Robert Nudelman, Hollywood preservationist, has died

Love the Cinerama Dome? How about the gorgeous movie palace that is the El Capitan Theatre? They're still standing thanks in large part to Robert Nudelman, the impassioned preservationist who died on Tuesday. Valerie J. Nelson writes about Nudelman's life:

"There probably isn't a single historic building or development project in Hollywood that Mr. Nudelman didn't have a part in," Offenhauser said in a statement.

Nudelman began his activism in 1978 by fighting to save MGM's old Lot 2 in Culver City, a 10-acre site that included sets from the films "Gone With the Wind" and "King Kong."

The effort failed but Nudelman dedicated the rest of his life to the preservation of Hollywood history and landmarks -- with mixed success.

In 1990, he helped persuade Disney to spend $6 million to restore the El Capitan to its original splendor. A hard-fought attempt to prevent the Hollywood Bowl's acoustic shell from being demolished was lost; a new shell debuted in 2004.

As recently as last month, Nudelman, who was president of the Hollywood Heritage Museum, was fighting against "supergraphics", enormous advertisements in the outsides of buildings. (LA Independent)

You can read the rest of the Times' Nudelman obituary here. And here's a mention in City Councilman   Eric Garcetti's blog,

--Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Los Angeles Times