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Yucca Vine Tower, formerly Mountain States Building, Mountain States Life Insurance Building, and Postal Union Life Building, is a historic eight-story office building located at 1801-1805 N Vine Street and 6301-6317 W Yucca Street in Hollywood, California. It was declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1032 in 2024.

History

Yucca Vine Tower was built in the Art Deco style by Henry L. Gogerty, the architect also responsible for the nearby Palace Theatre, Baine Building, and Hollywood Studio Building. Built in 1929, the building has been called Hollywood's first skyscraper, although Christie Hotel, built five years prior, has also been given that distinction. The cost of construction was $250,000.

Upon opening, the building served as headquarters for the Mountain States Life Insurance Company. Other businesses and insurance companies, including the Postal Union Life Insurance Company, also occupied the building over the years, and from the 1970s to the 2000s, the ground floor was home to one of the first Thai restaurants in the United States.

In 2006, the building was bought by the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, who spent more than $1 million restoring its façade. The interior, which had been significantly altered over the years, was also converted to meet the academy's needs.

The building was declared Los Angeles Cultural-Historic Monument #1032 in 2024. The building's exterior and original interior were included in the designation, however, interior alternations from after the building was completed were not included. The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles spearheaded the effort to designate the building.

Architecture and design

Yucca Vine Tower is rectangular in plan and features an eight-story concrete tower flanked by two-story wood-frame, concrete and brick wings.

The building features an Art Deco design and is considered an excellent example of a commercial art deco construction. Aspects of the style in the building include vertical emphasis and setbacks, zigzag elements, bas-relief sculptures, steel windows, symmetrical and repeating patterns, hexagon-shaped spandrel, cast stone ornamentation, coffered ceilings, marble clad walls, elevator lobbies on each floor, and interior arched openings. Integrity of the building is high, despite interior and exterior alterations.

Filming location

The building was featured in Mission: Impossible, Mannix, CHiPs, The Day After Tomorrow, and the Three Stooges short Three Little Pigskins.

See also

• List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in Hollywood

References

1. ^ "Historical Cultural Monuments List" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
2. ^ Edwin Folven (May 22, 2024). "Historic status eyed for Hollywood's first skyscraper". Beverly Press.
3. "Current Projects: Christie Hotel". NOVA Hotel Renovation & Construction. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
4. ^ "Mountain States Life Building/ Yucca-Vine Tower Recommendation Report" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
5. "Mountain States Life Building/ Yucca-Vine Tower Findings" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Retrieved August 31, 2024.

• Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments
• Office buildings in Los Angeles
• Office buildings completed in 1929
• Buildings and structures completed in 1929
• Buildings and structures in Hollywood, Los Angeles
• Buildings and structures in Los Angeles
• 1920s architecture in the United States
• Art Deco architecture in California