Memories of the old Century City Mall

The old Century City Mall when it first opened in 1965

"Honey, Century City's got everything covered." 

That's what Tom Petty sang, and I thought so too. 

The old Century City mall entrance from Santa Monica Blvd

I practically lived at the Century City mall growing up and spent countless weekends and weeknights wandering the mall. While my mom shopped for hip fashions at "Joseph Magnin" and "Field's," I was trying on back-to-school clothes at "Judy's" and "Contempo Casuals". The hours I must have spent in those dressing rooms! 

Joseph Magnin had beautiful clothes. My mother bought knit pantsuits and sweaters that matched in so many amazing colors with scarves to match. Even their gift boxes were collectible.                                                               Joseph Magnin

Photo: Michael Boehm

Snapshot: Vintage Los Angeles 

A Vintage Kodak  snapshot of 'Judy's'  in 1971.  'Judy's' supplied wardrobe to Suzanne Pleshette during her years on 'Newhart' and the 'Mary Tyler Moore Show'. I've always loved that illustration of the girl in the groovy striped shirt.

The original mall had unique shops that no other mall had across America. Let's start with "Heaven": The best novelty store ever. I even witnessed the Bangles in full bangles regalia purchasing T-shirt’s there in 1984. Around the corner there was a store called the "Bijou". It sold movie paraphernalia, Paper Moon Graphics and lobby cards. The even had a giant screen with satin pillows on the floor and showed everything from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" to "Xanadu". I'm pretty sure this was where my obsession for movie memorabilia came from. 

There was "Nickelodeon Records" that also had a giant screen that aired MTV all day. I was there the first time "Thriller" debuted and by the end of the video, more than half the mall was cramped inside the store. Watching that was an event. 

As a child of the 70s,  I went to "Tog Toggery" toy store. I specifically remember playing in a giant life size tree. It was over by the the stuffed animals. I don't think I ever left that store without adding a new one to my collection. 

         A sequence from the Mary Tyler Moore filmed at Century City in 1970

I’m so grateful I grew up at the old Century City Mall with creative shops, imaginative arts and crafts, and unique retail. And they had THE BEST art shows on Sunday afternoons.  My mom purchased these two little hippie girl portraits in 1970 - the year I was born. 

The bottom hippie artwork was actually done by actress, Jennifer Grey's mother who was a vendor at Century City during the 1970s.  

There was also the Hallmark Store, the jelly belly cart and the singing flower man who serenaded shoppers for many years performing songs from his retail flower cart in front of "Joseph Magnin". I finally gave in one day and purchased his self published LP. I'm so glad I did. 

And before "Bloomingdale's" and "Macy's" department stores, we had "The Broadway"& "Bullock’s". I got my ears pierced at the Broadway and my first credit card  was from Bullock's. My dad thought the Century City Mall was actually called "The Broadway" because you could see it’s huge signage from Santa Monica Blvd. 

I vividly remember my mom buying me my first Swatch at Bullock's. What a memory!

The original "Bullock's Department Store opened on Sept, 9, 1976

All of these stores, boutiques, and department stores had individuality, contemporary space age design, and unique merchandise and I knew every crack in the pavement and every inch of the mall. 

Above is a mind blowing presentation of Century City shortly after it opened. Some of this footage was filmed even earlier since it takes us through the entire duration of architect, Welton Becket’s vision of Century City after most of the old FOX lot was demolished to make way for the “future”. The Century Plaza, the Twin Towers, The ABC Entertainment Center, and of course the Century City mall. Please note how space age these sequences are. And the use of early ‘70’s SYNTH makes this trippy documentary even more memorable!

Century City during the 1980's. You can see the Nickelodeon record store above. "Heaven" was around the corner to the right. Photos: Vintage Los Angeles Archives

We always entered the mall from escalator 4. 

1980s, Photo by Larry Ziff.

