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GaylordWilshire Nov 16, 2009 9:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 4561508)
Here's another impressive view of the high school on Olympic,
this time with a streetcar in front.


http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/526...3rdhigh192.jpg
usc digital archive

On that lot in the foreground remains this Austin-designed echo of the high school:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/...0e5d7457ec.jpg

Is there a vintage shot anywhere of Memorial Library?

ethereal_reality Nov 17, 2009 1:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire (Post 4561494)
It's interesting to see the site of the future May Co/LACMA, and that Fairfax was the western end of the famous Wilshire streetlamps (and the new "Miracle Mile')-- I saw Chris Burden's Urban Lights a year or so ago, but don't remember if the tall Wilshire lantern is among them. Anyway, that installation is great--best seen at night, of course--like being in a cathedral, as I once heard it put. Btw, What is that odd walled building with towered entrance on the site of the future Mays/LACMA?

Funny you ask that GaylordWilshire. I wondered that myself.

With the strange entrance, I thought it was a mausoleum and/so cemetery.
But there are structures inside (with obvious trusses/arches) that look like a collection of warehouses or sound stages.

ethereal_reality Nov 17, 2009 2:22 AM

Below: Here's an interesting photo looking NE from Santa Monica Blvd.
and Highland Ave. in 1926.


http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/6...nefromsant.jpg
usc digital archive


I can't remember what's on this corner now.

ethereal_reality Nov 17, 2009 2:33 AM

Below: Santa Monica Blvd. looking west from Western Ave. in 1927.


http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/2...nicablvdlo.jpg
usc digital archive

sopas ej Nov 17, 2009 2:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 4562071)
Below: Here's an interesting photo looking NE from Santa Monica Blvd.
and Highland Ave. in 1926.


http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/6...nefromsant.jpg
usc digital archive


I can't remember what's on this corner now.

Hehe I know full well what's on the northeast corner of SM Blvd. and Highland. There's a mini-mall with a Donut Time on the corner, which is open 24 hours. In the 1990s, Donut Time had all kinds of "interesting" characters, particularly at 2am-- rent boys, drug addicts, transvesitite prostitutes... I think it's somewhat tamer now, beginning in the early part of this decade the LAPD really started cracking down on street prostitution. I used to work graveyard shift in Hollywood and it would be interesting to drive down this stretch on my way to work; also, leaving the clubs you'd see the interesting folk along the stretch of Santa Monica Blvd. east of WeHo.

ethereal_reality Nov 17, 2009 2:45 AM

Below: Beverly Blvd. and Vermont in1926.


http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9...blvdandver.jpg
usc digital archive

sopas ej Nov 17, 2009 2:48 AM

ethereal that pic you posted of Santa Monica Blvd. looking west from Western is very interesting to me; that bank building on the northwest corner still exists, as does the Sears building, which is the building in the background that you see with the tower. The tower still exists, though the building itself has been massively remodeled beyond recognition and looks horrible; looks like a 1970s remodeling, and even the Sears logo that's on the building now is from the 1970s, with that all-cap, red lettering.

ethereal_reality Nov 17, 2009 2:58 AM

Below: This photo was also labeled looking northeast from Santa Monica Blvd. and Highland. 1926.
It's from the same vantage point as the photo in post #553, just angled a little more to the right (east) I believe.



http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5...odlookingn.jpg
usc digital archive

ethereal_reality Nov 17, 2009 3:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej (Post 4562114)
ethereal that pic you posted of Santa Monica Blvd. looking west from Western is very interesting to me; that bank building on the northwest corner still exists, as does the Sears building, which is the building in the background that you see with the tower. The tower still exists, though the building itself has been massively remodeled beyond recognition and looks horrible; looks like a 1970s remodeling, and even the Sears logo that's on the building now is from the 1970s, with that all-cap, red lettering.


Sopas_ej, thanks for the feedback.
It's always interesting to hear from you.

ethereal_reality Nov 18, 2009 3:30 AM

Below: A view over Westlake Park (later MacArthur Park) in the 1930s.
The tower on the right is Bullocks Wilshire Department Store.


http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9...swilshirew.jpg
usc digital archives




Originally Wilshire Blvd. ended at Westlake Park
(it was Orange on the opposite/east side).

