Mae West Slept Here: 4121 Wilshire Boulevard

Mae West Slept Here: Los Altos Apartments at 4121 Wilshire Blvd.

Hollywood stars once lit up the residential roster at the Los Altos Apartments at 4121 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Today the photos of famous residents like Bette Davis, Mae West, Douglas Fairbanks, and Clara Bow still adorn the leasing office.

Built in the Spanish Colonial–esque style, the Los Altos was one of the first co-op apartments, then went bankrupt during the Great Depression and fell into disrepair for decades afterward. The housing group Neighborhood Effort rescued the complex from demolition in 1993 even though it was so unlivable there were gaping holes that continued from the fifth floor down to the lobby. But the restorers obtained National Historic Site status for the building by hunting down original parts and design details, including doorknobs, trim, floor tiles and colors. Today, the Los Altos is considered a magnificent structure boasting very low turnover and a waiting list of 300. . . .

Many of L.A.’s apartment buildings have played a leading role in Hollywood culture. . . .

This brief excerpt was taken from this article:
Hollywood Lived Here
The semi-glorious and sometimes gory history of Hollywood apartment living
by NIKKI FINKE
APR. 29 - MAY 5, 2005
L.A. Weekly