Villa Bonita facts for kids
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Villa Bonita
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Villa Bonita, May 2008
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1817 Hillcrest Rd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California |
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| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Frank Webster |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001950 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1986 |
Villa Bonita is a famous apartment building located on Hillcrest Road in Hollywood, California. It's just a short walk from the busy corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 because of its special design.
The building was designed by architect Frank Webster and finished in 1929. Its first owner was Sidney Ullman, who was the business manager for the famous silent film star Rudolph Valentino. Many people in the early Hollywood film industry, like Ullman, invested their money in real estate. This helped create many unique and creative buildings in Hollywood.
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Building Design and Style
Villa Bonita is a seven-story apartment building. It shows off the beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture. This style often includes features like red tile roofs, arched doorways, and decorative ironwork, making buildings look like old Spanish or Mexican homes.
Some changes were made to the building over time. A penthouse (a fancy apartment on the top floor) and a metal roof sign were added in the early 1930s. A sunroom was also added in 1989. The detailed work throughout the building is amazing for its size. This makes Villa Bonita a great example of apartment buildings from Hollywood's golden age.
Home to Hollywood Stars
This seven-floor building was first built for the actors and crew who worked with director Cecil B. DeMille. Over the years, many famous people have lived there, including:
- Errol Flynn
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Ethelind Terry, an opera and musical comedy actress
- Emma Dunn, an actress
- Carl Held, an actor
- Lois Collier, an actress
- Walter Bacon, a film director
Many people living in Villa Bonita, especially in the 1930s and 1940s, worked in the entertainment industry. They were artists, singers, musicians, and film executives. The building's location close to Hollywood's main movie and entertainment areas made it a very popular place to live for those working in film.
The Architect: Frank Webster
Architect Frank Webster designed Villa Bonita. He was known for using the "period revival" style, which means he designed new buildings to look like older, historical styles. Webster lived and worked in the Los Angeles area. He designed many different buildings in Southern California, including:
- A two-story apartment building in Hollywood (around 1926)
- A three-story hotel in Topanga Canyon (around 1925)
- Several buildings in Santa Monica
- A five-story hotel and apartment building in San Diego (around 1925)
Villa Bonita is considered one of his most important works.
Inside Villa Bonita
The building has a small, welcoming lobby with a marble floor. You can see fancy moldings and brackets, plus an original chandelier (a decorative hanging light). There are also metal mailboxes on one wall.
An old-fashioned elevator and a central staircase lead to the upper floors. The building is split by a hallway that runs from east to west. Each of the twenty-four apartments has:
- A dining area
- A kitchen with a breakfast nook
- A bathroom
Most of the inside parts of the apartments are still original. They have special windows called casement windows, original cabinets, and hardware. Outside, a low wall with a decorative iron fence surrounds a small garden courtyard at the front of the building.
More About Villa Bonita
In 2016, a photography book about the building was released. It's called Villa Bonita and features photos by Pamela Littky and text by Cameron Crowe.
See Also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in Hollywood
- Hollywood Heights, Los Angeles