As far as I can remember behind where the camera is in this pic above, there was a large open plaza new stand just to the left. They would set up a temporary stage for small events on weekends. I once saw John Denver wearing a canary yellow sport coat pass the stage. Another time I saw Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley trying on earrings at "Contempo Casuals". I kept there store bags because they reminded me of Patrick Nagel. 

The south stairs by Bullock’s - circa 1984. This image brings back a flood of memories. Even sensory ones. I can’t tell you how many times I walked up these stairs with my mother. 

Contempo Casuals was on this side of the mall.  It’s where I got all my back to school clothes. 

On the other side of Bullock's there was a small greeting card store that sold the funniest cards. You couldn't get them anywhere else. Now let's get to the eateries. 

We ate at the Century House quite a bit. You could practically walk directly onto that mid century roof that swooped down to the ground. 

And not too many know there was actually a "Clifton’s Cafeteria" and a "Bob's Big Boy" in the mall too. 

I used to roller skate down the ramp from the second floor that led to "Gelson's" market which originally opened up as a "Mayfair" market. 

The market was extremely space-age back in the day. I can't tell you how many times I got lost in this market scaring the heck out of my mom. 

Yamato Restaurant 

I adored "Yamato's". I went there with my parents so many times over the years. We usually sat in the main dining room with Benihana -like tables. I remember their private traditional Japanese rooms where you sat on the floor. One of the rooms had a pit under the table so you could let you legs dangle. Good Times!

1986

And don’t even get me started on the ABC ENTERTAINMENT CENTER around the corner that was also senselessly demolished. The new CAA building replaced the ABC Entertainment Center which had contained the Playboy Club, the Schubert Theatre, The Plitt cinema, and the sites of various surrounding restaurants including Harry's Bar, The Plaza Four, The Century Club,  Hamburger Hamlet, Yamato, and Senor Pico. 

The entrance / valet to the ABC Entertainment Center 

                      Shubert Theatre and Plitt box office on the left

                                        The Playboy Club below the Plitt Theatre

              Filmex was held at the ABC Entertainment Center from 1974 - 1981

Mayor Tom Bradly greeting movie goers during Filmex

Mayor Tom Bradly greeting movie goers at the Plitt during Filmex

Olivia Newton John filmed her video for TOTALLY HOT at ABC Entertainment Center in Century City

A flyer I kept from 1984 when Madonna  and Rosanna Arquette showed up to a public screening of "Desperately Seeking Susan"

News footage from Entertainment Tonight, 1985

The rocking chairs at the Plitt Theatre

Harry's Bar Menu cover

Matchbook from Jade West

The Shubert Theater located at the old ABC ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. 

It closed on July 27, 2003 and was demolished the following year to build the new CAA offices. I've never gotten over it. 

The Playboy Club below the Plitt Theatre

THE CENTURY PLAZA

POSTCARD READS: The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel is a landmark 19-story luxury hotel forming a sweeping crescent design fronting the spectacular fountains on Avenue of the Stars, adjacent to the twin Century Plaza Towers and the Century City Mall.
Architect: Minoru Yamasaki

The Century Plaza. Thankfully the hotel is landmarked

Parking lot across the street from the Century Plaza in 1968. This lot eventually became the ABC Entertainment Center. (Now demolished) 

My father performed at the Century Plaza in 1969 

“I can see for miles and miles and miles....

Keith Moon

 (drummer of 

The Who

) and Century Plaza in Century City. 1970s

Above is an office from theABC Entertainment Center looking west to the Century Plaza Hotel. The original ultra modern design of Century City had the most rewarding and expansive outdoor long views ever built in Los Angeles. This was a production office in Century City Towers for SelecTV in the 1980s.

