January 15, 2013 - Photo by Danny Zale

Opened as the Carter DeHaven Music Box Theatre on 20th October 1926, this theatre went through several owners and corresponding name changes. It became a radio studio theatre in 1936, then returned to legitimate theatre use as the Music Box Theatre in the early-1940’s.

Before being renamed as the Henry Fonda Theatre, it went over to screening movies and was re-named the Fox Theatre (not to be confused with the Fox Theatre at Hollywood Boulevard and Wilcox Avenue, which was the old Iris Theatre) and then the Pix Theatre.

When the theatre was still known as the Pix Theatre, it had a really nice neon marquee. The Pix Theatre was the movie house that premiered “Jaws” on Hollywood Boulevard in 1975. A year later they showed “Rocky”. Not a very large theatre but it showed many blockbuster’s in the 1970’s before becoming a live venue named the Heny Fonda Theatre.

In recent years it has come under new management (leased from the Nederlander Organization ) and presents concerts, live performances and special events and was known as the Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre. In 2007, a restoration was begun to bring it back to its 1926 appearance, and it was renamed The Music Box / Fonda. Today it is The Fonda Theatre.

Source on the web

Heading west we pass by the W Hotel Hollywood on the left just past Argyle and soon come to the most famous intersection in the world. We are now at the corner of Hollywood at Vine. Turing left onto Vine we are now at

The Taft Building at 1680 Vine at Hollywood Blvd. (g-35) on The Zale Map

(Walker & Eisen, architects; 1923)

Photo taken December 15, 2011

This building was designed in the Renaissance Revival style for the Taft family, which came to Hollywood in the 1890s as ranchers. It was the first building on the Boulevard built to the maximum 150 foot height limit.

Right next door we come to what's left of

The Brown Derby 1620-28 N. Vine St. (g-35) 

(Architect Carl Jules Weyl - 1928)

Briefly

This Spanish Colonial Revival style structure, designed for Cecil B DeMille, was the second branch of the famous restaurant. The first Brown Derby, constructed in the shape of a hat, was located on Wilshire Boulevard. The majority of the Vine Street Brown Derby was demolished in 1994 (the picture above is all that is left of the landmark) and is now surrounded by the W Hollywood Hotel, a huge building that houses business' and residential living.

Heading south and, passing Selma we come to Vine at Sunset Blvd. and we are at

The Chase bank of Hollywood

(To See an old photo of NBC click HERE)

 

 

 

 

  

and the former site of Paramount and NBC at 1500 N. Vine (m-35) on The Zale Map

Paramount and NBC

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) originally used the phrase Radio City to describe their studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City.  When NBC opened their new Hollywood studios at Sunset and Vine in 1938, they placed the words  Radio City prominently on the front of their new building. However, the area between Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard on Vine Street became known as Radio City for tourists and locals alike who visited the many radio studios and radio themed cocktail lounges and businesses in the area. For a generation in the 1940′s and 1950′s, Hollywood was Radio City.

Crossing the street at Vine and Sunset heading west at the corner on Vine we come to the former site of


Wallich's Music City
1509 N. Vine at Sunset Blvd. (m-33) on The Zale Map

As of today's date it is an upscale Wallgreens. To see an old photo of Wallich's click HERE

 
Wallichs Music City was a world famous record store in Hollywood, Los Angeles. It was located on the corner of Sunset & Vine and operated from 1940 to 1978. Owner Glenn E. Wallichs had started Capitol Records, along with Tin Pan Alley songsmith Johnny Mercer and ex-Paramount movie producer Buddy De Sylva from a small office above the store in 1942. In an era when most recorded music was sold through Mom & Pop general stores across the USA, Wallichs Music City became the premier record store in Southern California and the world's largest specialist record store. As the market for recorded music evolved during the 1950s and 1960s, it was a place to go for tickets, sheet music, vinyl (initially 78s, then LP's & 45's) and tapes (8 track and cassette). They also sold TVs and musical instruments. It was one of the first-known music stores to seal record albums in cellophane and put them in display racks for customers to browse. The racks were tabletop height trapezoid-shaped trays that allowed the covers they contained to be viewed like a card index without damaging the sleeves. The store was also the first to have demonstration booths for listening to records. The store became a well-known hub of the LA music scene. Music fans flocked there to meet artists like Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Johnny Mercer, Nat King Cole to have them sign sheet music of their latest hits. Frank Zappa worked part-time there in 1965.





