The Woman's Club of Hollywood is unique because we actually have two historic landmarks in one at 1749 N. La Brea Avenue. Since the mid-1940s, it was the location of the Hollywood Woman's Club. And before that, starting in 1908, it was the Hollywood School for Girls. A few of the original buildings of the school still stand on the property, including the main house. You can read all about our fascinating history below.
The Woman's Club of Hollywood
On April 15, 1905, the Woman's Club of Hollywood was founded by 20 women – wives, daughters, and sisters of Hollywood pioneers – to support and aid the community. The women paved the road with hope and courage, and they possessed a nobility of spirit.
The legacy of the Club is rich and historic. Its Members created the Hollywood Public Library in 1906. They were also founding members of the Hollywood Bowl and the Hollywood Studio Club, which had famous residents such as Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, Donna Reed, and Rita Moreno. They also supported the Hollywood High School and the Hollywood Hospital. They took part in the Pilgrimage Plays and the Hollywood Bowl Easter Sunrise Service, which was run from the Club offices for many decades. Hard to believe they did all this before they were even allowed to vote!
After nearly a decade of service, the Woman's Club of Hollywood finally got a “home of their own” at 7078 Hollywood Boulevard on June 13, 1914. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Club Member and renowned songwriter Carrie Jacobs-Bond sang her own composition “Perfect Day." The photos above show the original Club building, which was located on the southeast corner of La Brea Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard.
On April 15, 1905, the Woman's Club of Hollywood was founded by 20 women – wives, daughters, and sisters of Hollywood pioneers – to support and aid the community. The women paved the road with hope and courage, and they possessed a nobility of spirit.
The legacy of the Club is rich and historic. Its Members created the Hollywood Public Library in 1906. They were also founding members of the Hollywood Bowl and the Hollywood Studio Club, which had famous residents such as Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, Donna Reed, and Rita Moreno. They also supported the Hollywood High School and the Hollywood Hospital. They took part in the Pilgrimage Plays and the Hollywood Bowl Easter Sunrise Service, which was run from the Club offices for many decades. Hard to believe they did all this before they were even allowed to vote!
After nearly a decade of service, the Woman's Club of Hollywood finally got a “home of their own” at 7078 Hollywood Boulevard on June 13, 1914. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Club Member and renowned songwriter Carrie Jacobs-Bond sang her own composition “Perfect Day." The photos above show the original Club building, which was located on the southeast corner of La Brea Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard.
The Woman's Club created the Hollywood Public Library in 1907
The Woman's Club was a founding member of the Hollywood Studio Club in 1910
The Hollywood Bowl's Easter Sunrise Services were organized out of the Woman's Club for years
In the early years of the Woman's Club of Hollywood, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Will Rogers, Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, and poet W.B. Yeats were among the many celebrities who hosted and attended events. They were also great contributors to the Club. During World War I and World War II, the Clubhouse was used as a Red Cross center. Members sold more than $100,000 in War Bonds for the War Relief Effort.
Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks were all involved in the Woman's Club of Hollywood
A Club sponsored children's Christmas party in 1918 shows them holding pictures of guest Charlie Chaplin
The Woman's Club featured in the Hollywood Citizen newspaper in 1915
After World War II, the Woman’s Club moved to 1749 N. La Brea Avenue. Our new Spanish Revival clubhouse was designed by noted architect Arthur E. Harvey in 1946, and the first meeting was held here in October 1949. You can view photos from the official groundbreaking ceremony below.
The main house of the Hollywood School for Girls - photo courtesy of Bruce Torrance
Hollywood School for Girls
The location of the Woman's Club of Hollywood is also the former site of the Hollywood School for Girls.
In 1903, the year Hollywood was incorporated, Charles Hanchett built a two-story house at 1749 N. La Brea Avenue. Five years later, he leased the building to Sophie Hogan to be used as the center of a campus for the Hollywood School for Girls. Hogan then sold her share to Louise Knappen, a teacher from Minneapolis, to lead the new private school.
Principal Knappen lived in the upstairs of the house, and the ground floor became the heart of the new school. Five smaller cottages were built around the property as classrooms. The principal, two teachers, secretary, housemother, and housekeeper all lived on the property - in the main schoolhouse and the cottage classrooms.
It was advertised as “An Outdoor School” because it was celebrated for its lush grounds (photos above and below). There were many kinds of of trees across the property - palm, pine, acacia, and jacaranda among others. There were also flowers everywhere, including a rose garden by the main house. One could enjoy the expansive lawn and follow the winding pathways throughout the campus. Classes were often set up under the trees, and even took place in the school's tree house.
For students from kindergarten to high school, the Hollywood School for Girls offered tuition in Latin, English, French, Mathematics, Domestic Science, Art, Music, and Sports. It had around 100 girls and eventually 12 boys as well. The Hollywood School for Girls quickly became one of the leading private schools in Los Angeles.
From 1908 to 1932, many industry giants sent their children to be educated here. This included Louis B. Mayer (daughter Irene), Cecil B. DeMille (daughters Cecilia and Katherine along with nieces Agnes and Margaret), and Jesse Lasky (son Jesse and niece Ruth). Two of its teachers would become well known in Hollywood - Charles Laughton and Oscar-winning costume designer Edith Head, who worked at the Hollywood School for Girls right before she accepted a position assisting Howard Greer at Paramount. And several students became famous actors - Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Joel McCrea.
The location of the Woman's Club of Hollywood is also the former site of the Hollywood School for Girls.
In 1903, the year Hollywood was incorporated, Charles Hanchett built a two-story house at 1749 N. La Brea Avenue. Five years later, he leased the building to Sophie Hogan to be used as the center of a campus for the Hollywood School for Girls. Hogan then sold her share to Louise Knappen, a teacher from Minneapolis, to lead the new private school.
Principal Knappen lived in the upstairs of the house, and the ground floor became the heart of the new school. Five smaller cottages were built around the property as classrooms. The principal, two teachers, secretary, housemother, and housekeeper all lived on the property - in the main schoolhouse and the cottage classrooms.
It was advertised as “An Outdoor School” because it was celebrated for its lush grounds (photos above and below). There were many kinds of of trees across the property - palm, pine, acacia, and jacaranda among others. There were also flowers everywhere, including a rose garden by the main house. One could enjoy the expansive lawn and follow the winding pathways throughout the campus. Classes were often set up under the trees, and even took place in the school's tree house.
For students from kindergarten to high school, the Hollywood School for Girls offered tuition in Latin, English, French, Mathematics, Domestic Science, Art, Music, and Sports. It had around 100 girls and eventually 12 boys as well. The Hollywood School for Girls quickly became one of the leading private schools in Los Angeles.
From 1908 to 1932, many industry giants sent their children to be educated here. This included Louis B. Mayer (daughter Irene), Cecil B. DeMille (daughters Cecilia and Katherine along with nieces Agnes and Margaret), and Jesse Lasky (son Jesse and niece Ruth). Two of its teachers would become well known in Hollywood - Charles Laughton and Oscar-winning costume designer Edith Head, who worked at the Hollywood School for Girls right before she accepted a position assisting Howard Greer at Paramount. And several students became famous actors - Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Joel McCrea.
Jean Harlow (second from top left) as a student at the Hollywood School for Girls
Harlean Carpenter, who would soon be known to the world as Jean Harlow, entered the Hollywood School for Girls when she was 12-years-old for 8th grade. Harlean was elected Vice President of her 8th grade class. She stayed at the school through the 1924 school year.
Some of the dedicated teaching staff at the Hollywood School for Girls
Edith Head was a teacher of French and Art at the school before she went to work at Paramount