Named in 1910 for Hollywood developer Alfred Z. Taft (1864-1936). (The “Z” wasn’t short for anything.) Taft was a rare creature, especially in the 19th century: a native Angeleno, born and raised downtown; his uncle was mayor Henry T. Hazard. After years as a haberdasher, in 1892 Taft took his family to the new suburb of Hollywood to grow fruit. (Their farm was at Taft Ave. and Prospect Ave., later renamed Hollywood Blvd.) He soon became entrenched in the young town’s development, particularly in real estate. Although Taft himself retired to Nogales, AZ in 1913, his children – above all Alfred Z. Taft Jr. (1889-1941) – kept the family business thriving. Their crowning achievement: the Taft Building at Hollywood & Vine, completed in 1924. At twelve stories, it was L.A.’s first high-rise outside of downtown; many of its offices were rented out to movie folk (agents, publicists, etc.), which made its intersection the most famous in the world. Alas, it was all downhill from there for Junior. On November 24th, 1941, despondent over ill health, he went to the foothills above Curson Ave. and hanged himself from a tree.
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