Stars Participate in New SAG Office Dedication

It was a Hollywood extravaganza--starring Ed Asner, Charlton Heston, Dennis Weaver, Howard Keel, William Schallert, Dana Andrews and Leon Ames--when the Screen Actors Guild’s new headquarters, known as The Renaissance Court, was dedicated at 7065 Hollywood Blvd.

In the supporting cast were Mayor Tom Bradley, City Councilman Michael Woo, Community Redevelopment Agency Chairman James Wood, and Screen Actors Guild officials Dean Santoro, Ken Orsatti and Daryl Anderson.

Background music was supplied by the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, accompanied by actor Jackie Cooper on the drums and movie producer Paul Maslansky on the trombone.

All gathered earlier this month in front of the new headquarters, which was the Hollywood Congregational Church for 65 years.

‘No Place to Schmooze’

Built as the church in 1919, it was vacated in 1984, when the congregation moved to Agoura Hills. Developer Thomas L. Harnsberger and his partner Nicholas E. Olaerts bought the property, and during the past year, their firm, Tandem Realty Group, has been turning it into offices--with the help of architect William D. King, Berry Construction and structural engineer Mark Grigorian--for the Guild, which had outgrown its old building at 7750 Sunset Blvd.

As Asner told the dedication crowd, “There was no place to sit and schmooze, which actors always need to do.”

Asner and the six other “stars of the dedication” are past presidents of the Guild. Ames is president emeritus. Patty Duke, the current president, couldn’t attend, because she was filming on location in Philadelphia. However, she sent the message, “I hope the actors’ commitment (to move back to downtown Hollywood, where the Guild was born 53 years ago) will inspire others to join the movement toward revitalization.”

There was already possible evidence of that at the dedication. Since the Guild publicly signed the lease for the church property last June, the adjacent building to the west has been overhauled with a new, mirrored-glass exterior and a large sign reading: Stephen J. Cannell Productions (producer of such TV programs as “The Rockford Files,” “The A-Team,” “Hunter” and “Riptide.”)

Cagney Memory Honored

Reflecting on that building, the Guild’s Anderson observed that the glass sheathing is appropriate. With a chuckle, he reminded the audience that Weaver and Schallert “pointed out actors’ propensity for mirrors.”

Anderson also announced that the board room in the Guild’s new headquarters will be named the “James Cagney Room.” Cagney was one of the first major stars to join the Guild in 1933 and served as Guild officer for 17 years, including two terms as president during World War II.

Old Building in Escrow

That was before the Guild moved into its headquarters at 7750 Sunset Blvd. 30 years ago this month. The two-story, 16,000-square-foot structure with subterranean parking is in escrow, which is expected to close on July 31.

The Guild is selling the building to Petersen Publishing Co. for $2.2 million.

Among the famous who served the Guild there was Ronald Reagan, its president from 1947 to 1952 and then, after the Sunset headquarters was built, from 1959 to 1960.

“He was our longest-term SAG president,” Duke wrote in her “Greetings to the Actors of 2086,” which was included with other mementos in a time capsule that was installed by the Guild’s Keystone Kops, who also participated in the placement of a new cornerstone bearing the Guild’s name, at the dedication conclusion.

With the end of the dedication, construction workers went back to work on the interior, scheduled for completion in time for the Guild’s move next month. The dedication was held in conjunction with the weeklong Hollywood II celebration, marking a rebirth of Hollywood, and although the new headquarters isn’t complete, it looked complete enough for Marian Gibbons, a member of Hollywood II Committee, who commented, “It sure doesn’t look like a church anymore.”

Option to Buy

Schallert had a different observation. He told the crowd, “As many of you guessed, this is really just a set.”

Of course, when Joe Hooper & Associates, Space Planning and Interior Design, gets through with the $6-million, 30,000-square-foot project, it will be much more, as will the adjoining lot to the west.

“SAG has first option to lease or buy that property as well, because it is owned by the same developer, Tandem Realty Group,” Mark Locher, Guild public relations director, said. “It’s great because it gives us the opportunity to expand or to have related businesses next door. Options could be offices or retail, maybe a terrific restaurant.”

Tandem isn’t the only developer investing in Hollywood, which the dedication also celebrated.

Observing renewed development interest in the area, Asner told the audience, “We’re convinced that this historic district, where nearly 60% of our (60,000 members) live, will once again become a showplace.”

And Bradley told the actors, “We’re happy you have chosen to return to Hollywood Boulevard . . . and the glory days of Hollywood will return because of your determination and the determination of people like Mike Woo and myself.

“Hollywood will once again become the crown jewel of the city of Los Angeles.”

Sounds like something Heston might have said in a film produced by Cecil B. DeMille.