http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1292/gerrylapl.jpg
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/D...wdate=&hidate=



http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/7316/gerryyouarehere.jpg
http://you-are-here.com/los_angeles/gerry.html


This is such a rare example of 'streamline-moderne' in the downtown core.

I really enjoyed the rest of your photos as well Horthos. I love those old rusty signs (I believe the one says 'clothing on credit') .
____

Great 'Alex in Wonderland' post FredH! It was very interesting. You filled in some gaps for me about the Vogue Theater.
I was surprised by how beautiful it used to be...especially in that 1935 photo.

____

What I think is really cool about this photo is the building just above the one you're discussing. The Bozzani car dealership. I always hear commercials for Bozzani Motors on the radio, so it's fun to see the dealership from so long ago. They've since relocated to Covina, CA. This is a link to their history on their website.
http://www.bozzanivw.com/History
I'm new here, but I'm looking forward to exploring more and more. Thanks for the awesome posts!

below: Sopas_ej, are these obelisk-like lights on the south side of the MVD Building left overs from a retaining wall that used to be there
or were they always stand alone lighting fixtures?

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/4...wdsoutjsid.jpg
http://www.movie-trains.com/laus.html

:previous: You would like the above link sopas_ej. It's directions to a 'garden' located at Union Station...but for the life of me I don't see any 'garden'.
Unless he's calling an area where they keep old train cars a 'garden'.

____

this is AWESOME! I live in the Young Apartment Building, which is actually what led me here. I was trying to search some history about it and what a find! :) Once I get a chance, I'll upload some photos from the inside of the building. Anyway, it was renovated in 1994 and now it houses mostly studio apartments and some one bedrooms. They still have a lot of the original character, built-ins, molding, etc. and the lobby is awesome. Thanks for posting these and like I said, I'll get some pics of the interior up as soon as I can!

Welcome to the thread andrew_scot! Can't wait to see your photos of the interiors.

A beautifully restored fountain on the grounds of Union Station.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/736...edfountain.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7294653@N07/2169741130/

I am in lust with a building. I love you, Gerry. What the hell have you been doing hiding from me way over on Los Angeles Street?

And just up the street is another building I wasn't familiar with--the Marion R. Gray building at 824. According to the USCDL labeling, "...the five-story Marion R. Gray Building at 824 South Los Angeles, has just been purchased from its namesake by Arthur L. Gerry." Is this my Gerry?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F...2520PM.bmp.jpgUSCDL

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L...2520PM.bmp.jpgGoogle Street View
Unless the downtown gentrification is much more advanced than I realize, somehow I don't
think that the Top-Shop on Los Angeles Street is the same as the trendy British chain....

:previous: OK, I have to come clean. Since Gaylord_Wilshire had the balls to say he wasn't aware of the Gerry Building...I have to admit that I didn't know it existed either. I bent the truth in saying I had forgotten about it. My bad. :(

A very DTLA Saturday
 

Yesterday and I and a friend (a lurker who has read this whole thread but has not posted) made a day of it downtown and had a fantastic time.

We started by joining the L.A. Conservancy's Historic Downtown tour, one of many that are regularly scheduled. The guide was extremely knowledgeable; we thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so many great things about L.A. history. Highlights were seeing the Bradbury Building (our first time inside) and the Edison Building (aka One Bunker Hill), which was absolutely amazing! A great way to spend 2 1/2 hours on a Saturday morning, and I hope to do more of their tours. Here's a link: http://www.laconservancy.org/tours/tours_main.php4

After the tour we had lunch at Coles, again a first for both of us. The interior is certainly steeped in history and it was a great place to spend some time. In the hallway by the rest rooms, almost as an afterthought, some very old posters hang from the walls including one that advertised trips to Mt. Lowe (next weekend's destination). The hostess was nice enough to show us the "Mickey Cohen table" down at the end of the bar. Probably the least comfortable table in the place, but was fun to see it.

I liked their French Dip better than Phillipe's and the pecan pie was excellent, but the service was a little indifferent and prices seemed a tad high. I understand that there's a sort of "secret" bar near the back, but it wasn't open at the time. Still a tasty and enjoyable lunch.

After that we walked up to MOCA (past the Rosslyn so I could get a couple more outside shots) and saw the Weegee exhibit, which is outstanding! I thoroughly enjoyed all of it and the time passed quickly. This one is really a winner and MOCA has done a great job of putting it together. Lots of wonderfully amusing images, a fair bit of L.A. Noir, and there's an old 7 minute film of Weegee walking around Hollywood & Vine, talking about his techniques and generally goofing around.

