Quote:
Originally Posted by ethereal_reality
Now this is amazing...the Westwood Observation Tower, shown here in 1928.
"Built by the Janss Investment Corporation in the 1920s, this oddly shaped tower
was located on the northeast corner of Wilshire and Beverly Glen Boulevards.
It stood at 420 feet above sea level, making it the highest point on Wilshire Boulevard at the time
and was used primarily as a landmark advertisement. At night, the lightning bolts along the sides
and the 'WESTWOOD' sign would light up and be seen for miles.
Potential home owners were allowed to climb the tower to get a better view of the new community
and identify the lot they would like to purchase."
Now to find some photographs taken from the observation deck showing the surrounding area and development!
You know they must exist somewhere. It's now my quest.  |
Views from the observation deck are proving elusive, but I did find the tower mentioned in these adverts in a book called 'Westwood' by Marc Wanamaker. Sadly, much of the small text is unreadable in the source images. The captions are taken directly from the book.
Westwood Hills/University Entrance Park Advertisement, 1925. This advertisement about "Westwood's Crowning
Glory" - the development of the new UCLA campus - warned potential buyers that Westwood property was selling
out quickly. Note the drawing of the Westwood Observation Tower (above center, far left).
books.google.com
University Park Unit, East, 1929. This advertisement announced that the east end of the University Park Unit was
50 percent sold out. Located across Wilshire Boulevard from the Country Club, both units were adjacent to the Los
Angeles Country Club, making them highly desirable. Note the Westwood Observation Tower prominently featured
at left in the advertisement.
books.google.com
I'd love to see a picture of the tower at night
.