1905 view south on Broadway from north of Temple Street. The Times Mirror printing house in foreground, marked 110 N. Broadway, now site of the
Hall of Justice. Towers of the 1888 City Hall on the 200 block of S. Broadway in the distance.
Fort Moore Hill, now leveled, at right.
c.1893–1900, looking east along Third St. from Olive St. on Bunker Hill. 3 buildings stand out from left to right: the 1888 City Hall (Broadway between 2nd/3rd), the
Stimson Block (3rd & Spring), and the
Bradbury Building (3rd & Broadway)
The three-story brick
Women's Christian Temperance Union building was erected in 1888 for $45,000.[3] Also known as the Temperance Temple, it has been demolished[4] and was replaced in 1957 by the Los Angeles County Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant.[5]
Southeast corner of Temple and Broadway (Pound Cake Hill, west side of New High St.)
"Red Stone" Courthouse and Post Office (1891-1936)
Hall of Records, adjacent to Courthouse on the south (1911–1973)
This location was at the time known as Pound Cake Hill. The buildings located here faced New High Street to their east and Broadway to their west. They were as follows:[6]
Los Angeles High School, whose original location (1873-1887) was between New High on the west and Broadway on the east, south of Temple Street. It was moved to California and Sand streets, and in 1890 a new facility was built on
Fort Moore Hill, immediately north of where Broadway today crosses the Hollywood Freeway. The Pound Cake Hill school was demolished and replaced by:
First, the Red Stone Courthouse (or "Red Sandstone Courthouse"), which took over the function of courthouse from the Clocktower Courthouse (also called the Temple Courthouse). It was damaged beyond repair by Long Beach earthquake of 1933 and was torn down in 1936.
The
Los Angeles County Hall of Records was built next to (south of) the Red Sandstone Courthouse in 1911, After the
1971 San Fernando earthquake, it was determined to be unsafe and it was demolished in 1973. A new Hall of Records was built and opened in 1962, one block west on the south side of Temple between Broadway and Hill.
Currently on the site are:
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center (Los Angeles County Grand Jury)
A portion of
Grand Park, which stretches mid-block between Temple and First, from City Hall at Spring Street, to the Music Center at Grand Avenue.
Realignment of Spring Street (1925)
The Poundcake Hill buildings originally backed up to Broadway to their west, and faced New High Street to their east. New High Street (see Sanborn map above) was a north-south street that ran parallel to Broadway, and to Spring Street to its east. As part of the construction of City Hall in the early 1920s, New High Street was removed south of Temple, and Spring Street was realigned more towards a north-south orientation, parallel with Broadway, instead of running more northeasterly and meeting Main Street at Temple Street. As a result the Poundcake Hill buildings faced the newly aligned Spring Street until they were demolished.
Adjacent to the south, mid-block, is a portion of
Grand Park.
First and Broadway
Looking south along Broadway from First Street, 1904-5. At right, from left to right: C.H. Frost Building (#145), 141-3, the turreted Roanoke Bldg (#137-9), Newell & Gammon Bldg. (#131-5), Mason Opera House (#125-9)At left Chamber of Commerce (#128), 1888 City Hall (#228-238).
Los Angeles Times 1886 building. This building was razed after a
1910 bombing and a new headquarters was opened on this site in 1912. The newspaper later moved further south on Spring Street to the
Los Angeles Times building, now part of
Times Mirror Square, occupying the entire block between Broadway, Spring, First and Second streets.[7]
Northwest corner of First and Broadway
Site of the
Tajo Building (1896–mid-20th c.).[8] Now the location of the Los Angeles County Law Library.[9]
Southeast corner of First and Broadway and east side of 100 block
1900s view of Chamber of Commerce, 128 S. Broadway
Postcard c.1910 of Chamber of Commerce, 128 S. Broadway
Site of the Culver Block retail and office building.[10] Now the site of the
Times Mirror Square 1973 Pereira Addition, so called because it was designed by
William Pereira.
South of the Culver Block was the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce building, 128–130 S. Broadway, opened February 12, 1904,[11] a landmark at the time featured on postcards and in books. 6 stories, 4 floors. Ground floor offices included those of the Los Angeles Herald and Consolidated Bank.[12]
Southwest corner of First and Broadway
Mason Opera House or Mason Theatre
C.H. Frost Building at 145 S. Broadway, c.1904-5. To its right, the turreted Roanoke Bldg. (#137-9), Newell & Gammon Bldg. (#131-5), and the Mason Opera House (#125-9).
The southwest corner, during Victorian times the site of unremarkable retail and office buildings, was from 1958 the location of the State Office Building, (1958-60, architect Anson C. Boyd, razed 2006). It was named the
Junipero Serra State Office Building, and this moniker would be transferred to the former Broadway Department Store building at 4th and Broadway when it was opened to replace this building in 1998.[13] It is now the location of the
New U.S. Courthouse built in 2016, taking up the entire block between Broadway, Hill, First and Second.[14]
Just south of the southwest corner was the Mason Theatre, 127 S. Broadway. Opened in 1903 as the Mason Opera House, 1,600 seats.
