noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by ethereal reality

Motorcyclist Harold Gates with unidentified woman. [location unknown]



Does anyone recognize this place?

Originally Posted by Snix

Yes! That is the campanile from the Agua Caliente resort in Old Mexico. It was designed by Wayne McAllister in 1928.
https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Archi.../dp/1586856995

Thanks Snix! I didn't think we were going to solve this one.


Aqua Caliente was a huge complex!



antiquegambling

As you can see...............................................................................................................................................................the campanile is #8







That big honkin' vase is still there.


laprensa


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[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by HossC

As you can see from the partial sign, 830 Ducommun St was previously home to Armor Paper Products Co Inc. Despite the Ducommun address,
the warehouse actually backed onto the river. I've arrowed it in this 1958 view. The building was almost literally in the shadow of the gasometers.


mil.library.ucsb.edu*

Thanks for labeling this aerial Hoss. I appreciate it (as always)

*note the aerial was taken only two years before the Smith-Locke murder.

originally posted by HossC

complete article HERE

When I first read "Gas House" district my mind told me "Gaslight district" (like the historic area in San Diego)



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[ethereal_reality]

"Palatial Estate" mystery.

Have we seen this amazing looking place on NLA?


picclick

I'm intrigued by the structure in the middle distance on the left. What purpose does it have? (as it appears to be quite a distance from the house)




The only clue is written atop the back of the rppc. (rppc = real picture post card) ebay lingo


picclick / 1920s los angeles

Does anyone recognize this "palatial estate"?

__

[ethereal_reality]

Here's one more mystery for tonight.


"ROYAL ORDER OF JESTERS, COURT #84, FALL PARTY AND CEREMONIAL, L. A. BREAKFAST CLUB." (Shriners?)


PICCLICK

So who are these jokers jesters?




The seller included detailed images.


I thought there'd be a date.....but no.








Burger King Board of Directors?




and the photographer.


Dave Weaver



And finally, the seller included this close up of a damaged corner that gives us a good look at the lighting fixtures.



hmmmm...or was the seller pointing out that burnt umber-colored diagonal mark?


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[Tikiman]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

HAPPY NEW NOIRISHERS

Shall we start the new year off with a MURDER. *maniacally rubs hands together*


MARCH 1960 Veronica Smith Locke found murdered.


USC

3 images. Murder, 26 March 1960. Body of Veronica Smith Locke found in warehouse at 830 Ducommun Street. ; Caption slip reads: "Photographer: Olmo. Date: 1960-03-26. Reporter: Farrell. Assignment: Murder. 25: Coroner's Assistants carry sheet-wrapped body of Veronica Smith Locke from boiler room of warehouse at 830 Ducommon [sic] St. 26-27: Dep. Coroners carry out body. 28: Outside view of warehouse in which body was found."

The address is



http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/co...799coll44/id/1[USC









Coroner's Assistants carry sheet-wrapped body of Veronica Smith Locke from boiler room of warehouse at 830 Ducommon [sic] St.






In 1956, Veronica Locke Smith lived in an apartment just north of Echo Park Lake. (now a parking lot)


GSV


LAPL

It appears she was separated from her husband.


I'm hoping one of you minions noirishers will be able to find some additional information.


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Here is something interesting. On the same month, 12 years earlier, the naked body of Evelyn Winters was found just across the street from this one. She had been beat to death and dragged to the spot. Coincidence? You tell me.http://1947project.blogspot.com/2006...iscontent.html
My apologies again - it looks like I am late to the party. I've had this one push pinned on my Google Map for several years now and when I saw the original post I figured I would be cute and tell you all something new. OOPS. Well I can add this case to my death push-pin map. LOL

[HossC]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

Wikimedia

I saw this photo captioned: Barbara Britton at the Hollywood Canteen.

