There has been some concern about the building on Hughes that we all refer to as “The Legion Building.” It was constructed by American Legion Post #46 as their clubhouse in 1930. Culver City Building Department records show the contractor as Don S. Ely, famed builder of St. Augustine’s Church. It was listed as a “2 story class D Club House” on the permit.   

According to a Citizen Newspaper article on Aug. 8, 1930, the Legion Building was scheduled to open to the public at noon the following day with the dedication planned for that evening. The ceremony began at 8 p.m., with a dance following. George Freeman’s orchestra provided the music. The article also mentioned that “many interesting features will mark the day including the Legion Bugle and Drum Corps recently organized by Tom Ammerman.” The public was “cordially invited to inspect the beautiful new building.” The Legion auxiliary was in charge of refreshments. 

The Legion Building was constructed over the “Culver Plunge,” which was reportedly the first swimming pool in the city. The land was reportedly donated by city founder Harry H. Culver. 

Over the years, the Legion Building became a well-known meeting venue. Not only did the American Legion and its auxiliary sponsor dances and events, the community frequently used it. A 1956 CitizenNewspaper article stated “Community Post Club House on Hughes Ave. is considered one of the finest in the state and its facilities are available at any time to members of the armed services or to any honorably discharged veteran.”

The Culver City Historical Society placed a bronze marker on the structure in 1985, making it their Historic Site #5. Subsequently, the city of Culver City designated the building as a “significant” historic structure. Their historic survey, adopted in 1991, refers to the Legion Building at 3824 Hughes Ave. as Spanish Colonial style. A 1937 local telephone directory listed the American Legion Community Post #46 at 3818, with the American Legion Hall at 3820 Hughes.

The Legion Post eventually sold the building to the hospital next door and built a new structure on Sepulveda Boulevard, which is still in use. Brotman Memorial Hospital, now Brotman Medical Center, used the structure for storage before they renovated it. That renovation was spearheaded by Dr. Gerald Glantz. The earliest permit I found under the Brotman name was pulled by Chanen Construction for interior partitions and it was dated 1975. Brotman restored the inside in stages and named the second-floor auditorium the Glantz Auditorium for the hospital chief of staff who basically saved the building. 

On the north side of the building there remains a concrete walkway that originally led to an archway. Several names and a few shoeprints were pressed into the wet cement the year of dedication. 

Today, the Legion Building is scheduled to be incorporated into a development by the Jewish Home for the Aging. 

Julie Lugo Cerra is the council-appointed city historian of Culver City and author of three books and hundreds of articles on local history.