Benjamin Marshall of the Chicago firm
Marshall & Wilson designed the building in association with
John Parkinson. Marshall is known for designing the
Iroquois Theatre in Chicago. Remodeled in 1924 by
Meyer & Holler. Later, as the Mason Theatre, it showed Spanish-language films. Demolished 1955.[15]
145 S. Broadway,[16]site of the C. H. Frost Building, later known as the Haig M. Prince Building. Built 1898, architect
John Parkinson,[17] Now the location of the
new United States Courthouse built in 2016, taking up the entire block between Broadway, Hill, First and Second.[14]
Second and Broadway
Broadway looking south from 2nd St., 1895-1905. The 1888 City Hall is visible on the left (east) side.
Another view of Broadway looking south from 2nd St. showing a
cable car, c.1893-1895
Northeast corner of Second and Broadway
The 2nd & Broadway Hellman Building in 1918
One of several “Hellman Buildings” across Downtown L.A. — not to be confused with the still-existing
Hellman Building at Fourth and Spring — was located here (#138) from 1897 to 1959.[18] The site is now a parking structure, part of the
Times Mirror Square complex.
Southwest corner of Second and Broadway and the west side of the 200 block
West side of Broadway from #229 (at left) to #207 (at right, SW corner of 2nd St.) sometime after 1894. From left to right: Bicknell Block with the Los Angeles Furniture Co.;
Potomac Block with
Ville de Paris and City of London stores, the YMCA building with its turret and two gables, and the American National Bank building.
American National Bank (later California Bank) Building (1878-1911), southwest corner, 1890. To the viewer's left (south) are the turret and two gables of the YMCA Building (1889), then the Potomac Block (1890).
Boston Dry Goods and Harris Newmark buildings, 1899
The west side of the 200 block of South Broadway had a key place in the
retail history of Los Angeles from the 1893 through 1917, as it was home to several prominent early department stores such as the
Ville de Paris,
Coulter's department store from 1905–1917, and
J. W. Robinson's "Boston Dry Goods" store from 1895–1915. All three stores would move to
Seventh Street when it became the upscale shopping street between 1915 and 1917.
On the southwest corner of 2nd and Broadway was Judge O'Melveny's house, built in 1870. This was replaced by the American National Bank (later California Bank) Building, which one turn was replaced by the California Building in 1911. Nos. 201-213 Broadway are now known named the Broadway Media Center.
Further south on the west side of Broadway, was 207–211, location of the:
YMCA Building (#207–209–211), Romanesque Revival architecture, opened in July 1889, demolished in 1903.
The YMCA operated here at #207 from 1889 until 1903,
City of London opened here in August 1891, run by Messrs. Hiles and Niccolls, who came from the
City of Paris department store. It carried curtains, window shades, comforters, and the like.[19] It operated here until August 1895, when it moved next door to the Potomac Block at #213.[20]
The YMCA Building was demolished to make way for the:
The adjacent Potomac Block and Bicknell Block originally housed prominent retailers of the day, then were joined together in 1906 by
Coulter's department store to form a complex, opening it as a new, 157,000 sq ft (14,600 m2) store in June, 1905.[22][23][24]
City of London Dry Goods Co., which moved here from next door at #211 in August 1895 and advertised for this location through August 1899.[20]
It was the first time major retail stores opened on South Broadway, in what would be a shift of the upmarket shopping district from 1890 to 1905 from around First and Spring to South Broadway. In 1904, Coulter's bought the Potomac Block, and combined it with the Bicknell block to create its new store that opened in 1905.
After Coulter's moved:
215 continued as a branch of Coulter's through 1927. Then, 215–217 was home to the Pacific Furniture House in the 1940s.
219 housed Fisch's Department Store in the 1940s.
The building was demolished in 1953 and is still the site of a parking lot.[27]
Bicknell Block
The Bicknell Block (or Bicknell Building) at 225–229 S. Broadway, with back entrances at 224–228 S. Hill Street. was part of Coulter's from 1905 from 1917. After Coulter's moved in 1917, it housed the Western Shoe Co. (through 1922), later known as the Western Department Store (1922–1928). Lettering covered the face of the building from top to bottom through the end of the 1950s: "THE LARGEST SHOE DEPT. IN THE WEST".[28]
Further south on Broadway
231-235, the Harris Newmark Building (1899, Abram Edelman), Bartlett Music Co. (#233), annex to J. W. Robinson's (#235); Goodwill Industries store (#233-235, 1950s–60s). The building still stands, but all floors except the ground floor have been removed.
237-241, the Boston Dry Goods Building (completed 1895, demolished, architects
Theodore Eisen and
Sumner Hunt, designer of the
Bradbury Building)[29][30] The building was home to J. W. Robinson's "Boston Dry Goods" store from 1895 to 1915, Scott's Department Store (239–241, 1920s), Third Street Store (237–241, 1950s–60s). Demolished, currently the site of a parking lot.