Photo: Kent Adamson

View from the Century Plaza Hotel looking across Ave. of the Stars towards the ABC Entertainment Center and Shubert Theater when Evita played the 2,100 seat venue in 1980. Opened in 1972, both were demolished in 2002 for office buildings. Photo: Richard Wojcik

Below is a series of photos taken at the old Century City mall. These magical moments all took place directly outside Judy’s and Joseph Magnin

The Nimoy’s taking a stroll in 1969 

Tom Snyder hosting a 1970 KNBC Sunday afternoon special

                                               The famous Jelly Belly cart 

Gary Owens onstage with contestants for the ‘Most Beautiful Ape’ contest during promotion for “Conquest for the Planet of the Apes” in June 14, 1972

Joe Richards, also known as “The Singing Flower Man”.  UCLA Archives

_________________________________________________________________________________

Shops

Joseph Magnin

Field's

The Fashion Lady

I could have sworn this was my own grandmother at Century City in 1970. "Fields" is in the distance

"Judy's' employees wearing "Judy's" clothing in front of the store. 

Photo courtesy of Shaune Steele who later went on to marry radio legend, "The Read Don Steele"

Still to this day I still have a white plastic Judy's clothing hanger and bag that I've kept since the 80s. 

Mall directory in front of the Broadway.  The flower power mural for Joseph Magnin in the distance.

Joseph Magnin in the 1980s. I used to love their gift boxes. 

Photo: Larry Ziff

The 44-story Theme Towers were designed by Minoru Yamasaki and completed in 1975, four years after the World Trade Center was finished. Yamasaki also designed the Century Plaza Hotel. 

The outdoor Gelson's parking lot. The Century Towers seems so tall back then. I remember the Venturi effect between those buildings sped any breeze up to speeds that could turn your jacket into a sail. 

Also the offices in Remington Steele. 

View from Santa Monica of the Century House and the Broadway

Map of stores, late 60s

Joseph Magnin, 1967

The stores in the top crease are Bejeweled, Gaierie Michael and Party Cove--bottom crease is Lindberg Nutrition and Windsor Fashions

During the 80s and 90s, if we weren't seeing movies in Westwood, we would be at the Plitt Theatre or the AMC Century City Theatres following a browse though Brentanos  Bookstore.  One time we saw Gene Kelly standing by the best sellers section.  

Bags from the "Broadway", "Bullock's" and "Judy's" 

Ad for "Nickelodeon" 

Business card for the "Bijou"

A rare postcard featuring "Heaven"

Century City, 1984

________________________________________________________

A groovy spread for LIFE MAGAZINE of popular actresses in the spring of 1968. Love seeing those old fountains across the way from the old ABC entertainment center too. 

Sharon Tate

Sharon Tate, who was in Valley Of The Dolls, and is married to Polish director, Roman Polanski, wears a chiffon blouse and a petal tiered skirt designed for the Garment Works by Barbra Dulian. ($70 Dollars)

Peggy Lipton

Sheltered by a steel sculpture in the Century City Mall exhibit, Peggy Lipton who will play a cop next fall on a new TV show called, “The Mod Squad” wears a dress of Indian cotton trimmed with mirror embroidery from “Chequer West , $35 dollars

Gayle Hunnicutt who modeled before she began acting, shows off a hand painted batik dress as decorative as the mosaic wall behind her. It was designed for the Rose Revived by Laura Labby ($459). Gayle in front of the mosaic ties at Joseph Magnin 

Christine Ferrare 

“Brighting the doorway of an office building known as Gateway West, Christine Ferrare, soon to appear in her first movie, wears a high-waisted dress of Sari fabric 

($85 dollars) from “The Candy Happening”.

Jacqueline Bisset 

"A gay pattern is displayed by 

Jacqueline Bisset

, who replaced Mia Farrow in The Detective. The Bandanna-print blouse and skirt ($28) were designed by Arlen Frantsvaag for the Pleasure Dome”

Leigh Taylor Young

Curled into a piece of sculpture, Leigh Taylor-Young, who appeared in Peyton Place wears a floral printed and tent shaped dress called an Aba. This from “Chequer West’. 

(Costs $75 dollars)

Goldie Hawn 

Goldie Hawn, the giggly girl of Laugh-In, wears a backs jump suit of Jersey (35) from “Skitzo - My Generation” as she leans on a sign identifying one of the major thoroughfares of Century City”.

