This place looks very noirish:

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...76-2-ISLA?v=hr USC Digital Library

Caption reads Downtown Los Angeles (1920-1930).

Panoramic view of North Figuero Street.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...HS-31049C?v=hr USC Digital Library
Panoramic view of North Figueroa Street, looking south from Spruce Street, showing early stages of street improvements on Figueroa, November 1935 or February 1936. Three single story buildings with pitched roofs sit in the centerground of the image, among the two dirt lanes of the Figueroa Street construction site. The site is bordered on two sides by a low fence. Two construction vehicles are visible, one in the near centerground and one in the far centerground. Hills sit to each side of the construction site, while City Hall and other buildings of downtown are visible at the horizon.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...HS-31049E?v=hrUSC Digital Library

Photograph of a view of the dirt lanes of the North Figueroa Street construction site, showing a truck, looking south, February 1936. A dirt lane of the North Figueroa Street site runs from the lower left corner to the centerground of the image. A piece of construction machinery sits in the center of the lane near its far end, while a truck sits in front of it, facing the lower left corner. Wooden planks sit among the dirt in the right foreground of the image, while a wheeled apparatus sits at the left foreground. The hazy skyline of downtown sits in the background, with City Hall at the right.

Traffic jam.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...25-4-ISLA?v=hr USC Digital Library

A traffic jam along Wilshire Boulevard and pedestrians also crowd the sidewalk.

Noirish activity: Kidnap-Robbery arrest...Arcadia 1951

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...303-018~1?v=hr

Suspects Robert Nausbaum, 24 (standing, arms up) and Rawley R. Poe, 29 (crawling from culvert as they were flushed out of hiding by Officer Al Blanchard (with tear gas gun).

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...303-018~2?v=hr


James Hogan, 18, and Richard Wood, 17, first pair of suspects captured. Notice the fancy shirt and cuff links Richard Wood is wearing.


http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...303-018~3?v=hr All from USC Digital Library


L to R: Officer Emil Leese (who caught Hogan and Wood); Richard Wood, 17; Rawley Poe, 29; Robert Nausbaum, 24; and James Hogan, 18.

great shots rcarlton,i had to post a photo of mrs candy since bullocks is in the photo

[IMG]http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Candy/064.jpg[/IMG]
taken inside of bullocks wilshire in 1959 the back says "Wilshire stock office 1959 imagnin order" whatever that means.

Caught in elevator (1110 West Washington Boulevard), 29 August 1951. Olin Thompson (paper carrier caught in elevator)

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...268-005~2?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...268-005~3?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...268-005~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...268-005~5?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...268-005~6?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...268-005~4?v=hrAll from USC Digital Library

The boy is carried from the Fowler Hotel, 1110 West Washington Boulevard.

Photograph of a wrecking crew superintendent pointing to murals on the walls of the old dining room at the Natick Hotel. "Old dining room. -- A superintendent of the wrecking crew points to murals on the walls of the old dining room [of] [t]he Natick Hotel. Plumbing and other fixtures are being salvaged as the building is being torn down. Hotel had first hand-operated elevator in city. -- Los Angeles Examiner photo" -- Examiner clipping attached to verso, dated, "July 24, 1950". Verso dated, "July 25, 1950".

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...G-MIS-001?v=hr USC Digital Library

http://www.csulb.edu/~odinthor/Mn1st.jpg A visit to old Los Angeles

More crime: Three boys stole 35-foot yacht, 1951

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...239-004~3?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...239-004~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...239-004~2?v=hr USC Digital Library

James William Long -- 13 years; John Richard Long -- 11 years; Carlton Elwood Agrelius.

Gangsters shooting, 07 August 1951.:

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...243-004~2?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...243-004~4?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...243-004~9?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...43-004~16?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...243-004~5?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...243-004~3?v=hr USC Digital Library

Tony Brancado (body victim); Tony Trombino (body victim)

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...243-005~1?v=hr USC Digital Library

John Gerace (wanted for questioning by police).

