Quote:
Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire
Citizine
Not an especially clear pic--it doesn't really help identify what the original center of the facade looked like--but it must be from very soon after the Ambassador's opening. I'm surprised not to find any good, clear shots from the time of its construction online.
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That lower structure was where the Cocoanut Grove nightclub/ballroom was located. In fact before the Ambassador was torn down, there were initial plans to save the Cocoanut Grove part (and the pantry where RFK was shot and killed) but I think it all fell to the wrecking ball.
1937
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The high school, from Curbed LA:
Conga Line at the Cocoanut Grove, 1940
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Also in 1940, the Andrews Sisters were headlining the Cocoanut Grove.
USC Archive
Hmm, now that I think about it, I think the shell of the Cocoanut Grove was saved, or part of it was:
Wikipedia
I could be wrong, but I thought I remember hearing that it was going to be converted to the school's auditorium or cafeteria or something.
In this shot from 1987, it looks like that awful modernistic facade was just tacked on to the front of the original Cocoanut Grove.
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