A house owned by Earle C. Anthony, built in 1909,[1][2][3][4] was moved to Beverly Hills, California for the 1923 construction of this building.

[5] Upon its completion in 1924, it was owned by movie studio executive Joseph M. Schenck and his wife, silent actress Norma Talmadge, who was its namesake.

[5] It was designed in the style by William and Alexander Curlett & Claud Beelman.

In Battling Butler, the entrance stands in for the main character's mansion.

[7] In Seven Chances, the interior lobby and main entrance of the building were used, briefly, at the beginning.