It looks very different today.

Very interesting photos, ethereal. In 1939, this area was changed when the City built the Temple Street overpass over Figueroa, creating the first diamond interchange in southern California and perhaps the west coast. Flower Street no longer reaches Temple, it was truncated in the 1960s because of Bunker Hill redevelopment.

The intersection of Figueroa and Temple was prominently featured in the 1964 Bette Davis film "Dead Ringer." In the film you can even see the DWP building under construction.

Here are some photos of the intersection, courtesy LAPL:

1939, construction of the Temple St. overpass
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics44/00041869.jpg

Here is the completed overpass shown in December, 1939:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics24/00031889.jpg

The overpass still exists in all its Art Moderne glory. However everything else around it looks nothing like this picture now.

^^^Wow...that's some great information sopas_ej.

Only in L.A. could a fairly nondescript intersection be so interesting. :)

Check out Bette as Margaret in front of Edie's...not to mention the overpass and the DWP under construction. (Wait until 1:39 seconds.):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNqH...ayer_embedded#

Peggy Lee's L.A. song is great.

This is fun, too:

http://www.sweep.net/steve/Dead%20Ringers.htm

^^^Those are two great links GaylordWilshire. :)

These two photographs really show the immensity of Park La Brea.



Below: Park La Brea in 1954.


http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2...rea1954loo.jpg
ucla archive






Below: Park La Brea in 1954.


http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/627...abrea1954a.jpg
ucla archive





Something doesn't look right.........is one of these photos flipped? Help.
(Corrected, thanks to GaylordWilshire)

This is a mystery slide I found on ebay. I believe it's the leveling of Bunker Hill.




http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1...unkerposs1.jpg
ebay

Hollywood and Vine with a Melody Lane 'ghost' sign. I believe this is 1949.



http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9...dvine1949h.jpg
unknown

Another mystery slide labeled Los Angeles with no date or details.


http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/3...tteningbun.jpg
ebay

I take minor exception to the Wikipedia article regarding Park La Brea. To me, it has always seemed to be the only housing project of its kind that has NOT fallen into tenement status. Even at its supposed nadir in the 1970's-1980's, it was always physically well-kept, and the neighborhood has always been considered desirable.

I lived in the Miracle Mile district (still my favorite neighborhood in L.A.) from about 1991-1997, and from then until now, Park La Brea rents have always started just above my price range -- and these days, they peak in the mid-4-figure range. Moreover, neither I nor any Angeleno I know of has ever referred to Park La Brea as "the projects".

I would gladly correct the Wikipedia article, but of course I don't have specific references to support any of this.

The bottom pic is flipped.

ok...thanks, I'll change it.

That's the corner of Broadway and 1st, looking SW

That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure. I appreciate the help GaylordWilshire.

An elevated bicycle path from Pasadena to Los Angeles circa 1900.


http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2...dbicycletr.jpg
unknown

And here's another view of the elevated bike path from Pasadena to Los Angeles.
I believe this one was labeled pre-arroyo seco parkway.



http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8...niacyclewa.jpg
usc

Colorado Blvd in Pasadena around 1930.




http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/582...acoloradob.jpg
usc digital archive






Below: The Pasadena Athletic Club in 1929.



http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1...aathleticc.jpg
usc digital archive


Does this building still exist?

Unfortunately it does not. It's one of the buildings that was torn down in the name of "redevelopment," and in its place the horrible Plaza Pasadena shopping mall was built and opened in 1980. In 2001 or 2002 the Plaza Pasadena was demolished and in its place is now the Paseo Colorado mixed-use development; a better development than what it replaced, but of course it's not a replacement for the nice old buildings that were torn down.

Well that's a disappointment, but I appreciate the info sopas_ej.

The thread has been a bit moribund lately. :(
So keep checking back for more photos.

I still have thousands of photographs yet to post.

:previous:

I've been kinda thinking the same thing. I've been wanting to post some photos but I've been really busy lately with other things (though I notice I've been posting on other threads on these forums) being that I have funky work hours, and hehe I've been trying to cut down on my internet use at work.

