Casa de Cadillac
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1949 (originally as Don Lee Motors) |
| Headquarters | Sherman Oaks, California |
| Products | Automobiles Automotive parts |
| Parent | Casa Automotive Group |
| Website | www.casadecadillac.com |
Casa de Cadillac operates as a Cadillac-Buick-GMC dealer situated at 14401 Ventura Boulevard, in Sherman Oaks, California. The dealership’s building, erected in 1949, is recognized as an architectural icon within the San Fernando Valley due to its distinctive Googie architecture and longstanding presence in the community.[1][2]
History
Established in 1950 at its current location on Ventura Boulevard, Casa de Cadillac has continuously operated from the same site since its inception. Initially founded in 1949 under the name Don Lee Motors, it was part of the larger Don Lee network that managed Cadillac dealerships across California cities such as Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Pasadena, and Los Angeles.
In 1950, ownership transferred from Don Lee to Martin Pollard, who rebranded the business as Casa de Cadillac. Pollard was a prominent figure in the local business scene and actively engaged in the San Fernando Valley community. His leadership roles included serving as President of Valley Presbyterian Hospital, heading the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce, and being appointed as the inaugural chairman of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority.[3] In recognition of his exceptional volunteer contributions to the San Fernando Valley, Pollard was honored with the first "Fernando Award" in 1959 by the Fernando Award Foundation.[4] Following Pollard’s passing in 1970, the Sherman Oaks branch of the Los Angeles Public Library was dedicated in his memory.
Acquisition
Following Pollard's passing, James Wilson assumed the presidency of Casa de Cadillac and remained actively involved in its day-to-day management until 2008. During his leadership, Casa Automotive Group, the parent company of Casa de Cadillac, expanded its portfolio by acquiring several additional franchises including Buick, GMC, Hummer, Saab, Kia, and Subaru. In 2008, Wilson transferred ownership to his daughter Susan and her husband Howard Drake. Currently, the Sherman Oaks location handles sales for Cadillac, Buick, and GMC, while Subaru is retailed at a distinct dealership nearby in Van Nuys.
Architecture
Casa de Cadillac, designed in 1948 by Randall Duell, stands as a notable example of Googie architectural style. It has been featured on modern architectural walking tours organized by the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Modern Committee as well as in Los Angeles Times coverage. The dealership has also become a favored site for photography and filming due to its distinctive design.
Popular culture
- In the 1970s and 1980s, popular television game shows such as Let's Make a Deal and Sale of the Century frequently awarded new Cadillac vehicles as prizes, often highlighting that the cars originated from Casa de Cadillac during prize announcements.
- The season three finale of Columbo, titled A Friend Indeed, prominently features Casa de Cadillac. In the episode, Lieutenant Columbo parks his old Peugeot 403 behind rows of colorful early 1970s Cadillacs and newer 1974 models including Eldorados. The contrast between the rain-speckled shiny new cars and Columbo’s aged Peugeot is visually striking. Additionally, the large gold Cadillac crests displayed on the dealership signs reflect those installed around 1952–1953 in honor of Cadillac’s 50th anniversary.
- In Michael Bay’s Transformers, the character Jazz descends from the roof of Casa de Cadillac before transforming into vehicle mode to rendezvous with other Autobots at Bumblebee’s location.
- The 1985 action movie Commando, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, features a scene where Bill Duke’s character Cooke seizes a new 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood from the showroom and crashes it through the glass display window.
- Casa de Cadillac appears across from the pink Future Dogs hot dog stand in Tom Petty’s 1989 music video for "Free Fallin."
- In NBC’s Up All Night, Christina Applegate and Will Arnett visit Casa de Cadillac while searching for a new family vehicle.
- Portions of the "Make Room for Caddy" episode from The Bernie Mac Show (2004) were filmed inside the Casa de Cadillac showroom.
- The opening sequence of HAIM’s music video for "Want You Back," featuring San Fernando Valley natives, showcases Casa de Cadillac.
References
- ↑ "Ideas & Trends - California Revisited - How Googie Was My Valley - NYTimes.com". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
- ↑ Marty McFly (January 9, 2013). "Casa de Cadillac Completes Sensitive Renovation".
- ↑ "Emblem" (PDF). libraryarchives.metro.net. 1960. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ↑ "Letter from Fernando Award Committee, 1959 :: San Fernando Valley History". digital-library.csun.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
External links
- Cadillac
- Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles
- California-based Companies
- Established in California in 1949
- Googie Style Architecture in California
- American Firms Founded in 1949
- Retail Businesses Founded in 1949
- United States Auto Dealerships
- Commercial Structures Completed in 1949
- Auto dealerships of the United States