National Register visit 187: The Aloha Apartments. Say “aloha” to this four-story Mediterranean revival apartment complex, designed by local boys Hillier & Sheet. While its name suggests palm trees and seaside views, the Aloha’s actually in a fairly gritty, palm-free part of Hollywood, just southeast of the Sunset & Highland intersection.
The Aloha was built as a hybrid apartment building/hotel, a type of mixed use situation that was gaining traction at the time. The idea was to cater to all the different kinds of people flowing into Hollywood during the 1920s and ‘30s, whether they were families putting down roots or young actors stopping through on a temporary basis, to try their luck on the silver screen.
There were a few starlets that lived here, Oscar nominee Bonita Granville among them. But most of the Aloha’s tenants were middle-class professionals. Teachers, journalists, photographers, dancers, hotel clerks, dentists, accountants, that kind of thing.
These days the Aloha operates as affordable housing. Small pets allowed.
Historic photos credits, in order:
📷 Panoramic view of Hollywood, looking west from Laughlin Park, 1905 (Public Domain. Via USC Libraries & California Historical Society)
📷 Group of campers on Franklin Avenue near Bronson Street, Hollywood, California, ca.1905 (Public Domain. Via USC Libraries & California Historical Society)
📷 Cahuenga and Hollywood boulevards, 1928 (Security Pacific National Bank Photo Collection / Los Angeles Public Library)
📷 Hollywood tourism promotion, 1928 (Eyre Powell Chamber of Commerce Collection / Los Angeles Public Library)
📷 Bonita Granville, Ethel Grey Terry, Beryl Mercer - all public domain
I'm visiting all the landmarks in LA County listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Read more about this one and many more at etandoesla.com...
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