In the beginning, Hollywood was considered a little more than a one horse town with dirt roads. When the movie industry relocated from New York to Los Angeles people were also relocating to try their luck in movie pictures. With this influx of people moving into town there was a serious shortage of places to stay. No one wanted to rent rooms or apartments to anyone that was in the acting profession. In 1917, Jesse Lasky, Sam Goldwyn and Architects Tifal Brothers built a 54 unit apartment complex for the acting community. The apartment complex featured many modern conveniences of the times such as elevators, a garbage incinerator, a basement and a Speak-easy. Hillview Apartments was home to famous silent films stars of the day such as Mae Busch, Jack LaRue, Barbara LaMarr, Mary Astor, Clara Bow Joan Blondell and others. History says at the side of the apartment complex at 1725 North Hudson Ave was a 1500 square foot private speakeasy that was ran by Rudolph Valentino for about a year. Other stories were silent film star Mabel Normand caught her husband, director Mack Sennett, in a compromising situation with actress Mae Busch.
On a personal note extensive research shows that the story of Valentino running a personal speakeasy could be more fact than fiction. But it does make for an interesting story.
All About Rudolph Valentino 