OCtOber 2010
GROUNDBREAKING was held in 1928 at the Highland site.
Celebrities, soldiers were frequent Legion Post guests American Legion Hollywood Post #43, built 1928 to 1929 at 2035 N. Highland Ave., won the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society’s Historic Landmark Award at its annual meeting in June. Many people became acquainted with the Hollywood Post when the play “Tamara” ran in the building for several years in the 1980s. The use of the Legion clubhouse as a theater was appropriate because the Hollywood Post was born, in a way, on the Lasky Studio lot after World War I. In 1916, Captain Taylor Duncan was given authority to recruit a California Coast Artillery Corps composed of motion picture employees. After the war, Duncan, an actor/extra, campaigned for an American Legion post to be established in Hollywood. World War I veterans from the movie industry started to meet at a grocery store on Hollywood Blvd. They moved to an Episcopal church on El Centro. Raised money for building Legion members undertook relief work, Boy Scout support, started a magazine, a drum and bugle corps, a rifle team and a baseball team. They raised money to build a new and permanent clubhouse. The post purchased land along the west side of Highland Ave., between Camrose and Franklin avenues. Commander John D. Home was in charge in 1928 when plans for the new clubhouse were implemented. Eugene Weston of the architectural firm of Weston & Weston led the building committee. Groundbreaking for the new clubhouse took place on Dec. 29, 1928. A Los Angeles Times article at the time said: “The new building has been designed as a memorial of a permanent character and something that will be a definite contribution to the community of Hollywood.” The edifice would “be approached over a broad paved terrace,” and on this terrace “the post
will place its largest war trophy...” Captured German howitzer This trophy was Big Bertha, a captured German howitzer, one of the Western Front guns taken over by the War
Shar Penfold Presents price correction
501 S. Hudson Avenue • $4,200,000
A grand Mediterranean estate. First time on the market in 58 years. Impressive ornate doorway opens into a two-story beamed entrance hall with sweeping iron staircase. Magnificent doors throughout the house open into drawing room, paneled oak library lined w/ bookshelves, 16 foot ceilings and frpl. Lg dining rm leads to oversized breakfast rm with black & white marble flr. Four large bedrms all with bathrms upstairs, up & down maids’ quarters with bathrms, master bedrm with sitting rm and covered porch. Movie theater with frpl, lobby area with separate pub-style wet bar. Enormous butlers pantry & kitchen. Lg separate guesthouse/studio. Garages. Step back in time in this truly extraordinary home.
Shar Penfold
323.860.4258 323.462.0867 www.sharpenfold.com
Coldwell Banker Hancock Park South 119 N. Larchmont Blvd.
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Hancock Park At Its Finest!
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336 South Hudson s $6,750,000
One of Hancock Park’s finest estates features opulent wood paneling, custom molded ceilings, award winning landscaping, and grounds reminiscent of an English castle with lovely tennis court, guesthouse and pool. 7 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, large-scale public rooms, and intimate sitting rooms with fireplaces. Former home of Max Factor. Enjoy total privacy on approximately 1 acre!
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151 North Hudson s $2,395,000 Priced to Sell! Won’t Last! Fabulous single story located on one of Hancock Park’s finest streets. 3 bedrooms + 5 bathrooms. Turn it into your very own showplace!
Andrew E. Woodward 323.860.4251
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Department after Germany’s surrender in World War I. The completed clubhouse’s dedication on July 4, 1929, was described by the Hollywood Daily Citizen as “one of the outstanding patriotic events of Independence Day.” The Egyptian Revival-style building is built of steel-reinforced concrete. All four styles of Art Deco can be seen in the clubhouse. The terra cotta on the facade was crafted by the man who did terra cotta work in L.A.’s main library. The interior windows and lamps are original. Many of the original hardwood oak floors remain. Charlie Chaplin had three stools reserved at the art deco bar downstairs. Clark Gable often occupied one stool, and Humphrey Bogart the other. The billiard room hosted eight world champions. This is one of the rooms reputedly haunted by the ghost of Marshall Wyatt (1910-2000). He was the bar manager, and (Please turn to page 10)
SeCtION tWO
543 North Cherokee s $1,549,000 English cottage offers 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with period details throughout. Formal dining room and living room with fireplace. Mature landscaping and outdoor spa. A true gem! Co-listed.
John A. Woodward IV Mary C. Woodward 323.860.4265
5 Generations in Hancock Park!
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Larchmont Chronicle