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6...ngeles1908.jpg
1908 map




Wilshire Blvd. was extended in 1934 to pass through the park.


http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8...rlayofwils.jpg
usc digital archive







http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4...hurfacinge.jpg
usc digital archive


....someone left the cake out in the rain.

sopas ej Nov 18, 2009 4:45 AM

:previous:

Yeah, all that sweet green icing flowing down. ;)

Apparently when Wilshire Blvd. was extended into downtown, a lot of buildings had to be demolished. The part of Wilshire east of MacArthur Park was always considered the less distinctive part, being that Wilshire was meant to be a grand boulevard but it originally only went west from MacArthur Park. Interestingly, it was intended NEVER to have a streetcar line going down it, it was meant to be a boulevard for autos. In the 1920s and 1930s, special double-decker open-top buses ran down Wilshire as public transportation, which is why some department stores were designed with 2nd-floor display windows like this one:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics46/00042959.jpg
lapl.org

It's kind of hard to see but this pic shows one of the special double-decker buses that used to run down Wilshire:

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068433.jpg
lapl.org

Here's another shot of Wilshire and a double-decker bus, courtesy of the USC digital archive. Picture is from 1938:
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/2...ledeckbusi.jpg

Wilshire and Bronson, 1931, from the USC digital archive:
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/365...ronson1931.jpg

Those "Wilshire Special" street lamps date from the late 1920s, I think, and originally went west from MacArthur Park to Fairfax. They stopped at Fairfax because originally, west of Fairfax was unincorporated County territory, so the City of LA had no jurisdiction there; I'm not sure when that parcel was annexed into the City. Those Wilshire Specials only exist now through Mac Arthur Park and a few miles east of there, and many of them are in bad shape, some really rusted. I assume they're made of cast iron like many old lamposts back then. It's hard to see but the corners of the lanterns are adorned with nude females.

ethereal_reality Nov 18, 2009 6:15 AM

^^^Sopas_ej
Very interesting photos and information.
I had no idea about the double-decker buses on Wilshire and the second floor display windows.
And your third photo actually has a Simon's Drive In. That's too cool.

What sparked my interest in this area was the large 1908 map I posted several pages back.
I noticed Wilshire east of Westlake Park wasn't Wilshire at all but Orange Street.

ethereal_reality Nov 18, 2009 11:19 PM

Here's a nighttime snapshot of Westlake Park.
It looks like a still from a 1940s noir.


http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8...efromourro.jpg
nypl


Written on the back was "The view from our room."

ethereal_reality Nov 18, 2009 11:28 PM

Here's a photo of the Triangle Pharmacy on Washington and Hoover.


http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2...epharmacyc.jpg
usc digital library



A map of it's location.


http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6...ngeles1908.jpg
1908 map

GaylordWilshire Nov 19, 2009 2:41 AM

Great pictures here too:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=416008

Los Angeles Past Nov 19, 2009 2:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beaudry (Post 4551126)
By the way, in case you don't have it, go on bookfinder.com or wherever you hunt out your old books and pick up "Views of Los Angeles" by Gernot Kuehn. It's the gold standard of Then & Now books, and especially because his "now" pictures are from 1978, they alone are awesome.

I just found a copy. Outstanding book! Wow. Most of the 'then' photos are ones I've never seen before. A must for any old L.A. afficionado! :tup:

Los Angeles Past Nov 19, 2009 6:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 4565867)
Here's a photo of the Triangle Pharmacy on Washington and Hoover.


http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2...epharmacyc.jpg
usc digital library

Cool pic! Was there a date for it? Reason I'm curious is, I've got an original old L.A. street sign of the exact style shown in this pic, and I've always wondered just exactly how old it is:

https://otters.net/img/lanoir/scottavestreetsign_lj.jpg

BTW, I didn't buy this anywhere, I stole it myself when I was a teenager in the early 1970s.

-Scott

ethereal_reality Nov 19, 2009 8:18 PM

There wasn't a date Scott, sorry.

Sopas_ej might be able to figure it out.
He knows alot about the streetlights and signs of Los Angeles.

ethereal_reality Nov 19, 2009 9:44 PM

Here's another storefront from long ago, Albert's Sunset Cafe (no address).

I was intrigued by the Sparkeeta Root Beer and Cheri-Keeta signs. I had never heard of these products.


http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/581...tcafe1930s.jpg
usc digital archive

I did a little research and found that the Sparklett Water Company was started in Los Angeles in August of 1925,
with a one room factory and one truck. They used a water supply on their company's property.
By 1928 they had 52 trucks.

