I really love the Brandon Hall Apartments and the 'IHOP' building at n/w corner of Wilshire & Hauser. Thanks for pointing them out G_W.

I am shocked the El Mirador is empty. I thought it was probably one of the most sought after addresses in West Hollywood.
Years ago I was able to visit one of the upper apartments when a friend was house sitting. The apartment was beautiful with pure white walls...hardwood floors and 20 foot ceilings (well...it seemed like 20 feet...remember I'm pretty short :) ).

_____


I finally figured out the location of this slide that I found on ebay quite some time ago.
(I thought I might have posted this photo before but I couldn't find it in any of my searches).

http://a.imageshack.us/img832/9007/s...killetebay.jpg
slide/ebay

I decided to concentrate on the building that appears behind the restaurant. At first I thought the building was part of Columbia Square so I began searching Sunset and the 'gower gulch' area. It turns out the mystery building is located on the Sunset Gower Studios lot (formerly Columbia Studios).


http://a.imageshack.us/img825/7433/sneighbor.jpg



below: Dillon's Copper Skillet was located on the S/W corner of Sunset & Gower. A Denny's now occupies the site.

http://a.imageshack.us/img809/2640/ssitetoday.jpg
google street view


_____

:previous:

I love the Copper Skillet, e_r. Don't remember ever seeing it before. As for the Brandon Hall apartments--I know you like rooftop signs, and apparently BH once had one, which I might even have read was neon. Like the sign on the El Mirador, it faced north to be visible from Sunset. Maybe you can come up with a shot of the BH sign....

This might have been posted before but I just love the sculpture on the back of the Hollywood Reservoir Dam. Back when construction workers were artisans.

http://www.hollywoodknolls.org/image...k_carvings.jpg
HollywoodKnolls.org

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4069/4...67d4bd53_b.jpg
P.S. Zollo

I also liked it a lot more before they added the vegetation. Here it is in 1926:

http://www.hollywoodknolls.org/image...estrC_1926.jpg
HollywoodKnolls.org

And just seven years later after the vegetation was added:

http://www.hollywoodknolls.org/image...estrC_1933.jpg
HollywoodKnolls.org

Still, I like the thought of it looming over Hollywood:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4080/4...eae10d5d_o.jpg
gsjansen

http://la.remap.ucla.edu/remappingla...serialNumber=2
UCLA

You know that if it hadn't been covered it would have been destroyed in countless disaster films, along with Hollywood...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m...2520PM.bmp.jpgPERyHS
An H-line streetcar emerging from its private right-of-way at Commonwealth Avenue.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...2520PM.bmp.jpgMetro Transportation Archive and Library
A streetcar westbound on the H-line private right-of-way between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C...2520PM.bmp.jpguncanny.net
The H-line right of way near Virgil.

The "H" stood for Heliotrope, on which the line ran between Melrose and Beverly.

Here's recent clip featuring the great foamer Ralph Cantos discussing what seems to be the possibility of reintroducing vintage streetcars to L.A.: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/traffic/s...203_emailshare

Ralph is a great L.A. character--his appearance in the DVD This Was Pacific Electric should not be missed.

:previous: The 'Flying Saucer' restaurant.


The ROBOT CAFE at 5903 Hollywood Blvd.

http://a.imageshack.us/img26/3679/0robotcafe1.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img849/3679/0robotcafe1.jpg
matchbook/ebay


below: Today the ROBOT CAFE is ATOMIC Tattoo (makes me wonder if they were aware of the building's provenance).

http://a.imageshack.us/img404/7646/0robotcafetoday.jpg
google street view


Do you see how I developed an underlining theme here? :)
____

Great post on the Hollywood Reservoir Dam KevinW!

The dam was 'destroyed' in at least one movie...the 1974 movie EARTHQUAKE!
There are probably other examples as well

below: Studio workers preparing the miniature for it's demise.

http://a.imageshack.us/img109/8130/aadameq.jpg
http://nzpetesmatteshot.blogspot.com...was-event.html

http://http://www.you-are-here.com/b...int_james.htmlDamn! Can't get the picture posting function to work.

Anyway, what I was trying to post, was a picture of my church, St. James' Episcopal at the corner of Wilshire and St. Andrew's Place. It's celebrating its centennial this year (not the building; it's only 75 years old).