Heading north on Vine we come to what was once

The West Coast home to the former site of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) - 1533-41 N. Vine St. (L-33) on The Zale Map.

 

The sleek Streamline Moderne building is from 1937. It has a long history. In the 1940s, it became the West Coast home of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), originally for radio, and later for television. In the 1970s, it was the TAV Celebrity Theater, home of The Merv Griffin Show. It was the setting of radio star Tom Breneman's "Breakfast Club," as well as a neighborhood bowling alley and Schwab's Restarunt. A fire in the 1990s put the building out of commission. Now all that’s left from the original Schwabs is its restored facade restaurant.

Heading north just past Selma we come to the

Vine Street Theatre / The Montalban Theatre 1615-29 Vine (i-33) on The Zale Map

(Architect Myron Hunt - 1927) - Photo by Danny Zale 12/17/2011

 

Originally the Wilkes Vine Street Theater, the building was used as movie theater and a television and radio facility between 1931 and 1954. Finally it was known as the Doolittle Theatre and continued its historic use as a legitimate theater for years until bought in 2000 by the U.C.L.A. performing arts group “Nosotros”, an organization founded in 1970 by actor Ricardo Montalban (he has 1 star and it is in the Television category and is (e-4) 7071 Hollywood on The Map) “to help fulfill the goals of persons of Spanish-speaking origin in the motion picture and television industry”. 

   

Just next door to the north is the former location of

Mike Lyman's Restaurant & Parking lots 1623 N. Vine St. (h-33) on The Zale Map

Heading north we come to

The Hollywood Plaza 1633-37 N. Vine St. (h-33) on The Zale Map

(Architects Walker & Eisen - 1924)

Briefly

This was one of the four major hotels built in Hollywood in the 1920's and once housed one of the most glamorous nightspots, Silent screen legend Clara Bow's "It" Cafe. 

Photo taken January 12, 2012

IDLE HOUR THEATER - HOLLYWOOD THEATER / Now GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS MUSEUM 6764 - 66 Hollywood Blvd. (g-13 on The Zale Map) 

Guinness World Of Records Museum (323) 463-6433 

(Architect Claude Balch - 1913/1931)

 

The oldest theater in Hollywood began as the Idle Hour Theater in 1913. It was remodeled to its Art Deco appearance in the 1930s and now houses the Guinness Book of Records Museum.

Just next door is the former site of

BANK OF AMERICA / Now RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Crossing west at Hollywood and Highland we come to

Former site of  Rexall Drug Store - Now Souvenirs Of Hollywood at 6800 Hollywood Blvd. at Highland (G-11) on The Zale Map -

Photo by Danny Zale 1-12-2012

March 25, 2012 Historic Hollywood Buildings

Right next door to the west is the

Arthur Murray Building / Re-named The Johnny Grant Building and current residence for the Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce at 7024 Hollywood Blvd. (g-5) on The Zale Map.

Down the road a bit west you come to the corner of Hollywood at Sycamore and the

Hollywood Professional Building 7046 Hollywood Blvd at Sycamore (g-4) on The Hollywood Zale Map (323) 463-7046

Built in 1925, the Hollywood Professional Building was originally a 5-story office building. Some decades later, an additional three floors were added to the building, making it one of the taller buildings on historic Hollywood Blvd. The building housed Ronald Reagan’s offices when he was the president of the Screen Actor’s Guild. Source - Read more
Current YouTube video of the Professional Building.