I'll look for some photos to post when I get home from work tonight. I know there should be PLENTY. :)

I really like the color pic you posted of Park La Brea under construction; I'm thinking of figuring out where that vantage point is and maybe doing a before and after pic.

Sopas_ej, I like your idea for a before/after photo of Park La Brea.
My next project is to post before/after photographs of Sunset Blvd.



Years ago, I lived just south of Sunset on Hancock between Santa Monica & Holloway.
There were a trio of bungalows and I lived in the back half of the first bungalow (see below).



http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8...alowisseen.jpg
unknown



Above: This is a view north from Santa Monica Blvd., you can barely make out the three bungalows
behind the construction site and in FRONT of the larger apartment building. There is a square construction
trailer to the right of the 3 bungalows (ignore this).


I have no idea what this construction project is. I'm just amazed the three bungalows are still there. Out of sight, and to north of that apartment building are another six bungalows owned by the same lumber yard. I certainly hope they are still there. They were a classic example of 'Day of the Locust' architecture. Also, there was a red brick fire house on the opposite side (east side) of Hancock.
And directly across the street from my bungalow was the 'Golden Mermaid' apartment building (1950s).

If any of you are in this area I'd love to see some photographs. :)

:previous:
I just may take you up on that. ;) I see you used to live near that newsstand and Numbers Bar. The construction site is actually now done; it's a mixed-use development with residences and ground-floor retail. It's actually a nice development, in my opinion.

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

1952, 9098 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. Garage fire. Looking this up on Google maps, this is diagonally across the street from the Troubadour. This site is now a parking lot.
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/150...8santamoni.jpg
USC archive

1952, fire victim, fire at 8702 1/2 Rosewood Avenue.
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7...woodavenue.jpg
USC archive

1958, bomb goes off in apartment at 1034 1/2 Hilldale Avenue. Dorothy Adamson, 28, was dining at a nearby cafe when the bomb exploded.
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1...uedorothya.jpg
USC archive

^^^Those are VERY intriguing photographs sopas_ej.

I'd love to know the details about Dorothy's close call with of all things a BOMB!?!!
Her look is absolutely fascinating to me. There's a typewriter, I wonder if she was a writer?
She reminds me of a good friend of mine.

That would be great if you check out Hancock Street the next time you're in the area.
If I remember correctly the 'Golden Mermaid' Apartments actually had a mermaid on the facade.
And the firehouse was great looking as well. It was still in use when I lived there.

OK, the whole Hancock Street subject started because I was trying to convey why I was intrigued by Sunset Boulevard (it was nearby).




Ciro's nightclub was located at 8433 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.


http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/1...1941detail.jpg
ucla detail


Formerly the Club Seville, which featured a glass dance floor over a pool filled with fish,
it opened in 1940 and closed in 1959. During this time it was one of the most famous nightclubs in the world.





Below: James Dean and friend at Ciro's in August 1955.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/709...august1955.jpg
upi/pla




http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4372/la0310ciros.jpg
snap ebay






http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5...warnerbros.jpg
warner bros. cartoon




Below: Here is a1941 view of Ciro's a year after it's opening.


http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9...41hugeucla.jpg
usc







Below: Here is a view of the club in 1947.

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/468...nsetstriph.jpg
usc digital archive




Below: Here is a contemporary view of Ciro's reincarnated as The Comedy Store (quite famous as well).




http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8...avemcgowan.jpg
Dave McGowan/Davesblog






http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5...daylindsay.jpg
Lindsay Shah



http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2...ndsayshahf.jpg
Lindsay Shah




http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/1...medystorew.jpg
wikipedia

The Villa Nova Italian Restaurant at 9015 Sunset Blvd.
This is where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had their first date in 1953.



http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9...ova1950rai.jpg
usc digital archive

The Villa Nova today as the Rainbow Bar & Grill.


http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8...wasvillano.jpg
CENtral_1179 flickr



http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7...ainbowroxy.jpg
lindsay shah


Above: Next I'll posted a before/after photo of the black building to the right of the Rainbow Bar & Grill.