Hollywood gangster murder, 8 August 1951.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...243-011~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...243-011~2?v=hr USC Digital Library

Hollywood double murder. 1-2: Lt. Lee Jones, in charge of PD* Scientific investigation examines Fratianno car for blood stain. *PD is Los Angeles Police Department)".

Here's a mystery: Husband shot accidentally, 1951

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...235-027~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...235-027~3?v=hr USC Digital Library


Husband shot accidentally, Sunday, 29 July 1951. Mrs. Idell Betty Sholts -- 31 years; Elmer L. Sholts (body) -- 56 years. Hmm...25 years difference in age, and what is the hairy thing on his back? Kantleek box in the bedroom is for a hot water bottle. The bottle is peeking out of the box on the floor. Four pair of female shoes in closet, probably not a clue. Note stuck to his back, what does it say? Blood in middle of bed and pillow. Might have been shot in the lungs. Looks like the body was moved based on location of blood and crossed feet. Did she move the body:hell:? Notice the card on the table...a clue or a card from the detectives? Looks like they were reading the Sunday funnies. Letter under newspaper, hmm. Tissue wadded up, but is it wet? Afghan on floor with coffee table on top of it. Could she have smuggled the rifle in in the afghan? Is it on the floor hiding something? Looks like I have been playing too much L.A. Noir.

:previous: Here's an earlier post I did on the gangland slayings. It includes a few additional photos and some before/after pics I thought you might like to see. Without knowing it, I posted this on the exact day/60th anniversary of the slayings. I had no idea until Gaylord_Wilshire pointed it out to me.
Kinda creepy....very noirsh. Thanks for refreshing my memory rCarlton. :)

I loved this photograph the minute I saw it. The proud birthday girl, standing and dressed in pink, preparing to slice her special cake.
It's sweet as sweet can be.

Thanks sharing your family photographs with us here at 'noirish' Los Angeles unihikid. It's such a rare treat and is greatly appreciated.

___

Would this hold up in a court of law today?

Boy kills self, 28 August 1951. George Geiger -- 2 years

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...268-007~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...268-007~2?v=hr
USC Digital Library

One negative shows sorrowing parents of 2-year-old George Geiger, who killed himself in temper tantrum after mother denied him candy. L - R: Glen Geiger, the father; and his wife, Mrs. Marian who holds their 3-month old daughter Edna Mae. One print shows George Geiger, 2, who killed himself in tantrum fit".

Hotel torn down, 24 February 1960. Westminster Hotel torn down at 4th Street and Main Street.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...722-003~1?v=hr USC Digital Library

I was quite intrigued by this unusual tree. At first I thought it was Bullock's take on a snow laden tree,
but it turns out the tree is completely made of white feathers!!




below: It seems Bullocks Wilshire loved this tree for many years. Here it is during the holiday season of 1986!

http://imageshack.us/a/img824/8979/t...lshirewhit.jpg
http://www.lapl.org/

Sin house, May 28, 1951. Attorney Jess Whitehill; Sheila McDonald; Barrie Lazes.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...168-020~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...168-020~2?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...168-020~3?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...168-020~4?v=hr USC Digital Library

Contreras shooting, September 16, 1951. David Contreras -- 38 years (victim); Angela Graciano -- 46 years.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...226-059~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...226-059~2?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...226-059~3?v=hr USC Digital Library

I thought you might like to see the Westminster Hotel before it was being torn down. This is dated 1890.

http://imageshack.us/a/img152/235/aawestminster1.jpg
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/F...rolNumber=8278

Spear in leg, 26 July 1951. Dave Lemone -- 19 years (victim); Bill Andrews -- 23 years; F.L. Woolcott (fireman); Hubert Kendall (fireman).

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...234-002~4?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...234-002~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...234-002~2?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...234-002~3?v=hr USC Digital Library

Again....some back story to rcarlton's post on the destruction of the Westminster Hotel in 1960.