We took the Red Line from NoHo, a bit of a freak show, but it was a good way to start and end the day.

I thoroughly recommend the Conservancy Group tours and the Weegee exhibit to all!

I know the feeling, e_r, wanting so much to know all there is to know about the city ... but that's the great thing about Los Angeles. Iin spite of all that has been lost, it just keeps giving. And I do firmly believe that there is a tremendous amount awaiting discovery east of Main Street. It's a whole 'nother L.A. I know this is true from my West Adams researches--there is so much east of what we consider West Adams today--vast tracts of intact Victorian cottages, for instance. There isn't much in the way of vintage photography, so it's hard to conjure what these areas were like when newer, but these neighborhoods are still there, and lived in by Angelenos....

The Gerry Building seems to be something of an enigma. LAPL has only one photograph and the wrong address.

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4...istakelapl.jpg
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/D...wdate=&hidate=





below: The sexy lines of the Gerry Building at 910 S. Los Angeles Street.


http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7...ingdetail2.jpg
google street view







http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/9...detail910s.jpg
google street view


To see intact curved glass in this neighborhood is remarkable. Long live the Gerry Building!

____

Sounds like a fantastic Saturday 3940dxer! Did you take photographs for us poor slobs outside the city? ;)

___

Bradbury Building Interior
 

Well, my mediocre camera and lame photographic skills were hardly up to the task, but here are a few inside shots from the Bradbury. The "bird cage" elevator still operates. One Bunker Hill is pretty dark inside and all that incredible marble is so reflective that I had really had no way of getting anything good, but I hope to go back with a pro photog friend one day.

http://dkse.net/david/Bradbury/100_5823.JPG


http://dkse.net/david/Bradbury/100_5824.JPG


http://dkse.net/david/Bradbury/100_5826.JPG


http://dkse.net/david/Bradbury/100_5828.JPG


http://dkse.net/david/Bradbury/100_5829.JPG

My photos

:previous: WOW I think your photographs are great 3940dxter. It's much more beautiful than I imagined.
Is the elaborate wrought iron actually blue, or is that an issue with your camera?

____

e_r, I'm surprised you haven't seen interior photos before...but then, I hadn't either! I would say the wrought iron is matte black, and maybe the bluish tint was caused by the sunlight being filtered by the ceiling glass. You can also see this on some of the upper edges of the terra cotta (I think that's terra cotta.) In any case yes, the place is totally mind boggling. The guide explained that supposedly, the architect's vision was inspired by a science fiction book he'd read that described life in the year 2000 and was striving for a "futuristic" look. The building dates to 1893! (Gasp.)

The lobby of One Bunker Hill is quite astounding too...I had NO idea. Not sure if anything has ever been posted here before but if not, maybe there are some public images that could be added, while I wait for a chance to go down there with my friend.

:previous: 3940dxer, I've seen photographs of the interior before but they were mostly from movie or t.v. productions that were shrouded in darkness and shadows. No straight forward 'tourist' photos per se (except for mediocre examples on flickr and other photo sharing sites).
____

:previous:

3949dxer: I agree with ethereal_reality. These are the nicest interior shots of the Bradbury that I have seen. I did not know there was so much detail in the iron, stone, and wood work. Of course I'm mainly going by Blade Runner, where it was all kind of dark and wet.

Wow. Thanks for the pics GW! Believe it or not, I was actually trying to find a picture of Blessed Sacrament that showed the entrance of the old pedestrian tunnel seen at the very left of the LAPL picture. I remember it still being around for a while when I attended Blessed Sacrament school. The gate was locked throughout the week and was rarely unlocked on Sundays. I remember running through it once as a child. It was dark, smelled like urine, and had graffiti all over the walls. My older siblings, which also attended Blessed Sacrament, don't remember the pedestrian tunnel and thought I might be going crazy when I brought it up. :koko: I'm glad I stumbled across your post, which proves I haven't lost it yet. :haha:

The pedestrian tunnel has long been sealed off. Unfortunately, I don't remember exactly when that happened... :shrug:

Stop, please, e-r... you're making me crazy. Those curves!


johnjohn: Welcome to the thread. I hadn't noticed the subway fence at the left. Thanks for pointing it out, and for the memories. I went looking for any evidence of the subway entrances in Google Street View--hard to see any that way. (But I did notice an oddity there--see the bottom photo here.)