Hey Mark, you still there? Sorry it took me so long to reply to your question but I've been away from this thread for a long time. Well, maybe you'll come back and check it once and a while...

212 South Grand was the Frontenac, an upscale hotel & apartments--the tall, white, long building in the background, on the east side of Grand, in the image that ethereal_reality posted.

It was a magnificent place in the teens. It had been opened in October of '05 and and'd been erected by O. E. Engstrum, who put up only the finest establishments. It was 60x145' on a 110x165' lot. Engstrum left 35' to the south to give plenty of light and sun to the Frontenac, and from its roof garden, four stories above the crest of Bunker Hill, it commanded the finest views over the city. It cost 50k to build, which was a fortune then (and while that's only 1.2 million adjusted to our dollars, that's not adjusted to what it takes to build quality work!)...

Its 190 apartments, all two to four rooms with bath, were furnished with $35,000 worth of furniture. In 1909 it sold for $200,000. Now, if you wanna talk Bunker Hill downturn, in a 1939 WPA census, the property was valued at $60,000.

The pensioners were "relocated" (sounds like they were put into camps) and it was demolished in 1962. In an article from January of that year (which states that, by 1970, the Bunker Hill project would be completed, covered in thirty and forty story towers for urban work and living), "Under the agency's demolition program, the latest building to go is the old Frontenac Hotel Apartment, a four-story boxlike structure at 212 S Grand Ave. Its tenants were cleared out not long ago and wrecking crews moved in. Now daylight shows through the upper floors where workmen are tearing at is insides."

Here's an image from aught-nine, and one from the mid-late '50s.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/...fa1207fb_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/...52757ce0_o.jpg

I think there are so few pictures of it because it was across the street from the Dome, and everyone loved to shoot that, turning their back on the poor Frontenac. Its exact location, should you ever want to visit, was 120' south of Second St. Roughly between the entrance of Coulbourn and MOCA.

Now, here's a shot from the glory days of Bunker Hill "gone to seed," 1953:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/...77d019c5_o.jpg

The Frontenac can be seen in basically every ubiquitous shot of BH taken from the top of City Hall (uh, except for those after 1962, of course). In this shot, that intersection at the bottom left is Olive and Second, and Second runs up to Grand. And there sits the unmistakable Dome. Across from the Dome, and a little ways over to the left there, that big guy is the Frontenac.

Anyway, that's where Daniel and May were, on top of the world!

Beaudry: I found your post to be very interesting, even though it was Mark L's grandfather who started all this! ;)

Ethereal: Regarding your interest in Sunset Blvd -- a very long time ago, I was a very casual acquaintance with a person who would eventually write the book on Sunset Blvd! Or at least, write a book on Sunset Blvd...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...2L._SS500_.jpg

It's still available at Amazon. Maybe you already own it!

Last year she started a blog about Los Angeles locales, but unfortunately she seems to have abandoned it. The site is still up, though.

^^^Her book sounds interesting...I'll have to check it out Johnny_Socko.




Below: A great photo of the Sunset Strip in the 1950s.


http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7...llowaysaha.jpg
found on ebay


Above: I believe the showgirl atop the billboard rotated.
I have no idea what she has in her hand....it looks like a football......or a whoopie cushion.

:previous: Wow, that is a fine slide. I'm guessing it's a cowboy(girl) hat. Though it looks more like a book or a pamphlet of some sort. She's going to deliver a lecture against sin. One of those WCTU broads, and giving you a knee in the groin at the same time!

:previous:

I'm looking at that lineup at the Sahara: Martha Raye, Louis Prima and Keely Smith... wow!

That is a great pic. That billboard is adjacent to where Miyagi's is now, and of course for years, the Marlboro man billboard used to be adjacent to that.

