Originally Posted by sopas ej (Post 4665453)

And some Then and Nows:

1930s: 6000 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. I'm surprised to learn this used to be a market.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/638...tblvd1930s.jpg
USC archive

2010: 6000 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. This is now part of the Sunset Gower Studios, I think.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5649/p1090617.jpg
Photo by Me

Nope, 6000 Sunset was not part of Sunset Gower Studios - but this building has a very unique and interesting history!

Between the 1960's and the 1980's, this was the "Western" part of United/Western Studios (United was down the street, at 6050.) The studios were built by Bill Putnam and were the home to many, many famous recordings. I know all about this building, because I worked there from 1977 to 1981.

What was recorded at Western? Many (if not most) of the hits by the Beach Boys, The Mamas And Papas, Jan & Dean, Johnny Rivers, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Dean Martin, Rick Nelson, Ray Charles, and many many more. Along with Capital, A&M, and Radio Recorders, this was one of the most famous of the "old Hollywood" sound studios. Hundreds and hundreds of hits were recorded there.

I personally was in the control room of Studio 1 (behind the center produce section!) when Mr. Sinatra recorded "New York, New York". In that building I also worked on sessions with Santana, Jonathan Winters, Abba, Ringo Starr, Dolly Parton, Joe Cocker, The Beach Boys, Herbie Hancock, Barbra Streisand, and dozens more. Needless to say it was a very exciting time in my life!

We had always heard that the building had once been a grocery store and at least two of the echo chambers resembled meat lockers or refrigerated rooms. Now I know that it was true!

I have much info about United/Western on my own web site, at http://studioelectronics.biz/URCNewsletter-13.html

In the 1980's United/Western was sold and became Ocean Way Recording. The 6050 Building is Still Ocean Way but 6000 changed hands again, and then fell into disrepair about 10 years ago. The facility came close to being demolished but was sold at auction to EastWest Studios, and has undergone an incredible multi million dollar renovation - design by Philippe Starck. Despite the plain facade, this new facility is one of the finest and most visually stunning studios in the world.

I did quite a double take, seeing the old photo from the 1930's! sopas_ej, thank you so much for posting it.

Now, it was also said that 6000 Sunset was a movie or stage theater in the 40's or 50's. Does anyone have a photo, or info about that incarnation of this famous building?

Originally Posted by 3940dxer (Post 5516235)

Sammy Davis Jr. clowning around at 6000 Sunset

http://dkse.net/david/6000.Sunset/6000.Sammy.jpg

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire (Post 5515949)

I am still amazed that Los Angeles has let so much architectural magnificence go to seed. It would be the equivalent of New Orleans (where I grew up) letting go of the Garden District and the entire length of St. Charles Avenue--but being bigger, L.A. has lost even more. Not that I don't understand the economics, demographics, and geographics behind the abandonment, but I'm still staggered. Windsor Hills, Hancock Park, Bel-Air and even Beverly Hills have their charms, but one can only imagine the mature magnificence of these old Los Angeles neighborhoods were they as intact as they were in their heydays.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 5516640)

A perfect example of what you're talking about Gaylord_Wilshire is the Fitzgerald House at 3115 W. Adams Street built in 1903.

Originally Posted by rbpjr (Post 5516730)

I lived in apartment house just east of the empty lot on the corner of Arlington and West Adams...there was at that time, 1951, a wonderful old mansion where the empty lot is today...perhaps there is a picture of it in the archives. I remember wondering who lived there as the only folks I ever saw was a young man who would mow the lawn and tend the gardens.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 5517200)

I've searched everywhere for a photograph of the mansion that once stood at the northwest corner Adams and Arlington but have always come up empty. :(

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire (Post 5013977)

The Childs house, which once stood at 3100 West Adams:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061802.jpgLAPL
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061844.jpgLAPL
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061845.jpgLAPL
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061846.jpgLAPL


As with many demolished houses in West Adams, there is a little bit left:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TQ...20521%20PM.jpgGoogle Street View
The Childs wall along Adams--it once had a corner entrance with steps (second Childs photo above),
almost identical to that which survives across Adams at the site of yet another demolished house on
the boulevard:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TL...82819%20AM.jpgGoogle Strteet View
The corner lot in this shot is apparently now part of the property of the Fitzgerald house, seen at left.
The whole corner has been on the market for $1.9 million for several years. I haven't yet found out what
house once stood on the corner--whatever it was would have been better than an empty lot, of course,
but an empty lot would be preferable to what atrocity I fear may come.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 4406558)

Here's another one, Ralph's Westwood.


http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2...hswestwood.jpg
julie wilson