Garden of Allah
Alternate meaning: Garden of Allah (cabaret)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.
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.
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History of the Garden of Allah with photos*
The Vanished Garden of Carnal Abandon
