The Scoop in one sentence...
Desmond’s: A breathtaking glimpse of the Deco Days along Wilshire’s Miracle Mile.
Desmond’s: A breathtaking glimpse of the Deco Days along Wilshire’s Miracle Mile.
In the early 2000s, I (Lara) would attend concerts at the El
Rey Theatre in the Miracle Mile District of Wilshire Boulevard pretty
frequently, as I didn’t have a child and could do things like stay out ‘til 2 a.m.
on a Tuesday. As I enjoyed a pre- or post-show feast nearby at IHOP (which
seemed to be the only place in the area to eat), I would feel sad—I could sense
that there was great history to the area, it had an enviable mid-city location
that made it about halfway to everywhere, and there were all these cool
buildings that looked like they just needed some TLC to shine once again.
So why wasn’t it hoppin’? Cut to 2013, and the Miracle Mile is about to come roaring back in a way it hasn’t since the 1920s. And the style of the area all began with one amazing building: Desmond’s, which opened as the Wilshire Tower.
So why wasn’t it hoppin’? Cut to 2013, and the Miracle Mile is about to come roaring back in a way it hasn’t since the 1920s. And the style of the area all began with one amazing building: Desmond’s, which opened as the Wilshire Tower.
The Past
Wilshire Boulevard, which today is a bustling street, began as a narrow lane between Downtown Los Angeles and the Westside. Its name came from the guy who made the road: Gaylord Wilshire. The Miracle Mile nickname for this stretch of Wilshire came from something that a friend said to developer A.W. Ross, who had a grand vision for the area: "From the way you talk, A.W., one would think this is really a miracle mile."
Gilbert Stanley Underwood (who also designed the Los Angeles
Federal Courthouse, in addition to many other notable structures) was the
architect of Desmond’s, and when it opened in 1928 it was the first major
building along Wilshire’s Miracle Mile. It established the design style for the
area as Art Deco, and also had a huge advantage over the stores in Downtown LA:
Parking!
Desmond’s department store was located on the first floor (there were offices on the higher floors), and it was an exciting moment for shoppers to roll up, park right at the store, and stroll in. And then you could shop ‘til you dropped and have your packages brought right to your car, rather than schlepping them around on foot, which you might have had to do Downtown (which was not planned with cars in mind).
Desmond’s department store was located on the first floor (there were offices on the higher floors), and it was an exciting moment for shoppers to roll up, park right at the store, and stroll in. And then you could shop ‘til you dropped and have your packages brought right to your car, rather than schlepping them around on foot, which you might have had to do Downtown (which was not planned with cars in mind).
The Deco Details
Where do I start? Sigh. I love this building. Let’s start with neon. Desmond’s was one of the first department stores to embrace neon, and they did it in a big way; their sign could be seen all the way from Downtown Los Angeles!
The rounded corners and sleek green banding on Desmond’s
remind us that the second phase of Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, was just a few
years away. But the exotic feel of ZigZag Moderne, the first phase of Deco
(1925-early 1930s), was still very much on display, with repeating flora and
fauna patterns that seem to be telling a story.
In the 1920s, the world suddenly became much smaller—it was the beginning of our world being as connected as it is today. There was a big influence from folks traveling the globe and the import/export business, with new ideas, designs, and materials being brought back from every corner of the planet.
In the 1920s, the world suddenly became much smaller—it was the beginning of our world being as connected as it is today. There was a big influence from folks traveling the globe and the import/export business, with new ideas, designs, and materials being brought back from every corner of the planet.
One of the signatures of
Art Deco, the chevron, was worked into a pattern on the floor.
And the beautiful elevators showed that
elements of a building that were functional could be beautiful and fashionable,
too.
Even the sidewalk had details
that beckoned shoppers inside, and I love the care that seemingly went into
treating shoppers’ eyes in every aspect of Desmond’s.
Takeaway Tips:
- Take the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles’s Miracle Mile guided walking tour, which is usually offered once or twice a year. See www.adsla.org for more info. Even after driving down Wilshire for many years, I had never noticed this building, but fell in love with it on the tour and decided to research it.
- Make your own walking tour. There‘s the Deco Building at 5209 Wilshire Boulevard, which is a stunning example of Deco with its rare black and gold terra cotta exterior. There is also the Samsung Building at 5525 Wilshire, and the El Rey Theatre at 5515 Wilshire.
- Live or work at Desmond’s. The same company that runs The Deco Building has taken over Desmond’s, which is now known as The Desmond and will have space for rent. If what they did at The Deco Building is any indication, Desmond's will soon be restored to its Golden Age glory!
Contact Info:
Desmond’s (a.k.a. The Desmond)
5514 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 592-3600
(this number connects you with The Deco Building, which has Desmond info)
(this number connects you with The Deco Building, which has Desmond info)
www.TheDecoBuilding.com
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