Complex Love: Gaytonia

For this week's Complex Love we bring you the Gaytonia another entry from Long Beach. If you've gone down to Long Beach's Belmont Shore for dinner at all, you have probably seen the giant neon Gaytonia sign at the west end of the street. Though at first glance seems to be an ode to our wonderfully diverse community, The name actually

Complex Love is a photographic celebration of Southern California's unique apartment architecture history. Live in or nearby an apartment complex of notable or unusual design? Please submit photos and information to gregory (at) apartmenttherapy (dot) com.

came from it's owner-contractor, George T. Gayton who built it in the Norman Revival Style in 1930 and retained ownership up until 1956. Although the Gaytonia was always an apartment building, it was originally managed like a hotel catering to the Naval officers in Long Beach. Maid and valet service was provided, and each apartment building was furnished, including the provision of linens and dishes. The Gaytonia was constructed at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars in 1930 which sounds like a steal now but we're sure it was one of the more elaborate and costly buildings of it's day.

We have personally been inside while considering renting a few years ago and can tell you it's amazing inside as well as out with all of the historical preservation. Original elevators are still in use and there is also a large communal patio on each floor that provide stunning views of the shore. If you're looking, they had a rental sign up for a single and a one bedroom when we stopped by this week to take photos.

Comments (8)

Magical ...

I thought this place looked familiar, and I was right -- it's featured in architect Arrol Gellner's fascinating and beautiful book, "Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties":

http://www.amazon.com/Storybook-Style-Arrol-Gellner/dp/0670893854/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/103-2931436-8939045

It's on the back cover and pp. 38-39 if you use Amazon's "search inside" tool.

Best,

Leah

Leah - thanks for posting the links. It's always a treat to look inside these marvels of imagination and craftmanship and wonder about what life was like for the people who lived there when they were new.

oceandreamer

Thanks Boomer - the link to the Kennedy School that you'd given me was great, too.

I guess one of the things that I really like about these old buildings is that (for the most part) they were well built, and with care will last for such a long time. I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Philadelphia a couple of years ago and (probably because I was born and raised in California) was awestruck at the age of the buildings there. (Can't imagine what I'd feel if I were ever to go to Europe!) Maybe I'm weird, but knowing I was sitting in the same place (the pews had been replaced, but same spot) that George Washington did when he attended church services - well, I don't know how to describe my feelings. I sat there and tried to imagine all the people who'd lived, walked the aisle of that church and those streets, conducted their lives and business when those buildings were new.. and in a city as old as that it was facinating to walk a block or two and see the differences in architecture as new ideas came into vogue.

Guess that's one reason I've never really cared for tract homes...

I know there are pockets of history on the west coast - my own hometown is a prime example:

http://www.inn-california.com/southcoast/venturaC/ventura4.html

The numbers above the door of the mission is the year it was founded - not the street numbers.

And the house my grandparents lived in when they first relocated there is on the Historic Registory. But for some reason, it seems so much more difficult to visualize the age and antiquity of this side of the country. Too much familiarity, perhaps?

Hey! My fiancÃ© and I just bought a condo RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from Gaytonia! I'm so excited that now I get to look at it all the time! Now I need to make friends with the neighbors so I can get inside and look around ;]

Mlasswell - take pictures! Share! Nosey people want to know!