Heading west we come to Hollywood & La Brea and The Hollywood and La Brea Gateway (Also known as Gateway to Hollywood - Four Ladies Statue) located on Traffic Island at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea (G-1) on The Zale Map - Home to the *Beatles star, the relocated star of Elvis Presley (originally located at 6777 Hollywood Blvd. near Highland), the fallen L.A.P.D. Hollywood Officers star and the Hollywood Walk Of Fame star on The Zale Map.

*NOTE* The stars for individual Beatles John, George, Ringo and Paul are all located near eachother at 1750 N. Vine St. in front of Capital Records (b-35) on The Zale Map. All photo's by Danny Zale



Crossing north on La Brea to Hollywood we then start heading back east on Hollywood Blvd. and we soon come upon the

Home Office and one of eight historic buildings now owned by Scientology The Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It states that it is "dedicated to creating a better future for children and communities. It promotes secular uses of L. Ron Hubbard's works, and has been classified as a "Scientology-related entity". Founded in 1988, their main office is located at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard, the former headquarters for the Screen Actors Guild Source


Heading east and just next door is Author Services., Inc. at 7051 Hollywood Blvd. at Sycamore  (e-3) on The Zale Map


Across the street to the north is the former site of the Garden Court Apartments - 7021 Hollywood Blvd. at N. Sycamore Ave. at (e-4) on The Zale Map.


 
Heading east we pass the former site of the world famous Shelly Cafe and cross Orange, passing Madame Tussauds Hollywood we soon come upon the world famous


GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATER at 6925 Hollywood Blvd. (e-7) on The Zale Map

(323) 461-3331

(Architects Meyer & Holler - 1927)


The most famous and sought out landmark in Hollywood the internationally known Chinese Theater is an excellent example of flamboyant movie palace designs of the 1920s. It was said to have been modeled on a Chinese Opera House and the interior was designed in a unique Chinese Chippendale style.

Photo taken Fall 2011

 

Heading east we reach the corner of Hollywood at Highland. Crossing the street heading east on Hollywood Blvd. we reach the

HOLLYWOOD FIRST NATIONAL BANK / Currently vacant (As of 12/17/2011)

6777 Hollywood Blvd. at Highland (e-13 on The Zale Map) 

(Architects Meyer & Holler - 1927) 

A combination of Gothic and Art Deco was created by the same architects who designed the Chinese Theater. This structure was briefly the tallest in the city until the Los Angeles City Hall was built in 1932.

As we walk from here heading east and 16 stars down we come upon the only black star on the entire Walk Of Fame. This was the original location of Elvis Presley' star.  A few stars east and we come to the

Hollywood Wax Museum / Christie Realty Building / Snow White Cafe

6765-73 Hollywood Blvd. (e-13) on the Zale Map

Hollywood Wax Museum (323) 462-5991

This Spanish Colonial Revival building was designed by architect Carl Jules Weyl and built in 1928. Weyl was also the set designer for Casablanca and Yankee Doodle Dandy. The 2nd floor once housed the Embassy Club, a private club that was opened by Eddie Brandstatter. The club catered to film stars who wished to avoid the crowds next door at the Monmartre. The Snow White Café, which opened in 1946, has an original mural painted by Disney animators above the inside entrance.

Just next door to the right (heading east) is the

MONTMARTRE CAFE 6757 Hollywood Blvd.  (e-14 on The Zale Map)

(Architects Meyer & Holler - 1922)

The cafe and nightclub on the second floor of a financial institution sparked the nightlife of the Hollywood community in the early 1920s. The restaurant was frequented by fans and stars alike.

Heading east just past Las Palmas we come to the

DAVIS BUILDING / Various shops 6679-89 Hollywood Blvd. (e-16) on The Zale Map

(Architect F. L. Paulson - 1914)

 

This brink commercial block is one of the oldest in the historic Hollywood district. It was built prior to World War I, just four years after Hollywood became part of the City of Los Angeles.