____

Lewd pictures service raid, 12 March 1958. Eve Miller (ran mill); Dorothy Guay; Cecilia Fargo.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...310-019~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...310-019~2?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...310-019~3?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...310-019~4?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...310-019~5?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...310-019~6?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...310-019~7?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...310-019~8?v=hr USC Digital Library

Walking down stairs at U.N. police station. Front- Eve Miller followed by- Dorothy Guay and Cecilia Fargo. Eve certainly held her head up high. Doesn't look ashamed at all.

1906 Enlarge-able, Drag-able Map of L.A.
 

This link will take you to a very good zoom-able, scroll-able Map of L.A. from 1906. It's actually a rail line map but has excellent detail of streets and other features.

http://www.bigmapblog.com/2011/us40-...-systems-1906/

Sample image I selected, of an area northeast of downtown (this area currently interests me):

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/old.newChinatown.jpg

:previous: Wow...that map is great! Thanks David.

http://www.bigmapblog.com/2011/us40-...-systems-1906/

In honor of some recent weather: even Hollywood can get tornado's: Tornado hits Hollywood (north), 01 April 1958. Mrs. Ertha Lomtodze; Mrs. Dorothy Jeschke; General view of damage.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...322-024~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...322-024~2?v=hr USC Digital Library

The following are from tornado, Normandie and 130th Street. 40: Jim Staten and Jess Ruby pick up bricks from wall blown over by the mild tornado. Ruby's trailer was lifted by the wind and slammed against the wall. 45: Mrs. E.B. Gravette peeks through debris in search of some of the items contained in the garage. 46: General view of east end of garage. 77-78: General view of garage moved by tornado, with Mrs. E.B. Gravette in background, her husband in wheel chair in foreground. Stove in picture shows relative position of where garage originally stood. 83-84: Mrs. E.B. Gravette view damage. Note garage wall in foreground, 150 feet from garage".

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...012-002~1?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...012-002~3?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...012-002~4?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...012-002~5?v=hr

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...012-002~6?v=hr USC

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...012-002~7?v=hr

There's only a half hour left of Easter, so I thought I'd post this lovely photo of Doris Day.

http://imageshack.us/a/img829/5412/easterdorisebay.jpg

___

Here's an associated press photograph I found the other day on ebay. I am confused by the circular 'lookout' area that's located
just to the left of the dotted line (a probable landslide area).


http://imageshack.us/a/img829/5476/a...kbluffebay.jpg
found on ebay

above: Does anyone know the name of this 'turnabout' lookout area?



below: The information on the reverse side of the associated press photograph doesn't mentioned this 'lookout' point.

http://imageshack.us/a/img822/3971/a...bluffebay1.jpg
ebay

___

Girls School Riot!?!

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...347-011~1?v=hr USC Digital Library

Betsy Ross girl's school riot, 15 May 1958. General View of police taking some of the girls to police car. Got to be more to the story!

New type light standard on Wilshire Boulevard, 30 July 1956.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...915-001~1?v=hr USC Digital Library

New light standard on WiLshire Blvd. at Commonwealth Ave. 18: Old light standard with new standard in background.

what a great way to end the holiday with the wonderful doris day good choice ethereal

Hmm, that's a toughie. Thought I could nail it without too much trouble but I've been staring at various maps for a while now, and still not sure. My best guess is Grand View Drive, where it doubles back, overlooking the Figueroa St. bridge. (Or maybe it was called Dayton Ave. at the time?) Figueroa/Dayton's alignment doesn't quite seem to match the photo, but the junctions around there were reorganized several times. Anyone else?

That was an incredible landslide... I think I read somewhere there was a water main break that caused the slide. But that may have been another event in the same location a few years later.