In 1936 they introduced Sparkeeta and Club Soda, a lithiated product made
from Sparkletts table water.




http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3...talithiate.gif


In 1939 they introduced UP (lemon-lime) Cheri-Keeta Cola and Sparkeeta Root Beer.


http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9...parkeetaup.png





Below: In this photo of 3rd and Hill Street you can see a Sparkeeta Ad
painted on the side of a building.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4...tasign3rds.jpg
usc digital archive


OK....now I'm thirsty. :)

sopas ej Nov 20, 2009 8:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Los Angeles Past (Post 4567248)
I've got an original old L.A. street sign of the exact style shown in this pic, and I've always wondered just exactly how old it is:



http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/v...streetsign.jpg



BTW, I didn't buy this anywhere, I stole it myself when I was a teenager in the early 1970s. :D

-Scott

Hehe! Well, I've seen LA street signs in that style from old photos that date from the late 1920s, so, your sign could be as old as that.

A few years ago, the LA Department of Transportation website used to include a link called "Topics and Tales," or something like that, and it totally talked about old Los Angeles street signs and street lights. It also talked about early freeways of the Los Angeles area, with some interesting pictures. I went onto the LADOT website recently and apparently the Topics and Tales link no longer exists.

Here's an undated photo from the LAPL, of street signs in that same style:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00077/00077953.jpg

Notice the directional sign for Occidental College, created by the Auto Club of Southern California. I learned some years ago that basically for nearly the first half of the 20th Century, the Auto Club of SoCal used to create all road signs, directional, speed limit, city limit signs, etc., before the California Department of Transportation took over. I found it interesting that a private group would create road signs. Some of these still exist here and there, as recently as a few months ago, even in my town of South Pasadena, there's an old road sign and at the very bottom you see a small logo of the Auto Club of Southern California. I should take a picture of it before it gets replaced, if it hasn't been already.

Those metal "gun" signs that still exist in LA date from the late 1940s:
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4...gcitstr018.jpg
USC digital archive, photo from 1959

Notice the finial on top of the pole. Some of those still exist here and there in LA.

When I first started looking at old photos of Wilshire Blvd. with the Wilshire Special street lights, I noticed the street signs too; you only see that style on Wilshire Blvd. and only on those lamp posts, I figure maybe they were meant only for the stretch of Wilshire with the custom-made street lights, as in the photo I posted earlier:
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/365...ronson1931.jpg
USC digital archive

I guess when the LA DOT introduced the gun-shaped street signs (which I as a kid loved and still do, and even when I was a kid they reminded me of guns), they installed them on Wilshire but didn't remove the older signs for some reason and kept them for a while, as you can see in this photo from 1948:
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8057/dwl1183isla.jpg
USC digital archive

The current mounting of LA street signs is kind of unique, IMO. In that Topics and Tales link in the LA DOT website, it mentioned that LA street signs are now mounted on the near right-hand side of an intersection, with a single sign at each corner. It gives no reason for why they're mounted this way. The Topics ad Tales link also mentioned overhead mounted traffic lights in Los Angeles. In California, span-wire mounted traffic lights were never popular for some reason, but they were used here and there in LA; California had traffic lights mounted on poles at the corners of intersections, but on busy, wide streets these can be hard to see if a driver is stopped far from the intersection, so at some key intersections, overhead span-wire mounted traffic lights were used. These later evolved into the traffic lights mounted on mast-arms that have become common throughout California.

Here's the intersection of Wilshire and La Brea in 1940, showing a traffic light suspended on a span wire:
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8785/dw4161isla.jpg
USC digital archive

LA also pioneered the use of large approach signs which makes it easier for drivers to read, which later evolved into the large street signs you see at traffic-light controlled intersections, which other cities in other parts of the US have also adopted.
From 1960; notice the large Olympic Blvd. sign (and the cool 1959 Chevy with the gull-wing tailfins):
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/5907/exmn128650195.jpg
USC digital archive

Los Angeles Past Nov 20, 2009 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej (Post 4568783)
Hehe! Well, I've seen LA street signs in that style from old photos that date from the late 1920s, so, your sign could be as old as that.

Here's an undated photo from the LAPL, of street signs in that same style:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00077/00077953.jpg

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4...gcitstr018.jpg
USC digital archive, photo from 1959

Notice the finial on top of the pole. Some of those still exist here and there in LA.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/365...ronson1931.jpg
USC digital archive

:previous:
These are all great pics. :tup: Out in the unincorporated areas near Covina, where I grew up, all of our local street name signs were these stark black and white porcelain steel 2x4s. They had pointed finials on their pole tops, too. I remember after I acquired my Scott Ave. sign, I tried to steal one of those points to go with it. Not so easy!

