“The Castle of Our Dreams”
Or so how it was referred to by one of the creators, James Oviatt.
The most famous rooftop penthouse in Los Angeles and one of its first, The Oviatt was the brainchild and longtime home of James Oviatt (1888-1974), co-founder of the West Coast’s most prestigious haberdashery, “Alexander & Oviatt” / “Oviatt’s”.
Sitting atop the legendary Oviatt Building and designed by interior architect Joseph L. Feil, the 1928 penthouse was L.A.'s first Art Deco residence. The custom-made furniture by Saddier et Fils, etched-glass windows by Gaetan Jeannin, and ceiling lights by Lalique were imported directly from Paris boasting the finest luxurious experience.
In 1975, a year after James Oviatt’s passing, his widow, Mary, sold the building which eventually fell in the hands of famed L.A. preservationist Wayne Radkovich. Wayne converted the penthouse –virtually, a Roaring ‘20s time capsule– into an event and location shoot venue. To this day, the Oviatt penthouse and rooftop amaze and delight visitors and guests hosting their own celebrations who are fortunate enough to wander through and enjoy its glamorous spaces. The same space where James Oviatt’s Hollywood friends and industry titans once partied and imbibed, thumbing their noses at Prohibition.
The Oviatt’s Resident Historian
Meet Marc Chevalier. Marc’s formal connection to the Oviatt Building and its penthouse dates back to 2008, when filmmaker Seth Shulman and he co-created a feature length documentary on the building’s history.
Years of in-depth research —including unprecedented interviews with Oviatt family members and past and present building owners and employees— have led Marc to become the location’s foremost historian.
As a board member of the nonprofit Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, he and the Society periodically give its members and supporters historical tours of the 1928 Oviatt penthouse. A portion of those tours’ admission fees go toward the penthouse’s restoration and conservation.
Find more information about Marc and The Oviatt tours by following him on Instagram, @alexanderoviatt