Dhonyale Luna

Sitting by the fountains on Ave Of The Stars, tall (six feet) Dhonyale Luna wears an exotic pants suit ($35) gtom Bootstrings by L’Tonya. A hit in Paris last year, she has just made her first American movie for Otto Preminger.

You can see footage of the old mall in a few TV shows and films mentioned below

This is from "The Bank Raising" episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies," 

Screen grabs of the Century House in"The Guide for the Married Man" staring Walter Matthau and Robert Morse

      "The Guide for the Married Man" was directed by Gene Kelly in 1967

The original entrance 

 "Caprice" staring Doris Day released in 1967 filmed at Century City

"Conquest For the Planet Of The Apes" filmed at Century City. Most likely because of it's futuristic brutalist design. 

Mary Tyler Moore filmed at the Century City Mall for episode titled, “Bess, You Is My Daughter Now”. 

Rockford Files episode 

An episode of "Dallas"

Episode of "Hardcastle and McCormick"

Architecture, Design & Additional History

The land was originally owned by Twentieth Century Fox, and was sold off to help the studio pay off debt. 

Santa Monica Blvd, just west of Beverly Glen in 1932. Notice the FOX sign below (that's the Century City Mall today). This is when Fox Studios still reached Santa Monica Blvd from Pico Blvd. They eventually sold off the north side of the lot when the film, "CLEOPATRA" was a disastrous flop and nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. That's when the future of Century City, pioneered by architect, Welton Becket was born in 1964

The Fox back lot’s harbor set before it was demolished to become Century City

Few people know this but the back lot was once part of a 176-acre ranch owned by Tom Mix before the cowboy superstar sold it to William Fox. The plans for Century City began soon after the release of "Cleopatra". According to this Variety article, "Cleopatra took years to earn a profit and because of its enormous costs, the lavish production forced massive layoffs and ended many planned productions. Also, the growing popularity of TV forced a rethink of studio finances". In 1961, needing cash very badly, 20th Century-Fox sold it's 260 acre backlot to New York developer William Zeckendorf, who developed the land into Century City, leaving only the front lot and sound stages to carry on the motion picture business. Zeckendorf described his new property as "an oasis in the midst of a great city". 

Century City's masterplan centered on Ave Of the Stars. Keeping with the space age era, this blvd was a complete city within a city by architect Welton Becket. It had all the facilities for business, living, and leisure. Century Square opened on October 12, 1964. 

The Welton Becket Association discusses plans for building Century City on the former Fox Studios back lot in 1960.  

Welton Becket put together this early $35,000 model of his Century City, "producing a mix of office towers, hotel rooms, skyscrapers, apartments and elevated public plazas".  Highlights included an Arabian Nights-themed hotel with gondolas and a wide street called Avenue of the Stars "studded with statues of such indigenous Fox lot mainstays as Will Rogers and Shirley Temple." It's interesting that he stayed with the 'stars' theme developing Century City, although it wasn't based on Hollywood. The refocused theme was focused on outers space with names like Constellation Blvd, Galaxy Way, and of course Ave of the Stars.

Check out this remarkable piece of film footage on the Making of Century City...

Here's the girder rail that was used for the new railroad crossing. Photo by Roy Platt

Actress Barbara Bouchet (Moneypenny in the original Casino Royale) at the newly opened Avenue of the Stars located in Century City in 1964.