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics25/00032055.jpg
LAPL.ORG


Oh.... it's called "Point Grand View"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3208065...n/photostream/

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3195/3...fc4f2132_s.jpg
1966 Existing facilities in Elysian Park by Deb Grantham, on Flickr


From the 37th Annual Report of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners of the City of Los Angeles:
http://www.monobasinresearch.org/his...nualreport.pdf

:previous:

I think westcork and 3940dxer have the location correct.

On the 1906 railroad map (recently provided by 3940dxer, thank you) you can see Dayton Drive (I circled it) coming to a dead end at the scene of the slide.
Grand View Dr was called Baxter St. back then.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg217...pg&res=landing
www.bimapblog.com

Here is a recent overhead view of the area. 3940dxer is correct that the area has been greatly changed (mangled) by freeways and rerouted streets.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8595/grandviewdr.jpg
Google Maps

Here are a couple pictures of my Los Angeles Transit token, given to me by my Grandmother, I thought some of you might like to see what it looks like. She used to live in Highland Park and ride the streetcar to work in downtown Los Angeles. She saved this for years and years and gave it to me about 8 years ago. She was riding the rails in the 30s and 40s, so i'd imagine this is from the 1940s.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...p/DSC00498.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...p/DSC00497.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...p/DSC00499.jpg

They tore down the last remaining walls of the rear building last week.

Thanks for placing 'Grand View Point' David/3940dxer, westcork and FredH. Little mysteries like this are always fun to solve
...more fun when I solve it. :)

Really? I'm surprised. Did you read this somewhere or see it in action? -just curious.

Witnessed it for myself as I walked past. They had a number of heavy equip knocking down the walls, pounding them to smaller bits then hauling it away.

Interesting. Thanks for the information MO.

Streetcars!
 

Just saw this today, Streetcars may be revived in Downtown:

http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-...wn-huizar.html

http://images.onset.freedom.com/ocre...oi16r3or.1.jpg

L.A. Hospitality Service at Clifton's South Seas.


http://imageshack.us/a/img811/350/sservicecenter.jpg
postcard ebay

Has anyone heard of this hospitality service before?
On the tickets board above the counter I recognized 'Queen for a Day' as the famous radio program but drew a blank on 'Police Show'.




below: I found this 1948 Transit Pass, but I am unsure if it's the same 'Police Show' as on the postcard image (the postcard lacks a date).

http://imageshack.us/a/img813/9660/s...cketdanagr.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danagraves/5582485773/

you know it would be nice if they could have some vintage cars that ran on special events,i know san francisco has some old pcc cars that run,a couple of them are former larwy cars,ive always wondered why hasnt someone put a restored red car on one of the new lines like gold line or green line.but im glad this is getting pushed through.

Looking east on Hollywood Boulevard at Vine Street circa 1952.

The photographer seems to be perched on a wooden framework that overhangs the sidewalk on the southwest corner of Hollywood and Vine. For the life of me I can't figure out what this makeshift structure is....a renovation perhaps?

Especially baffling is the small 'vent' protruding through the framework. This makes no sense to me.

http://imageshack.us/a/img710/8409/aahvine1952huge.jpg
ebay



below: Info on the reverse side.

http://imageshack.us/a/img600/488/aahvine1952r.jpg

___

It looks like the fabric awning were removed in the early 50s. But that structure makes no sense

http://www.playle.com/CHILDSPT/0768.jpg
Playle's California

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm...68l7o1_500.jpg
Era Correct

The structure was the canopy over the entrance to the Broadway Department Store. There was another on the Vine Street side of the building. It had lights underneath, and the vent was probably there to let the heat from the incandescent bulbs escape. There was probably a second vent closer to the camera's position. The canopy was not temporary, but was there in the 1920s when the store was the B. H. Dyas Company. I think it was removed in a remodeling of the facade in the early 1950s.

Another interesting thing to be seen in this photo is the marquee of the Paris Theatre down the block, across the street from the Pantages. The Paris only lasted a few years. It had previously been an all-western movie theater called the Hitching Post. The theater was gone by the end of the 1950s.

