Cherokee Building
{{Short description|Building in Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Cherokee Building
| nocat = yes
| nrhp_type = cp
| partof = Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District
| partof_refnum = 85000704
| image = Cherokee bldg.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = The building in 2024
| location = 6630 W. Hollywood Blvd. and 1652 N. Cherokee Ave., Hollywood, California
| coordinates = {{coord|34.1015|-118.3344|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Los Angeles
| map_caption = Location of building in Los Angeles County
| built = 1927
| architect = Norman W. Alpaugh
| architecture = Spanish Colonial Revival
| designated_nrhp_type = April 4, 1985
}}
Cherokee Building is a historic two-story commercial structure located at 6630 W. Hollywood Boulevard and 1652 N. Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood, California.
History
Cherokee Building was built by Norman W. Alpaugh in 1929 and features a Spanish Colonial Revival design.{{Cite web |title=Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/236d3254-47ee-4b31-9045-c2999cc465f2/ |publisher=United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service |date=April 4, 1985 |language=en-US}} The building housed Hollywood's first drive-in businesses, and it catered to the automobile by having a large motor entrance at the rear where motorists could park and enter, rather than entering from the street.{{Cite web |title=The Cherokee Building - Hollywood Historic Site |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=235280 |publisher=Hollywood Chamber of Commerce |accessdate=July 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}
One of Cherokee Building's original tenants was a hair salon that acted as a front for a Prohibition-era illegal card club and gambling speakeasy. In the 1930s, Gene Austin opened a nightclub in the building, and that business was followed by several bars, including a gay bar.{{Cite web |author=Xaque Gruber |title=Boardners Celebrates 70 Years As Hollywood Boulevard's Classic Bar |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/boardners-celebrates-70-years_b_1473177 |publisher=Huffington Post |date=December 16, 2017 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Gangsters, ghosts and a classic haunt: The history of Hollywood's Cherokee Building |url=https://www.laweekly.com/gangsters-ghosts-and-a-classic-haunt-the-history-of-hollywoods-cherokee-building/ |publisher=LA Weekly |date=June 27, 2017 |author=James Bartlett |language=en-US}} In 1944, the bar changed to Boardner's, whose name has remained ever since.{{Cite web |title=Hollywood, Straight Up |url=https://www.laweekly.com/hollywood-straight-up/ |publisher=LA Weekly |date=April 26, 2000 |author=Steven Mikulan |language=en-US}}
In 1938, Larry Edmunds Bookshop moved into one of the building's storefronts. In the 1960s and 70s, several clothing stores popular with rock musicians were located in this building.
In 1984, the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, with Cherokee Building listed as a contributing property in the district.
In 1993, the building was sold for $2.76 million {{USDCY|2760000|1993}}.{{Cite web |title=6630 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028 |url=https://www.propertyshark.com/mason/Property/16443867/6630-Hollywood-Blvd-Los-Angeles-CA-90028/ |publisher=PropertyShark |accessdate=July 16, 2024 |language=en-US}}
Architecture
Cherokee Building was built with concrete in an L-shaped configuration. The building features a Spanish Colonial Revival design, one that includes an elaborate stringcourse, a tiled roof, Moorish arches, a brick patio with a tiled fountain as its focal point, Churrigueresque and wrought iron ornamentation, and ornamental medallions.
Filming location
{{See also|Larry Edmunds Bookshop#In popular culture|Boardner's#Film location}}
Cherokee Building tenants Boardner's and Larry Edmunds Bookstore are popular film locations.{{Cite web |title=Community Highlights: Meet Tricia La Belle |url=https://voyagela.com/interview/community-highlights-meet-tricia-la-belle-of-boardners-by-la-belle-bar-sinister-of-hollywood-bon-vivant-market-cafe-daves-on-broadway-and-the-sportsmans-inn/ |publisher=Voyage LA |date=July 15, 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |first=Mary |last=Mallor |date=November 18, 2021 |title=Larry Edmunds Bookshop in the Hollywood Walk Of Fame |url=https://www.heartofhollywoodmagazine.com/post/larry-edmunds-bookshop-in-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame |magazine=Heart of Hollywood |language=en}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Greater Hollywood}}
{{HBCED}}
Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1929
Category:1920s architecture in the United States
Category:Buildings and structures in Hollywood, Los Angeles
Category:Revival architecture in the United States
Category:Historic district contributing properties in California