The Hillview facts for kids

The Hudson Apartments is a famous building in Hollywood, California. It used to be called The Historic Hillview Hollywood. This building was Hollywood's very first "artist's" high-rise apartment building.

What is The Hudson Apartments?

The Hudson Apartments was started in 1917 by two important movie leaders: Jesse L. Lasky and Samuel Goldwyn. Jesse L. Lasky helped create Paramount Pictures. Samuel Goldwyn was a co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, often called MGM.

A Home for Aspiring Stars

Back then, most apartment owners didn't want to rent to actors. They thought actors might not be able to pay their rent. But the Hillview Hollywood was different! It was one of the only apartment buildings in Hollywood that welcomed actors who were just starting out. It was made especially for them.

The building quickly became a popular place in Hollywood. The large basement had a space where actors could practice their lines. Later, a famous actor named Rudolph Valentino supposedly turned it into a secret club.

Famous Faces Who Lived Here

Many well-known actors lived at the Hillview. These included Mae Busch, Stan Laurel, and Viola Dana. Even Charlie Chaplin owned the Hillview at one point. In 1923, the famous actress Clara Bow found her first home there.

From Glory to Restoration

Over time, the Hillview building became less famous and started to fall apart. It was badly damaged during an earthquake in 1994, called the 1994 Northridge earthquake. But don't worry! The building was completely fixed up and restored by 2005.

New Owners and a New Name

In October 2009, the company that owned the Hollywood Hillview Apartments faced money problems. The building had to be sold because of this. The basement club, restaurant, and gym had already closed in January 2009. Around this time, the building's name was changed to The Hudson Apartments.

In July 2010, a real estate company from Hollywood called CIM bought the building. They paid $13,000,000 for it.