Hollywood & Western Building

The Hollywood & Western Building, also known as The Mayer Building, and formerly known as the "Hollywood Western Building", is a four-story Art Deco office building in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It was designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #336 on January 1, 1988, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

Hollywood Western Building
Hollywood & Western Building, 2012
Hollywood & Western Building is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Hollywood & Western Building
Hollywood & Western Building is located in California
Hollywood & Western Building
Hollywood & Western Building is located in the United States
Hollywood & Western Building
Location5504 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
Coordinates34°06′04″N 118°18′35″W / 34.10118°N 118.309751°W / 34.10118; -118.309751
Built1928
ArchitectS. Charles Lee
Architectural styleArt Deco
NRHP reference No.15000378
LAHCM No.336
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 7, 2015
Designated LAHCMJanuary 1, 1988

History

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The building in 1928

Designed by S. Charles Lee and built by Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg, the Hollywood & Western Building opened on December 8, 1928. The building was the first location of Motion Picture Association of America, Central Casting, the Hays Office, and The Ben Hecht Company. Hollywood Billiards, Hollywood's oldest pool hall, was located in the lower basement. Over the years its tenants have also included Toppy's (a corner coffee shop), Newman Drug Co., Rexall, Bargain Saver, Hollywood Rehearsal Studios, Studio 9, Rock City Arcade, and Cosmopolitan Book Depository.

By the 1970s, the building was being used to produce pornography and was slowly converted into individual recording studios and music rehearsal spaces. It was also used as a rehearsal studio for such bands as Guns N' Roses and White Zombie.

The building was heavily damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, after which it was vacant for several years.

On July 6, 2021, ABS Properties, Inc. announced plans to convert the building into 79 income-restricted apartments,[1] and as of 2024, its tenants include local offices for U.S. Representative Adam Schiff.

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The building is a popular TV and film shoot location, and was featured in Double Indemnity, Ruthless People, and Hollywood Shuffle.

References

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  1. ^ Sharp, Steven (May 31, 2022). "Adaptive reuse of historic Hollywood Western Building begins". Urbanize LA. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
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