Hollywood Storage Company Building
| Hollywood Storage Company Building | |
|---|---|
 The building in 2015 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Address | 1025 Highland Avenue, Hollywood, California |
| Coordinates | 34°05′24″N 118°20′22″W / 34.0900°N 118.3395°W |
| Year(s) built | 1925 |
| Opened | June 1926 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Morgan, Walls & Clements |
Hollywood Storage Company Building, also known as Toberman Storage Company Building and Bekins Moving and Storage Company Warehouse, is a historic fourteen-story building located at 1025 Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California.
History
[edit]Hollywood Storage Company Building, built for developer Charles Toberman in 1925, was designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements,[1][2] the architectural firm responsible for many Los Angeles landmarks, including the Dominguez–Wilshire Building, Adamson House, Chapman Plaza, and the El Capitan, Music Box, Wiltern, Mayan, and Belasco theaters.[3] The building, which cost $750,000 ($13.4 million in 2024) to construct, opened in June 1926 and at fourteen stories in height was the tallest building in Hollywood.[4]
The building was originally named Terminal Building, but this was changed to Hollywood Storage Building two weeks after opening.[4] Originally built as a storage facility for the film industry, the building has been in continuous operation since its opening.[1][2]
Evening Herald radio station KMTR moved into the building's top floor less than two months after the building's opening. The radio station also installed radio towers atop the building.[4]
Eddie Brandstatter took over the building's rooftop ballroom for his 1928 New Year's Eve party. In 1930, the ballroom was used for several Republican fundraisers.[4]
On December 7, 1930, the Los Angeles Times reported that 150 police officers broke up a nearly 400-person stag party on the building's top floor. 366 individuals were arrested on morals charges, all but four of which were men. Cost of admission to the party was one dollar ($18.82 in 2024).[4]
The building was bought by Bekins, a moving company and pioneer in containerized storage, in 1939.[2][5]
The building was evaluated for historic preservation in 2015, and was deemed eligible for inclusion in national, state, and local local registers.[1]
Architecture and design
[edit]The city of Los Angeles considers Hollywood Storage Company Building an "excellent example of Art Deco industrial architecture" that contains essential, character-defining features of the style.[1] Other sources, however, cite the building as having a Spanish Colonial Revival design.[2][6]
The building is built of concrete.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Historic Resource - Toberman Storage Company 1025 N Highland Ave". City of Los Angeles. September 22, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Hollywood Storage Company Building". Water and Power Associates. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ Michelson, Alan. "Morgan, Walls and Clements, Architects (Partnership)". University of Washington Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Hollywood Media District - History". Hollywood Media District. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ Whiteson, Leon (March 1, 1989). "Bekins: A Storehouse of History". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Michelson, Alan. "Toberman Storage Company, Warehouse, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA (1925)". University of Washington Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved May 28, 2025.