Now 3940... Would you please take your jackhammer and try to get into the Blessed Sacrament tunnel? And let me say--great Bradbury pictures...I don't know about the camera, but you're wrong about your skills as a photographer-- I love seeing the detail you shot, especially the perforated iron bracing holding up the staircase flooring. Fantastic. There have always been stories about the architect and his interest in science fiction and how it might have inspired his design--a novel set in the future and a Ouija were somehow involved.

----------------------

When I went looking for the pedestrian subway in street view, I noticed this place. I love the sign over the door.... What's it all about?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...2520AM.bmp.jpgGoogle Street View

more stuffs.
 

I really dig the gerry building, at night especially with the way its lit up, on such a dead street with no activity whatsoever (except the bum in his wheelchair rolling backwards down the sidewalk asking me if I would sell him a cigarette as I was taking pictures).

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/003.jpg

Also, there was talk of one bunker hill. I could not get into the lobby (due to the fact I go out to take pictures at unholy hours), but I got a few here (taken around christmas time).

The chandelier at the entry way...
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/046.jpg

the door, and a semi ok view of the lobby (sorry about the reflection)
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/044.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/045.jpg

During the december artwalk (which if you have never checked out, you really should, even if art isnt your thing, many of the buildings are open to the public, and you can just walk right on in. 2nd thursday of each month), I went into cliftons cafeteria, as it seems to be open on artwalk nights only, as they are still renovating it (the big cheese grater on the front is still there sadly). They were not serving food, they just had a bar in the back, so I decided to take a few pictures, but it wasnt easy, since it was very dark inside. Anyways...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/005.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/004.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lio-/006-1.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/007.jpg

Also from that december artwalk night...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/010.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/011.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lio-/012-1.jpg

And for the hell of it, a quick view from inbetween the blinds out my window.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lio-/003-1.jpg

I am going to go out this minute and take some more pictures, in particular, "brack shops", they have been restoring a chandelier inside, Ive been meaning to take pictures, since the ceiling has a fantastic mural (what is brack shops anyways? 7th st between olive and grand)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tulio-/028.jpg

All photos by me.

:previous:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...2520PM.bmp.jpgLAPL

Great on-the-ground, by-a-resident pics, Horthos. The Brack Shops were sort of a prehistoric highrise mini-mall--I think named after a Mr. Brackett. Somewhere I've seen a whole description of its development... I'll go look for that. Stay tuned.

Horthos, thanks a ton for the great DTLA pics. I'm glad you posted those shots of One Bunker Hill, even though you couldn't go inside. The lobby justifies a detailed photo essay, there is so much to see.

And I enjoyed your photos of Clifton's, and understand the difficulty of those interior shots too. I tried one night, but my flash is just too small and I couldn't get anything worth sharing. I'm sure you would agree that like the Edison Building, probably even more so, it's very hard to do photographic justice to Clifton's. In fact, even the old daytime photos I've seen leave a lot to be desired. It's just very hard to capture the look, feel, and splendor in a photo.

The manager of Clifton's told me that they hope to have the cafeteria line operational by the end of the year, and then will revert to normal hours. Meanwhile, they'll be open on the night of every Art Walk. G_W recently asked whether they have made any progress toward restoring the original facade. Do you know, Horthos? If they succeed, that will really be something.

Also BTW, I recall coming across, somewhere, beautiful color images of an old Clifton's menu, but now to my great frustration cannot find them anywhere. Has anyone else seen these? They'd be a great addition to the old menus we've been posting.

A couple more Rosslyn images
 

A couple more Rosslyn images from last Saturday. My photos.


Cornerstone on the south building

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Rosslyn/Cornerstone.JPG


Old sign on the southeast corner of the south building, along Main Street. It reads Sunlan something Mens Wear something something. Any clues? (BTW, this is now a very raunchy section of Main Street.)

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Rosslyn/Sunlan.sign.JPG

What's it all about? Scientology. There are plenty of articles about their activities in this building, if you care to Google.

I have lots of memories of 6616 Sunset before Scientology bought it (along with half of Hollywood, it seems).

This building is the former home of Yale Radio, an electronic parts vendor, and in the old days I think, a retail shop for radios. Yale was probably in business for about 50 years. I know a little about their history, though my lurker friend that joined me on Saturday's Conservancy Tour could tell us more. (Ahem! :D)

When I moved to L.A. in '77, Yale was one of those old school electronics places -- dusty shelves stocked with a wide selection of parts, and very knowledgeable salespeople. Mr. Yale's office was upstairs and they had some nice old radios in the hallway. The founder died in the 1980's IIRC and his daughter took over. She did a major remodel/facelift to the building, which nobody liked. The place drifted on, but sales declined. After a few more years the daughter sold the place to Scientology for a wad of cash and began a new life.