Incidentally, I didn't steal my sign off of a street pole. I actually found it amongst thousands of other identical-type street name signs that were being used as terrace supports to shore up steep mountain slopes in San Gabriel River Canyon back in 1970. I went to these places lots of times searching for neat old street name signs. I found a very nice one of Florence Ave., a sign for the street right next to the one I grew up on, and one essentially flawless sign whose street name I forget now. Alas, all three of those signs ended up in the trashcan when I cleaned out my parents' house. There was nothing like eBay in those days, unfortunately. Today, I'm sure those discarded signs would sell for at least $100-200 apiece; that almost-perfect one for maybe even more...

-Scott

sopas ej Nov 21, 2009 6:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 4567629)
I was intrigued by the Sparkeeta Root Beer and Cheri-Keeta signs. I had never heard of these products.

I did a little research and found that the Sparklett Water Company was started in Los Angeles in August of 1925,
with a one room factory and one truck. They used a water supply on their company's property.
By 1928 they had 52 trucks.

In 1936 they introduced Sparkeeta and Club Soda, a lithiated product made
from Sparkletts table water.

In 1939 they introduced UP (lemon-lime) Cheri-Keeta Cola and Sparkeeta Root Beer.

OK....now I'm thirsty. :)

That's all very interesting, I never knew about these products either.

I believe Sparkletts is still headquartered in LA, in the Highland Park neighborhood. I think maybe if I remember to, I'll take a picture of the building, it looks like a mosque.

ethereal_reality Nov 21, 2009 7:31 AM

^^^very interesting
A photo would be great sopas_ej. :)

Also, your detailed post about the street signs and streetlights was really informative.
I looked over the photos for quite some time.

Los Angeles Past Nov 21, 2009 6:15 PM

Old color film of Olvera Street in 1937.


http://www.archive.org/details/Streetof1937


GaylordWilshire should enjoy the distinctive pronunciation of "Los Angeles" here. :)

ethereal_reality Nov 22, 2009 1:41 AM

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1...es1910huge.jpg
usc digital archive


An experimental monorail was built in Burbank by J.W. Fawkes in 1907.
He built the prototype on his Burbank ranch, running a line between Lake and Flower Street.

The photograph above shows a cigar-shaped trolley attached to an overhead rail supported by wooden beams.
It appears to be in motion with it's propeller spinning and moving away from the camera.


The name of his company was Aerial Trolley Car Co. Inc.
Mr. Fawkes called it the 'Aerial Swallow'.
The public called it 'Fawkes' Folly'.


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3...910or1907h.jpg
usc digital archive

ethereal_reality Nov 22, 2009 1:56 AM

One more photo of the Burbank monorail I found in my file.
From this photo, I'm baffled by the design of the propeller.


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3...wkesfolly1.jpg

Los Angeles Past Nov 22, 2009 4:49 AM

"Our Town Today"

Wartime in Los Angeles. Downtown was truly bustling during WWII!

There's that interesting old pronunciation again, too. "Los ang'-liss."


http://www.archive.org/details/our_town_today

yerfdog Nov 22, 2009 6:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Los Angeles Past (Post 4571828)
"Our Town Today"

Wartime in Los Angeles. Downtown was truly bustling during WWII!

There's that interesting old pronunciation again, too. "Los ang'-liss."

My grandma grew up in LA in the 20s and 30s, she pronounces it that way. I always wondered about that.

Pretty interesting video, thanks for posting.

sopas ej Nov 23, 2009 3:49 AM

Very interesting vids, Los Angeles Past!

______________________________________

I have yet to take a photo of that Sparkletts Building in Highland Park, but in the mean time, here's a photo I took today of a city mileage sign in South Pasadena. As you can see, it was created by the Auto Club of Southern California. I'm wondering how old the sign is, and when, if ever, it'll be replaced. I hope it doesn't get replaced...

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/9606/p1070253.jpg

Los Angeles Past Nov 23, 2009 7:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej (Post 4573190)
here's a photo I took today of a city mileage sign in South Pasadena. As you can see, it was created by the Auto Club of Southern California. I'm wondering how old the sign is, and when, if ever, it'll be replaced. I hope it doesn't get replaced...

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/9606/p1070253.jpg

Wow. Nice!!! The sign could be as much as 70+ years old, though it's more likely from sometime in the 1940s. That's still pretty darned old!

http://www.caltrafficsigns.com/history.php

I'm really surprised to see this sign is still in use. Someone in the road department in South Pasadena is probably sentimental about it and that's why it's still up there!

