1891
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...UBCE8T6Q22.jpgC.St.Lib

While we're at it, can we identify the Hollywood VIPs caricatured on the upper reaches of the walls? I see Carl Laemmle astride a globe (Universal) and Louis B. Mayer next to a lion (MGM), Chico and Groucho Marx, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Boyer, and what is probably Jimmy Durante. The female stars are a little harder to decipher. The blonde to the right of Chaplin could be Carole Lombard or Constance Bennett.

Anyone want to take a stab at identifying the rest?

Engine Company 29 by the looks of it, and its their training tower

http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/pho...o29-02_516.jpg

http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/FS029_1913-1991.htm

I think that tower is for drying hoses.

Cheers,

Earl

The front end of this truck looks different.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/8...0ea3b46f_b.jpg

1914 Renault
http://www.oldcarandtruckpictures.co...4_Dr_Sedan.jpgThe ODDS and SODS

http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Ren...-10-AI-a01.jpg

Radiator.
http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Ren...V-10-AI_04.jpgConceptcarz

http://www.autogallery.org.ru/k/r/14...e_Dynotrak.jpgOltimerpicturegallery

Very unusual to have a French truck in LA in 1924. Turns out it was an American knock off.

Station 29 in 1914.
http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/pho...o29-02_516.jpgLAFIRE.COM
1991
http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/pho...mPhoto_516.jpgLAFIRE.COM

Here is Station 29 today.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8455/8...f4912ef8_b.jpgGE

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/8...2cd5ce45_b.jpgGE

Is that the stump of the tower in that first Google shot?

Northbound trip on Western Avenue in mid '20s posed an interesting slice of LA pie! (some are reposts)


North from Washington Blvd, ca '24
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...T-STR-040?v=hr

North from Wilshire Boulevard, ca. '24
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-9041?v=hrhttp://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-9045?v=hr

North from 1st Street, ca. '24
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-9036?v=hr

North from 6th Street, ca. '24
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...A61A7C1E9?v=hr


North from 7th Street, '24 Very much like the overhead intersection lighting!
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-9042?v=hr From USC Digital

Very cool that this building still exists, I didn't expect that. Its adaptive reuse into retail is great, I just wish it could have been done in such a way that the building's former life as a fire station could be visible, and celebrated.

Looks like there is enough still there that it could be done. It would mostly require the removal of the added elements, and getting creative with signage.

Interesting read. Station set record for 75 years continuous use. Was built before city supplied water so the pumpers filled from "hot" Beverly Blvd and Oxford - mineral spring. Nearby Bimini Slough, ring a [fire]bell?

Station responsible for extinguishing 9th floor fire at American Storage in '44.

http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/pho...istie_1500.gif

http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/pho...ation_1500.gif

http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/pho...29-01_1500.jpg

http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/pho...wc-02_1500.jpg

1991 Closure
http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/pho...Photo_1500.jpg http://lafire.com/stations/FS029/FS029_1913-1991.htm

:previous: Great posts on fire station 29 (and noticing that Renault truck was pretty cool).
It's amazing how this little stretch of S. Western Ave. turned out to be so interesting.

Another survivor is this fine building with the two bay windows opposite the fire station.

http://imageshack.us/a/img831/6146/aafireproofa1.jpg
usc




http://imageshack.us/a/img338/9568/a...ndowsurviv.jpg
google street view

__

There is a large roof sign on the left (west) side of the street. "Commercial" and "Savings." Looks like "Hollywood," but maybe not.

What business is being advertised?

:previous:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B...2520PM.bmp.jpgLAPL

:previous:Thank you

Western Avenue intersects with Santa Barbara Avenue, ca., '24 Hellman Bank
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...ACBF83302?v=hrUSC Digital

Sad time. Notation refers to "enemy aliens," without defining the term.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...ARDA-3-26?v=hrhttp://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...RDA-3-26v?v=hrUSC Digital

Model of post WWII- Downtown LA
 

Perhaps this is a little off-topic, but I know it will be of interest to those here. A man who grew up in LA, and has retired to Idaho, has built a model of the downtown of his youth in his basement, as a hobby.

http://www.spokesman.com/photos/2012/oct/06/178462/
The Spokesman Review- Kathy Plonka

Article: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/201...-shape-in-cda/

Interesting article, unfortunately though lacking in photos!

Hmmm, the image didn't post. Let me try it again:

http://media.spokesman.com/photos/20...c121cdf327258d
The Spokesman Review- Kathy Plonka

A page out of a photo album. (I've been having problems recently reducing my images on imageshack...sorry)

http://imageshack.us/a/img87/3029/aa...eenforaday.jpg
ebay

I didn't realize 'Queen for a Day' was broadcast from Earl Carrolls. The box of DUZ detergent must have been one of the prizes.

