The Chamber is proud to present a Photo Retrospective of
Century City. This unique exhibit features an archive of
rare photographs open to the public, free of charge, Monday
through Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For information, please
call 310-553-2222.
Thank you to the sponsors of this exhibit: Century City
Realty, Fox Entertainment Group, Copy Page, Held Properties
and Watt Management Company. A very special thank you to
John Bauroth and the staff of Century City Realty for
generously providing many of the photographs and historical
information regarding the inception of Century City.
As we reflect on this area's growth over the past four
decades, it is important to recognize the progress of each
time period marked by visionary business executives and
innovative architects that have made Century City a vibrant
business community. Careers have been built, relationships
have been formed, mega business transactions have been
closed, and grand buildings have been constructed in Century
City.
To glimpse the future, one must understand the past which is
a mosaic of ideals, strategies, stories and events brought
to life by the people who created them. Only by archiving
history and photographs, we can view the progress that has
taken place.
To adapt to demands imposed by population, economic and
cultural shifts, change is inevitable. Each decade of
Century City’s history has been marked by such change and
presented in our Photo Retrospective. This exhibit is
dedicated to the founders of Century City, and to the
generations of people who live, work, and contribute to this
very unique and very special community.
PRESERVING HISTORY SPONSORS:
PHOTOGRAPHIC SPONSORS:
PHOTO CREDITS:
20th Century Fox, ALCOA, ATAS, Jerry Fredrick, Candace
Kentopian, Century City Chamber of Commerce, Century City
Inc., The Reagan Library, Milius J. Romyn, Julius Shulman,
Spence
TIMELINE:
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1961 |
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April 17, 1961 The Aluminum Company of America
entered in a joint venture to purchase and develop
the 176-acre property. The plan was to create a
“city within a city.”
 Architectural Meeting, (L-R) I.M. Pei, Architect,
Century Tower Apts.; Minoru Yamasaki, Architect,
Century Plaza Hotel; Pietro Belluschi, Dean of
School of Architecture, M.I.T.; Frederick J. Gebers,
Executive Director, Century City; and Welton Becket,
Century City Master Planner.
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1963 |
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The
first office buildings completed in Century City,
designed by Welton Becket, Gateway West in 1963
(right) and Gateway East in 1964, form the northern
entrance of Avenue of the Stars.
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1964 |
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Century Square (now
Westfield Century City) opened in 1964 as an
innovative 15-acre, open-air shopping center with 30
acres of underground parking for 2,700 automobiles.
June 1, 1966 – Century
Plaza Hotel, designed by
Minoru Yamasaki and developed by Century City Inc.,
a subsidiary of Alcoa, opened its doors. A double
room cost $30 a night at the 750-room hotel.
Prince Philip was the first of many royal visitors. |
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1969 |
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An
advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, dated July
18, 1969 proclaims Century City as a “Modern
Acropolis… An environment created today for business
of tomorrow.”
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1972 |
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ABC
Entertainment Center opened. Cabaret premiered at
the ABC Entertainment Center’s movieplex. That same
year, Follies debuted at the Shubert Theatre. |
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1974 |
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Circa 1974
View of the newly built Century Plaza Towers from a
section of the Hello Dolly! set on the back lot of
Fox Studios.
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1976 |
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May
17, 1976 This helicopter shot freeze-frame photo was
taken on the night of the 28th Annual Emmy Awards
at the Shubert Theatre. A monumental effort was
required to create this stunning opening for the
live show. |
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1984 |
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Century Plaza Hotel Tower, later The St. Regis
Hotel, opened on December 27, 1984 with President
and Mrs. Reagan as the Tower’s first official
guests.
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1987 |
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The
City of Los Angeles adopted a resolution November 7,
1987 that recognized Century City as a leading
center of business, recreation, shopping and
residential life at the Bestside Gala at the Century
Plaza Hotel Tower. |
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2001 |
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Century City had its own angel when, Century Plaza
Towers commissioned Angel of the Century, a six-foot
statue as part of a citywide art project. |
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2004 |
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November 17, 2004 St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
announced the sale of its Century City property, St.
Regis Los Angeles, and its conversion into
residential units.
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2005 |
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The
Century City Chamber of Commerce celebrates the
25th Anniversary of its annual Golf Tournament, one
of the largest chamber golf tournaments in the
country. Join us on September 9, 2005 at Robinson
Ranch Golf Club in Santa Clarita, CA. |
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