Thanks everyone for the great photos and topics on this page, which gave many deja vu moments. Hauser / Wilshire and IHOP played a big part in my rock ride last week. El Mirador always amazed me when I lived in WH - now I'm amazed that it's unoccupied. Lake Hollywood too -- years ago I used to go there almost every day. One day saw a big turtle swimming near the dam.

A lot of memories. I liked the street car piece too, it was very well written. Thanks again.

LOL yep :)

Ahhh great to see the Flying Saucer facade again :cool:
remember those marbleized bowls with hot water and lemons in them to clean your hands ofter BBQed ribs? :yes:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...950%2520AM.jpghttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F...2520AM.bmp.jpg
LAPL/GoogleSV

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...2520AM.bmp.jpgUSCDL
Phillip Jones and James Bednar built their new law offices at the n-w corner of 3rd and Poinsettia, moving in in 1957.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...2520AM.bmp.jpghttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1...2520AM.bmp.jpgBoth GoogleSV

Sometimes I would love to ban all but palms from L.A.

Thank you! The three biggest changes between the two pictures are (1) we built a new parish hall; (2) all of the windows are now stained glass (and beautiful), and (3) Perino's is no longer next door.

And one more thing, the little spires on the tower were casualties of one of the earthquakes since it was built (just like the ones on the National Cathedral). There's some talk of eventually replacing them with ones made out of molded plastic or some lighter material that is less likely to be fatal to anyone who happens to be walking by at the wrong moment.

Two questions. Those amazing animal faces sculpted on the side of the Hollywood dam? I can't tell whether it is the face of a dog, a cow, or some imaginary critter. Does anybody know?

Does anybody have more information about the fate of the El Mirador. That has always been my second or third most favorite building along Fountain in Weho. I figured it would be highly desirable and quite difficult to score an apartment in that building. What happened?

Just did a little hunting and found this in Hollywood Remembered: An Oral History of Its Golden Age By Paul Zollo:

"Construction of a mammoth , curved concrete embankment commenced in August of 1923 and continued until December of 1924. At a height of 200 feet, it rose to a height taller than any other structure then standing in all of Los Angeles. Its crest was appointed with curved arches separated by a succession of stone busts depicting the California brown bear, which is featured on the state flag. Officially called Mulholland Dam by the city, Mulholland preferred for it to be know by a name that called attention no to the structure itself, but to the blue bayou that he had created in the canyon, Lake Hollywood."

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4069/4...67d4bd53_b.jpg
P.S. Zollo

I still love the look of it looming when you can't see the water at all:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics03/00011280.jpg
LAPL

El Mirador
 

Hi austlar1,

We are visiting WeHo and having dinner tonight with a good friend who is on the West Hollywood city council (he is also a former mayor). I already warned him that I was going to pump him for as much information as I can get on the El Mirador. He said he has a lot to tell, so we'll see.

He and I actually had a close mutual friend who lived there for a number of years and we went to many a soiree at his El Mirador apartment. He was on the eighth floor and had a spectacular view from his corner unit!

Oh and e_r, the ceiling height was not an illusion, I am freakishly tall and I always appreciated their awesome height as well:D

~Jon Paul

I found a photograph on ebay of Columbia Square that I hadn't seen before. It prompted me to learn a bit more about the area
(I was just there in my recent Dillon's Copper Skillet post).

It turns out Columbia Square was built on the site of Hollywood's first ever studio!



below: The Blondeau Tavern on the northwest corner of Sunset & Gower soon to become Nestor Studios.

http://a.imageshack.us/img534/358/co...esiteblond.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...lebration.html





below: Hollywood's first film studio home of the Christie Film Co. and Nestor Comedies at Sunset and Gower in 1915. (pan----> )


http://a.imageshack.us/img813/2598/c...sitein1915.jpg
http://american-nostalgia.tumblr.com...e-christie-and




below: Christie Film Studio in the 1926.

http://a.imageshack.us/img855/4194/c...tiesepia19.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...lebration.html






below: A great view of the Christie Studios in 1927.

