By JODI SUMMERS
(Editor’s note: This is the third in a series about the landmarked properties in Santa Monica).
The definition of a National Historic Landmark is a nationally significant historic place designated by the Secretary of the Interior. Landmark properties are chosen because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States and designated under the authority of the Historic Sites Act of 1935. Today, fewer than 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction. Santa Monica has slightly more than 400 residential properties listed in City Hall’s Historic Resources Inventory — 43 are official landmarks, and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
We continue with our tour of Santa Monica landmark properties by heading into downtown. ■ Miles Playhouse, 1929 1130, Lincoln Blvd. Several legends surround the endowment of the Miles Playhouse. The story goes that the late 1920s City Councilman J. Euclid Miles bequeathed the city of Santa Monica $25,000 to build a hall for young people, in memory of his daughter, Mary, with the provison that the city maintain it in perpetuity.
The city’s favorite son, architect John Byers, designed the playhouse in the Spanish Colonial revival style. After years of decline, the Miles Playhouse was finally rebuilt after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and is home to several children’s theater groups. ■ Streamline Moderne Commercial Building, 1940 507 Wilshire Blvd. Old timers will remember 507 Wilshire Blvd. as the LLO-DA-MAR Bowl. The bowling alley was converted into retail use in the 1970s, but W. Douglas Lee’s design still exemplifies the commercial Streamline Moderne style. The style shows an evolution from the frill early Art Deco exchanging the baroque touches for aerodynamic lines, borrowing design elements from trains, ships and automobiles. ■ Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club Building, 1914 1210 Fourth St. Architect Henry Hollwedel is noteworthy for both his professional and civic contributions to Santa Monica in the early part of the century. He was a member of the Santa Monica Board of Trade and served as the city building inspector. While he was inspector, he oversaw the construction of the Santa Monica Pier. ■ Gussie Moran House, circa 1891 1323 Ocean Ave. This Queen Anne style Victorian hints the time when Ocean Avenue was a parade of Victorian homes, and was once owned by international tennis sensation Gussie Moran. In 1949, Moran competed at the Wimbledon Championships wearing a short tennis dress with ruffled, lace-trimmed knickers peeping out below the hem. The effect was electric — this was the first time in history that ladies’ knickers had been fully and intentionally put on broad public display. ■ Victorian House, 1906 1333 Ocean Ave. When you see this Queen Anne-inspired Victorian, think back on the day when Ocean Avenue was a eucalyptus-lined street dotted with fashionable residences. ■ Georgian Hotel, 1931 1415 Ocean Ave. During prohibition, the Georgian became one of Los Angeles' first speakeasies; a rendezvous spot for celebrities including Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Bugsy Siegel and Fatty Arbuckle.
Originally named The Lady Windemere, the Georgian Hotel was built as a seaside hideaway. It was the vision of Ms. Rosamond Borde — one of the first females to conquer the male-dominated building industry. Ms. Borde commissioned architect Eugene Durfee to construct the posh establishment, mixing elements of Romanesque Revival and Art Deco, and Chicago School tripartite design. The hotel is an architectural model of how to transform an elementary rectangular tower into an urbane landmark. ■ Rapp Saloon/Old Town Hall 1875 1438 Second St.
Some properties become renowned for strange reasons. This one-story structure was built for William Rapp by Mr. Freeman. The contract went to Spencer & Pugh bricklayers and plasterers. It was the first masonry structure in Santa Monica. An 1877 advertisement in the Santa Monica Outlook called the establishment the “Los Angeles Beer Garden” with “fresh-tapped Los Angeles beer always on hand.” ■ Mayfair Theatre, 1911, 212-216 Santa Monica Blvd. How sad that this landmark has been boarded up since the Northridge Earthquake. Legend had it that the the-atre, originally erected in 1911, was the oldest legitimate theater operating in Los Angeles. Believed to be constructed as an opera house, the Mayfair was built in 1911 by Charles Tegner, another founding father of Santa Monica. Designed by architect Henry C. Hollwedel, the theater, with its elaborate façade of baroque swirls and inset shields was restored in 1973 and again in 1988. ■ Oregon Avenue Sidewalk Sign, pre 1912 Santa Monica Bouelvard and Fifth Street Prior to the founding of the city of Santa Monica in 1875, streets were either numbered or named after states and territories. This corner sidewalk inlay illustrates how street labeling looked at the turn of the 20th Century. Oregon Avenue was renamed Santa Monica Boulevard in 1912. ■ Lido Hotel, 1931 1455 Fourth St. This building is the epitome of commercial art deco, circa 1931. The Lido Hotel (today used an apartment building) is crafted of Roman brick and incorporates female motifs along the roofline. The building’s design was needed in response to the 20th Century expansion of the central business district.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 28, 2004. Read the original PDF.