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| 4591 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029, USA (Los Angeles, California)
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Cahuenga Branch Library
This historic library is located in the East Hollywood community of Los Angeles, California and made an appearance in the 1984 horror classic, A Nightmare on Elm Street. The building was one of six such libraries built in Los Angeles with a grant provided by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who is credited with building over 2,500 such libraries worldwide. Of the initial six so-called "Carnegie libraries" in Los Angeles, only three survive. Clarence H. Russell was the main architect of the Cahuenga Branch Library, which was built for the total cost of $34,000.
Its doors were officially opened on December 4, 1916 at an event marked by a rather foreboding speech from then-City Librarian, Everett Perry. While extolling the virtues of the new city landmark, he explained the library's policy towards books they would put on the shelves in a passage that can now only be viewed as a straightforward support for censorship. He stated, "Do not be surprised if you do not find here the latest novel that you have heard discussed or seen advertised. There is much trash published nowadays in the form of novels and it is the policy of this library to exclude such materials from its collections, and to buy only what is wholesome. There are far more novels at the same time wholesome, entertaining and inspiring, than any of us can find time to read, and it is not necessary to turn to the coarse and sensational."
Although the surrounding area was still quite young and unpopulated, it quickly grew in subsequent years and the library became a popular stop. During World War I and World War II, the library even played an active role where volunteers rolled bandages during WWI and civil defense was housed during WWII. The circulation varied during the time period as citizens went off to war and nearby development caused the relocation of some of the area's residents.
Like many libraries, the Cahuenga Branch Library saw an increase in their circulation during the so-called "student explosion" of 1957. The sudden need for more education and advancements was precipitated by the launch of the first space satellite, Sputnik, by the Soviet Union and the American desire to catch up and surpass their technology.
In 1990, the building was forced to close its doors for renovations after it was determined to fall short of earthquake code standards. The branch relocated to a temporary home for the next six years as the structure was strengthened and major renovation took place. During this time, computer stations were constructed and Microsoft and their founder, Bill Gates, funded various technological upgrades. In 1996, the doors reopened to the community and the Cahuenga Branch Library began its second lease on life.
The Cahuenga Branch Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 19, 1987, alongside other libraries in the greater Los Angeles-area. While an important landmark for the city, its Italian renaissance style appearance and years of wear and tear also gave it something of a dark reputation.
"The Scariest Place I Ever Worked"
In the days before its renovation, the library had taken on something of a malevolent environment. While there are no known reported claims of paranormal activity or resident ghosts inside the structure, one has to wonder exactly what columnist Patt Morrison meant when she penned the following statement in the Los Angeles Times on January 31, 1996 upon its reopening: "Before it closed for its make-over in 1990, the Cahuenga branch was a dark and grotty hole, a spirit-shriveler of a place that was intended to uplift - 'the scariest place I ever worked,' one of its alumni librarians declared - and indeed, the only people who found it perfect were the film crews that made horror movies in its varnished gloom."
Morrison may have used the plural "horror movies" correctly, but she did not elaborate on which productions she was referring to. However, the Cahuenga Branch Library made at least one appearance in a particular horror film that left its mark on the genre.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The library played a minor but noteworthy role in the 1984 horror classic, A Nightmare on Elm Street. Written and directed by Wes Craven, the film follows a group of teenagers that are caught quite literally in a nightmare. Years earlier, their parents had taken justice into their own hands and murdered a known child killer by the name of Freddy Krueger. Now Krueger has infiltrated their dreams and is hunting them down and murdering them one by one.
The Cahuenga Branch Library appears as the "5th Precinct" police station in an otherwise unnamed town (established as Springwood, Ohio in later films) and where the father (John Saxon) of the main character, Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) works. It is also the later setting of the character Rod Lane's (Nick Corri) incarceration and death by hanging, which is foretold in a dream of Nancy's when she watches Krueger (Robert Englund) enter his cell from outside his cell's window.
As is fairly typical with film productions, only the exteriors of the building appear in A Nightmare on Elm Street. The interiors of the police station and Rod's cell were constructed on a studio set. The scene of Nancy standing outside the window (the window immediately to the right and below the right staircase of the main entrance) were inter-cut with the scenes inside the cell (including Nancy's vantage point) filmed at a studio elsewhere.
The film's production took place between the months of June and July in 1984 and it was released on November 11 of the same year. A Nightmare on Elm Street utilized locations throughout the Los Angeles area to double as the fictional town. The school where the teenagers attended is in close proximity to the library (see John Marshall High School, Los Angeles, CA), whereas the famous house that doubled as Nancy's residence is located near West Hollywood (see Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): The Thompson House).
The Library Today
The Cahuenga Branch Library continues to serve patrons from the surrounding area to this day. Despite the remodeling, the building is still easily identifiable from its role in A Nightmare on Elm Street. However, fans that want to pay it a visit need to remember that it is an active facility and to respect its official role and the various patrons it serves. |
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| Related Sites |
A Nightmare on Elm Street Films
A site dedicated to the popular horror series, A Nightmare on Elm Street, that covers the various different mediums that the film has inspired, as well as offers comprehensive coverage of the entire series. |
Seeing Stars
This Web site includes a great deal of information, including sites of celebrity deaths and graves, as well as countless movie locations around the California area and more. |
Horror's Hallowed Grounds
Official Web site for Sean Clark's "Horror's Hallowed Grounds" - A comprehensive collection of actual locations that appeared in various notable horror films. |
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| Similar Destinations |
| Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): The Thompson House |
| John Marshall High School, Los Angeles, CA |
| Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA |
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| See Also on TheCabinet.com |
| Blog: The Police Station from A Nightmare on Elm Street (05/19/09) |
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| Available from Amazon.com |
The Nightmare on Elm Street Collection |
A Nightmare on Elm Street |
A Nightmare on Elm Street (Infinifilm Edition) |
A Nightmare on Elm Street |
A Nightmare On Elm Street I & II |
A Nightmare On Elm Street Entertainment Poster Print, 24x36 |
McFarlane Toys 3D Movie Poster - A Nightmare on Elm Street |
Freddy Krueger Shot Glasses |
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