http://a.imageshack.us/img263/1521/c...tiegreatph.jpg
http://www.hollywoodphotographs.com/...?c=42&i=1&r=24



http://a.imageshack.us/img96/5552/co...tie1927wma.jpg
http://www.hollywoodphotographs.com/...?c=42&i=1&r=24



http://a.imageshack.us/img849/5552/c...tie1927wma.jpg
http://www.hollywoodphotographs.com/...?c=42&i=1&r=24



below: The large buildings in the distance are at Hollywood & Vine.

http://a.imageshack.us/img855/3085/c...tie1928wma.jpg
http://www.hollywoodphotographs.com/...?c=42&i=1&r=24






below: Demolition of Christie Studios begins, to make way for Columbia Square.

http://a.imageshack.us/img703/4245/c...esitechris.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...lebration.html






below: The grand opening of Columbia Square April 30, 1938.

http://a.imageshack.us/img99/3160/co...egrandopen.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...lebration.html

____



Here's is the photograph from ebay that sparked by interest. Notice that KNX has been added to the CBS sign.

http://a.imageshack.us/img440/4231/columbiasq1ebay.jpg


below: detail

http://a.imageshack.us/img88/5851/columbiasq1ebay1.jpg


Most photographs of Columbia Square show only the iconic 'tower' bldg. when in fact it is a much larger complex.
I thought this aerial helps show it's true size.

http://a.imageshack.us/img12/1219/co...stieaerial.jpg
google street view

FFF: Please let us know what you hear about the El Mirador. I've read as much as I can find about the fight between Jerome Nash and the city, but the news seems to have stopped sometime last fall. I don't want to believe that the impasse could end up with the demolition of the building, but I've seen it happen in my own neighborhood--the Village--in NYC.

I think maybe the "KNX" sign was on the east side of the CBS blade sign from the beginning....

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4047/4...36216329_o.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V...2520PM.bmp.jpghttps://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X...underconst.jpg

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

All: gsjansen

http://a.imageshack.us/img832/9007/s...killetebay.jpg
slide/ebay

Looking at Dillon's, I can't help but think that the building used to house a Pontiac dealership. The main part of the sign is identical to the Pontiac logo, but I can't find any reference to a car dealer at that location. Any ideas?

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8...ntiaclogok.jpghttp://www.autoguide.com/gallery/d/4...ntiac_logo.jpg

Trees
 

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...2520AM.bmp.jpghttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1...2520AM.bmp.jpgBoth GoogleSV

"Sometimes I would love to ban all but palms from L.A."[/QUOTE]

I don't know. As a New Yorker, I think the trees add a nice "small town" touch to a very urban setting. I'm much more troubled by the Prius taxi. I would never ride in a Prius taxi. I would want to get to my destination TODAY, thank you very much!

http://a.imageshack.us/img832/9007/s...killetebay.jpg
slide found on ebay

:previous: Good eye Albany_NY !
It's certainly a possibility, but the window seem wrong for a car dealership (of course the 'showroom' could have been remodeled).

Thanks G_W for pointing out that KNX was always on the CBS sign (I didn't expect the two sides of the sign to differ).

____

What caught my eye about this was the "SPECIALIZING IN CHINESE FOODS."

So it was a non-Chinese proprietor or proprietors serving up esoteric regional Chinese food? Jimmie Cox was just the manager after all... :P

Hello, Dahlia!
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/9200/dahlia.jpg
L.A. Morgue Files on Facebook

For anyone in the LA area and interested, James Ellroy will be conducting tours at the L.A. Police Museum in Highland Park tomorrow, March 17, 2012, for the Black Dahlia exhibit, which opens March 19 and runs until June 16. Tomorrow is a special event--$100 for tickets.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9...liaexhibit.jpg
L.A. Morgue Files on Facebook

http://a.imageshack.us/img26/3679/0robotcafe1.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img849/3679/0robotcafe1.jpg

:previous: I agree with you sopas_ej, this place seems very bizarre. I would love to go back in time and visit this 'greasy spoon'.

___


When all the 'rock' commotion this past week I thought I would post this excellent photograph of Rock Hudson leaning against a very attractive automobile. Can anyone figure out where this photo was taken? I believe the three Rock Hudson-Doris Day vehicles were distributed by Universal Studios. Could this be a parking lot at Universal Studios?

http://a.imageshack.us/img43/3093/rockbycar.jpg
http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr....3tfCPpcCFqg%3D

___

:previous:
Well hello, Rock!

