Album of photographs relating to development of Hollywoodland and Dana Point, California, 1923-1929

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Summary

Creators:
Woodruff, S.H. (Sidney H.), photographer.
Abstract:
Album of 30 photographs (19.3 x 25 cm), including four duplicate, relating to the real estate developments by S.H. Woodruff in Hollywoodland (Los Angeles), and Dana Point, California between 1923 and 1929.
Extent:
1 album (30 photographic prints) : gelatin silver, 21 x 28 cm (album)
Language:
Finding aid is written in English. and Materials are in English.

Background

Scope and content:

The album includes four photographs of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast in Italy, sites which inspired and influenced the architecture and design of Woodruff's development of Dana Point. The single photo of the oceanfront strip of downtown Long Beach suggests that Woodruff also studied the development and look of other coastal towns in California. Visible along the ocean are the towers of the Villa Riviera and the Pacific Coast Club, and the rooftop sign for the West Coast Theatre, designed by the firm of Meyer and Holler (architects also of Grauman's Chinese and Egyptian theatres in Los Angeles), and built in 1923-24 (now demolished). There are 13 photos of Dana Point, featuring some of its homes, as well as scenes of swimming, sunning, horseback riding, and fishing along the coast. Two copies of a photo of a group of yachtsmen, in nautical dress, gathered above on the bluff to receive their trophies, suggest the popularity of boating and yachting in Dana Point. There are three photos of the Blue Lantern Fountain Cafe at 34091Pacific Coast Highway, a service station and lunchroom still standing, and one of the Dana Point Tract Office with sign bearing Woodruff's name. Also included are two copies of a photo of an architect's rendering of a proposed residence for Mr. & Mrs. S.H. Woodruff, dated Dec. 1928; a caption on the back of one of them reads "Residence built & completed. Dana Point, Calif." Photographs relating to Woodruff's development of Hollywoodland, beginning in 1923, include a panoramic view of several houses among the hills, the Hollywoodland sign above, and Lake Hollywood in the foreground; the Hollywoodland Tract Office at 2690 Beachwood Drive, and two photos of Hollywoodland houses, including the Spanish Revival Busby Berkeley house, with honeycomb detailing on its garage doors. There are also some miscellaneous photos of commercial properties in Santa Barbara (James R.H. Wagner Real Estate, Murray's restaurant, Michel A Levy shoe store), and two copies of a close-up of avocados growing.

Biographical / historical:

Real estate developer, architect, and builder. S.H. Woodruff came from a wealthy Michigan family, and worked as an architect in the East before coming to California. He was involved in the reconstruction of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. He is best known for his development of Hollywoodland, and Dana Point in the 1920s.

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.
Physical facet:

Photographs are mounted on rectos of canvas leaves, one to a page; a few have numbers in negative in the lower right corners, probably stock numbers.

Bound in black pebble-grain leather covers, with three-hole binding, secured with brown cord; gold-stamped cover title, "S.H. Woodruff. Community Developer. Hollywoodland, Dana Point, California." Manufacturer's green and white label on inside back cover of J.L. Hanson Co. of Chicago, identifying album as a Badger album (J.L. Hanson Co. took over the album department of the Heinn Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1922).

Spec. Coll. copy: with Album 1 in gray archival box with lid.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Note:

Title supplied by cataloger.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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