1930's Hollywood showroom

In the early 60?s I would see the reminents of a huge ?art deco?
<We did not know of that designation at that time :+) !?>
old building with huge windows that were cinder bricked up.

I would admire that awesome building from the bus stop on my way to school back then. Having no idea of what purpose it had I was always curious. Marilyn and the Kennedy?s were gone and there were only the shadows of old Hollywood but one could see some of the glamour of bygone days in the structure.

Thru the ACD club newsletter I saw a picture of the Los Angles building as the Duesenburg Auburn dealership. What a revelation. Does this building still exist? If it does is there any idea if it could be restored to its former glory as is the factory building in Auburn has been?

I understand there is an effort to revitalize the Hollywood area and what better idea than have that building showcasing the autos that had the golden eras stars, Rudy and Clark etc. mesmerized.

Still under the ACD spell, balin?

Yes, the old Auburn/Fuller Dealership building is still standing at 3443 Wilshire Blvd. in LA. It is used by Atlantic Richfield Petroleum and the windows are all covered and the building is a rather drab gray. It would be nice restored as many buildings in the area are. An example is the Wiltern Theater on Wilshire and Western!

Stan

Thanks KS for the info,

I was sure it was on sunset or hollywood blvd but there was just so many landmarks there. Do you remember seeing the Pan Pacific Auditorium? It is a huge building sporting a faux deco exterior reminicent of a luxury liner.
It is from the thirtys and I believe it was there that the new Cord was displayed in Sept of 1935. It may be on Wilshire and Fairfax area but I am not sure. I remember it as having being abandoned and weeds growing thru the asphalt.

I would like to see a photo of my old Cord standing in front of that auditorium, maybe someday, balin'

balinwire wrote: Thanks KS for the info,

I was sure it was on sunset or hollywood blvd but there was just so many landmarks there. Do you remember seeing the Pan Pacific Auditorium? It is a huge building sporting a faux deco exterior reminicent of a luxury liner.
It is from the thirtys and I believe it was there that the new Cord was displayed in Sept of 1935. It may be on Wilshire and Fairfax area but I am not sure. I remember it as having being abandoned and weeds growing thru the asphalt.

I would like to see a photo of my old Cord standing in front of that auditorium, maybe someday, balin'

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Mr. Cord also owned the Pan Pacific and son Charles managed it for years. After it burnt they left the front wall standing for many years. I understand that it is also gone now? There was a small dealer on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Mr. Cord developed a lot of the area along Wilshire and Beverly Hills. How about the Ambassador Hotel and Brown Derby? He had a hand in those also.

You may have to go to Auburn Indiana and park in front of the former Administration building for a photo op. Boy, ACD cars and art deco buildings sure do look good together.

Stan

Hi KS,

I had no idea that he had an interest in the Derby. If the cars were still for sale what a way to showcase the Auburn line to the stars. During those times the area must have been very glamorous like the autos he represented.

When I was a boy growing up there I could see many of the shadows of the bygone era and heard many stories of the Duesenburg but never saw any. I did work for a lady that had a 31? dual cowl LaSalle touring with wood spoke wheels in perfect shape in her garage, also her sons 1930?s? Lincoln was in another, he was KIA in WW-II but she saved the car.

I understand J Paul Getty owned Standard Oil. Marion Davies; his sweetheart was given a Duesenburg. I guess he just bought 4334 Wilshire as well.

In an issue of the newsletter it mentioned the building was powered, heat and light by Lycoming power plants, convenient since you own the oil wells! I don?t suppose those are still in operation due to emissions and maintenance either.

I never noticed the dealer on Hollywood and Vine but I wonder if there might still be a sign painted on the brick exterior surviving. Maybe even under a hundred coats of paint.

Well guess I will just have to be happy with a picture of my Westchester in front of a hay pasture with a bunch of grazing cows instead of a big time holly picture show premiere, balin?

balin'-

I think you might have some of your information mixed up. Rockerfeller owned Standard Oil, Marion Davies was sweetheart to Wm. Randolph Hearst. The old 4334 Wilshire building being used by Atlantic Richfield was a part of E.L. Cords operation as he was a principal in Atlantic Richfield. E.L. is given credit for inventing off shore drilling for oil. It seems that he bought a bunch of land scripts from various Indian tribes. These had been given to the Indians by the government but they couldn't use the land since it was offshore or tide water holdings. He found ways to perfect these rights and drill for oil off shore. We have a retired school teacher here in town that grew up in L.A. during the depression. In 1932-33 he worked on a W.P.A. street project in Hollywood. He said he was running a jack hammer at the corner of Hollywood and Vine and just loved to see those beautiful Auburns and Cords in the show room. He said it took his mind off the work and economic times. He's around 85 today and loves to come in and look at the cars. J.W. Culbreth, a club member that has passed on, used to live in L.A. and told me he walked to school past the Wilshire dealership. He said more than once that his parents had to come and drag him home as he just stood in front of the windows looking at the cars. You could see them on the Wilshire front and side street that was lined with palm trees. They also had a lower level garage that cars came and went from for service. I have several pictures taken in that level of the building. Of course, the radio station on the roof competed wth the station owned by Bob Lee the Cadillac dealer. Mr. Cord was in radio and later TV to the end.

Stan

PS - There is/was a grand old Episcopal church next door. Of course, he probably didn't have much to do with it!