^^^That is an amazing before & after photo (and complimentary text).
I didn't realize the distant mountain in the auto court photo was Mount Washington until the info in gsjansen's post.
Here are a few interesting photos I've been intending to post of Mount Washington.
Few people remember that Mt. Washington had an incline railway. (photo dated 1910)
usc digital archive
or it's own newspaper (notice the column "Incline Work Progressing").
Mt. Washington Eagle 1909 / possibly latimesblog
...or it's own version of the Hollywood Sign.
unknown / possibly latimesblog
LAPL
The sign was atop a covered reservoir, and was advertising real estate (much like the Hollywood sign would do 10 yrs later)