I hadn't seen any exterior photos of the Hollywood Canteen that were similar so I tried to figure out where this was taken. I believe the building at top center is the Guaranty Building located at Hollywood Blvd. and Ivar St. I'm sure it was taken south of there because if it were taken north the Knickerbocker Hotel would block the Guaranty building in some respect. Both the Hollywood Canteen and the USO were a block west of Ivar, so the angle wouldn't be right if Miss Britton were at either of those places.

I don't think it was taken on Vine Street because the Broadway or Plaza would be in the view and I don't recall any trees on the west side in any Vine St. pictures of this area.

...

So the general location for that photo is behind one of the locations fronting Vine Street. Could anyone be more specific?

Here's an aerial view from December 21, 1941 (we could probably see the Santas on Hollywood Boulevard if it was higher resolution!). The three-story white building is just to the right of the top of the "Ivar Avenue" label. I believe that the building is still there, although most of the windows have been filled. To the left of "V" in the "Vine Street" label is the CBS Radio Playhouse (now the Ricardo Montalban Theatre). My guess would be that Barbara Britton and the sailors were between the CBS Radio Playhouse and Selma Avenue, but I can't work out where the small brick chimney-like structure in the top-right corner of the photo would've been.


mil.library.ucsb.edu

[GaylordWilshire]

A couple of random Bullock's-Wilshire images...







This is a detail from a USCDL image...I noticed the billboard across Westmoreland from Bullock's for "The Gillette," which at first I thought might be some new store or restaurant or other. Turns out to be The Gillette Mortuary, now a school with an odd name, nearly under the freeway, at 950 W Washington. I thought we'd seen it here on NLA before, but I couldn't find it readily....


GSV

[GaylordWilshire]

Speaking of Bullock's-Wilshire: Not to be missed is any chance to visit the landmark building—especially not to be missed is a chance to hear renown historian Stephen Gee speak on John Parkinson, the towering landmark's architect and the subject of ICONIC VISION, Gee's superb monograph. For ticket information: http://www.windsorsquarehancockpark....-high-tea-2019





(I don't suppose Gee will be talking about murders or other mayhem...but this got me wondering--how many deaths might have taken place at Bullock's-Wilshire? Anyone know of any jumps from the tower? Have we seen any here on NLA?)

[Flyingwedge]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Ducommun street was named after the Ducommun family who sold various metals.

Charles Louis Ducommun, a watchmaker by training, emigrated to the US from Switzerland in the early 1840s. Ducommun Street was named for Charles Louis.

Was Ducommun Street named after the Ducommun family or just Charles Louis Ducommun?

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

Was Ducommun Street named after the Ducommun family or just Charles Louis Ducommun?

I guess one could ask this about most any street that carries the name of a person.

On a similar note was "Elm Street" named for one specific elm tree or all elm trees.

[CityBoyDoug]

This photo shows the relative location of the famed Hollywood Canteen. On the night of October 3, 1942, Bette Davis and John Garfield opened the Hollywood Canteen at 1451 Cahuenga (on the corner of Sunset Blvd) at a former nightclub called The Barn.


messynessy

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by HossC

My guess would be that Barbara Britton and the sailors were between the CBS Radio Playhouse and Selma Avenue, but I can't work out where the small brick chimney-like structure in the top-right corner of the photo would've been.


mil.library.ucsb.edu
___________________________________________________________________

Thanks, HossC. That structure looks like it was something sticking up from a roof, but, also, the photograph looks like the upper right of it might be a whited out glare in the picture. Too much light.

____

CBD, in the 1941 aerial above, the Canteen would be located (a year later) at the very bottom of the aerial photo on the west side of Cahuenga Blvd.

It also looks like a B-2 stealth bomber landed on the corner of the east side of Cahuenga Blvd. at Selma Ave. (I was trying to locate what restaurant that might be.)

[Bristolian]

I'm thinking that structure might be a gas station with canopies protruding from the main building although 1941 might be a little early for that style of architecture.

Update: I'm new to using the city directories but 1956, the closest year I could find, shows Jack Brechtel Union Oil Dealers/Service Stations at that corner of Cahuenga & Selma

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

Was Ducommun Street named after the Ducommun family or just Charles Louis Ducommun?

