Who would go to L.A. and stay at a hotel called "Knickerbocker"?
I don't think I have seen reference to this hotel or to the Brooks store in this thread. This picture comes from the Library of Congress Collection:
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/owi2001024127/PP/
Title: Los Angeles, California. Street scene
Creator(s): Lee, Russell, 1903-1986, photographer
Date Created/Published: 1942 Apr.
Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944.
Part of: Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress)
The building is still standing, incredibly, as the "The Knickerbocker" with rooftop sign in place, (three letters "T H E" where it once had five letters "H O T E L".) The Brooks store is gone from Hollywood Boulevard => parking lot, but the building to its left still stands as a contemporary piece of Noir called (The?) Cave Cabaret (Famous Dancers ~ VIP Lounge) at 6315(?) Hollywood Blvd. I think this Brooks was at 6313 or so.
Source: LAPL City Directory collection, 1942 edition.