WOW - Pacific Electric 1914 Training Film
 

Sorry to deviate from the "noir" theme yet again, but I thought everyone might be interested in this: The "Hidden Los Angeles" Facebook group posted a link to a Pacific Electric motorman training film from 1914. Sadly, the archivists were only able to preserve about 8 minutes of what was probably a 20-30 minute film, but I still think it's really cool. There's even a pretty impressive stunt near the end!

Link: http://hiddenlosangeles.com/?p=6761

Anyone else familiar with Hidden Los Angeles? I only came across it today, and it deals mostly with little-known dining, retail and sightseeing spots; L.A. history (called "Flashbacks") seems to be only one small part of the site. Am I way behind the curve on this?

http://hiddenlosangeles.com/wp-conte...how/image1.jpg

^^^That link to the Pacific Electric training film is great.
I especially like that they show the old Fletcher Viaduct.

Here's another great billboard photo from 1974. I believe it's the same billboard as the Sahara billboard in post #827.



http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/964...74chinatow.jpg
unknown/someone emailed me this great photo


"Chinatown" is one of my favorite movies, so I let out an audible 'gasp' when I first saw this photo.

The "Hollywood" Sign

Of course it originally said "HOLLYWOODLAND."
http://jpg1.lapl.org/spnb01/00007123.jpg
lapl.org

Today (2.14.10) I took a picture of the Hollywood sign because it was altered, to promote the preservation of the land around it. Apparently, long ago, Howard Hughes originally owned the land near the sign and wanted to build some kind of mansion or something on it, but it never happened. The fact that he owned it was forgotten, until a Chicago-based developer bought it some years ago in the hopes of building 5 luxury homes near the Hollywood sign. This brought attention to the area, I guess many, including the City of LA, thought it was publicly owned land. So, money is being raised so that the City of LA can buy the land and it'll be preserved once and for all.
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4505/p1090878m.jpg
Photo by me

Security has been tight around the Hollywood sign for a while now. But for decades, it used to be that sometimes the Hollywood sign would be altered as a prank, or to promote movies, or whatever.

1983
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics44/00041596.jpg
lapl.org

1983
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics44/00041597.jpg
lapl.org

1988, "Buckle Up America!" week
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics44/00041600.jpg
lapl.org

1983, Naval Academy prank
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics44/00041599.jpg
lapl.org

^^^Some fun stuff there sopas_ej. :)

Speaking of the Hollywood sign, here is the rarely seen Millennium Celebrations where the Hollywood sign was lit. I clearly remember this because it was raining and NO ONE showed up.

• Video Link
• Video Link

WOW! Beaudry, Thank You!

This means a lot to me. (Nice to know they rented "upscale".) I was there a week ago just walking around. As a musician, it is right across from my mecca, Disney Hall. What a cool connection. Thanks again.

(If someone can tell me how to post a pic, I'll post his 1918 draft registration showing the address)

Mark

Schwab's Pharmacy at Sunset Blvd. and Crescent Heights.



http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/4...esentheigh.jpg
usc digital archive



I believe that's Lana Turner in the doorway. ;)

http://laist.com/2009/03/21/laistory_schwabs.php

Here's another photo of the elevated path from Pasadena to Los Angeles.
The building on the right looks interesting with it's exotic turrets. I'm guessing the sign reads Pasadena Grand Opera?




http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6...dbicyclepa.jpg
usc digital archive

Another great firehouse photo. This one at Aliso & San Pedro.
The building to the right with the advertisements is pretty cool too.

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1...sosanpedro.jpg
usc digital archive






Below: Aerial of Aliso at Los Angeles, San Pedro & Alameda Streets. 1936
The firehouse should be there somewhere, but I can't find it. :(



http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1138/11aliso2.jpg
usc digital archive

The only information on this photo was downtown Los Angeles 1919.

I like the foreground, with the connected billboards and cabin-like structures (motor court possibly).


http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8...losang1919.jpg
cal state

I meant to say thanks when you posted this before. This was a great find...I had never heard of it before. And even though it's "just" a bike path, it's still a pretty impressive structure considering the distance.