I forgot to post this impressive photograph of the Columbia Square lobby circa 1938.

http://a.imageshack.us/img207/3875/c...elobbyopen.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...lebration.html

___




below: The 1,000 seat Studio A at Columbia Square. The pilot episode for 'I Love Lucy' was filmed at Columbia Square.

http://a.imageshack.us/img718/5677/c...e1000seats.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...lebration.html


Special thanks to the wonderful 'Felix in Hollywood' blog.
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com/

____

A 1920s snapshot of three women posed on a fence along Mulholland Drive.

http://a.imageshack.us/img338/2484/3...landdriveo.jpg
found on ebay

So is that an observatory in the background?

___

Wow! What a shot. very Third Reich

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l...2520AM.bmp.jpghttp://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr....3tfCPpcCFqg%3D

Um... eyes right--that's the side trim of a '58 Chrysler. Rock did at least one CryCo commercial. Here he's looking equally good in one for the '59 DeSoto:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhrUZrvuRSc

I've never come across a Pontiac dealer at 6100 Sunset, and somehow I don't think that GM would have been too happy if a diner had retained the logo. Most likely it's just a coincidence, or the owner drove, say, a '63 Grand Prix like the one cruising by in the pic above....


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O...594/copper.jpghttps://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7...opperpcrev.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...446%2520AM.jpghttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4...2520AM.bmp.jpg
All: ebay.com



Well, I suppose I could argue that this is Los Angeles, not a small town. Anyway, I was kidding about the trees. It was a reference to wanting a better view of the architecture.

As for the Prius...as a New Yorker, I just get into whatever cab comes along. Half the taxis in the city are hybrids, for one thing... and as the owner of a Prius (bought at Toyota Santa Monica and driven back east)--it's a great little car for the city... 52mpg is especially pleasant.

I see that Mr. Hudson dressed on the right.

Love the DeSoto commercial. It would've been great to have him take me out to the back lot and have me feel the way it takes the bumps.


Regarding the Pontiac logo, it's interesting to me that the arrow design (supposedly to represent an arrowhead) only dated from 1957; prior to that, the Pontiac logo used to look like this:

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/5...iaclogochi.png
dinesh.com

Speaking of Pontiacs...
 

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...2520PM.bmp.jpgUSCDL
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...20PM.bmp-1.jpgGoogleSV

From the vintage picture's caption: "An inspection party's 1929 Pontiac Big Six parked in front of the new Myra Street and Sunset Boulevard bridge--another traffic bottleneck 'uncorked'," said the Examiner of August 3, 1929, hailing the soon-to-be-completed bridge's opening of a new shortcut from Glendale south and west.



:previous:

and speaking of rocks.... I meant eyes to the right of the picture, sopas, not to his right. And I suspect it would have been smooth sailing over those back-lot bumps, what with that torsion-bar suspension....

I made some great discoveries today. :)

I've always heard rumors that Charlie Chaplin built a 'storybook style' apartment complex near his studio for his staff and workers.

As a reminder....this is Charlie Chaplin's old studio along La Brea Avenue (now Jim Henson Studios...hence the frog).
It's quite whimsical compared to other studios from the 1920s. I wonder if these same architects also designed the elusive Chaplin apartments?

http://a.imageshack.us/img6/5565/cha...udiolabrea.jpg


I vaguely remember that Formosa Avenue and Poinsettia Place were mentioned as possible locations. I decided to concentrate on Formosa first.

http://a.imageshack.us/img822/8269/c...1onformosa.jpg
google street view

above: Charlie Chaplin's old studio is located at the red 'teardrop' A upper right. Formosa Ave. is in the lower left.





As I searched along N. Formosa Avenue I came across this mysterious little place.

http://a.imageshack.us/img4/3873/cha...eaerialstr.jpg
google street view


below: A closer view.

http://a.imageshack.us/img528/3873/c...eaerialstr.jpg
google street view


After a few more searches I decided the address might be 1330 N. Formosa Avenue / As with everything else on the Internet this address led to a plethora of information.