I vaguely recall a subway beneath Sunset in that area. Not sure I'm up to busting into it, but I'll try to get a couple of outside snaps some day.

It would be great to see an old pic of Yale Radio, before the hideous makeover.

Back the the Brack Shops for a moment...
 

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j...ckmagazine.jpg

I found that history of the Brack Shops building I mentioned. Very interesting to us Los Angelesphiles even if it did first appear in a 1917 trade journal called Buildings and Building Management.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d...2520PM.bmp.jpgLAPL


I'd never heard of Roosevelt Memorial Park or its mighty pipe organ before. Still there, way down in Gardena just west of the shoestring, though given a little more architectural drama at some point:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9...veltchapel.jpgRoosevelt Memorial Park Assoc.

http://frank.gadgetland.net/images/s...05/ATOS_23.jpgFrank's Semi Musical Website
"...and each evening at sundown a mighty voice of music pays tribute to those departed."

Sunlan was a small chain of men's hat shops--so the top faded word must be "HATS".... I'm struck by the pristine lamppost and the decrepit sign. (What does "15" on the post mean?)


Looks like change is coming fast to Fifth and Main... this is the current Google street shot. That new building in your shot, 3940, had better be replacing the squat brown thing on the northeast corner, and not the beauty on the southeast...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...2520PM.bmp.jpgGoogle Street View

Happy New Year!
 

Its the year of the Dragon. I'm a Pig myself (and proud of it).

The L.A. Times ran a set of pictures today from past Chinese New Years:

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8...ewyear1928.jpg
Jan. 26, 1928: Chinese New Year on Apablasa Street in L.A.'s Chinatown. Photo published in the Jan. 27, 1928, Los Angeles Times.

The story and additional photos are here:

http://framework.latimes.com/2012/01...os-angeles/#/0


More interesting (to me) was some of the information contained the the accompanying story:

"Apablasa Street was in Old Chinatown. Most of the community was removed for construction of Union Station. There have actually been four Chinese communities in downtown Los Angeles. A good explanation was written by author Lisa See in this Los Angeles Times Book review article of May 31, 2009:

Lisa See’s sixth novel, “Shanghai Girls” (Random House: 314 pp., $25), comes out this week; she is also the author of the superlative family history “On Gold Mountain.” As she has long acknowledged, the Chinese heritage of her father’s family has been a significant influence on her life and work…

“Shanghai Girls” is about two sisters who leave China and come to Los Angeles in arranged marriages in 1938. There were four Chinatowns in Los Angeles at that time: New Chinatown — with its neon lights and gaily painted buildings on Broadway; City Market Chinatown — for produce sellers and their families; Old Chinatown — comprised of the few buildings that survived the demolition required to build Union Station; and China City — a tourist attraction bordered by Ord, Spring, Main and Macy streets. Pearl and May, my fictional sisters, live in the Garnier Building in Old Chinatown, where the Chinese American Museum is today, and they work in China City."


I had no idea that there were four Chinatown areas. I thought that the old Chinatown was torn down to build Union Station and replaced by the "new" Chinatown up on Broadway. I actually posted this photo of China City a couple of weeks ago, thinking it was an early part of the new Chinatown.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg403...jpg&res=medium
Los Angeles Times

According to the story, China City was located on this block, just south of Phillipes:

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/4091/chinatownc.jpg
Google Earth

This is the Garnier Building, which now houses the Chinese America Museum, and was part of "old" Chinatown:

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg833...jpg&res=medium
Google Earth

From what I read, City Market Chinatown was down by San Pedro and 9th Street near the produce market here:

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg811...jpg&res=medium
Google Earth

I checked around the area for remnants of a Chinatown and found these:

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg440...jpg&res=medium
Google Street View

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg269...jpg&res=medium
Google Street View

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg707...jpg&res=medium
Google Street View

Actually, the wife has an interesting family history herself. Her father was born in the Fukien Province of China (right across the strait from Taiwan) in 1902. As a young boy, he was admitted to the Shaolin Temple and stayed there until his mid 20's. He and his family then traveled to Taiwan, which was still controlled by the Japanese at that time. A few years after he left, the Shaolin Temple was raided by the Chinese government and destroyed.