On my recent trip to L.A., I saw one overpass sign on the Pasadena Freeway that was still one of the So. Cal. Auto Club porcelain steel signs. I would bet there are less than 100 of those type signs still in use in the southland today. I'd even go so far as to say less than 50...

sopas ej Nov 23, 2009 7:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 4571661)

Hehe for some reason I imagine "The Music Man" here and singing the praises of a monorail which everyone falls for but they're duped into a big fraud project that would never fly. :)

sopas ej Nov 23, 2009 7:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Los Angeles Past (Post 4573423)
Wow. Nice!!! The sign could be as much as 70+ years old, though it's more likely from sometime in the 1940s. That's still pretty darned old!

http://www.caltrafficsigns.com/history.php

I'm really surprised to see this sign is still in use. Someone in the road department in South Pasadena is probably sentimental about it and that's why it's still up there!

On my recent trip to L.A., I saw one overpass sign on the Pasadena Freeway that was still one of the So. Cal. Auto Club porcelain steel signs. I would bet there are less than 100 of those type signs still in use in the southland today. I'd even go so far as to say less than 50...

Thanks for the link, LA Past. I figured that the sign must be at least from the 1940s. When I first moved to South Pasadena I noticed a sign near the San Marino border, I think it was a "SOUTH PASADENA CITY LIMIT" sign, black lettering on a white background, with the So. California Auto Club logo on it. Some years later it was replaced with a modern sign. I thought it was a shame, I regretted not having taken a picture of it.

sopas ej Nov 23, 2009 8:03 AM

Regarding the pronunciation of "Los Angeles," it seemed that there were generations of British people who would say "Los ANN-juh-leez." In the 1990s I worked with a guy from Hong Kong who spoke English with a British accent and he also would say "Los ANN-juh-leez."

ethereal_reality Nov 24, 2009 12:02 AM

Union Stage Depot located at 5th Street & Los Angeles Street in 1932.


http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5...agedepot5t.jpg
usc digital archive



I'm not familiar with this depot....anyone know the details?
What is a 'stage' depot?

ethereal_reality Nov 24, 2009 12:36 AM

The Santa Fe Station, Los Angeles.


http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7...depotlosan.jpg
usc digital archive


I LOVE the dog on the horse's back.

ethereal_reality Nov 24, 2009 12:43 AM

Another fine photograph of the Santa Fe Station in Los Angeles.


http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3...aferrhuuge.jpg
usc digital archive

ethereal_reality Nov 24, 2009 12:55 AM

The Southern Pacific Station on Central Ave. between 5th and 7th Street.


http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6...ernpacific.jpg
usc digital archive



http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/5...npacificde.jpg
usc digital archive

ethereal_reality Nov 24, 2009 1:01 AM

The Santa Monica Depot in 1888.


http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/128...537/zKeFA9.jpg
usc digital archive




Below: Santa Monica Depot in 1895.


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7...lesindepen.jpg
usc digital archive

sopas ej Nov 24, 2009 2:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 4574473)
Union Stage Depot located at 5th Street & Los Angeles Street in 1932.


http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5...agedepot5t.jpg
usc digital archive



I'm not familiar with this depot....anyone know the details?
What is a 'stage' depot?

I did a quick search and it turns out that this was a bus depot for Original Stage Lines, Mt. Wilson Stages and Inland Stages. I assume those were bus companies. Interesting pics, btw! That Santa Fe La Grand station looked really monumental; that was the train station that some Olympic athletes arrived at from across country during the 1932 Summer Olympics, according to the LAPL's pics I posted in that 1932 Olympics thread.

sopas ej Nov 25, 2009 6:12 AM

Looking north on Spring from 2nd, 1939
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5...erofhillan.jpg
USC archive

Northwest corner of Hill and 7th, 1939
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5...erofhillan.jpg
USC archive

Of COURSE it's 1939; "Dark Victory" is playing!

ethereal_reality Nov 25, 2009 4:13 PM

^^^Two VERY beautiful photographs sopas_ej.

Also thanks for the information regarding the Union Stage Depot.
I guess if I had thought about a bit more, I might have correlated
stages with buses. Also in the photograph (of the Union Stage Depot)
you can see where the buses entered on the far right in the photo.

Los Angeles Past Nov 26, 2009 5:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej (Post 4576944)

Northwest corner of Hill and 7th, 1939
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5...erofhillan.jpg
USC archive

Of COURSE it's 1939; "Dark Victory" is playing!


