noirish Los Angeles

[dragonsky]

http://scottymoore.net/longbeach.html

[ethereal_reality]

Here's a one-of-a-kind Kodachrome slide showing a man in a suit posing in a parking lot with the Civic Center in the background, Los Angeles [1950s].


eBay

So which parking lot is this? (perhaps this was taken on a Sunday since the parking lot is almost empty)

I also see a building under construction at far left.
__


Thanks for the information on the 1942 P.E. freight train photograph Ed Workman, HenryHuntington & HossC.

It's much appreciated!
__

[ethereal_reality]

La Floristas Ball, at the Cocoanut Grove in the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles [April 23, 1955]


http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/D...wdate=&hidate=


"Mrs. Herbert A. Hitchins modeling the "Butterfly Aerialist" headdress during the 17th Annual Las Foristas Floral Headdress Ball at the Cocoanut Grove
at the Ambassador Hotel, April 23, 1955."






Here's a close-up of the crowd. I wonder what military school that boy goes to?


detail

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[HossC]

I've reversed the order of the three images in this Julius Shulman set to see how quickly you guess the location. Unless I've missed something, there's not much to go on in the first picture.



There's a big clue through the window at the end of the room in this shot.



Did you get it? This is "Job 1928: Sunkist Building, Sky Room, 1955".



All from Getty Research Institute

[unihikid]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Here's a one-of-a-kind Kodachrome slide showing a man in a suit posing in a parking lot with the Civic Center in the background, Los Angeles [1950s].


eBay

So which parking lot is this? (perhaps this was taken on a Sunday since the parking lot is almost empty)

I also see a building under construction at far left.
__


Thanks for the information on the 1942 P.E. freight train photograph Ed Workman, HenryHuntington & HossC.

It's much appreciated!
__

ER Im pretty sure this is Union Station parking lot near the Harvey Restaurant part of the complex.

[HossC]

It must have been taken at almost exactly the same time as this recently posted image.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Take a look at this sheet music I came across the other day.


http://songsinthekeyofla.com/post/48...aight-from-the

My reply with close-ups of the Grand Central Hotel being demolished is in post #34543.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

La Floristas Ball, at the Cocoanut Grove in the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles [April 23, 1955]


Here's a close-up of the crowd. I wonder what military school that boy goes to?


detail

__

Kind of odd to see a young fellow of that age at the Ball. He looks awkward and out of place.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by dragonsky

http://scottymoore.net/longbeach.html

I have to smile. When I was about 12 years old I rode my bike to that pier in the photo and rode around it. The reality was that I never told my parents that I had gone there because I was 25 miles from home.
But I had fun that day.!

[ProphetM]

Another mystery for you to solve!

The picture below belonged to my aunt in Iowa, though I am not sure whose it was originally. It has been captioned "Walter, Mom's brother 2nd from left", however my aunt's mother (my grandmother) didn't have a brother named Walter. Without knowing who wrote the caption I don't know Walter's last name. So all we've really got to go on is the photo.



I have teased out most of the text on the door, but not quite all of it. The address is _423, with the first digit being maybe a 2 or a 3. Below that the largest 3 lines are:
GENERAL
PETROLEUM
CORP.

The two smaller lines I believe to be:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MA_______ DIVISION

I've googled my little fingers off but I can't get any further. Help?

I have only found one other photo that may be in SoCal - a police officer relative named Bob is standing in a front yard with a very tall palm tree in the background circa 1950s. Chances are slim the location could be found but I may post it anyway, especially if I can figure out Bob's last name...

[Earl Boebert]

"Marine Division?"

Cheers,

Earl

[Tetsu]

Originally Posted by Beaudry

Speaking of junkies, an addendum to my post above—327, before its demolition, had some pretty unsavory boarders...well, sort of, at least the local kids were kept in Zagnuts and Mallow Bars!

LA Times, Feb 19, 1933, via Proquest

And here's an image showing 327 along its side in 1913:

USC

Wow, 327 went back on the property waaaay farther than I would've thought. Was a huge place. Thanks for digging up the info Beaudry!

Also wanted to say, congrats on another great LAVA presentation yesterday! Didn't get to say hello but know that I was in the house and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thanks odinthor for the photo of 327 as well!

