A new sign in Hollywood recognizes the former Garden Court Apartments, once home to Rudolph Valentino and John Barrymore. (photo by Edwin Folven)

While visitors along the Hollywood Walk of Fame look down to see the stars on the sidewalk, the Hollywood Historic Trust is giving them a new reason to look up.

On Aug. 15, representatives of the Trust, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, 13th District, gathered near Hollywood Boulevard and Sycamore Avenue to unveil a collection of 47 new historic markers located on street poles. The signs feature stories and photographs that bring Hollywood history to life, replacing older markers installed 25 years ago.

“The Hollywood Historic Trust has been delighted to participate in this project to preserve Hollywood’s history and to help educate the public about the significance of the many historic structures throughout Hollywood,” Historic Trust chair Leron Gubler said.

“When we think about Hollywood, we think about the history of the city. We think about what makes this place special,” Soto-Martinez added. “This marks a significant step in maintaining the rich cultural history and heritage of our community. By upgrading these markers, we not only honor Hollywood’s past, but we’re also allowing future generations to appreciate and learn from the stories embedded in these iconic streets.”

Gubler, who has been with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood Historic Trust for decades, worked on the original sign project 25 years ago. He said the markers became weathered over the years and needed an update.

The new project occurred over the past two-and-a-half years, leading up to the unveiling ceremony on Aug. 15. The Hollywood Historic Trust, a nonprofit that raises money for improvements in the entertainment district, paid the $300,000 cost of the project. The colorful new markers were designed by Terry Graboski, of Beck & Graboski Design Office, and fabricated and installed by Ampersand Contract Signing Group – the companies that designed and installed the original historic markers in 1999.

The unveiling was held in front of a marker at 7021 Hollywood Blvd., the former site of the Garden Court Apartments. The Beaux Arts-style building was home to legendary Hollywood studio executives Louis B. Meyer and Mack Sennett, as well as stars Lillian Gish, Mae Murray, Rudolph Valentino and John Barrymore.

Other markers celebrate the birth of the Hot Fudge Sundae at C.C. Brown’s, a former Hollywood landmark at 7007 Hollywood Blvd., and the Hollywood First National Bank, which was the tallest office building in Los Angeles when it opened in 1927 at 6777 Hollywood Blvd. Historic restaurants no longer in business received markers such as the Pig ‘n Whistle at 6714 Hollywood Blvd., and the Brown Derby at 1628 Vine St. Markers were also installed at sites still open including the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Musso and Frank Grill, Hotel Knickerbocker, Capitol Records Building and the Chinese, El Capitan and Egyptian theatres.

Historian and Hollywood Heritage past chair Marc Wanamaker, who provided many of the photographs included on the historical markers, said the signs are an important part of the Walk of Fame, informing people about Hollywood’s formative golden era.

“We are all here because we want to preserve Hollywood, we want younger people to know more about Hollywood and its history,” Wanamaker said. “Yes, they look down all the time [at the stars], but they should know what was here, for example, on the site of the Garden Court Apartments, an extremely important place that famous Hollywood people used to live. And, of course, they made films on the boulevard. It’s quite important show the public, and the world, because the world comes here to know what the real history of Hollywood is.”

Gubler said recreating the signs was a labor of love and he is excited to share them with visitors. The signs can be seen along Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Gower Street, and on Vine Street between Sunset Boulevard and Yucca Street.

“The Hollywood Historic Trust has been delighted to participate in this project to preserve Hollywood’s history and to help educate the public about the significance of the many historic structures throughout Hollywood,” Gubler added. “The beautiful new, updated signs [are] a credit to the community.”

Hollywood Historic Trust chair Leron Gubler discussed the importance of the historic markers, flanked by L.A. City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, center, and Hollywood historian Marc Wanamaker. (photo by Edwin Folven)