Garden of Allah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Alternate meaning: Garden of Allah (cabaret)
- Alternate meaning: Garden of Allah (film)
The Garden of Allah was a famous apartment complex in West Hollywood, California, on Sunset Boulevard between Crescent Heights and Havenhurst, at the east end of the Sunset Strip.
Although built in a Spanish-Moorish style of architecture, its name did not stem from Islam but from stage and screen actress Alla Nazimova, the original owner. She had built her private home there, and at the end of her film career built the complex around it. She went bankrupt, however, and sold the property, but continued to live in one of the villas on the grounds.
The Garden of Allah became home to many celebrities and literary figures. F. Scott Fitzgerald lived there for several months in 1937-38 at the beginning of his final sojourn in Hollywood. (He wrote himself a postcard while there: "Dear Scott -- How are you? Have been meaning to come in and see you. I have living [sic] at the Garden of Allah. Yours, Scott Fitzgerald.") Humorist/actor Robert Benchley was a frequent resident.
In spite of the fact that it was among the landmark buildings of the west side of Los Angeles, it was torn down in June 1959 and replaced by a bank.
[edit] Source of the name
In 1905, R. S. Hichens of England published Garden of Allah. The publication was adapted into a play performed in New York in 1909. The name of the apartment complex probably stemmed from the name of the play. Mary Mannering acted in the play in 1910.