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

A nice looking lady about to board streetcar #5026, somewhere in Glendale. August 16, 1952.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/orig-1952-2-...3D231952463140

Given the angle of the hills behind and the width of the street, I would say this is Brand Blvd, just above Glenoaks in Glendale. The Streetcar tracks only ran up Brand in that direction and then across Glenoaks to Burbank. We had (several months back) postings about the line at the top of the hill, which would be at left, out of sight in the photo

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

"A photo opportunity for students at a Hollywood Boulevard modeling school."


old file

My internet searches keep leading me to the Patrica Stevens Modeling School in Kansas City MO.

Does anyone know where the branch in Hollywood was located?

__



One of the few other 'Patricia Stevens' related items I found was this 'Central Casting' form for Marilyn McMahon, circa 1949.


http://outlet.historicimages.com/products/rse03453

Marilyn Inez McMahon, born on February 9, 1930, married a man named "Held". Marilyn died in Palm Beach, Florida on August 23, 1990. She may have been a nurse.

[HossC]

I have a slight mystery with today's Julius Shulman post. I know roughly where the picture was taken, but I haven't been able to pin it down exactly. It's "Job 3900: Miscellaneous buildings (Calif.), 1965".


Getty Research Institute

The title gives no clue, and the description only mentions Santa Monica. I found references to Wagenseller & Durst Inc in Santa Monica, but no address. The store next door appears to be a Pacific Telephone Employment Office, and bears the number 631. The most useful detail is the sign on the lamp post which points the way to "St Monica's Catholic Church 1 Block North". The building below is a block south of the church at 631 Wilshire Boulevard, but it looks older than the building above. Can anyone help?


GSV

[ethereal_reality]

Hoss, I had no idea the Sunkist building had a Skyroom!

Originally Posted by HossC

Sunkist Building, Sky Room, 1955".

I really liked how you made the Shulman photographs into a 'mystery' challenge.
I figured it out once I saw the Engstrum Apts. sign.

detail





The cafeteria must have been in the space that I've outlined in red below, even though the Engstrum sign appears to be too far to the right.
(I think it's just the angle of the photograph that makes it look that way)


usc




detail


Any idea what that white vertical thingy is? (circled above)
_____





Photo #2


1945 usc





Here are a couple other things I noticed.

The extra-tall flue. (circled in red) -it's visible in the first photograph as well.



I can't figure out which building it belongs to.

Also note the silver water-tank on the hill in the far distance. (so where do you suppose this was located?)

One last thing: I believe we get a glimpse of the Metropolitan Water Bldg. (yellowish-orange arrow)


here's closer look.


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[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

detail


Any idea what that white vertical thingy is? (circled above)

The "white vertical thingy" appears to be at the entrance of the parking lot next to the Engstrum. Could it be a barrier in the upright position? It's behind the lamp post in his detail view.


Detail of picture in USC Digital Library

[ethereal_reality]

I believe you're correct Hoss. It's probably a gate in the upright position. Thanks for your help.

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by oldstuff

Marilyn Inez McMahon, born on February 9, 1930, married a man named "Held". Marilyn died in Palm Beach, Florida on August 23, 1990.
She may have been a nurse.

Thanks for this oldstuff. She looks like she would have made a great nurse.

*I just found out she had six children.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pal...?pid=161733756

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Hoss, I had no idea the Sunkist building had a Skyroom!

The cafeteria must have been in the space that I've outlined in red below, even though the Engstrum sign appears to be too far to the right.
(I think it's just the angle of the photograph that makes it look that way)


usc

I've only just found this photo, which the source dates as circa 1968. I think the cafeteria was a level above the one which you outlined. The third Shulman picture must've been taken on the far left.


Detail of picture in Huntington Digital Library

[HossC]

Just over a week ago I posted four "then and now" comparisons of schools from jbange's link, but with my own Google Maps images on the "now" side. I then did another four and completely forgot to post them. The originals can be found laschools.org. Again, I've only included views where at least one of the original buildings is still standing.

Virgil Junior High School/Virgil Middle School - 152 N Vermont Avenue.



Washington High School/Washington Preparatory Senior School - 10860 S Denker Avenue.



Bancroft Junior High School/Bancroft Middle School - 929 N Las Palmas Avenue.



Bell High School/Bell Senior High - 4328 Bell Avenue.