Not all survivors can be runway models
 

Originally posted by ethereal reality Great posts on fire station 29 (and noticing that Renault truck was pretty cool).
It's amazing how this little stretch of S. Western Ave. turned out to be so interesting.

Another survivor is this fine building with the two bay windows opposite the fire station.

http://imageshack.us/a/img831/6146/aafireproofa1.jpg
usc

http://imageshack.us/a/img338/9568/a...ndowsurviv.jpg
google street view

It looks as though there are some other survivors here, as well. Mundane....but still there. Possibly the hardware store on the left of the building with the bay windows, and certainly the two buildings on the right. Notice that the second building has the same white stonework running up the side, as pointed out by the red arrow.
http://imageshack.us/a/img84/4641/survivors2.jpg
Why do I always find the ugly ducklings?........sighhhh

A former cable power house at 7th and Grand was the Los Angeles Post Office in the 1900s.


http://imageshack.us/a/img201/371/aa...906at7thst.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img580/9951/a...9067thgran.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1349747441161

__

Actually, your finding isn't mundane at all, let alone an ugly duckling Albany NY. Isn't this the same building? It's from the same time period.

*The more I look at it, I'm not sure this is the same building.

http://imageshack.us/a/img253/4152/aafireproof2a.jpg
google street view



below: The details of this building are amazing. It must have been a real jewel back in the day.

http://imageshack.us/a/img690/2981/aafireproof2b.jpg
google street view

__

The Navarro Apartment Hotel, 925 South Alvarado.

http://imageshack.us/a/img690/5029/aanavarro1.jpg
ebay


The Navarro today.

http://imageshack.us/a/img856/8656/aanavarrotoday.jpg
google street view




below: The Navarro is actually much larger than I first thought as shown in this aerial.

http://imageshack.us/a/img706/7251/aanavarroaerial.jpg
google earth

__

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...hereisthis.jpg


Is this building with arrow the frontside of the backside?

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...flight1926.jpg

If I had read ethereal reality's earlier post I would have had my question answered, thanks.

Building with peaked roof still stands, barely.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/8...90144ee4_b.jpgGE

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8...73a01802_b.jpgGE

Within Godzilla's wonderful post I added some modern day views.

The domed building in the lower left corner of the photo is indeed the Embassy Hotel and Auditorium, the domed building to the right is the RKO Theatre located on the corner of 9th and Hill. Indeed, if you look very closely you can read "RKO" on both the back of the fly wall and the south side of the building!
I have two images of the RKO that I would like to add to your thread, but unsure how to post them.[/QUOTE]

Google Earth can help with then and now pictures. Love looking at the changes.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8...172339d9_b.jpgGE

:previous:Masterful effort rcarlton!
Mixed feelings seeing the contemporary images. Remodels are not always improvements.:hmmm:


Recent post - a few blocks away at 731 N Western
http://imageshack.us/a/img266/8480/a...turesdecof.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img266/8480/a...turesdecof.jpg

1964
http://digitalcollections.lmu.edu/ut...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://digitalcollections.lmu.edu/ut...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://digitalcollections.lmu.edu/ut...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://digitalcollections.lmu.edu/ut...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://digitalcollections.lmu.edu

Google Earth. Used two churches in lower right to key on.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8458/8...595edfdc_b.jpgGE

Today:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/8...eea945b1_b.jpgGE

That building was See's original candy factory...

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=6066

:previous:..to go from See's to a BAIT shop. :(

It's still fixable.

Looks like an empty shell with a porta potti.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/8...a4e795a1_b.jpgGE

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

A 1923 ad.... The building still stands. Here are a few recent shots:


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z...2520PM.bmp.jpg

Images above and below are from Bing Maps... if you move one notch north, it becomes Public Storage, which I presume is the newer incarnation:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K...2520PM.bmp.jpg

The aerial below is from Google--notice the route of the Pacific Electric Air Line spur:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...2520PM.bmp.jpg


A note on Bing Maps: After a lot of finagling, you can come up with different aerial angles. However, using Bing stopped my computer cold, so beware.

Seems like a very secure building - in 1924!

http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org

Bekins Pico and Crenshaw pre-'33
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...XTN15K8KLF.jpgCal.St.Lib

"Same as it ever was . . . ?" better than most!
http://www.publicstorage.com/images/...eshow_full.jpghttp://laist.com/attachments/la_kemp...f79f3aa5-1.jpggooglehttp://la.curbed.com/uploads/2007-04-uglystorage.jpglacurbed

below: Here's a wider view of the 'spur'. I've circled GaylordWilshire's storage warehouse in red.

http://imageshack.us/a/img222/2733/a...vdspurline.jpg
google earth

In the past did this rather lengthy 'spur' continue west on Exposition Boulevard?

__





The empty swaths of land left by this old 'spur' is amazing. You could land a small airplane there!

http://imageshack.us/a/img641/1018/a...onblvdspur.jpg
google earth

So who owns this land now? The city of Los Angeles?

