Designed by architect Leland Bryant, the Sunset Tower opened in 1921 and is considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the Los Angeles area. (Photo by Gustavo Turner, Discover Los Angeles)
Nothing says vintage like black and white photos of West Hollywood’s historic buildings at night. This is a trip back in time for a look at many of them. (All photos are from Water & Power Associates unless otherwise noted.)
This 1972 view of Ben Frank’s Coffee Shop (now Mel’s Drive-in), located at 8585 Sunset Blvd., shows what a bustling place it was. Ben Frank’s would become Mel’s Drive-in in 1997.
Ciro’s was a particularly swanky nightclub on the Sunset Strip, as shown in a photo from 1940.
Cafe Trocadero circa 1937 – Originally known as the La Boehme from 1929 to 1933, the Trocadero was opened by the Hollywood Reporter’s William Wilkerson in 1934. The building was remodeled in 1938 by owners Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen. After years of serving as one of the Strip’s best evening destinations, and another change of ownerships, the “Troc” closed in 1946.
The Schindler House on North Kings Road, designed and built by Austrian-born Rudolph Schindler, introduced a Southern California style of modern residential architecture that is admired around the world today.
Wil Wright’s Ice Cream, shown in this 1950 photo, was located at 8651 Sunset Blvd. at Sunset Plaza. Customers said the delicate pink and red decor and little marble tables and wire-frame chairs made them feel like they were inside a Valentine’s Day card.
The legendary Formosa Café features a bar made from a converted electric streetcar that used to roll along tracks down the middle of Santa Monica Boulevard. The renovated Formosa is re-opening on July 8
Night view showing the front entrance to Art Linkletter’s La Cienega Lanes in 1946 on the northeast corner of Santa Monica and La Cienega boulevards, now home to CVS.
Nighttime view of Gazzarri’s, which closed in 1993 after the original owner died in 1991. It later became Billboard Live and the Key Club.
Doug Weston’s Troubadour launched the careers of many classic rock groups. Elton John played his first-ever U.S. concert there and the next day was signed to a record contract.
Alison Martino of VintageLA writes that in the early 1960s, one of the first discotheques opened up across the street from the original Fred Segal in the heart of West Hollywood. It was called, P.J.’s. It paved the way for new dance clubs such as Gazzarri’s and the Whisky A Go Go which opened up on the famous Sunset Strip. Fred Segal frequented this popular dance club. Employees of P.J,’s would send club goers over to Fred Segal for the latest fashions during the swinging 60’s. It later became the Starwood, which helped launch the careers of many famous new wave, punk rock and glam rock bands.
This renowned Case Study house — the Stahl House — sits above Sunset Blvd., barely within the city limits of West Hollywood. The photo is by Julius Schulman, who specialized in modernist architecture.
This view from 1952 shows the famous Mocambo Nightclub at 8588 Sunset Blvd. It opened in January 1941 and was one of the biggest and most famous of the Sunset Strip clubs through the 40s and 50s. It’s shown here when Eartha Kitt was the headliner. When Frank Sinatra made his debut as a solo act, he opened at the Mocambo.
A 1964 night view looking at the Sunset Strip from the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Horn Avenue. Texaco Gas is going for 28.9 cents per gallon!
I am curious why no one has any information about a restaurant called Oliver’s that was down on La Cienega Blvd. in the mid-late 1970’s. I was one of the bartenders in that spot for 2-3 years. I have searched so many places and there are just no photos OR information anywhere that shows anything about it. It was located at: 365 N. La Cienega.
Here is a match book showing it: It later became AfterDark
Does ANYONE remember anything about a restaurant that was on La Cienega Blvd. back in the mid 1970’s called “Oliver’s”??? I have asked MANY people and evven various WeHo sites and no one seems to remember it or know aobut it. I worked there as a bartender for maybe 2-3 years before I was hired to tend bar in the Backlot of Studio One in 1974. Oliver’s was a good restaurant that had a piano right inside the door with a wonderful lady playing it for all. I even bought this painting that I could see straight across the room… Read more »
I’m a little confused. Was Fred Segal originally on Santa Monica Blvd.? I only recall it being a few blocks south, at the Melrose location. I thought that was the only place it ever was. PJ’s was on Santa Monica, though.
Fred Segal was a person, who also had a store on Melrose & Crescent Heights.
An additional store popped up in Santa Monica.
He sold the name and now is no longer associated with the business.
Fred Segal has its latest store on Sunset @ La Cienega.
Greg B.
5 years ago
Wasn’t Sunset Tower the fictional home of TV detective Frank Cannon in the ’70s?
Everything looked better in the past… we only goof things up today.
Woody McBreairty
5 years ago
Beautiful collection of photos that truly depict the only magical era that West Hollywood has ever seen and never will see again. Only hotels now. And parklets, bulb-outs, flower boxes & mini benches in the streets. From the sublime to the ridiculous. Wonderful nostalgic pictures
I am curious why no one has any information about a restaurant called Oliver’s that was down on La Cienega Blvd. in the mid-late 1970’s. I was one of the bartenders in that spot for 2-3 years. I have searched so many places and there are just no photos OR information anywhere that shows anything about it. It was located at: 365 N. La Cienega.
Here is a match book showing it: It later became AfterDark
Does ANYONE remember anything about a restaurant that was on La Cienega Blvd. back in the mid 1970’s called “Oliver’s”??? I have asked MANY people and evven various WeHo sites and no one seems to remember it or know aobut it. I worked there as a bartender for maybe 2-3 years before I was hired to tend bar in the Backlot of Studio One in 1974. Oliver’s was a good restaurant that had a piano right inside the door with a wonderful lady playing it for all. I even bought this painting that I could see straight across the room… Read more »
For more old-timey pics of West Hollywood see: https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_Hollywood_(1920_+)_Page_4.html
I’m a little confused. Was Fred Segal originally on Santa Monica Blvd.? I only recall it being a few blocks south, at the Melrose location. I thought that was the only place it ever was. PJ’s was on Santa Monica, though.
Fred Segal was a person, who also had a store on Melrose & Crescent Heights.
An additional store popped up in Santa Monica.
He sold the name and now is no longer associated with the business.
Fred Segal has its latest store on Sunset @ La Cienega.
Wasn’t Sunset Tower the fictional home of TV detective Frank Cannon in the ’70s?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542485/ This is a great docu on the strip by HBO that covers it’s whole history. Not to be missed!
High taxes, corporate greed by big companies and lack of planning at all levels. Great article. Thanks
Everything looked better in the past… we only goof things up today.
Beautiful collection of photos that truly depict the only magical era that West Hollywood has ever seen and never will see again. Only hotels now. And parklets, bulb-outs, flower boxes & mini benches in the streets. From the sublime to the ridiculous. Wonderful nostalgic pictures
Yep. Wait till the graffiti vandals hit their “parklets”! Guaranteed.
Remember when the Rage was a hardware store? Remember when Laurel Hardware was actually a hardware store?
I was a teenager when Weho became a city . Great photos.
I was a teenager when Weho became a city .