Century city 1965

Century City, 1967

Welton Becket and associates office, Century City, 1960 

Became the Rogers & Cowan building in the 70s and 80's 

former headquarters building of architect Welton Becket and Associates located at 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City. Designed by Welton Beckett and completed in 1960, the four-story building featured a rooftop pavilion, a reflecting pool with fountains, and an incredible 734 foot mosaic band course by artist John Smith that wrapped around all four sides of the building

Lobby of the Welton Becket offices in Century City in 1965

The original entrance to Century City, circa 1967

Sharon Tate, 1968

Ave of the Stars, 1968  There was a gentle quiet in L.A. at one time

Another fantastic photo from Richard Wojcik’s incredible collection of slides! I believe this location is looking cover Constellation Blvd to Century City Square from The Century Plaza Hotel. You can see a gift store near the pond were you could purchase all kinds of causal clothing, novelties and toys. Bob’s Big Boy would have been directly across the street in the orange section next to Hallmark Shop (where the blue sign says, Pavilion Shops). Gelson’s Market is to the far left and that huge beige building is probably The Broadway at the top of the Century City Mall  - PHOTO / 1968

1976 (from "Above Los Angeles" by Robert Cameron, 1976) Century City has replaced the oil wells in the previous photo, and West Olympic Blvd has divided off the former backlot and main studio sites.

Aerial of the CC, circa 1981

Photo taken from 20th Century Fox lot in 1983  Construction in the background  

The Gateway West Building, located at 1801 Avenue of the Stars in Century City, was built before all of it in 1963. It was built in the International Style and stood thirteen stories high, clad with a gold aluminum curtain facade. Gateway West was the first high-rise to be built in Century City and stood directly across from its twin, the Gateway East Building, which was erected soon after. The two buildings flanked the entrance to the Avenue of the Stars, serving as landmarks to Century City's main thoroughfare. These buildings were part of the privately funded $500 million Century City development project built on what was formerly part of the 20th Century Fox Studio lot. Gateway West has since been demolished to make room for an expansion of the Westfield. (Welton Becket is rolling in his grave)

Postcard 

Train tracks used to run though Santa Monica and traveled past Century City. The tracks hung around even after the trains shut down. This is exactly how I remember it during the 1970s and 1980s

Billboards lined up on Santa Monica Blvd in front of the old Century City entrance in 1969. Check out those advertisements for KMET and Home Savings of America. And how about those train tracks?

Dennis Hopper on the train tracks in front of Century City

"Dive" restaurant, was owned by Steven Spielberg, and was in the shape of a yellow submarine. It was located by the AMC theaters and old food court. In 1999, "Dive" closed abruptly. 

Tragically, it looked as though the real planet of the apes really did conquer Century City. Most if the Century City mall was leveled to build a new one in 2015.  New additions and renovations can erode the character of any place, but tearing it down to the ground is like taking away a piece of our childhood.  

The western Gateway office building that was torn down to make way for Eataly/Macy's, 1801 Ave of the Stars, was the place where Groucho Marx had his last office.

Visiting the new Westfield mall only made me miss the original Century City Mall so much more.  Sadly, there isn't a single trace of the previous mall except the mid century bridge that crosses Ave Of The Stars and "Gelson’s". Today every mall across America looks the same - with the SAME stores. I also miss the original mid century architecture, the 3 hour free parking, and the MUZAK delicately playing throughout the mall. Today you need headphones and a Xanax to walk through the new one. And free parking is a thing of the past. Today there’s not even a human in the ticket booth to smile at you when you leave. Just insert your ticket and your money. 

Today it's the Westfield Mall. 

Yesterday, I drove into, and immediately out of, the parking lot there trying to find a parking spot near Gelson's. Plus the new mall is so confusing and noisy and plays the worst music piping through. I leave feeling nervous, disorientated, and ill from the entire 10 minute experience. I don't think I ever need to go there again. 

At least the bridge is still there....

Standing on the original bridge used in "Conquest Of The Planet of the Apes". I must say, I'm quite relieved that much of this area east of the original mall was left intact. This bridge especially and sloped area now covered in grass where Roddy McDowall as Cesar stood with pride in 1972 and delivered that stirring speech to his fellow apes.  

Alison Martino is a writer, on-air contributor for Spectrum News, and pop culture historian. She founded the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles in 2010 and muses on L.A’s. past and present on Twitter and Instagram.