Wonderful post sopas_ej!

Such a crying shame that the academy, or whoever, chose to demolish the building once they were done with it. By the photos you posted, it appears to have been a beautiful venue.:(

~Jon Paul

Malumot, the interesting thing to me, though, is how solidly the L.A. of the 20s-50s was built. They put up some serious public infrastructure (before the freeways) and some gorgeous residential neighborhoods as well. There are a couple of threads on City Threads A-M featuring Hancock Park, Windsor Square, etc. Those neighborhoods were built to last! L.A. is like a kid that grew up quickly and became a stable, mature adult.

Does anyone have any pics and/or info of LA mortuaries in the 1920's such as Pierce Brothers?

Thanks

Also, does anyone know of a good store that would have a great collection of back issue magazines from the 1920's thru the 1980's here in LA? There used to be a place in Burbank.

Thanks

I'm surprised to see Little Joe's, the building was a three story bay-windowed Victorian. In this photo, looks like it was taken in early fiftys due to the cars in the parking lot. The Nuccio family apparently replaced the two streetfacing walls into Streamline Moderne with new brickwork and new smaller windows. The building was long occupied by elderly Cantonese pensioners. The Paris Inn building is still there, now a part of Bing Wong Apts and a restaurant. The white building in the left distance on the southeast corner of College and Hill sts. is still there, now a Ai Hoa supermarket, its upper 2nd story were once a mahjong club and a tax office, now long vacant and empty. Can anyone in the thread have closeup photos of Little Joe's? How amazing!

I've been looking everywhere for more information regarding Billy Berg's, the first interracial nightclub in Hollywood.
It was located at 1356 Vine Street (near or at DeLongPre Avenue).

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1...presecorne.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...llie%20Holiday



I found this information at Wikipedia.....but no photographs :(

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9...swikipedia.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Berg's







A kerfuffle broke out involving Ms. Holiday at Billy Berg's on New Year's Eve..December 1948/Jaunuary 1949.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8...escription.jpg
http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=B...olliday_Busted



below: Ms. Holiday leaving the county courthouse on New Year's Day.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3...olidaysarr.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...llie%20Holiday



below: Billy Berg's location today...

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5752/sbldgtoday.jpg
google street views

The 'Felix in Hollywood' blog includes the corner building as well.....but I'm not so sure.
If we could find at least one photograph perhaps we can place it on the corner (1360 Vine at De LongPre Ave.)
Until then I'm sticking with the street address of 1356 Vine...the address in the newspaper ad.





To help make all this tangible...'Felix in Hollywood' included this ashtray.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/695...lywoodblog.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...llie%20Holiday

____

The Tamale Restaurant
 

The Tamale Restaurant, 6421 Whittier Blvd., East L.A. in 1920

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/1920thetamale.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...86986&page=161

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/the-tamale-lapl.jpg
LAPL

And today

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/Tamale.now.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/6845356...1740/lightbox/

Woah! That's awesome the structure still survives!

Liquor store MURDER at 5601 S. Main Street on July 14, 1951.

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/2...ooting1951.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1328253824696



http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/2...ooting1951.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1328254441447




below: The liquor store was on the ground floor of this arts n' crafts home.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8...ootingloca.jpg
google street view




below: Another view showing the address as 5601 S. Main Street.

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/6...ootingl256.jpg
google street view





below: The victim's wife being comforted....notice that the lettering on the window says 'Las Palmas Cafe.
I wonder if this cafe was located in the same building as the liquor store...or is this an entirely different location? It's a bit confusing.


http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/2...ooting1951.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1328254441447

____

Another postcard from ebay with no information.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/8...ressivebri.jpg

I'm pretty sure this is the Arroyo Seco Parkway.....but I'm not sure about the bridge.

___

:previous:
That is indeed the Arroyo Seco Parkway; that's the York Boulevard bridge.

Big Jean Spangler murder story on front page of NBC News website today:

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...h-is-a-mystery

Another recent eBay find.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x...lord%25201.JPG
[source: eBay]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q...lord%25202.JPG
[source: eBay]

(These two images were originally the same size. Wish I could figure out why Picasa shrunk the first one.)

[QUOTE=ethereal_reality;5575421]I've been looking everywhere for more information regarding Billy Berg's, the first interracial nightclub in Hollywood.
It was located at 1356 Vine Street (near or at DeLongPre Avenue).