It turns out Road_Runner on 'Jalopy Journal' used to live in these apartments. Here is a link to his story. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...&postcount=586

http://a.imageshack.us/img707/6185/c...rnalbyroad.jpg
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...&postcount=586



below: The interior courtyard.

http://a.imageshack.us/img337/8383/c...1jjournal1.jpg
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...&postcount=586


http://a.imageshack.us/img580/9092/c...jjournal1a.jpg
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...&postcount=586

Yet no one is 100% sure that Charlie Chaplin built these apartments.
____


Over at Allen Ellenberger's excellent blog he posted this in 2009.

http://a.imageshack.us/img713/7585/c...eallenelle.jpg
http://blog.allanellenberger.com/boo...plin-film-set/

...and again...also in 2009.

http://a.imageshack.us/img594/3219/c...ealledgeda.jpg
http://allanellenberger.com/tag/charlie-chaplin/



below: Another view of the fantastic inner courtyard (complete with pirate flag).

http://a.imageshack.us/img37/7585/ch...eallenelle.jpg
http://blog.allanellenberger.com/boo...plin-film-set/



below: The 'tower'.

http://a.imageshack.us/img441/2663/c...gelacurbed.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/



below: Built in wooden cabinets and eclectic doorways.

http://a.imageshack.us/img838/904/ch...einteriorc.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/


below: I would live here just for that groovy window.

http://a.imageshack.us/img688/8743/c...e1bgreatwi.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/



http://a.imageshack.us/img535/2001/c...ottagerear.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/


This hidden treasure is a gem even if it has no association with Charlie Chaplin. I hear that artists and aspiring actors still reside in this fantastic setting. The cottage with the pirate flag is inhabited by a 'fencing' couple.....pure Los Angeles. ;)

____

Blind alleys
 

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_z...25511%20PM.jpg

Fantastic find, e_r. Well, when I saw the Formosa Avenue apartment, I thought not only of this shot from an old post of mine (here), but I also vaguely remembered a Chaplin reference in that post, and thought maybe... but no.

I also thought of Harry Oliver, of course, but can find no mention of him in connection with the Formosa apartments, even on his fan page (klaxo.net).

According to general internet lore about Hollywood, Chaplin frequented the Tam O'Shanter... could he have been inspired by Oliver's design...if he built Formosa Ave.? Some seem certain that Chaplin did build the apartments, such as the author of Storybook Style: http://storybookers.com/sb--profile-...n%20court.html


Also certain is a tenant who posted on Allan Ellenberger's site (maybe you saw this):

"My husband and I live in the cottage with the pirate flag, which has been replaced with a more modest pirate windsock, since we earn a substantial part of our living in the courtyard as swordplay experts and fencing instructors. We moved in because Douglas Fairbanks fenced here, and because it was a marvelous place to live. We have confirmed that the complex was built by Chaplin in 1923 as a sort of dormitory for the actors working at United Artists Studios (now Jim Henson Studios) two blocks away on La Brea. To live here you have to be pretty nuts – the current residents are all zany performers, musicians, producers, and actors of one kind or another. Swashbuckling occurs regularly in the courtyard.

I wonder how this poster confirmed that Chaplin built the complex?


Someone else on Ellenberger's site was apparently checking into city land records, but then there's no follow-up...

I took the L.A. Conservancy's Union Station tour yesterday, which was excellent. There's much more to that place than I had ever imagined, and they let us visit several behind the scenes locations. One was the Harvey House, which has been closed for decades but is still used for film shoots and events. I was surprised that the former restaurant is mostly intact, and in good condition.

The place is huge and quite grand inside but it was pretty dark, and my picture taking was limited to smaller scenes where I could use the flash. Here are a few shots.


Steps leading to one of the raised booth sections on the side. The low walls feature western style tack embroidery.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Harvey/100_6455a.jpg


One of the raised dining areas. The booths are still there but the tables are gone.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Harvey/100_6431b.jpg


One of two stairways leading to the upstairs balcony. Note the water dispenser on the right, with hammered copper surround.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Harvey/100_6454a.jpg


Inside the huge U shaped dining counter in the center of the room.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Harvey/100_6439a.jpg


Behind these big sconces which were high on the walls I think there were speakers that were used for departure announcements, etc.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Harvey/100_6456a.jpg


Refrigerated food storage, back in the kitchen. Most of the kitchen is still intact. They served huge numbers of diners, and had to get the food out quickly.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Harvey/100_6447a.jpg

:previous:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-N...2520PM.bmp.jpghttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p...2520PM.bmp.jpgharveyhouses.net


David--great detail shots.

