Not currently designated at national, state, or local level

5S3

West Hollywood 1926-World War II

1926 - 1945

Before the 1920s Sunset Boulevard was unpaved and surrounded by poinsettia fields, but by the early 1920s it was the main artery between the motion picture studios in Hollywood and the preferred residential area for film stars in Beverly Hills. Sewer and gas lines were installed and residential streets graded and named north of Sunset in 1923. While Santa Monica Boulevard was characterized by the electric streetcar, Sunset Boulevard was designed for the automobile. The earliest commercial development began in 1925 by Francis S. Montgomery in an area later known as Sunset Plaza, a collection of upscale shops and offices with extensive parking located behind each building. By 1930, property owners were lobbying for zone changes and infrastructure improvements that would pave the way for commercial development. Businesses related to the entertainment industry including talent agencies, publicists, and managers began to open offices in small buildings lining the street. At night, the street was the playground for the Hollywood elite. The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 facilitated the growth of even more restaurants and nightclubs. (See continuation sheet.)

Individually eligible

Associated Files:

• 1986-87_West_Hollywood_Historic_Resources_Survey_Form.pdf
• Sunset_8782_W_Sunset_Blvd_continuation.pdf

* Date source: Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor

Description generated by RuskinARC^™.

Located in:

• City of West Hollywood Cultural Resources