A short stroll east and we come upon the world famous

MUSSO AND FRANK GRILL / Is still the same 6663-67 Hollywood Blvd. (e-17) on The Zale Map (323) 467-7788

 

The oldest continuing restaurant in Hollywood, Musso and Frank was the dining spot of choice for screenwriters and novelists of Hollywood's "Golden Age". The original restaurant was just east of the current establishment, which has been in this location since 1937.

Heading east to the corner of Whitley we come to the

BAINE BUILDING - The Merchant's National Trust and Savings / Now Station Food Market & Check Cashing / business' and residential 6601-09 Hollywood Blvd. at Whitley (e-20) on The Zale Map                                      

Architects Gogerty and Weyl - 1925-1926

It was Colonel Harry Baine, a Texas entrepreneur who served as Los Angeles County supervisor for a year, who commissioned this, the most elegant Spanish Colonial Revival Building in the district. The building has all the hallmarks of the Spanish Colonial Revival: delicate wrought iron balconies, Churrigueresque ornament, stylish tower and detailed window design. Colonel Baine lived on the top floor and gained fame by bragging that he was the first person on Hollywood Blvd. to live in a penthouse.

Heading east at Schrader and before Hudson we come to 

JANES HOUSE 6541 Hollywood Blvd. (e-24) on The Zale Map Architects Dennis and Farwell - 1903

Photo taken December 1/30/2012 by Danny Zale

Hollywood Boulevard's last remaining residential structure, the Janes house was built at the turn of the century for Herman and Mary Janes and their daughters. From 1911 until 1926, Misses Carrie, Mabel and Grace operated the Janes School for the children of film industry figures such as Douglas Fairbanks and Cecil B. DeMille. The restored house was moved further back on its site to allow commercial courtyard development.

 

 

Just next door at Hudson we find the

HILLVIEW APARTMENTS / Now The Hudson Apartments 6533 Hollywood Blvd. at Hudson (e-24) on The Zale Map Tifal Brothers, architects; 1917

Photo taken 1/30/2012 

Jesse L. Lasky, a founder of Famous Players - Lasky, one of Hollywood's earliest studios and the forerunner of Paramount Studios, was a financial backer of this Mediterranean style apartment building to ensure that his actors had a place to live close to the studios. Damage from the Northridge Earthquake and construction of the subway tunnel forced the temporary closure of the building.  

 

Crossing Hudson and then Wilcox we come to the world famous

Warner Brothers Hollywood Theater Building / WARNER - PACIFIC THEATER - Now Ecclesia Church In Hollywood & various shops 6433 Hollywood Blvd. at Wilcox Ave (e-27) on The Zale Map

Ecclesia Church (323) 464-8455 Architect G. Albert Landsburgh - 1926-27

Photo taken 1/12/2012 by Danny Zale

One of four grand movie palaces on the Boulevard, the Warner was built as the flagship of the Warner Brothers Studio Theaters. The beautiful, extravagant designs were intended to lure the film patron away from the reality of the street at the earliest possible moment.

 

Heading east to the corner of Hollywood at Cahuenga we come to the former site of the

PAUL DeLONGPRE RESIDENCE / Now Community Check Cashing 6401 Hollywood Blvd. at N. Cahuenga Blvd. (e-28) on The Zale Map

Architect DeLongpre - 1901

Hollywood's first tourist attraction had nothing to do with the movies. On this site, French landscape painter Paul DeLongpre created an elaborate Moorish residence, studio and palatial gardens which drew hundreds of tourists each year on "Balloon Route Excursions" from Los Angeles. The structure was demolished sometime in the late 1920s.

For an old post card photo click HERE

Crossing the street heading east we come to the


SECURITY TRUST AND SAVINGS 6381-85 Hollywood Blvd at N. Cahuenga Blvd (e-30) on The Zale Map

(Architects John and Donald Parkinson [ father and son team ] - 1921)

The architects of the Memorial Coliseum and Union Station designed this beautiful Italian Renaissance Revival structure with its Romanesque arched windows. It has been used as a bank and office building.