Did any of our "regulars" know about the elevated bike path before? Amazing how some pretty considerable things from our history can crop-up like this.

^^^That's how I felt when I started coming across photographs of the elevated bike path.
I wondered how I had never heard of it before. Like you said Johnny Socko, a path from Pasadena to Los Angeles is no small feat.

Seventh & Santee, downtown L.A. (no date)



http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7...andsanteed.jpg
usc digital archive

Downtown L.A Mystery
 

I see people are asking about historical buildings. I have a bit of a mystery that I'd like to solve if possible.

Below are a couple of pics of what appears to be a section of rail tracks. This was taken on the west side of the 3rd street tunnel. I thought this was the original location for Angels Flight before it was moved. However, all documentation on it states that it was on the east side of the 3rd street tunnel.

Does anyone know what this is? If not, could you point me in the right direction?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/...3be0b352e9.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/...9a1af3f594.jpg

Attack on L.A.?
 

This could be from a series of balloon bombs where the Japanese used the jet stream (largely unknown at the time) to attack us. The U.S. military kept the attack quiet so the Japanese wouldn't know that the balloons were successful and would stop as a result. It worked. However, there are still balloon bombs that have safely landed in rural parts that have not exploded yet. A few have been discovered. Several years ago, a young boy was badly injured when a slight touch set it off.

^^^Very interesting garfield.
I knew that a few Japanese balloon bombs succeeded in reaching the northwest (killing several people).
But I was unaware of this happening in the Los Angeles vicinity.

It's interesting to me to see this block at First, Broadway and Hill cleared and excavated like this, because today, a half-century later, it's now excavated out again after the razing of the State Building #2. (And all within my own lifetime, too. That's a bit scary.)

Anyway, what I'm curious about are the buildings that were torn down in the mid-'50s on that west side of Broadway. Here's one of my favorite old L.A. postcards showing the intersection of First and Broadway, looking south from the first Times Building at that location (the one that was bombed in 1910). Note the date written on it... about a year-and-a-half before the "Crime Of The Century."

https://otters.net/img/lanoir/broadw...tlinda_sky.jpg

Sometimes, in my searches through the online archives, I'm lucky enough to find the original photograph that was used for a particular postcard. I've never been able to find this one, though. Have you ever seen it, Ethereal? (If anyone could have found it, I'm sure it would be you.) ;)

Also, do you have a closer photo of that west side of Broadway south of First? I've always been curious to see the "Resturaunt" that is referred to in Linda's postcard. See how the written word points to a spot under the last gable on that corner building? I've found plenty of pictures of that building showing its back as viewed from First Street Hill, but none at all from the front, or the rest of that block for that matter.

In case you're curious, here is the reverse of the postcard:

https://otters.net/img/lanoir/broadw...da_rev_sky.jpg

Note the return address: 741 W. Temple Street. Wouldn't that be on the north side of Temple near the intersection with Flower and Figueroa, that was also discussed earlier in this thread? I've never found a picture of that side of the street, either...

Aside: I wonder what "Linda" would think to see her postcard being shown and discussed on a world-wide forum a whole century after she wrote it! It's probably the only identifiable object she ever owned that survived her...

-Scott

Police watching every intersection
 

I think we're getting back to this again...Red light cameras!! : |

Great posts!! I love these photos. It's taking me a long time to go through all of them; but it's WELL worth spending the time.

:notacrook:

Scott- Interesting ruminations in your post. I like the postcard and Linda's sweet simple message.
And to answer your question, No...I haven't come across the original photograph of that postcard. :(

And garfield, I'm glad you're enjoying the thread.
I hope you keep coming back to it now and again.


Concerning the "Crime of the Century" (the Times Building bombing).
It used to confuse me that some photos of the Times Building had the crenelated tower and others did not.
Recently, I read somewhere that the tower was an addition to the building AFTER the bombing.
Does anyone know, is this correct?

I'll dig up some of the photos I have.

LAP, don't feel bad; you've already contributed so much.