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1...presecorne.jpg
http://felixinhollywood.blogspot.com...llie%20Holiday

Mike Hammer, doing some nightclub integration of his own in Kiss Me Deadly

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6...ssmedeadly.jpg
Kiss Me Deadly, Universal Pictures

:previous: Perhaps they filmed that scene at Billy Berg's.

_____




I came across this area by total accident and I couldn't believe my eyes.
There in front of me was this wonderful little park (Terrace Park as it turns out).

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/6...viewfrom14.jpg
google street view




Are those mansions over there?

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/5...cefrom14th.jpg
google street view



Sure enough.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5...cefrom14th.jpg
google street view





These very impressive homes are located on Alvarado Terrace.
(I searched back through the thread and somehow we have overlooked this interesting area)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1...rracemapk1.jpg
google maps


below: The park doesn't even show up on my 1947 map.

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/8...ace1947map.jpg




below: This shows the six mansions that overlook Terrace Park. On the left is a classic apartment building....we'll get to that later.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/819...f1aerial1b.jpg
google street views





below: I love all the steps leading up to the various homes.

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/8...ce1400bloc.jpg
google street view





below: I later learned that this is the Pomeroy Powers Home. Some sources say it was a restaurant in the 1990s.

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8...ce1400bloc.jpg
google street view




http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8...ce1400bloc.jpg
google street view



http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/8...ce1400bloc.jpg
google street view




http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/914...race1300b1.jpg





below: This is the Gilbert House.

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/7...errace1333.jpg
google street view




In disrepair.

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9953/alv1gilbert.jpg



Luckily it's been saved. They even rebuilt the chimney. Bravo to them!

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/3...lanmarksfl.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7294653@N07/1974893244/




below: The apartment building on Alvarado Terrace.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9...ceexpanse1.jpg




http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8...ce1400bloc.jpg
google street view







If you search Alvarado Terrace at the USCdigital archives surprisingly only one photograph comes up.

below: The Riveroll Family House in 1904 located at 1406 Alvarado Terrace.

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9...ceriveroll.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1328320407457



below: The Riveroll House is located across the street from the apartment building. This is how it appears today.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9...ceriveroll.jpg
google street view




below: Next door to the Riverolls is the honeymoon bungalow Pomeroy Powers built for his daughter as a wedding present.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...538/ZY9Avg.jpg
google street view



If you would like to research this area further here is an interesting link.
http://laaggregator.wordpress.com/category/1900s/

This link gives you the names and dates of the various houses.

minkykat,
Valahalla Memorial is of that vintage. The grounds have a very distinctive portal:

It use to be at the main entrance prior to the Victory Blvd entrance:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

The Trackless Trolley of Laurel Canyon, The Log House, Lookout Mountain
 

I recall seeing a few photos of Laurel Canyon's trackless trolley here before. I'd have liked to reference the previous post but couldn't find it. Anyway, here are some nice shots and an L.A. Times article that tells the story.

This neat little rail line began running in 1913 and shut down just 2 years later, when it was replaced with Stanley Steamer steam powered buses. The line ran along Laurel Canyon, between Sunset and Lookout Mountain Drive and gave access to Bungalow Land, which was developed by the entrepreneur who built the trolley.

At that time I believe that Laurel Canyon ended at Mulholland, or whatever the ridge top road was called back then. The northern side of L.C. extending to Ventura Blvd and the Valley was built in the 1940's.

This L.A. Times article at the end of this post mentions the Log House, a road house at the Lookout Mountain intersection. Tom Mix lived there and much later, Frank Zappa.


http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/CHS-43704.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...view/CHS-43704


http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics18/00018878.jpg


http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics14/00006874.jpg
http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/P...ialbrowse=null


http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/laurelcanyon.gif
http://crosbyentertainment.com/own_a...od_history.htm

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/WonderlandParkAd3.jpg
http://laurelcanyonassoc.com/20cHist.html


Building the trolley.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/CHS-7177B.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1328283489927


Lookout Mountain.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/Lookout.card.jpg
ebay


The road to the Lookout Mountain Inn.

http://laurelcanyonassoc.com/Images/LookoutRoad.jpg
http://laurelcanyonassoc.com/Canyon1900.html

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-7337?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../view/CHS-7337


http://laurelcanyonassoc.com/Images/LookoutMtnInn.jpg
http://laurelcanyonassoc.com/Canyon1900.html


http://hiddenlosangeles.com/wp-conte...11/Tavern1.gif
http://hiddenlosangeles.com/what-lies-beneath-9/


Here's an L.A. Times story from 1946 with a more complete account of the Trackless Trolley.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/out-4b.jpg
http://search.proquest.com/hnplatime...ccountid=11124

I think the Log House was at 2401 Laurel Canyon Blvd. I don't know whether this was the same site the Tavern Inn. Does anyone know? I'll do a little more digging and try to add a "now" photo of the location.