I agree with you, but it looks like that won't happen. From the linked article:

"...boosters are quick to point out that the new cars would be thoroughly modern, sleek and environmentally sound..."

In other words, the new cars will have a bland, perfunctory design with no style or aesthetic sensibility whatsoever.

San Francisco spent a small fortune buying up those gorgeous 1940s streetcars and restoring them to their former glory before returning them to service. Worth every penny, if you ask me.

You're absolutely correct Joe Vogel!

http://imageshack.us/a/img696/4606/aaawningusc.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...chs-m3224.html




below: The canopies can be seen in this earlier photograph when it was
the B.H. Dyas Store.


http://imageshack.us/a/img37/3011/aa...sstorepreb.jpg
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/F...olNumber=74887




below: Here's a great view looking west toward Hollywood & Vine in 1934. If you look closely you can see one of the canopies over the Hollywood Blvd. entrance (southwest corner of the intersection).

http://imageshack.us/a/img196/4720/a...ollywoodth.jpg
http://la.remap.ucla.edu/remappingla...g2_itemId=6772

Janes House, 6541 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
 

On an errand to Hollywood this afternoon I parked at Hollywood Blvd. and Schrader to have a look at "Janes House", described by Wikipedia as "Queen Anne/Dutch Colonial Revival cottage built in 1903". Apparently it was was home to a restaurant/club in past years, but that venue closed a while back and the building is now unoccupied / unused.

The www.hollywoodheritage.org site says:

Located at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard, the house is survivor of the era when Hollywood was an actual city. Built in 1903 the house was one of the first model houses built on the Boulevard. From 1911 to 1926 it served as the Misses Janes School of Hollywood. The last Janes sister died in 1983, and the house has gone through several incarnations from the centerpiece of a shopping arcade to a trendy restaurant. Today the house is unoccupied and obscured from view, with its future uncertain. Recent plans involve an upscale boutique hotel and there are reports of unauthorized work taking place at the house, which could potentially damage historic interior features.

This is one of those curious old buildings that one could pass by a hundred times, with no idea of history within its walls. From the street you can barely see it at all.

Right now there's a large tarp in front and I couldn't get a photo of the whole building, but here are a few shots that give a good idea what it looks like today. The last photo was taken from the rear parking lot, which is near Yucca St.

http://dkse.net/david/Janes_House/100_6562.JPG


http://dkse.net/david/Janes_House/100_6560.JPG


http://dkse.net/david/Janes_House/100_6558.JPG


http://dkse.net/david/Janes_House/100_6561.JPG

Cars in Pools
 

I've noticed that cars seem to have an affinity for swimming pools around here.


This guy was also arrested for drunken driving (no surprise there).

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/208...carpool970.jpg
Los Angeles Times


A plunge off Mulholland Drive resulted in this. Not good.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1803/00094969.jpg
LAPL


O.K. Why not try it with a plane.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6...einpool970.jpg
Los Angeles Times

Hey, put a shirt on guy!

I had a hard time placing this very interesting house on Hollywood Boulevard so I did some googling.


I found out the Janes House was moved to the back of the lot in 1983 and the Janes Square Landmark Shopping Center
was built out to the street (Hollywood Blvd).

http://imageshack.us/a/img403/7074/a...ouseaerial.jpg
google street view



below: I marked the Janes House in red on this 1907 Sanborn Map.

http://imageshack.us/a/img571/9717/a...usesanborn.jpg
http://bigorangelandmarks.blogspot.c...nes-house.html

Prospect Avenue became Hollywood Boulevard, Rose is now Yucca and Chester Court is now Hudson Ave.

http://imageshack.us/a/img576/4756/a...useaerial1.jpg
google street view


http://imageshack.us/a/img208/9713/aajaneshousehazy.jpg
http://walknridela.com/roaming-the-r...llo-hollywood/

Great photographs of the Janes House David. I didn't even know this house existed before your post.

___