The building on the southwest corner of Hollywood and Vine has been there so long (nearly 100 years: opened in 1928 as the Dyas department store before switching to the Broadway-Hollywood in 1931) that it can be easy to think it’s always been there. But fortunately we have photographers to show us otherwise. It’s a shame we had to lose such charming buildings. We can see a blade sign for Witzel, who was a photographer, who had studios at 6324 Hollywood Blvd (as well as two locations in downtown Los Angeles) so maybe he’s the one who took this photo sometime in the 1920s.

This screenshot is from a 1922 Los Angeles City Directory:

The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles says: “From 1909 until the mid 1920s, Albert Witzel was the photographer of choice for the actual and wannabe “movers and shakers” of Los Angeles, including Hollywood’s earliest stars. Sadly, he died young at age 49 in 1929.

To which Lisa K added: “Albert Witzel died after a two year battle with tuberculosis at the age of 50. He left a large estate, including three studios under the management of his brother Charles.”

This is roughly how that view looked in July 2024.