WHY doesn't some enterprising restaurateur (or group of them) come along, renovate, and re-open this space?

I was wondering if people here could help me out, moderators can delete this post after I (possibly) get an answer.

I was in an vintage store and found and bought this cool double-sided porcelin street sign:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i265/phxrep/7th.jpg

I live right near 7th Street in Phoenix and it was a good price, so I had to buy it. I didn't think it was actually originally from Phoenix, and the lady I bought it from said it came from California.

Can any of you place where this might be from based on the age (porcelin, old) color, shape, font and street numbers? There are probably a million 800 Seventh Streets around the country, so I'm not sure where it's from or even if it really is from California. I did see that there was an 800 Seventh Street in Santa Monica, but I'm not sure. Maybe someone can place it? Thanks :)

SERIOUSLY. I've always wondered why that space has remained closed, it's gorgeous.

Those look very similar to the street signs found in Burbank, before a few years ago when Burbank started switching to street signs that look very similar to the ones now used in Pasadena (which itself changed its street signs around 8 or 9 years ago).

The city of Norwalk used this type of street sign before switching to a new design in the early 1990s. If I remember correctly, Burbank and Norwalk did indeed use this type of street sign, green with white lettering, and no city designation on them. I think it's common (and seems to have become more common), particularly in the LA area, for many cities to have their city names and city seals on their street signs, being that many suburban cities in the LA area all run together.

In fact, the type of street sign in your pic is very similar to the ones used in my city, except "SOUTH PASADENA" is on them. Culver City uses a similar street sign:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...17296702_n.jpg
Photo by me

I also wouldn't doubt that the style of street sign in the picture was/is also used in northern California cities.

Fantastic photographs David! I had no idea so much of the old Fred Harvey is still intact.

Gaylord - I will count you as another convert. :)

Albany - It's the CHOICE of trees that matter. I am :) :) :) :) trees. But in the right location.

The problem is that around 40 or 50 years ago every community in So Cal went bonkers with ficus. And now we have the sidewalk-busting, sun-blocking, architecture-hiding legacy to deal with.

I lived near NYC for a number of years, and I can tell you that even the small towns there aren't so stupid as to plant ficus-like trees along downtown sidewalks. (You see a lot of Bradford Pear, which grows to perhaps 25 feet and offers dappled - not complete - shade.)


I don't know. As a New Yorker, I think the trees add a nice "small town" touch to a very urban setting. I'm much more troubled by the Prius taxi. I would never ride in a Prius taxi. I would want to get to my destination TODAY, thank you very much![/QUOTE]

Sopas, thanks for the info! There are two little holes on either side of the "800" on the sign, maybe there used to be some kind of city seal fastened on it?

Roman ruins in Beverly Hills
 

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O...ABHintactA.jpghttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-T...2520PM.bmp.jpg
Beverly Hills Historic Preservation

A then and then: the Robertson Building on the southeast corner of Wilshire and Robertson. (I also love the two Cadillacs, a '56, and a '60 rushing by....)

I'm sorry, but where was this Fred Harvey you toured?? Also, isn't the Restaurant at Union Station a Harvey? It is empty now in front but I did sneak in in 1996 and see it before it was all closed off.

Duh!
 

OK, sorry, I just re-read your post and it was the Harvey AT Union Station. The one I gave myself a back stage tour in 96. But I never saw those red booths. Where are they located? Great shots of this place. I'm pretty sure they do use it for catered events but wouldn't it be great if it was restored in all its retro glory?

http://a.imageshack.us/img37/7585/ch...eallenelle.jpg
http://allanellenberger.com/tag/charlie-chaplin/


...but then there was this comment G_W.

http://a.imageshack.us/img692/5749/aachaplinnoaw.jpg

I'm off now to google 'Zwebell'! I love Patio del Moro on Fountain Avenue.....I have a few memories there. ;)

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..and yet this current real estate blog has the balls to state the following....


http://a.imageshack.us/img837/7070/c...bragtorent.jpg
http://www.lasplash.com/publish/cat_...ilable_Now.php

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