Southeast corner and east side of Broadway from 2nd to 3rd
Looking north along Broadway at its east side past 2nd Street. From top left: The L.A. Times Bldg. with castle-like turret, with the 1911 Hall of Records behind it. The Chamber of Commerce Bldg. at #128. Drugstore in the Hellman Bldg. (#144–6) at the NE corner of 2nd Street. Dentist in the Nolan, Smith and Bridge Bldg. (#200–4) at the SE corner of 2nd. New King Hotel in the Gordon Bldg. (#206–10). Victor Clothing in its location from 1926 to 1964 in the Crocker Bldg. (#212–6). Pig 'n Whistle in the Copp Bldg. (#218–224). 1888 City Hall at far right
B'nai B'rith Temple (1873), 214 S. Broadway (post-1890 numbering), the city's first synagogue, razed to make way for the Copp Building, 218–224 S. Broadway, home to the original (1908)
Pig 'n Whistle candy shop and tea room.[36] The Pig 'n Whistle would open locations at 7th and Broadway and in Hollywood, where it would become a landmark restaurant that still operates today.
City Hall (1888–1928; opened 1888, demolished 1929; 228–238 S. Broadway, architect Solomon Irmscher Haas,
Romanesque Revival). Now a parking lot. Three stories, it had a 150-foot (46 m)
campanile. Red and brown brick. Housed the
Los Angeles Public Library for a time until it moved to the new
Hamburger's department store building at Eighth and Broadway in 1908.[37] The site is now part of the "(213) S. Spring" parking garage.[9]
#240-246 the Hosfield Building, location of the Natatorium (indoor swimming pool) in 1894 and the Imperial Restaurant in 1906.[35] After 1964, location of
Victor Clothing, notable for its changing murals reflecting local
Chicano culture. Victor Clothing operated here until 2001, and was known i.a. for its frequent ads on Spanish-language television.[38]
Third and Broadway
Northwest corner of Third and Broadway
Pan American Lofts (built 1895)
The corner is home to one of the oldest buildings outside the Plaza area, the 1895 Irvine Byrne Block or Byrne Block; now called the Pan American Lofts. The architect was
Sumner Hunt. It was built in a hybrid Spanish Colonial Revival/Beaux-Arts style.
The building was home to the renowned
I. Magnin clothing store that opened here on January 2, 1899;[39] on June 19, 1904, I. Magnin announced that the Los Angeles store would henceforth be known as
Myer Siegel.[32] After a fire at the Irvine Byrne Building destroyed its store on February 16, 1911, Myer Siegel moved further south on Broadway.
It was modernized and converted to lofts in 2007 and given its present name. The halls and staircase have appeared in many of Alfred Hitchcock's movies, Brad Pitt's Se7en, Fight Club, Blade Runner, and other TV shows and commercials.[40]
From Third Street south to Olympic Blvd. (originally Tenth St.), and from Hill Street east to Los Angeles Street, including Broadway, is the
Historic Core district, the city's main commercial and entertainment area in the first half of the 20th century.
Northeast corner of Third and Broadway
East side of Broadway looking south past 3rd St, c.1903-4. From left to right 1888 City Hall (with flag), Rindge Block at NE corner of 3rd, Bradbury Building
East side of Broadway looking north past 3rd St, c.1888. From left to right 1888 City Hall (with flag), Rindge Block at NE corner of 3rd, Bradbury Building
Originally the J. C. Graves house stood here; Graves bought the property in 1879 for $2,250. The house was sold and removed to 10th and Hope streets in 1888.
Rindge Block (1898, sold in 1899 for $190,000 to
Frederick H. Rindge, the "King of Malibu"), 248–260 S. Broadway, commercial building; the top floors were removed and only the ground floor remains.
Southwest corner of Third and Broadway
Entrance area, Million Dollar Theatre
Roofline, Million Dollar Theatre
Detail, side, Million Dollar Theatre
Million Dollar Theatre, (1917-8, architects Albert C. Martin and William Lee Woollett,
Spanish Baroque Revival style, 2,345 seats), 307 S. Broadway. It is the northernmost of the movie palaces that comprise the
Broadway Theater District and is listed in the
National Register of Historic Places.[42] Built by
Sid Grauman who would later open
Grauman's Chinese Theatre in
Hollywood. The theater was designed by architects with a fanciful facade in the
Churrigueresque style. After more than 30 years as one of the city's most prestigious first-run movie palaces, the Million Dollar Theater presented Spanish-language films and
variety shows from 1950 until the late 1980s. The theater had a seating capacity of 2,345 when it opened in 1918.[43]
Southeast corner of Third and Broadway
View from
Bunker Hill to Bradbury Building and the
Stimson Block at 3rd & Spring. The
Pan American Lofts had not yet been built on the NW corner of 3rd & Broadway. Around 1894–5.
Bradbury Building in 1894, then anchoring the southwestern end of the business district[44]