Hollywood in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Wallichs Music City

— 1501 N Vine Street —

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 18, 2024

1. Wallichs Music City Marker

Inscription.
Wallichs Music City, the world's largest specialty record store at the time, operated here on the corner of Sunset and Vine Street from 1940 to 1978. It was the first music store to seal records in cellophane and put them in display racks for customers and the first to have demonstration rooms for listening. Music fans flocked here to have artists like Judy Garland and Johnny Mercer autograph the sheet music of their latest hits. Owner Glenn Wallichs started Capitol Records from a second-story office in the building. After Capitol Records moved to the Capitol Tower in 1956, Dot Records shared the building with the music store.

Erected by Hollywood Historic Trust - Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 26.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 34° 5.898′ N, 118° 19.609′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Hollywood. It is at the intersection of Vine Street and Sunset Boulevard, on the left when traveling north on Vine Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1501 Vine St, Los Angeles CA 90028, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

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marker: Entertainment Industry’s Time Capsule (within shouting distance of this marker); NBC Radio City (within shouting distance of this marker); TAV Celebrity Theater (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Co. (about 400 feet away); Morgan Camera Shop (about 400 feet away); The Beginnings of Hollywood (about 500 feet away); The First Feature Film (about 500 feet away); The Lasky Barn (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

More about this marker. This marker is part of a series of 47 Hollywood Historic Site markers along a three-mile walking tour of historic Hollywood, beginning eastbound on the north side of Hollywood Blvd and ending westbound on the south side of Hollywood Blvd at Sycamore Ave.
The Hollywood Historic Site signs were originally installed circa 1999. They were updated and replaced in August 2024.

Regarding Wallichs Music City. Original marker text:
One of the most famous music stores in the country operated here from 1940 to 1978. It was the first music store to seal record albums in cellophane and put them in display racks for customers. It was also the first to have demonstration rooms for listening. Music fans flocked here to meet artists like Judy

Photographed by Craig Baker

2. Wallichs Music City Marker

Garland and Johnny Mercer to have them sign sheet music of their latest hits. Owner Glenn Wallichs started Capitol Records from a storefront office in the building.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. - Hollywood Historic Site markers, walking tour with map.

Wallichs Music City - 1976 image. Click for full size.

3. Wallichs Music City - 1976

This photo is featured on the marker.

Capitol Records circa 1948 image. Click for full size.

4. Capitol Records circa 1948

Original Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 27, 2023

5. Original Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 27, 2023

6. Original Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,274 times since then and 131 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on August 31, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on June 28, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5, 6. submitted on August 31, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.