Cherokee Building

Cherokee Building
The building in 2024
Cherokee Building is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Cherokee Building
Location of building in Los Angeles County
Location6630 W. Hollywood Blvd. and 1652 N. Cherokee Ave., Hollywood, California
Coordinates34°06′05″N 118°20′04″W / 34.1015°N 118.3344°W / 34.1015; -118.3344
Built1927
ArchitectNorman W. Alpaugh
Architectural styleSpanish Colonial Revival
Part ofHollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District (ID85000704)
Designated CPApril 4, 1985

The Cherokee Building is a historic two-story commercial structure located at 6630 W. Hollywood Boulevard and 1652 N. Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood, California.

History

The Cherokee Building was built by Norman W. Alpaugh in 1929 and features a Spanish Colonial Revival design.[1] The building was Hollywood's first drive-in business, and it catered to the automobile by having a large motor entrance at the rear of the building where motorists could park and enter, rather than entering from the street.[2]

One of the Cherokee Building's original tenants was a hair salon that acted as a front for a Prohibition-era illegal card club and gambling speakeasy. In the 1930s, Gene Austin opened a nightclub in the building, and that business was followed by several bars, including a gay bar.[3][4] In 1944, the bar changed to Boardner's, whose name has remained ever since.[5]

In 1938, Larry Edmunds Bookshop moved into one of the building's storefronts.[2] In the 1960s and 70s, several clothing stores popular with rock musicians were located in this building.[4]

In 1984, the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, with Cherokee Building listed as a contributing property in the district.[1]

In 1993, the building was sold for $2.76 million.[6]

Architecture

Cherokee Building from Cherokee Ave

The Cherokee Building was built with concrete in an L-shaped configuration. The building features a Spanish Colonial Revival design, one that includes an elaborate stringcourse, a tiled roof, Moorish arches, a brick patio with a tiled fountain as its focal point, Churrigueresque and wrought iron ornamentation, and ornamental medallions.[1]

Filming location

See also: Larry Edmunds Bookshop § In popular culture, and Boardner's § Film location

Cherokee Building tenants Boardner's and Larry Edmunds Bookstore are popular film locations.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. April 4, 1985.
  2. ^ a b "The Cherokee Building - Hollywood Historic Site". Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Xaque Gruber (December 16, 2017). "Boardners Celebrates 70 Years As Hollywood Boulevard's Classic Bar". Huffington Post.
  4. ^ a b James Bartlett (June 27, 2017). "Gangsters, ghosts and a classic haunt: The history of Hollywood's Cherokee Building". LA Weekly.
  5. ^ Steven Mikulan (April 26, 2000). "Hollywood, Straight Up". LA Weekly.
  6. ^ "6630 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028". PropertyShark. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  7. ^ "Community Highlights: Meet Tricia La Belle". Voyage LA. July 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Mallor, Mary (November 18, 2021). "Larry Edmunds Bookshop in the Hollywood Walk Of Fame". Heart of Hollywood.