Quote:
Originally Posted by ethereal_reality
I found these extraordinary negatives on ebay a couple months ago. The negatives show a celebration and parade in Los Angeles.
There were no details or dates.
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below: This negative aroused my interest the most.....the building, under all that bunting, looked vaguely familiar to me.
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After going through my files I finally decided the photograph was of the Elk's Building (aka B.P.O.E.) at the summit of Angels Flight.
below: Here is the same photo that I changed to black & white just for fun.
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below: Here is a photograph of the Elk's Building atop Angels Flight. (compare the two photos)
usc digital archive
For once I solved a mystery on my own. 
That said, I wonder what the hotel is directly south of the Elk's Building (all you can see is the sign 'hotel' in the vertical photograph).
Anyone?? |
gsj is right-on (as always) about the New Maryton. Here's my wild supposition as to What's Going On: it's early September, 1908, and the Elks are parading to commemorate their new digs up on Bunker Hill!
http://www.onbunkerhill.org/elksannex Ok, I
like to think that. But truth is, I'm 99% certain this is the famous Elks cavalcade of July 1909 as well documented in the Times and Elks lore and much Elky 1909 goodness routinely findable on eBay.
That first image, we're looking from mid 500s, down B'way, that's the 1906-7 H. Jevne Co Bldg (groceries and sundries) across 6th at left (got a major makeover by Parkinson, 1918). Then some low buildings where the Swelldom will go, and the Metropolitan annex, in the early 20s. The building with the arches, 549-543, is still with us, sort of:
http://www.you-are-here.com/broadway/hartfields.html ...The low white four-window Milton Hotel, 541-537, is lost to
http://www.you-are-here.com/broadway/richman.html... The one that says "formerly owner of stores" 535 S Bway is known as the Emporium, was built in 1903, and...well, Google streetmap it. Shudder. 537 up from it is replaced in 1930, the building looks like crap now, but has amazing deco sidewalk terrazzo.
Second image, the corner of 525 (1893, still there, looks like hell). Fitzgerald Music at 523 (the Meyer Bldg, 1903, also still with us, also looks like hell), Swelldom (before they moved down to the corner) at 521 -- they share the Remick Bldg with Mammoth Shoes at 519.
Note the BPOE banner -- tips us off to the Elks parade.
Also and interesting shot in that they were shooting it (if my 1909 theory is correct) given the vantage point on a building with borrowed time -- Clune's Broadway (now the Cameo Theater) would be built on that spot and open in October 1910.
Third shot, all of these buildings are still here --
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics08/00013811.jpg -- looking up Bway from 4th. But you wouldn't know it, really, as most have been cut down so much. Parkinson's 1896 Homer Laughlin (tallest one in distance) maintains its integrity to this day, at least. (And that's definitely an Elks symbol hanging from the wires above!)