Heading east to the corner of Hollywood at Ivar we discover 

The Hollywood Guaranty Building Annex at 6349 Hollywood Blvd at Ivar (e-31) on The Zale Map

(Architects Walker & Eisen - 1939)

Photo taken December 15, 2011 

Another Streamline Moderne structure, this building has round windows and some of the elements of an ocean liner.

It is from this facility at 6349 Hollywood Blvd. that Bob Wright, the Church Of Scientology's international construction supervisor, and Laurence Guenat, international senior designer, direct a staff of about 40 that designs, plans and oversees projects around the world.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Heading north on Ivar and across the street is

The Knickerbocker Hotel (Architect E.M. Fraiser 1923) is located at 1714 N. Ivar Ave. (d-32) on The Zale Map (just north of Hollywood Blvd and next to the Guaranty Building). In the 1920's it was at the heart of Hollywood and played a key role in Tinseltown's history for many decades. The Renaissance Revival/Beaux Arts style structure began life as a luxury apartment building, before becoming a hotel later in its history.

Photo by Danny Zale 10/08/2012 Rudolph Valentino hung out at the hotel bar, and reportedly liked to tango dance here and Elvis Presley even graced this historic building, staying in suite 1016.

Heading south back to Hollywood at Ivar we have the

GUARANTY BUILDING / Now L. Ron Hubbard Scientology library at 6331 Hollywood Blvd. at Ivar Ave. (e-32) on The Zale Map

(Architects John C. Austin & Frederick M. Ashley - 1923)

Photo taken December 15, 2011 

This Beaux Arts office building was another of Hollywood's bank and office towers. It is faced with brick and has a detailed lobby entrance. Noted columnist Hedda Hopper hung her hat here.

Heading east we soon come to the

Former site of the Brass Rail Restaurant / Henry's Cafe and SARDI'S (Demolished - See demolition note at bottom) / Now Deja vu Show Girls

6313 Hollywood Blvd. (e-33) on The Zale Map

(Architect Rudolph Schindler - 1923)

Photo taken 12/15/2011

Henry's Cafe opened in the 1920s at 6315 Hollywood Boulevard, near Vine St and run by a Charlie Chaplin stock player called Henry Bergman. In 1932 it changed hands, Eddie Brantstatter took it over and reopened it as Sardi’s, but before that, it was the Brass Rail Restaurant.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sardi's seated 200 diners when it opened for lunch 02/09/1933 in what was known as the Gore Building. Warren MacArthur designed the tubular aluminum furniture used on the interior. A newspaper article in the LA Times (08/24/1932, p. A5) noted that the formerly two-floor interior would be reduced to only one, this having a height of 17 feet. "The establishment when completed will be the largest and most up-to-date place of its kind in the West." Sardi's operated 24 hours a day when it first opened.
*Demolition Note* : Demolished by kitchen fire on 11/01/1936. Eight were injured in the $100,000 blaze, all kitchen staff and firefighters, which was called the "worst in Hollywood in four years." When Sardi's burned, newspaper accounts listed Eddie Brandstatter and David Covey as proprietors. Source

Right next door at the corner of Hollywood at Vine is the

Former site of the LAEMMLE BUILDING / (Lost to fire) Now a parking lot and visitor tour's location 6301 Hollywood Blvd. (e-33 on) The Zale Map

(Architect Richard Neutra - 1932)

Photo taken December 15, 2011

The northwest corner of Hollywood and Vine used to be home to the Melody Lane Cafe - Howard Johnson's - Hody's Coffee shop. Architect Richard Neutra designed the building in the International style for Carl Laemmle, the founder of Universal Studios.