Also, I've noticed what looks like remains of an old stone fireplace or foundation on the west side of Laurel Canyon near Lookout and plan to go back to see just what is there. Maybe this was the Log House property. Very interesting area, great history.

Whoa, Nelly! I have yet to check that out, didn't even know about it!
Oh, joy! Another cemetery to drag the hubby thru!

Does anyone remember seeing the old Ivy H. Overholtzer funeral home just off the 110/10 back in the '80's and '90's? I remember seeing the place when I first came here 15 years ago but per Google and Bing, it seems to be gone.

Oh, Ethereal, thank you! You just gave me a whole new angle and neighbor hood for one of the characters in my book to live in!:cheers:

Wonderful Post David-3940dxer!!


I wasn't aware of a Bungalow Land until that map...very cool find. I get confused with the area at the top of Laurel Canyon. I still wouldn't be able to point out where the 'Lookout Inn' used to be. I would find it interesting to see a photo taken from Hollywood and looking up into the Laurel Canyon area and have a X to mark the spot (hint hint) ;)

Sorry I can't answer your question about the locations of the Log House and Tavern Inn.
It would be fun to find out more about the remnant of the stone fireplace.


When you're up in that area have you noticed a building that kinda looks like an elementary school?
Here's a photo of it from the late 1970s or early 80s.

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1...mountainai.jpg

Back in the day it was a secret film studio that produced government films (atomic films during the Cold War). It's been mentioned briefly in the thread a few years back. Anyway, I just thought it would be cool to see more recent photos of this mysterious place.
Everyone loves a mystery....right? :)

Noirish Photos from the Los Angeles Times
 

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4...tscene1970.jpg
Oct. 29, 1943: Nighttime cityscape seen from Los Angeles City Hall tower looking west, during World War II dimout. The building in the foreground is the old Hall of Records.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4...tscene2970.jpg
Oct. 29, 1943: Nighttime cityscape seen from Los Angeles City Hall tower looking northeast, during World War II dimout. The building in the left foreground is the Hall of Justice.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6...tscene3970.jpg
Oct. 29, 1943: Nighttime cityscape seen from Los Angeles City Hall tower looking north, during World War II dimout. The U.S. Federal Courthouse roof is in the middle foreground. N. Spring Street is on the left. The post office Terminal Annex is on the right.

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/6...tscene4970.jpg
Oct. 29, 1943: Nighttime cityscape seen from Los Angeles City Hall tower looking east, during World War II dimout. Union Station is just left of the center of the image. The post office Terminal Annex is left of Union station.

By the time those were taken, people had obviously quit worrying about an air attack by the Japanese.

E_R, thanks fir the tour of Alvarado terrace. I remember seeing the pomeroy powers home in an LA photo thread by kingofthehill a couple years ago and loving it. I did a quick streetview tour back then, but this was much better and informative. I still can't get enough of old historic homes of any size.

minkykat...just so you know, Terrace Park used to be known as Summerland Park.
It was named after Theodore Summerland, city council member and county assessor from 1894 to 1902.

I thought this was a tidbit that you might like to know.

Yes, that military film complex has been on my wish list. My wife and I have an errand in that area tomorrow and maybe we'll go look for it. I had a heck of a time trying to figure out exactly where it is, but finally found it about about 2 hours of searching. It's a very extravagant private residence now. Here's a Google satellite image. Nice parking lot. (!)

