen? I’m trying to imagine the lives of the people who would have stayed there and I can’t picture who that might have been.
Bill, I was today years old when I learned there was a Park Hotel, so your guess is as good as mine.
Found only a few listings in newspapers for the Park Hotel. This one: https://www.newspapers.com/image/683909826/?terms=%22park%20hotel%22%20%226808%20hollywood%20blvd%22&match=1 from 1949 that they had weekly rates as low as $10.50. The ad also states that “Also rms with bath low price. 24 hr. switchboard”
$10.50 per week! It’s so funny thing hotels ever cost that little.
Looks like a very close match to your daytime color shot posted in Sept. 2020. There’s a fifties style car here and the woman inside the doorway looks to be dressed down to her calves, all adding weight to a mid-‘50’s dating of the photo. As a postcard, it could have remained in print for several years.
That’s the first time I’ve seen a sign like that, with a marquee, above that building, and lighted no less. I’ve seen billboards…but nothing like that. Of the 4 corners at Highland, that’s the least (specifically) photographed, IMO.
Appears to have begun circa 1907 as the Bonnie Brier Hotel in a single block structure having a high lower floor and two upper floors. Arch windows six across at rear seem to be consistent with later images circa 1930 when a second like building is seen just west with a smaller structure in between. All appear attached, so this may be an expansion. Martin shows a signage back at about where the Park Hotel is later found: https://martinturnbull.com/2020/02/11/looking-east-along-hollywood-blvd-from-the-bonnie-brier-hotel-at-the-highland-ave-corner-1936-2/#comment-404356
From the very beginning the maps indicate a drug store presence as well as dining facilities. The entrance was on the north side and a restaurant is put in place at some early date. Postcards and photos capture the buildings, but they are few. Perhaps the corner building was reduced if not replaced and the permits might tell the story.
Additional view of this corner drug store, with a roof sign, dating back to the streetcar era (note tracks & catenary) on the property known as the Bonnie Brier Tract (city maps), possibly first developed by early resident Mary Moll who built a commercial block at H&H in addition to the Bonnie Brier Housing tract: https://martinturnbull.com/2015/10/08/coffee-dans-at-corner-of-hollywood-blvd-and-highland-ave-circa-1940s/
Mystery photo found. Hotel Bonnie Brier in full frontal nudity. Location where Countess Du Cella, onetime actress, dies unfashionably (news accounts). It’s all one building: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/the-bonnie-brier-hotel-hollywood-across-the-street-from-the-hollywood-hotel–276338127113757258/
Holly Leaves…1919 view of Bonnie Brier in advert. as one block building with arch entry to right. Before any expansion westward: https://books.google.com/books?id=6spRAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA6-PA35&lpg=RA6-PA35&dq=hollywood+hotel+bonnie+brier&source=bl&ots=3jMKf5vhL4&sig=ACfU3U180afbEpqNZVQSWqJrIvbtDttkhg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiuraHI_tuCAxXwMTQIHWVBBEA4ChDoAXoECAMQAw#v=onepage&q=hollywood%20hotel%20bonnie%20brier&f=false
End of the Bonnie Brier, replaced by Rexall (earthquake of ‘33?): https://books.google.com/books?id=9W4R_CZtFe8C&pg=PA207&lpg=PA207&dq=silent+films+bonnie+brier+hotel+hollywood&source=bl&ots=L_c7Mp0RUw&sig=ACfU3U0_zOfVY4iTKhMVlhIGTXwvJxIc4A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2zZW8gdyCAxWEMjQIHYy4D884ChDoAXoECAIQAw#v=onepage&q=silent%20films%20bonnie%20brier%20hotel%20hollywood&f=false
Pacific Electric photo at corner shows The Owl Drug Company (Rexall) at this location circa 1949. (An Ever Ready Drug Co. ghost sign was found to be at Western & 2nd several years ago, as on Franklin Ave. blogspot)