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Old Posted Jun 1, 2011, 1:37 PM
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gsjansen gsjansen is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire View Post
ethereal--Boyle Heights has a rich history-- check out http://home.earthlink.net/~nholdened...ts_boyhood.htm for starters. There's also lots to google on the subject. If you ever find Wander's First Class Barber Shop, let me know how that electric face massage comes out. It looks like in front of the door there is a NYC-style glass-block sidewalk panel--to let light down into the sidewalk vault. I've never noticed that in a pic of LA.
the glass block in the side walk not only acts as means of introducing exterior light ot a basement space, but it's main purpose was to be able to provide smoke relief in case of a basement fire by means of smashing out the glass block with a fireman's axe.

here is a 1920 image of the woolworth's on broadway between 4th and 5th, you can see the glass block in the sidewalk along the storefront facade of the store


Source: LAPL

here's a photograph from 1926 of crowds lined up to buy aimee's newest smash hit!, notice the glass block in the sidewalk


Source: LAPL
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