My wife grew up in a small village in the country. Using the skills he learned at the temple, her father served as the local doctor. He was trained in herbal medicine and could set broken bones by touch. Dead newborn babies were brought to him (sometimes in the middle of the night) for proper burial. He never refused anyone and never charged anyone. Quite a guy. He died in 1976.

p.s. Yes, he could kick butt too.

An early Acme...
 

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics35/00067388.jpgLAPL

Across from the Rosslyns--a rare sighting of one of the earlier Acme signals, before the one most often seen (as in the lower right pic below).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...20/acme130.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e...%252520new.jpgLADOT

15
 

.

I'm not sure about those lights, I'm thinking they're recreations of what used to exist on the retaining wall that was demolished.

Thanks for that link. I don't understand the "garden" reference either. Union Station definitely does have courtyards or gardens, but I don't understand the directions in that link.

Great pics of the Gerry Building, guys! I love that building. I walked by it last year, I may have taken pictures of it but I'd have to search through my computer file folders.

I nearly creamed my pants when I saw these photos; I've seen them before, but I just love the Acmes. I don't know why I love Acme semaphores so much. I'm also obsessed with the San Francisco Wiley birdcage traffic signals, but this is an LA noir thread.

Early Acme Signal
 

Wow, great photos of the early Acmes, never seen them before. I prefer the late 20s style. Very interesting!

I too really enjoy Acme and Wiley signals. I have a restored Wiley in my sign room that brings much enjoyment and comment. I also have a few photos of vintage and restored Acmes and Wileys on my site on the Misc Highway Stuff page:

http://caltrafficsigns.com/pictures/...s.php?album=13

The following photos are by Robby Cress at http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com/





The Brack Shops can be seen in the opening creditings of 'Possessed' (1947) starring Joan Crawford.
That's her about to boink her head on that big 'M'.


http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/421...sessedjoan.jpg
http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com...oan%20Crawford


below: The same building today. The shops are now advertised as 'The Collection'.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/590...aydearoldh.jpg



below: Ms. Crawford continues along 7th Street.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6...ford7thstr.jpg
http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com...oan%20Crawford


____





below: A great before and after.

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/727...djoancrawf.jpg
http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com...oan%20Crawford


http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7...djoancrawf.jpg
http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com...oan%20Crawford


Again...thanks to Robby Cress at http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com/

_____

A very early photograph of The Brown Derby at Wilshire & Alexandria before a dining room and patio were added along Wilshire.

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/7...oretheaddo.jpg




below: A menu from the 1950s (showing the expansion)

http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/4...bymenu1950.jpg
ebay




http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4...ymenu1950a.jpg
ebay





http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/2...ywaddition.jpg
ebay

A key difference is that nearly all of L.A. is still low-profiled enough that ugly rooftop billboards are an effective and attractive option (from the marketer's perspective) nearly everywhere. I agree with those who say they are an ugly nuisance, but haven't missed the irony in the fact that many of their most vehement detractors are the same people who bemoan the creeping loss of that very same low-rise profile that encourages their deployment.

On the other hand I could never quite feel the rage against Times Square-styled graphics and other signage in definitely commercial districts of a city; in fact under certain circumstances they add to the charm and excitement. Many midcentury photographs of Times Square show the neon Planters Peanuts sign--nowhere else was such a humble product given such an elaborate and flashy buildup!

It is actually replacing neither of them. It is being built in between the brown squat and the regent theater. They have been working on it since I moved down here, I do not know what was there before construction began, perhaps a parking lot or something...

According to what I have heard, the building on the south east is an SRO, el cheapo apartment place. If that is true, then damn...thats an awesome place to live on the cheapside.


Oh and before I forget...Brack Shops. A before and after (before they put in the chandelier, and after)

Taken awhile back in december
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...io-/brack1.jpg

Taken this morning
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...io-/brack2.jpg
Photos by me.

They are still doing some work further in the back...

:previous: Wonderful photos of the Brack Shops chandelier and ceiling Horthos.
The interior is much more elaborate than I expected. I wonder what has survived on the upper floors.

The Brack Shops with an impressive vertical sign (looking west on 7th).

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6...ops1938usc.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1327384242832

A beautiful image of the Brack Shops at Christmas time.


http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/2...rnodateusc.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1327384507764

Much to my surprise there were two vertical signs advertising the Brack Shops.


http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1...verticalsi.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1327385210083

The front still looks the same as it has for quite some time, the big hideous cheese grater thing is still there covering up the original facade. I walk by every day or two, so as soon as I see some form of progress, I will post pictures.

