International Savings & Exchange Bank Building
Encyclopedia
The International Savings & Exchange Bank Building (also known as the International Savings Building), was built in the Spring Street Financial District
of Los Angeles in 1907. Standing ten floors, it was designed in the Renaissance Revival and Italianate
styles by architect H. Alban Reaves (some sources spell Reeves), who had previously designed several structures in New York, including what is now the south building of the historic Schuyler Arms.
It stood at 226 North Spring Street, the intersection of Temple and Spring, (sometimes referred to as Temple Square) across from the Main Post Office and was featured in several postcards from the 1920s. Occupying the ground floor was the International Savings & Exchange Bank, “an institution much in favor among foreign born and descended residents,” which had been incorporated four years earlier in 1903.
In 1928, the building was dwarfed by the new 30-story Los Angeles City Hall
, and soon after calls for its demolition increased, resulting in its razing sometime after 1954. The portion of Spring Street in which its front entrance faced no longer exists.
film, Safety Last!
, wherein Lloyd’s character climbs and performs several stunts on its exterior, including famously hanging from a clock face (a prop that was added for the film).
The ten-floor International Savings Building is presented in the film as ‘the 12-story Bolton Building’ and is the setting for the story’s “DeVore Department Store” (The interior store scenes at ground level were not filmed at the International Savings Bank Building but at Ville de Paris, a department store at 712 South Olive at 7th Street).
For several years it has been incorrectly reported that the building shown in both the film and photo stills for these daredevil scenes was the 12-story Beaux Arts-styled Brockman building, designed by St. Louis architects Barnett, Haynes & Barnett
in 1911
(some sources say 1921) and still standing today at 530 West Seventh Street at Grand Avenue. Although the two buildings look nothing alike, this erroneous understanding has appeared in numerous sources, including The Los Angeles Times, Daily Variety, Los Angeles Business Journal, and countless real estate websites.
The International Savings Building was used for all of the long shots showing Lloyd’s character scaling its exterior. Medium and close shots were executed using a full-scale replica of two floors of the International Savings Building’s façade, placed on a platform on the rooftop of several other buildings as the climb progresses on film – making it appear that Lloyd’s character was hanging up to 12 stories over the sidewalk. (A similar method was used for 1921’s Terror Trail
, wherein a building façade was reconstructed over the Hill Street Tunnel to give an illusion of grand height on film - while actually being only a story and a half above a solid surface.)
Only the roof of the Brockman Building was used for Safety Last!, but the Brockman itself is not seen in the movie.
The International Savings Building is seen clearly in a large photograph (showing a stuntman climbing it for Safety Last!) on page 140 of the book, Hollywood – The Pioneers by Kevin Brownlow (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979).
Spring Street Financial District
The Spring Street Financial District, sometimes referred to as the Wall Street of the West, is a historic district in Downtown Los Angeles. The historic district includes 23 financial structures, including the city's first skyscraper, and three hotels all located along a stretch of South Spring...
of Los Angeles in 1907. Standing ten floors, it was designed in the Renaissance Revival and Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
styles by architect H. Alban Reaves (some sources spell Reeves), who had previously designed several structures in New York, including what is now the south building of the historic Schuyler Arms.
It stood at 226 North Spring Street, the intersection of Temple and Spring, (sometimes referred to as Temple Square) across from the Main Post Office and was featured in several postcards from the 1920s. Occupying the ground floor was the International Savings & Exchange Bank, “an institution much in favor among foreign born and descended residents,” which had been incorporated four years earlier in 1903.
Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall, completed 1928, is the center of the government of the city of Los Angeles, California, and houses the mayor's office and the meeting chambers and offices of the Los Angeles City Council...
, and soon after calls for its demolition increased, resulting in its razing sometime after 1954. The portion of Spring Street in which its front entrance faced no longer exists.
Role in Safety Last!
It was this building that was featured in the 1923 Harold LloydHarold Lloyd
Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies....
film, Safety Last!
Safety Last!
Safety Last! is a 1923 romantic comedy silent film starring Harold Lloyd. It includes one of the most famous images from the silent film era: Lloyd clutching the hands of a large clock as he dangles from the outside of a skyscraper above moving traffic. The film was highly successful and critically...
, wherein Lloyd’s character climbs and performs several stunts on its exterior, including famously hanging from a clock face (a prop that was added for the film).
The ten-floor International Savings Building is presented in the film as ‘the 12-story Bolton Building’ and is the setting for the story’s “DeVore Department Store” (The interior store scenes at ground level were not filmed at the International Savings Bank Building but at Ville de Paris, a department store at 712 South Olive at 7th Street).
For several years it has been incorrectly reported that the building shown in both the film and photo stills for these daredevil scenes was the 12-story Beaux Arts-styled Brockman building, designed by St. Louis architects Barnett, Haynes & Barnett
Barnett, Haynes & Barnett
Barnett, Haynes & Barnett was a prominent architectural firm based in St. Louis, Missouri. Their credits include many familiar St. Louis landmarks, especially a number related to the local Catholic church. Their best-known building is probably the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis . A number of...
in 1911
(some sources say 1921) and still standing today at 530 West Seventh Street at Grand Avenue. Although the two buildings look nothing alike, this erroneous understanding has appeared in numerous sources, including The Los Angeles Times, Daily Variety, Los Angeles Business Journal, and countless real estate websites.
The International Savings Building was used for all of the long shots showing Lloyd’s character scaling its exterior. Medium and close shots were executed using a full-scale replica of two floors of the International Savings Building’s façade, placed on a platform on the rooftop of several other buildings as the climb progresses on film – making it appear that Lloyd’s character was hanging up to 12 stories over the sidewalk. (A similar method was used for 1921’s Terror Trail
Terror Trail
Terror Trail is a 1921 Western film serial directed by Edward A. Kull. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Eileen Sedgwick - Vera Vernon / Elaine Emerson* George Larkin - Bruce Barnes* Theodore Brown - Bertram Russell...
, wherein a building façade was reconstructed over the Hill Street Tunnel to give an illusion of grand height on film - while actually being only a story and a half above a solid surface.)
Only the roof of the Brockman Building was used for Safety Last!, but the Brockman itself is not seen in the movie.
The International Savings Building is seen clearly in a large photograph (showing a stuntman climbing it for Safety Last!) on page 140 of the book, Hollywood – The Pioneers by Kevin Brownlow (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979).
See also
- Continental BuildingContinental BuildingThe Continental Building is a 151 ft , 13-storey high-rise residential building at 408 South Spring Street in the Historic Core of Los Angeles, California. When completed in 1903, it was the city's first high-rise building, and remained the tallest for three years...
, Los Angeles' first high-rise building, built in 1903 and using the same architectural styles - Los Angeles City HallLos Angeles City HallLos Angeles City Hall, completed 1928, is the center of the government of the city of Los Angeles, California, and houses the mayor's office and the meeting chambers and offices of the Los Angeles City Council...