New Clubhouse Meets Members’ Needs
Post war years brought prosperity to the Woman’s Club of Hollywood.
The club auditorium, known as the Hollywood Concert Hall, located at 7078 Hollywood Blvd., was sold to pay off the clubhouse mortgage. Then came an offer from Charles Bollar. He wanted to purchase the remaining club property at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea Ave., for $125,000.
Parking and taxes were becoming a problem so members voted to sell at an emergency meeting. This presented another problem. Where would the more than 1,000 women hold their meetings?
SEVERAL PLACES were mentioned as sites for the new clubhouse, including Holly Chateau, the home of the late president Mrs. R. B. Lane on Franklin Ave.; the late Mrs. John mead’s home and the Woolett property at 1749 N. La Brea Ave., then the Hollywood School for Girls. The latter was decided upon and the club met in the meantime at the Hollywood Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Carl Bush, 1947-49 president, and her board were faced with the task of raising the needed money for the new clubhouse. “The banks would not give us a mortgage,” said Mrs. Bush, now 87 and still active in club work. “We finally got a private loan for $30,000. But, it was a problem.”
Mrs. Bush joined the club in 1922 and has held various offices ever since. “I’ve always done something since I joined,” she said. “I always loved doing things here at the club.
The initial payment was made to the architect. Some of the buildings were to be torn down; others could be used for storage. The Little Theatre, renamed Hospitality House, was to be used for Shakespeare, Browning and board of directors meetings. It is still standing and used today.