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/lookout.studio.3.jpg

Here is what I found on this complex: "For twenty-two years during the Cold War, the federal government operated a secret film studio in the Hollywood Hills, in a complex which has since been converted into a private residence. Called Lookout Mountain Air Force Station, the studio produced films from 1947 to 1969, for all branches of the armed services, as well as for the Atomic Energy Commission. Though this was the principal production facility for the films of the atmospheric nuclear testing program, only a few dozen of the thousands of films made here have been declassified. The self-contained filmmaking compound employed around 250 people, and covered 2.5 built-up acres, housing studios, film vaults, production areas and screening rooms. It is surrounded by residential structures in the eccentric and hilly neighborhood on Wonderland Avenue, five minutes from the Sunset Strip, and is now the home of a Municipal Court Commissioner and an artist."

And: "The Lookout Mountain Air Force Station (LMAFS) located on Wonderland Avenue, Los Angeles, California, provided in-service production of classified motion picture and still photographs to the U.S. Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission from 1947-1969.

The 100000 sqft facility is built on 2 acre of land and was originally built in 1941 as a World War II air defense center to coordinate radar installations. The studio was established in 1947 and its purpose kept secret. The studio consisted of a complete stage, 2 screening rooms, a helicopter landing pad, a bomb shelter and 17 climate controlled film vaults as well as two underground parking garages. With the latest equipment the studio could process both 35 mm and 16 mm motion pictures as well as optical prints and still photographs. The nuclear tests at Nevada Test Site were filmed in various formats including CinemaScope, stereophonic sound, VistaVision and 3-D photography."

Very hard to see from street view:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6...38e72f5b_b.jpg

tidbit more on wikipedia's Billy Berg entry--
 

The Capri was addnly mentioned as a gay hangout sometimes in the 50s (later becoming Glen's) in one of the REMEMBER WHEN essays in a late issue of GayGirlsRidingClub newslettter- It's address was 374 S.LaCienega - putting it just above Olympic Blvd - These issues squired inside OneArchives periodical collection---Tasty and rare data on the 50s decade in two issues..

Fantastic! Thanks!:banana:

Thanks for sharing your findings rcarlton! I had no idea it was such a large complex.



below: A rare screen grab of one of the films produced at the secret studio in Laurel Canyon.
Surprisingly, 'Lookout Mountain Laboratory' is listed in the credits.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5812/...koutmtnlab.jpg
unclassified usaf



It's hard for me to swallow that this 'Cold War' complex is now a 'private' residence.
What could possibly be done with 17 film vaults and a 200 car underground parking garage? (not to mention all the other unusual amenities)
Why didn't the U.S. Government simply tear it all down?

FYI: I am certainly not a 'tin foil hat' type of person but this seems very odd to me.
____

The 1352d Motion Picture Squadron, aka LMAFS
 

My wife and I (and dog Waffle) had a long interesting walk around Laurel Canyon this Super Bowl Sunday. I've always liked this area a lot. When I moved here from the Bay Area in '77 Laurel Canyon was where I wanted to live. That didn't quite happen -- it was Flores St. instead, just south -- I but still enjoy exploring the Canyon.

There are several spots that I plan to talk about but to maintain order I'll handle the topics separately in the sequence we saw them today, starting with the 1352d Motion Picture Squadron, aka Lookout Mountain Air Force Station (LMAFS).

I had a lot of trouble finding this spot, partly because the one address I found on the web was wrong. The property is nearly a block long and has 2 entrances, each with its own mailbox and street number. The east mailbox is marked 8935, the west 8945. It is indeed well hidden from the street, by gates and foliage, but here are a few shots. Many of these were taken through gaps in the black iron fence.

There is at least one real estate site that lists this property and shows it as modern, fabulously renovated mansion but oddly, none of the improvements can be seen from the street. From the outside, it looks just like what it used to be -- an mid century military installation that simply shut down one day. Seeing it from the street you'd think it's only been gathering dust since 1970 or whatever, but apparently that's not the case (see next post).

East entrance and fallout shelter.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6097.JPG


East entrance again, close ups of shelter and Douglas Aircraft intercom ("EXPLOSION HAZARD").

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6081.JPG

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6082.JPG


Behind the 2nd level windows that face the street are huge electrical panels.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6098.JPG


Some views from across the street.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6090.JPG

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6096.JPG


Huge gate at the west entrance, mailbox, parking lot and buildings beyond.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6100.JPG

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6095.JPG

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6085.JPG

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6088.JPG

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/100_6080.JPG


L.A. Times June 22, 1954. (Note the line about "12 foot thick walls"! Could that be a typo? 12 feet thick???)
http://wwww.dkse.net/david/LCyn/LMAFS/lab.1.jpg
LAPL

Here are some images from the site with the real estate listing. You'd hardly recognize it, right? But it's the same place. There's the old telephone booth, in the 3rd shot. The site seems to indicate that the property was listed just a few days ago, but that may be incorrect. In any case, my photos are more recent than the ones below. You can buy it right now for $5,750,000.00. Here on the Noirish L.A. thread, truth is often stranger than fiction!