__

I found a couple more images of the Hershey Arms at 2600 Wilshire. Is that a sign on the tower or part of the architectural ornament?

http://imageshack.us/a/img31/605/aahersheyarms1pc.jpg
ebay




below: A rare view of the opulent interior.

http://imageshack.us/a/img201/9739/a...eyarmshuge.jpg
ebay



http://imageshack.us/a/img21/5401/aa...yarmsebay1.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vint-PC-Hers...-/261026475392

An earlier post by GaylordWilshire also included this photo.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=4770
__

If the term "spur" comes from the advertisement, it may have been merely a term of art used just for the ad and brevity. They might have used "branch" too. It could have started out as a short "spur" line and grew with the city, or a big spur to accommodate freight rather than passengers.

Hard to say who has ownership of strip. Tax rolls might provide insight. Since portions are in use and others not, it is possible for many owners/lessors/licensees.

:previous: Thanks for the information Godzilla.
__



A tourist's snapshot of the RKO Studios soundstage on the corner of Melrose Ave. and Gower Street.

http://imageshack.us/a/img338/7623/la0226rkosnap.jpg
ebay



below: The soundstage today...now part of Paramount Studios.

http://imageshack.us/a/img29/78/aarkotoday.jpg





below: Another tourist's snapshot. Notice the lightning bolts at the top of the RKO tower.

http://imageshack.us/a/img833/5445/aarkosnap2.jpg
ebay





The lightning bolts symbolize Morse code.

http://imageshack.us/a/img708/9699/aarkoyoutube.jpg
click on this link to see and hear (in morse code) the RKO logo in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzeqLo_BGNo




And finally, a beautiful RPPC.

http://imageshack.us/a/img193/1820/aarkogreatrppc.jpg
ebay

You just gotta love old Hollywood! :)

___

:previous: Nice post on Milliron's BRR. I wasn't aware of 'The Famous Department Store'.
__



below: Interesting 6 wheel truck.

http://imageshack.us/a/img9/5228/pclatruckk2.jpg
ebay
__

Any idea whether the "Simons" known mostly for automobile accommodations is the same as "Simons Cafe?" The script is slightly different, and the 1936 directory listings suggest there were several "Simon's Lunch Rooms." Apostrophe? http://rescarta.lapl.org:8080/ResCar...=0&search_doc= Additional locations 1942: http://rescarta.lapl.org:8080/ResCar...=0&search_doc=

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics18/00008803.jpg lapl

http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0

http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org/utils/ajax...XT=&DMROTATE=0http://hdl.huntington.org


1933 Simon[']s interior - unknown location

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...XC3DNRESFG.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...UID7KYCXIS.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...UG6IK1CSJD.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...FCDSIXIXR6.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...11I3CNMF2B.jpgC/St.Lib

1940s?
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...H94D4EBK3N.jpgc.st.lib.

_________________

'40s
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics07/00013346.jpg

undated
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics07/00013344.jpg


1930
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics39/00069485.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics07/00013345.jpglapl

1922 Melrose at bottom
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics08/00013521.jpg Previous 5 from lapl

I don't think it has been mentioned before but I stumbled onto a forum thread at POTN (Photography on the net) dedicated to LA.

I think MTA owns the land, they bought the whole Air Line ROW. Awhile ago, there was talk of using the part east of Figueroa to connect to the Blue Line, but in the end, they just built the Expo Line as it exists today. I haven't heard about them selling the unused part of the ROW, though.

Color images of LA from the 1940's from the Library of Congress.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34704v.jpg
Activity in the Santa Fe R.R. yard, Los Angeles, Calif. Due to blackout regulations, flood lights, switch lights, locomotive headlights and lights on the bridge in background have been shaded to cast light downward. Broad streaks of light are caused by paths of locomotive headlights, thin wavy lines by lamps of switchmen working in the yard. Santa Fe R.R. trip

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a35319v.jpg

P-51 ("Mustang") fighter plane in construction, North American Aviation, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a35356v.jpg
Women workers install fixtures and assemblies to a tail fuselage section of a B-17F bomber at the Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif. Better known as the "Flying Fortress," the B-17F is a later model of the B-17 which distinguished itself in action in the South Pacific, over Germany and elsewhere. It is a long range, high altitude heavy bomber, with a crew of seven to nine men, and with armament sufficient to defend itself on daylight missions.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a35343v.jpg
Girl worker at lunch also absorbing California sunshine, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a35303v.jpg
On North American's outdoor assembly line, a painter cleans the tail section of a P-51 fighter prior to spraying the olive-drab camouflage of the U.S. Army, N[orth] A[merican] Aviation, Inc., Inglewood, Calif.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a35366v.jpgAll from theLibrary of Congress

Students at Washington High School at class, training for specific contributions to the war effort, Los Angeles, Calif.