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The historic core of Old Hollywood includes many of Hollywood's oldest buildings, including the oldest structure on the boulevard, Janes House. Here you will find the site of Hollywood's first movie theatre, the first hotel, and artist Paul DeLongpre's residence - the first tourist attraction in the neighborhood! Step into a time machine and visit our longest-operating restaurant, Musso & Frank Grill, and enjoy drinks in a former speakeasy located in the basement of the first apartment building constructed for actors, now known as the Harlan Residences. After you explore, visit Larry Edmunds Bookshop to delve deeper into the legends and lore of Old Hollywood.

April Clemmer offers her Old Hollywood Tour as well as unique events and virtual presentations covering a variety of topics related to the history of our community at April's Old Hollywood.

Musso & Frank Grill

This is the longest continuously operating restaurant on Hollywood Blvd. It opened in 1919 and is still operated by the same family. It’s famous back room was the favored workspace for some of the 1930s greatest writers including F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Raymond Chandler, and Dorothy Parker.

Musso & Frank Grill, Hollywood's oldest restaurant, circa 1930. Photo courtesy of Bison Archives.

Janes House

The Janes House is one of the most enduring structures on Hollywood Boulevard, and has adapted to fit the changing times. This Queen Anne Victorian was originally the home of the Janes family in 1903 and over the years also served as a school for the children of Hollywood’s elite, a meeting site for the planning of the Hollywood Bowl, and the site for an automotive station. It is now home to the nightclub No Vacancy.

Hollywood 1920: Janes House operated as a private school for children and located on Hollywood Blvd near Whitley. Photo courtesy of Bison Archives.

Hillview Apartments

The first apartment building in Hollywood built specifically to house actors, it is still home to Hollywood creatives today.

The Hillview Apartments, circa 1926, at Hudson and Hollywood Blvd. The building has been completely restored and is now leasing as Harlan Residences. Photo courtesy of Bison Archives.

Iris Theatre

Today it’s known as the Fox Theatre, but Hollywood’s first movie theater had multiple names and locations until settling here in 1918.

The Iris Theatre, formerly known as the Idyl Hour Theatre, was the first theatre opened in Hollywood in 1913 (pictured here in 1916). Photo courtesy of Bison Archives.

Warner Bros. Hollywood Theatre

Known today as the Pacific Theatre, this was the first movie theatre built to screen sound films exclusively. Serving as the Warner Brothers’ Flagship Theatre, this was the site of countless glamorous premieres in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

Warner Bros Hollywood Theatre at Wilcox and Hollywood Blvd. circa 1928. Photo courtesy of Bison Archives.

J.J. Newberry Building and SH Kress Building

The J.J. Newberry store was established in 1928 in a landmark Art Deco-style building. It was a traditional 5&10 store that served the neighborhood, and also housed more upscale shops. This Art Deco landmark known as the Kress Building was designed and built in 1934 as part of the S.H. Kress retail chain, and served as the flagship store for Frederick’s of Hollywood from the late 1940s until 2005.

Hollywood 1937: Newberry and Kress Buildings at 6606-6612 Hollywood Blvd. Photo courtesy of Bison Archives.

DeLongpre Gardens

The site of the first tourist attraction in Hollywood, people paid admission to tour French artist Paul de Longpre’s fabulous estate and gardens featuring exotic flowers. These gardens were the site of one of the first movies filmed in Hollywood, “Love Among the Roses,” starring Mary Pickford and directed by DW Griffith.

The Paul DeLongpre Estate in 1909, located at 1729 Hollywood Blvd. Sadly, this structure is no longer standing. Photo courtesy of Bison Archives.

A huge thanks to Hollywood Heritage and Marc Wanamaker at Bison Archives for providing information and photos for our Old Hollywood initiative.