I'd hazard a guess that the street was opened through real estate owned by Mr. Ducommun by the civic-minded cooperation of Ducommun, and so was dubbed with his name in appreciation (such was the way in which Requena St. acquired its name). Ducommun had real estate assets valued at $6,000 in 1860 and $20,000 in 1870 (according to the censuses of those years).

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by HossC

Here's an aerial view from December 21, 1941 (we could probably see the Santas on Hollywood Boulevard if it was higher resolution!). The three-story white building is just to the right of the top of the "Ivar Avenue" label. I believe that the building is still there, although most of the windows have been filled. To the left of "V" in the "Vine Street" label is the CBS Radio Playhouse (now the Ricardo Montalban Theatre). My guess would be that Barbara Britton and the sailors were between the CBS Radio Playhouse and Selma Avenue, but I can't work out where the small brick chimney-like structure in the top-right corner of the photo would've been.


mil.library.ucsb.edu

Originally Posted by Bristolian

:previous

I'm thinking that structure might be a gas station with canopies protruding from the main building although 1941 might be a little early for that style of architecture.

Update: I'm new to using the city directories but 1956, the closest year I could find, shows Jack Brechtel Union Oil Dealers/Service Stations at that corner of Cahuenga & Selma

It looks like a gas station was on the corner by early 1926--one moved from a lot due north across Selma (the pumps and tanks, it seems) to a lot on which a 4-room house had been built in late 1920. That structure appears to have been demo'ed in 1931...a new canopy was built at that time...then, according to BPs, a "tire service building" and a "battery service building" were built in 1933. Then in 1940, Union Oil built a new station, the old canopy being moved to Manchester and Wilton Place. Looks like there were a few more updates to the station over the years.

Interestingly, the name Harold Lloyd appears on some BPs associated with this property--seems he might have owned it, leasing it Union Oil.

[Tikiman]

In the 1952 film "Monkey Business" Cary Grant buys a new red MGTD sports car and takes Marilyn Monroe on a nice ride. I was curious as to where the scene was shot. It didn't take too long because part of the business sign and the address number was visible in the shots. The location was, and still is, Santa Monica Ford at 1230 Santa Monica Blvd.

• Video Link

[Tikiman]

In the 1952 film "Monkey Business" Cary Grant buys a new red MGTD sports car and takes Marilyn Monroe on a nice ride. I was curious as to where the scene was shot. It didn't take too long because part of the business sign and the address number was visible in the shots. The location was, and still is, Santa Monica Ford at 1230 Santa Monica Blvd.

• Video Link

[Tikiman]

In the 1952 film "Monkey Business" Cary Grant buys a new red MGTD sports car and takes Marilyn Monroe on a nice ride. I was curious as to where the scene was shot. It didn't take too long because part of the business sign and the address number was visible in the shots. The location was, and still is, Santa Monica Ford at 1230 Santa Monica Blvd.
On a side note, the car was sold at auction from the FOX studio lot and purchased by Debbie Reynolds. She said that her daughter, Carry Fisher, learned to drive it but after a minor fender scrape, Debbie put an end to it. LOL
Sorry for the duplicate posts. I wasn't sure how to correct the video feed issue and reposted instead of saved. Learning curve. Sorry

• Video Link

[ethereal_reality]

I loved comparison pics when I was a kid. My favorite was the Lusitania standing upright next to the Woolworth Building in NYC.


Here is one that I have never seen before....& it is mighty cool looking.

BOULDER DAM VS LOS ANGELES CITY HALL


picclick





Here's a closer look to get your imagination stirring.


I had to chop the top off to get it to fit.


Boulder Dam was renamed Hoover Dam in 1947.


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[ethereal_reality]

A bit more from the Royal Order of Jesters, Court #84.

1957 Roster

worthpoint Jonathan Club

A look inside HERE

I believe the smiling imp is a Billiken.


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