Heading north on Vine we come to

The Redbury  1717 Vine - (d-33) on The Zale Map (323) 962-1717

Photo by Danny Zale 2/16/2013

Briefly

A post office occupied a portion of the ground floor at 1717 N. Vine St. and Woodbury College occupied the second floor.

Source


Heading north and right next door is


The Avalon Hollywood Theater  1735 N. Vine - (c-33) on the Zale Map
(323) 462-8900

Photo by Danny Zale 2/16/2013

Some history



We now head north to the corner of Vine at Yucca. Crossing east on Yucca to Vine and south on Vine we come to




Capital Records   1750 N. Vine at Yucca - (b-35) on the Zale Map. (323) 871-5001

Photo by Danny Zale

 
Some history

Capitol Records is a major United States–based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but as of 2011 operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood at Yucca. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of EMI.

The Capitol Records Company was founded by songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of fellow songwriter and film producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs (1910–1971), owner of Wallichs Music City, at the time the biggest record store in Los Angeles.

Johnny Mercer first suggested the idea of starting a record company while he was golfing with Harold Arlen and Bobby Sherwood. He told them, "I’ve got this idea of starting a record company. I get so tired of listening to the way everyone treats music. I keep feeling they’re selling out. And I don’t like the way artists are treated either. Bing Crosby isn’t the only one who can make records. I don’t know, I think it would be fun." By 1941, Mercer was not only an experienced songwriter, but a singer with a number of records to his name. Mercer next suggested starting a record company to his friend Glenn Wallichs while Mercer was visiting Wallichs' record store. Wallichs responded, "Fine, you run the record company and find the artists,' and Mercer added, "and you run the business."

On February 2, 1942, they met with Buddy DeSylva at a Hollywood restaurant to ask if Paramount Pictures would invest in the new record company. On the Paramount deal DeSylva said no, but that he himself would, and he gave them a check for $15,000. On March 27 the three men got a statement notarized that they have applied to incorporate "Liberty Records" (later the name of a label which Capitol eventually acquired). In May they amended the application to change the name to Capitol Records.

Source - Read more



Heading south on Vine we come back to Hollywood Blvd. and make a left. We are now at the world famous

Hollywood Equitable Building - Business's (and former site of & Dillon's Irish Pub now 33 Taps Bar & Grill) at 6253-63 Hollywood Blvd. at N. Vine (e-35) on The Zale Map

(Architect Aleck Curlett - 1929)

Photo taken 12/15/2011 by Danny Zale

This commercial tower at the northeast corner of Hollywood and Vine was designed in Gothic Deco style, very popular with financial institutions of the day.

Heading east on Hollywood Blvd. we soon come upon the

PANTAGES THEATRE at 6233 Hollywood Blvd. at Argyle Ave. (e-35 on The Zale Map)

(Architect B. Marcus Priteca - 1930)

 

 Photo taken 12/15/2011

Just east of Hollywood & Vine is the Pantages Theatre, the first American movie palace built entirely in the Art Deco style. This highly ornate showplace was the site of the Academy Award ceremonies from 1949 to 1959.

Heading east we cross Argyle and pass by BLVD6200 and continue on to the corner of Hollywood at Gower and our last stop on the tour. Looking down you will see that the last star on the tour is for jazz great Benny Goodman.   

                                                                                                           To see who get's the next star on the Walk Of Fame click HERE.

                                                                                    If you look to the left, north on Argyle, you can snap a beautiful photo of the Hollywood Sign.

                                                                                            Well, I hope you enjoyed my tour and had as much fun taking it as I had making it.

                                                                                                                                                   Danny Zale

Creator of the

The Zale Map - HOLLYWOOD Walk Of Fame Celebrity Star Locator Official Map Guide (c)

To instantly locate every star on the

Walk Of Fame

Download your entire copy of

The Zale Map Of HOLLYWOOD

Right below at Amazon.com and enjoy your search!

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                                                                                                                                All photos by Danny Zale (c) All rights reserved