I have lived here for over 3 years, and love it. I have heard many stories about the history of the building. Here are the rumors:

Built by Al Jolson in the mid 1920's

The first rooftop pool in the city of Los Angeles, rumoured that the 1932 olympic swim team practiced here.

Clark Gable lived and threw parties in the penthouse.

Ronald Reagan lived in the building while being the president of the screen actors guild.

A 'black shadow' ghost whips around the rooftop.

Sometime during the 1960's a drunk man locked out of his apartment tried to break in through the well of his bathroom window, but fell to his death.

A white woman ghost haunts the basement walkway, only seen from behind walking away.

During the 1980's a famous jazz musician was murdered and left to die in the empty swimming pool, found weeks later.

Swel bought The Langham and its neighbor building "The Barclay" across the street around 2000 or 2001 for a sum of around 5 million dollars. At the time, the buildings were infested with junkies and squatters and was in poor shape. The previous owners were a brothers in an arguement and neither one wanted to take care of the buildings. They sold the buildings cheaply just to get rid of them. I cant even imagine how much they are worth today.

The swimming pool has been refinished, but remains un-open. I have heard stories about "The Langham" printed on the bottom of the pool as being a permit issue. Also have heard the lack of lifeguard staff prevents people from using the pool.

All in all its a great building that breathes history. I have often thought about moving to a new building, but it is the charm and impressiveness of The Langham that keeps me here. The current manager is okay... I much prefered Theresa but a stroke caused her to walk away from the job.

I would say its a great place to live for those of us that live on the east side of the building. Tennants across the hall from me come and go (greater amount of noise, heat, etc.) Another setback is the contance of filming. This building has been in many tv and motion picture film shoots, and after a while it becomes a pain in the ass.

Cool place to live though. I have enjoyed almost all of the time I have spent here.

User Responses
From: former5thfloor-er	Date: 11/15/2007
i miss my apartment so much. lived in the building for four years and regret leaving every single day. i love the noise and filming and the location is divine. theres also a story about apt 509 a woman had her heart broken and stayed in there for years until she died. i always wondered why the apartment across from me was never opened... i found this out a few months before i moved. very curious. and can you hear the footsteps throught the halls at night when no one is around? man i miss that place. teresa had a stroke, huh? karma man, karma...
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/03/2009
Yes, I also miss the Langham. Lived there for about 4 years in #619 which face the rear of the building (better view). Pool was used a lot by everyone. The building has so much charm to it. Visited it in July 2009 and was allowed to come in and take some nostalgic photos. Swel has done a great job with the lobby. Better than the 80's. Had a part time job as Night Manager doing security checks throughout the night. Best perk was that when good looking young ladies (I was in my 20's) would come in to inquire about an apartment, I got to show them various units and get my "foot" in the door first with them on a personal basis. All of us 80's pot smokers knew that all you had to do was walk 2 blks south into the Hispanic section and they would come running out with dime bags to sell you. Why else would a white guy be there, ha! ha! Fun era, fun building to live in at the time. Great memories. Jeff L

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