August 23, 2005
More Beverly Hills Demolitions
The demolition of historic buildings in Beverly Hills continues this week with the loss of the 1923 Beverly Theater, the city's first theater, at 206 North Beverly Drive and the 1926 Bekins Van & Storage Company Building, which stands adjacent at 215 N. Canon Drive. The Beverly Canon Theatre at 205 N. Canon Drive is also on the chopping block.
The demolitions are to make room for construction of the new Beverly Hills Gardens & Montage Hotel project. The project contemplates the construction of a new five-story 228-room hotel, up to 37 residential condominium units, a 32,135 square foot public gardens, and onsite facilities for a restaurant/pub, health spa, and other amenities.
Despite opposition and the presence of identified historic resources on the property, the current project is moving forward after a long entitlement process. Both the Beverly Theatre and the Bekins Company building were recognized as historic resources in the project's Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), while the Beverly Canon Theatre was not. The Beverly Hills City Council unanimously approved the project on March 3, 2005.
In early 2005, opponents called for a referendum on the project and obtained enough support to place the issue on the March election ballot. The project was approved by Beverly Hills residents when Ballot Measure A passed 4,113 to 3,451.
(The following histories were excerpted from the Cultural Resources Section of the Montage Hotel DEIR. Click on the link to read the full document.)
History of the Beverly Theatre
"Designed by prominent local architect L.A. Smith, the Beverly Theatre was constructed in 1924-1925 for realtor Dennis M. Quinlan (1881-1944), and leased to West Coast Theaters, Inc. The building as originally constructed included four ground level retail stores, one of which was utilized by Quinlan as his real estate office, and two studios on the second floor, in addition to the 1500-seat theater."
"Quinlan owned the building until 1936, when 'he traded the building for cash and some land behind the Beverly Hills Hotel,' but West Coast Theatres (which merged with the Fox Film Corporation in 1929 to become Fox West Coast Theatres) continued to lease the Beverly Theatre until at least 1953."
"By 1965, the motion picture theater was operated by Amusement Corporation of America, owners and operators of theaters and amusement parks. Following a period of vacancy, Italian designer Elio Fiorucci opened a clothing store in the former theater in 1978. However, by 1982, the building was being reused as a financial institution."
"The Beverly Theatre was surveyed in 1976, and evaluated as National Register Status Code “5S,” or “eligible for local listing only.” The property was included in the 1985-1986 citywide survey, and was most recently re-evaluated as part of project review in 2001. These evaluations have consistently identified the Beverly Theatre as a potential historical resource."
History of the Bekins Storage & Moving Company Building
"Designed by C. W. Stromberg, the Bekins Storage and Moving Company building was constructed in 1926 as a “public garage,” for owner Dr. Mae A. Wilson. By 1928, the building was being used as a vault for Beverly Hills Storage Company. Bekins Van & Storage Company is first listed as owner in 1930. The warehouse remained in operation through the 1970s. More recently the building was used by Gucci."
"Bekins Van & Storage Company Building is an extremely early example of the use of glass curtain wall construction, featuring alternating bands of solid piers and continuous glass panels, without any intermediary masonry spandrel panel. While major architects in the late 1910s and early 1920s were experimenting with these concepts, this building, as constructed, is one of a kind."
Visit the following websites for more on the proposed project and the demolition of these buildings:
Beverly Hills Montage likely to face 2005 referendum
"The Campaign to Save Beverly Hills, a group of residents and merchants seeking to bring a halt to the planned Montage Hotel Beverly Hills and Public Gardens, appears to have secured the signatures needed to put the proposal on a city ballot..."
Beverly Hills Voters Back Luxury Hotel
"A proposal to allow construction of a luxury hotel in Beverly Hills was approved Tuesday night, according to returns released by the Beverly Hills City Clerk's Office..."
Beverly Canon Theatre at CinemaTreasures.com
Beverly Theater at CinemaTreasures.com
"Beverly Theater was originally designed in the Indo Chinese style, but was later remodeled into an Art Deco theater. The Beverly has a large Taj Mahal-type dome, which is located above the theater's facade..."
Beverly Theater may be doomed
"That Moorish-themed building on Beverly Drive just off Wilshire that used to house Fiorucci—and most recently bore an Israeli Discount Bank sign—was the first movie house in Beverly Hills..."
Demolition Derby
"On August 22, demolition is to begin on three well-known Beverly Hills buildings..."
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