Crossroads of the World

Crossroads of the World is a historic commercial complex at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Opened in 1936, it was conceived as an outdoor marketplace with an international, world's-fair-like atmosphere and is commonly described as one of the earliest American examples of an open-air shopping mall. Its architectural centerpiece is a ship-shaped Streamline Moderne building, surrounded by smaller cottage-style structures intended to evoke different countries and regions. The project was developed after the death of Charles H. Crawford in 1931. Crawford's widow, Ella, sought to transform the property into a cosmopolitan destination that would resemble a permanent international exposition. The site had personal and historical significance because Crawford had been shot there. She commissioned architect Robert V. Derrah, who designed a central structure resembling an ocean liner and a surrounding group of bungalows, shops, cafés, and offices. The complex was inaugurated on October 29, 1936, with 57 shops and cafés and 36 upper-floor offices. Although the shopping-center concept was not a major commercial success in its original form, the design became influential as an early model for outdoor retail environments. Its combination of themed architecture, pedestrian circulation, and small independent commercial spaces anticipated later open-air shopping and entertainment developments. The central tower and globe motif became the site's most recognizable visual elements. By the 1950s, Crossroads of the World had shifted from a retail-oriented destination to an office complex. Its tenants increasingly came from Hollywood and the broader entertainment sector, including music publishers and producers, screenwriters, film and recording companies, novelists, costume designers, publicists, casting agencies, and other creative businesses. The Screen Actors Guild, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jackson Browne, and Alfred Hitchcock have all been associated with offices at the complex. In 1985, Michael Perricone established Interlock Studios in one of the bungalows; the audio post-production business remained there until 1998 before moving elsewhere and later becoming Larson Studios under new ownership. Real-estate investor Mort La Kretz purchased the property in 1977 and restored it. In its later identity, Crossroads of the World has functioned less as a conventional shopping mall and more as a historic Hollywood office and filming location. Its distinctive architecture has appeared in films, television programs, commercials, music videos, and video games, helping preserve its visibility even as its commercial role changed. A reproduction of its tower and revolving globe is also displayed at the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida. The property's future became the subject of a major redevelopment debate in the 2010s. In January 2019, the Los Angeles City Council approved a plan involving three high-rise buildings, approximately 950 apartments and condominiums, a 308-room hotel, and about 190,000 square feet of commercial space around the historic complex. Preservationists criticized the proposal as a form of Hollywood 'Manhattanization,' while housing advocates and residents focused on the planned demolition of 82 Hollywood Regency garden apartments. The apartments were rent-stabilized and occupied by a long-established, predominantly Latino, largely low-income community. The proposal included more than 100 units designated for very low-income households. The redevelopment plan places the historic site's preservation, surrounding housing, and future commercial use at the center of Crossroads of the World's contemporary identity.

Crossroads of the World originated in the aftermath of Charles H. Crawford's death in 1931. His widow, Ella Crawford, planned an international-style outdoor market on the property, envisioning it as a permanent world's fair with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The site was also associated with Crawford's shooting, giving the development an unusually personal and historical foundation. Ella Crawford hired Robert V. Derrah, a Streamline Moderne architect known for his work on the Coca-Cola Building, to design the complex. Derrah organized the project around a central building shaped like an ocean liner. Smaller buildings and bungalows were arranged around it and designed to suggest different national settings. The result combined themed architecture with retail and office functions rather than following the enclosed department-store model that later became common in American shopping centers. Crossroads of the World opened on October 29, 1936. At launch, it contained 57 shops and cafés and 36 offices on upper floors. The center's commercial performance was limited, but its physical arrangement made it an important early example of an open-air mall. Its pedestrian-scale buildings, landscaped setting, international motifs, and central landmark structure provided a template for later outdoor retail developments. During the 1950s, the property was converted primarily into an office complex. The entertainment industry became an important source of tenants. Organizations and individuals associated with the site included the Screen Actors Guild, musicians and recording professionals, music publishers, producers, writers, costume designers, publicists, and casting agencies. The complex's location in Hollywood and its distinctive architecture helped it remain useful to creative businesses even after its original retail concept diminished. Mort La Kretz acquired the property in 1977 and restored it. The restoration supported the survival of the architectural ensemble and its continued use as a recognizable Hollywood setting. On June 1, 1985, Michael Perricone founded Interlock Studios in Bungalow 1522. The audio post-production facility operated there until 1998, when it relocated to 6520 Sunset Boulevard. The company was later sold to Rick Larson and renamed Larson Studios. Crossroads of the World subsequently became an established filming location. Its distinctive buildings and central tower have been used in films including The Muppets, L.A. Confidential, Indecent Proposal, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Café Society, Nancy Drew, Argo, and Skincare. Television productions associated with the site include Dragnet, Remington Steele, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, and Bosch. The property has also appeared in commercials, music videos, and video games, including Midnight Club: Los Angeles, L.A. Noire, and The Crew. Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World features a reproduction of the site's tower and spinning globe near its entrance. The next major phase of the property's history concerns redevelopment. In January 2019, the Los Angeles City Council approved a project surrounding the historic complex. The plan called for three high-rise buildings containing approximately 950 apartments and condominiums, a 308-room hotel, and roughly 190,000 square feet of commercial space. Preservationists objected to the scale of the proposal, describing it as a Manhattanization of Hollywood. Residents and housing advocates emphasized the proposed demolition of 82 rent-stabilized garden apartments occupied by a long-established, predominantly Latino, largely low-income community. The project provided for more than 100 very-low-income units, but the dispute highlighted the tension between preserving Crossroads of the World's historic character, expanding development, and protecting existing residents.

