Thursday, February 9, 2017

A History Lesson...

There have been countless times when I have been standing out front of our beautiful Gaylord and overheard passing out of towners, young and/or intoxicated people state with wild laughter in some form or other the following, 'Hey look, the Gaylord! Can you believe that name!?! Who would name something that? Hahahahahaha...' I simply reply, 'Know your history.'

In April of 1924, when J.B. Lilly & P.B. Fletcher completed their stately building, designed by renowned architects Walker & Eisen, they named it the 'Gaylord,' after Henry Gaylord Wilshire (pictured above). This was L.A.'s first co-op building and the Gaylord was also the first building in L.A. to have a rooftop neon sign.

For those that do not know, Henry owned the land that much of Wilshire Boulevard now sits on. He gave the land to the City of Los Angeles in order to create the first boulevard to the sea! Now that you know, pass it on (please).