Here's another that must have been taken near in time to the one above (note the "Dark Victory" ad facing the parking lot). It's the 900 block of South Broadway...

https://otters.net/img/lanoir/DW-B5-50A-2-ISLA.jpg


My mom had her picture taken by a street photographer near here in 1936.

ethereal_reality Nov 27, 2009 11:23 PM

^^^That's a great shot....love all the signs.

Johnny Socko Nov 28, 2009 2:18 AM

Thanks to Los Angeles Past for referring me to this thread. I read the whole thing during my free time over two days this week, and I saw so many cool things that relate to me in some way.

Last month, someone posted conceptual images of a proposed Music Center located at 6th & Hoover. Interesting, because that development would've wiped-out the building I live in (as well as my entire block)! If you look at the concept art you will see two unidentified streets: The one that forks off of Hoover is Occidental Blvd, and the parallel street to the east is Lafayette Park Place. The music center would've gone in the land between those two streets.

I believe the proposal was dated 1950, and my building was constructed in 1953, so obviously my building's developers were not worried about potential eminent domain by then.

I suspect that my building was part of a "second generation" of buildings on my street, replacing a single-family residence. The hi-rise apartment buildings in the area are third-generation, replacing the small multi-family buildings like mine. As of now, there is one single-family building remaining on my block, and as always seems to be the case in Los Angeles, it is maintained but not continuously lived in. I call such houses "Scientology safehouses", but I have no idea what they are actually used for. :P

Occidental Blvd is a divided street with tall palm trees planted in the median. They look almost as tall as the "Longstreet palms" discovered by Los Angeles Past, so I'd estimate their age to be 80-90 years, which just about jibes with the age of this neighborhood.

OK, I've rambled on about this long enough. Someone else's turn!


I'll try to paste the 1950 Music Center concept art below:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/647...dmusiccent.jpg

Los Angeles Past Nov 29, 2009 5:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Socko (Post 4581049)
Thanks to Los Angeles Past for referring me to this thread. I read the whole thing during my free time over two days this week, and I saw so many cool things that relate to me in some way.

Last month, someone posted conceptual images of a proposed Music Center located at 6th & Hoover. Interesting, because that development would've wiped-out the building I live in (as well as my entire block)! If you look at the concept art you will see two unidentified streets: The one that forks off of Hoover is Occidental Blvd, and the parallel street to the east is Lafayette Park Place. The music center would've gone in the land between those two streets.

I believe the proposal was dated 1950, and my building was constructed in 1953, so obviously my building's developers were not worried about potential eminent domain by then.

I suspect that my building was part of a "second generation" of buildings on my street, replacing a single-family residence. The hi-rise apartment buildings in the area are third-generation, replacing the small multi-family buildings like mine. As of now, there is one single-family building remaining on my block, and as always seems to be the case in Los Angeles, it is maintained but not continuously lived in. I call such houses "Scientology safehouses", but I have no idea what they are actually used for. :P

Occidental Blvd is a divided street with tall palm trees planted in the median. They look almost as tall as the "Longstreet palms" discovered by Los Angeles Past, so I'd estimate their age to be 80-90 years, which just about jibes with the age of this neighborhood.

OK, I've rambled on about this long enough. Someone else's turn!


I'll try to paste the 1950 Music Center concept art below:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/647...dmusiccent.jpg

Nice contribution Johnny! Glad my blog got you over here. Also glad that proposed Music Center didn't gobble up your neighborhood. Enough of the old city has been done away with already, IMHO...

-Scott

ethereal_reality Nov 29, 2009 5:37 PM

Welcome to the site Johnny Socko!
Your post had a lot of interesting details. :)

ethereal_reality Nov 29, 2009 8:25 PM

Below: The Ambassador Hotel in 1929.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8...ssador1929.jpg
usc digital archive




Below: A 1957 proposal for the site.


http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4...amb1phase1.jpg

ethereal_reality Nov 29, 2009 8:27 PM

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/374...phasei1957.jpg

ethereal_reality Nov 29, 2009 8:41 PM

I just found phase II and III as well.


http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/874...assadorpha.jpg




http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/857...aseiii1957.jpg


Looks like the original Ambassador Hotel is lost between Phase II and III.
Developers never know when to stop.

(of course we still lost the Ambassador many decades later)

ethereal_reality Nov 29, 2009 8:45 PM

One last illustration from this series.


http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/630...dorcenter1.jpg


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