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40...579751_1_1.jpg

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40...579751_3_1.jpg

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40...579751_4_1.jpg

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40...579751_5_1.jpg

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40...579751_6_0.jpg

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40...579751_7_0.jpg

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40...79751_13_0.jpg

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40...79751_14_0.jpg

All from http://www.redfin.com/CA/Los-Angeles...6/home/7123564.

If they throw in the Roller - sure!

Really interesting.

Fantastic photos, 3940dxer! Not long ago ethereal_reality suggested a building downtown for the official clubhouse of Noirish Los Angeles; I think the 1352d Motion Picture Squadron site would be even better.

That is perhaps the most bizarre place I have ever seen. I would love to see the whole building and what they have done with the remainder of that immense facility.

The rooms we see appear to have had design flung at them by the handfulls. There is everything from african tribal art to medieval to greco roman to cubist all housed in a very mid-century industrial space. Eclecticism reigns supreme!

My favorite elements are the phone booth and the 50's Airstream barely visible in the third color photo. I would keep both there in perpetuity.

~Jon Paul

Thank you and my pleasure. This place was definitely weirder and more interesting than I had expected! I have a few more stories in the pipeline about Laurel Canyon, but I don't think I'll be able to top this one any time soon.

I am simply amazed by your photographs of the Lookout Mountain Laboratory David. Congratulations to you...your wife....and Waffle. :)

I was stunned when I saw the phone booth. It looks as if it's waiting for some long lost cold war ghost to come along and place a call.
There were several other surprises: The 'FALLOUT SHELTER' sign still prominently displayed. The huge electrical panels on view through the windows
(where I expected a breakfast nook if it were indeed a private residence). The Douglas Aircraft intercom system still attached to the outer wall.
The article that mentions 12 foot thick walls (think about that for a moment.... 12 foot thick walls!!)

Perhaps one of us could pose as a millionaire (billionaire?) and request a tour through the real estate site that published the photos?

FYI: I've been told (by Johnny Socko) that there is a DVD available titled 'Atomic Filmmakers' produced by Peter Kuran of VCE.
It tells the history of the Lookout Mountain Laboratory.

Again, good job David.

ethereal_reality, this is indeed very strange. Let us know if you get any visits in middle of the night from men wearing black suits and dark sunglasses demanding you take down these pictures.:jester:

3940dxer:

I did not think it was possible, but you have outdone yourself again!

If the wife ever hits the Mega Millions, I will buy the place and have a noirish party.
I will have to move quickly before she realizes what I have done and has me done in.
If that is the case you can all come to my wake. I'll leave word for an open bar.

By the way, what is this?

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2...utmountain.jpg

p.s. I love the telephone booth.

:previous:

An early remote vacuum cleaner that has somehow found its way onto the roof?

Looks like skylight to me. Perhaps that extra large garage is underneath.

The Phone Booth
 

I think we all love the phone booth. Funny how something so ubiquitous not so long ago is now so rare.

Maybe it served other purposes than just placing calls. A fast elevator-style drop to lower floors? You gotta imagine there were a fair number of Black-Ops Company Men who visited Lookout Mountain over the years.

http://www.tvacres.com/images/props_booth.jpg

It's a bit odd that the phone booth is missing in the photo I posted from the late 70s/early 80s.

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1...mountainai.jpg
unknown

...maybe malumont is on to something. ;)

Car through house. Coronado Terrace in the Echo Park area 1951.


http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/317...arage1951a.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1328656364317

I don't think this guy is having a very good day.

One question: Is that thing in the yard one of those citywide incinerators or a butt-ugly outdoor grill?

If you look, the skylight isn't there either.

I hate getting out of place. What I meant was, in the 70's shot of the Lab, neither the phone booth nor the skylight are in that parking lot.

I hadn't noticed that kevinW. Thanks for pointing that out.

:previous:
It's hard to tell from the 70s/80s shot, but it looks like a blue tarp on the ground where the skylight would be.

.