I am not sure if its been covered here or not, but the demolition of the wilshire grand hotel is going to happen soon, I heard late spring/early summer. As much as I dislike the building for its rather boring look, I still see no reason why they have to knock it down, its still a perfectly fine functional building, and there are plenty of parking lots that can be built on.

And if you have no idea what I am on about at all, they plan on building some big shiny thing. Thats the best way to describe it. Heres a link.

http://wilshiregrandredevelopment.com/

Apparently this will make LA more interesting, according to the suit dummies who do not live here and have no idea what interesting is.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...mktbiggest.jpgGoogle Books

As you can see, this beautiful building--referred to in some places as the Torrance Market (not sure why)--houses
Young's Market Co. and the precursor to Safeway, the Sam Seelig Co. Young's gave up retail in 1940 and is still
going as a SoCal food distributor; the Safeway name was adopted in 1925.

The building was at 843-853 S. Spring...the two tall buildings at left still stand; of those two, the one on the right
is the Blackstone building.

For years as I've lived and worked in Hollywood and L.A.'s Westside, I've taken walks through the neighborhoods. One of the things that has always fascinated me on these walks are the stamps in the concrete left there by the Contractor. When I lived in Venice, the stamps were dated back to the 20's. Now that I live here in Westchester (by the airport), most of the stamps are post war, 46-50 or so. Just to start things off, I'll post a few I took on my corner because they are replacing the old curb with a new wheelchair friendly one. And gone will be a few stamps. So I thought I'd run out and snap them today. Here's my street with it's stamp there at the bottom.

[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6...590248af_b.jpg IMG_1737 by KevinWCuts, on Flickr[/IMG]

As you can see, the sidewalk was laid in 1946 (or is that an 8?) by J.A. Thompson, Contractor and inspected on Jan 14, 1946 by R.Lawrence.

[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6...cef6e9de_b.jpg IMG_1736 by KevinWCuts, on Flickr[/IMG]

Funny thing is, the corner wasn't laid until 4 years later by, J.A. Thompson and Son. Here's the corner that's being replaced:

[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6...6d44a459_b.jpg IMG_1739 by KevinWCuts, on Flickr[/IMG]

And the stamps on the edges:

[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6...4abb7c6e_b.jpg IMG_1738 by KevinWCuts, on Flickr[/IMG]

I guess the concrete business got huge in the post war years so J.A. Thompson got his son into the family biz.

[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6...2170c804_b.jpg IMG_1740 by KevinWCuts, on Flickr[/IMG]

Goodbye old corner of Georgetown and 85th Pl. At least now you'll be handycapable.

[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6...7c275b5a_b.jpg IMG_1741 by KevinWCuts, on Flickr[/IMG]

I had no idea The Ambassador Hotel covered 22 acres!


http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/7...ertisement.jpg
found on ebay









http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5...ertisement.jpg
found on ebay

An interesting photograph from 1927. I'm fascinated by this women for some reason.

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6...ummerland1.jpg
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/F...olNumber=41764

Woman in front of the Isham house in Summerland, on the ocean, built in 1927. Designed by George Washington Smith in the Islamic style. View is of the courtyard area with glimpses of the building on each side

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...2520PM.bmp.jpgRobert Inman

Said to be an original color shot of the Simons at Wilshire and Fairfax. Gorgeous.

:previous: Wow...that's really nice G_W!
I'm guessing that there was also 'movement' in the neon as well. I don't know the correct terminology.....traveling lights?
I can visualize the horizontal bands of neon on the center pylon progressing skyward.

Young's Market Co. in Los Angeles is over on Central now, between 5th and 6th. According to their website, they dropped the food distribution line
and handle only wine and spirits now. :cheers:

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9837/youngs.jpg
Google Street View

Anyone know if this plaque still exists in the Fort Moore Hill area?


http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5...hillplaque.jpg
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/F...olNumber=62351




If it's not long buried...it would be somewhere in the area of LAUD #9 High School of Visual & Performing Arts (see below).

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/8...usdnumber9.jpg
http://elseplace.blogspot.com/2009/0...or-visual.html






below: LAUSD #9 is on the right.

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/3276/boz1lausd1a.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewmalick/3193367462/

....on the left is the Cathedral of 'Our Lady of the Angels'.

_____