This 1-story auto showroom on the north side of Hollywood Boulevard was built on the Del Mar tract for Elliot M. House and R. A. Meyer, Cole distributors for Southern California and Arizona.

Based in Indianapolis, the Cole Motor Car Company was founded by Joseph J. Cole in 1909. Its 8-cylinder engine, the Cole Eight was introduced in 1915. House and Meyer, as Davidson, House and Meyer, had become Cole distributors in August 1919 and had a new dealership at 1225 S. Grand Avenue. F. E. Wight of the Wright Service Company, became Hollywood’s Cole-Eight dealer in October 1919, located across the street at 6150. House & Meyer, sans Davidson, expanded the Cole franchise to Hollywood in May 1920 and their Hollywood branch showroom opened at 6145 Hollywood Boulevard in June 1920. The new building was along the same lines as the one on Grand Avenue.

House and Meyer’s time in Hollywood was short, however. In August, J. R. Allread took over the Cole franchise at 6145.

In May 1921 it became the Chandler dealership of W. P. Herbert Company, distributor for So Cal. Chandler was based in Cleveland.

In August 1923, the Hollywood branch was turned over to associate dealer H. F. Haldeman. Chester Bennett Motors took it over in November 1924.

 

In December 1926, H. F. Haldeman returned to 6145, now a Nash dealer. Nash, based in Kenosha Wisconsin at this time, had been founded in 1916 by ex-General Motors president Charles W. Nash.

Haldeman remained here through March 1927. In May 1927, it became the Hollywood branch of the White Auto Company. Headed by O.R. Fuller, the White Auto Company had been So Cal’s distributor of the Auburn automobile since 1924.

The Auburn Automobile Company of Auburn, Indiana was organized in September 1903 by brothers Charles, Frank and Morris Eckhart. The Eckhart family sold the company to Chicago investors in 1919. The company’s prestige and market share grew under the leadership of Errett Lobban (“E. L.”) Cord, who was elected vice-president and general manager of the Auburn Automobile Company in October 1924, and became president in February 1926. Born in Missouri in 1894, E. L. Cord grew up in Los Angeles and in 1933 would build an expansive estate in Beverly Hills he called “Cordhaven.” In October 1926, Cord purchased the Duesenberg Company, known for its racing cars, and employed its founders, brothers August and Frederick Duesenberg, to design passenger autos. In 1929 he created the Cord Corporation, a holding company, and that summer introduced the front wheel drive Cord L-29 automobile.

The White Auto Co. was renamed the Auburn-Fuller Company in October 1928 to more fully associate itself with the product.

In January 1932 Auburn-Fuller’s Hollywood Auburn Cord dealership and Richard F. Carlson Motor Company’s Hudson Essex dealership swapped spaces. Auburn moved to 6250 Hollywood Boulevard at the southeast corner of Argyle- previously home of Carlson Hudson, while Carlson moved into Auburn’s vacated space at 6145.

Next it was Oldsmobile’s turn at 6145, handled by Harry Carver Inc., in February 1934. In May 1934, C. E. Kemper, Inc. took over the Oldsmobile franchise for Hollywood.

 

Kemper continued selling new Oldsmobiles here through June 1941. Thereafter, Kemper offered used cars at this location, as well as maintaining his service department, through early August 1943. That month, it became Butler Motor Co. used cars and repairs. By now, the US had entered WWII and with domestic auto production suspended for the duration, used cars were all that was left. Maintaining your existing vehicle was critical.

After the war, Butler Motor Co. became a Kaiser / Frazer dealership. Between June 28-30, industrialist Henry Kaiser and partner Joe Frazier exhibited the 1947 Kaiser Special and the 1947 Frazer at the downtown dealership of Kaiser / Frazer distributor, “Mad Man” Muntz Car Co., located at 11th and Figueroa. Kaiser, who was engaged in shipbuilding during the war, was also building affordable housing in the Los Angeles area with Fritz Burns as Kaiser-Burns Homes.

C.R. Peterson replaces Butler as Hollywood’s Kaiser / Frazer dealer in July 1947. In February 1948, Peterson sold his franchise to Ray  L. Peterson (no relation) and Tom Maggard. who as Peterson & Maggard, continued selling Kaiser / Frazer automobiles through August 1949. In September 1949, their equipment and supplies were sold at auction.

6145 Hollywood Boulevard became Joe Newell, the self-proclaimed “King of the Near Nu Cadillacs.”

Joe remained here into early April 1952. In late April 1952, Mel Alsbury, the Chrysler – Plymouth dealer at 6119 Hollywood Boulevard, took over this location as well as its neighbor to the east at 6125, a 1-story auto garage of the same approximate vintage. This spot generally housed his used car department.

The building was demolished in 1972.