• 2019

  Redevelopment plan receives city approval

  [1]Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The Los Angeles City Council approves a surrounding redevelopment proposal involving housing, a hotel, and commercial space, prompting preservation and tenant concerns.

• 1998

  Interlock Studios relocates

  [1]Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Interlock Studios leaves the complex for a location on Sunset Boulevard; the business is later sold and renamed Larson Studios.

• 1985

  Interlock Studios is founded at the complex

  [1]Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Michael Perricone establishes Interlock Studios in Bungalow 1522, adding an audio post-production use to the site's entertainment-industry profile.

• 1977

  Mort La Kretz purchases and restores the property

  [1]Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Real-estate investor Mort La Kretz acquires Crossroads of the World and undertakes restoration work.

• 1950

  Conversion to an office complex

  [1]Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org

  During the 1950s, the property shifts from a primarily retail destination toward office use, especially for Hollywood and entertainment businesses.

• 1936

  Crossroads of the World opens

  [1]Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The Robert V. Derrah-designed complex opens on October 29 with a ship-shaped central building, themed bungalows, 57 shops and cafés, and 36 upper-floor offices.

• 1931

  Ella Crawford conceives an international outdoor market

  [1]Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Following Charles H. Crawford's death, Ella Crawford develops the idea for a cosmopolitan outdoor marketplace on the property associated with his death.

A historic Hollywood architectural landmark positioned between an early international-themed open-air shopping center, a creative-industry office campus, and a recognizable film-location property.

• Retail and commercial real estate · 1936

  Historic open-air shopping complex

  The original Crossroads of the World was an outdoor marketplace combining small shops, cafés, and offices around a themed architectural centerpiece. Its international design language and pedestrian-scale layout made it an early example of the open-air shopping-center format in the United States.

• Office real estate · 1950

  Creative-industry office complex

  From the 1950s onward, the property became primarily an office destination for entertainment-related occupants. Its users have included guild personnel, music publishers, producers, writers, casting agencies, publicists, and other film, television, and recording professionals.

• Location services and cultural property

  Film and television location

  The complex's ship-like central structure, bungalows, tower, and globe have made it a recurring screen location. Productions associated with the property span feature films, television series, commercials, music videos, and video games.

• 2019

  Approval of surrounding mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The owner proposed a large redevelopment around the historic Crossroads of the World complex to revitalize the Hollywood district and add housing, hospitality, and commercial capacity.

  Action taken

  The Los Angeles City Council approved a plan for three high-rise buildings, approximately 950 apartments and condominiums, a 308-room hotel, and about 190,000 square feet of commercial space. The plan also involved removing 82 rent-stabilized garden apartments and setting aside more than 100 units for very low-income households.

  Aftermath

  Preservationists criticized the scale of the project as a Manhattanization of Hollywood, while residents and housing advocates raised concerns about displacement and the loss of a long-established predominantly Latino community.

  Source

• 2019

  Los Angeles City Council approves Crossroads of the World redevelopment project[1]Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The Los Angeles City Council approved a plan to redevelop the area around Crossroads of the World with three high-rise buildings, housing, a hotel, and commercial space. The proposal also called for demolition of 82 rent-stabilized garden apartments and included more than 100 units for very low-income households.

1. 1Crossroads of the Worlden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Crossroads of the World official websitecrossroadshollywood.com