Exploring the people, places & culture of greater LA
In 1962, the City of Los Angeles enacted its Cultural Heritage Ordinance, which enables the five-member Cultural Heritage Commission to designate buildings and sites within the city as local landmarks, called “Historic-Cultural Monuments.” Last month this important historic preservation program reached a significant milestone when the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance building, located at 1999 W. Adams Boulevard in the West Adams neighborhood, was designated Historic-Cultural Monument #1000.
If you ever spent time exploring the area around Old Pasadena, you undoubtedly noticed the beautiful Castle Green, built in 1898 as an annex to the Hotel Green resort. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the National Archives of Significant Interiors, this seven story historic landmark was built by Col. George G. Green of the Patent Medicine Business in the Moorish, Colonial, and Spanish styles and is graced by ornate furnishings and an elegant ballroom.
On Wednesday night I attended a screening of Captain Blood, the classic Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland film released in 1935 by Warner Bros. and directed by Michael Curtiz. This was the third of six motion pictures that make up the Los Angeles Conservancy’s annual program called Last Remaining Seats. Now in its 25th year, this unique event celebrates classic films and live entertainment in LA’s historic theaters.
In 1987 the Los Angeles Conservancy began its program called Last Remaining Seats to focus attention on the movie palaces located in downtown Los Angeles’ Broadway Historic Theatre District. Now in its 25th season, the Conservancy’s highly successful series of classic films and live entertainment in historic theatres is back with an outstanding slate of films.
I have always admired the ease with which the people of Los Angeles embrace change and look to the future. And yet, I know this attribute has led to much destruction of what came before, the obliteration of our past and at times, the elimination of existing communities that were seemingly invisible to those with the power to impose change for their own benefit.
During the last century, we lost once vibrant neighborhoods such as Bunker Hill, Chavez Ravine, and the old Chinatown. We also lost numerous architecturally and/or historically significant buildings, such as the Brown Derby restaurant, the Columbia Savings Building, the Ambassador Hotel, Welton Becket and Associates office building and the Hollywood Star Lanes bowling alley, just to name a few.
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