noirish Los Angeles

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

That bridge is one of only remaining remnants of the park.

(I had a computer hic-cup)

gsv

Many of the locals call it The Bridge to Nowhere


"In 1972, a pedestrian bridge was built over the railroad tracks to the five area expansion. It led to a new log ride known as the Ya-Hoo Flume,
which entered a giant misty aviary with waterfalls and squawking parrots that flew freely. It’s only now, when I look at old photos of the ride,
that I realize the “logs” were in fact replicas of wooden beer kegs. The SkyRail was also expanded to encompass the entire park.
Its tracks were connected to the west and east sides of the bridge. One of my most vivid Busch Gardens memories was standing on that bridge
and watching workers clumsily attempt to shoo a wayward peacock off the monorail tracks, a source of subversive delight for us kids."




old Busch Gardens boundaries / and the ped. bridge


I have to admit, I'm mostly guessing about the blue dotted line.
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update:

I just came across this interesting aerial.


donated by Bob Hill Valley Relics/Facebook

Initially, I thought the photographer was atop one of the taller buildings built in the 1950s, but unless I'm looking at this wrong, he's on the wrong side of the tracks
for it to be one of those earlier buildings, right?

_

Yup, wrong side of the tracks, maybe he's in a chopper to take the pic. Speaking of "The Bridge to Nowhere", I don't remember any posts about it. I've not been up there, but the kid went up there and jumped off(budgie jumping). She's cray-cray.

Oh, I was on a boat when I took the waterfall pic. Motion may have been the problem, but it could have just been out of focus(I'm not sure if I took the pic with an Instamatic or my OM-1).

[ethereal_reality]

BGC, I don't recall any posts on the 'Bridge to Nowhere'. Isn't there supposed to be a couple tunnels near the bridge as well.

The rumor is that the government was making an escape route for Los Angelenos in case of NUCLEAR WAR.




And for some unknown reason the construction was abruptly stopped. ( leaving a bridge, to nowhere, and two automobile tunnels)

Have you heard that rumor?

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Thanks for giving us the location of the First Church of Christ, odinthor.

I remember when I was putting together that page of the site. About half a dozen of the buildings--churches, etc.--gave me no end of trouble trying to track down their locations. It made me

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

You said on your blog :
At American Avenue's crossing with Fourth Street was the First Christian Church. "Churches! Banks! —Always First!

you reminded me of a Free Methodist Church that was in my old neighborhood.
I had a goofy friend and every time we walked past it he would yell "LOOK, FREE METHODIST CHURCH!"

every. f*cking. time.
__

Sometimes we get stuck on a joke. [makes note in memorandum book: Drive e_r past a Free Methodist Church, say you know what]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

p.s. What's up with the baying sheep on your blog odinthor?

Mostly it's because much of LB was devoted to sheep ranching once upon a time (I can truthfully say I saw one of the last sheep-herdings of the ranch), partly it's because, um, Long Beachonians (pick one): (a) have curly hair; (b) can be shorn and thus contribute to nice sweaters; (c) are gentle in nature and perhaps too-easily led.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

p.s. my friend was implying that the church building was free and that we should go get it and haul it off. (I told you he was goofy)

I'll remember to rent a U-Haul . . .

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Thanks for posting your photographs BillinGlendaleCa.

I see your camera was jostled a bit when you took the waterfall photo.



Were you riding on one of the hanging Skyrail cars?




I spy your waterfall.

themeparkreview

note the bridge over the railroad tracks.......................................



[continue below]

I visited Busch Gardens at least twice with my parental family, and anticipated that I could regale you with pix; but they're eluding my most strenuous efforts.

It was one of those "pleasant but not exciting" places. I think my dad liked the opportunity to sample some beer . . .

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

BGC, I don't recall any posts on the 'Bridge to Nowhere'. Isn't there supposed to be a couple tunnels near the bridge as well.

The rumor is that the government was making an escape route for Los Angelenos in case of NUCLEAR WAR.




And for some unknown reason the construction was abruptly stopped. ( leaving a bridge, to nowhere, and two automobile tunnels)

Have you heard that rumor?

That's not a rumor, that was the plan. There's another set of tunnels about a mile west from the bridge that were for the escape route. The bridge was built in the 30's and the approaches were washed out in a flood. There is a tunnel next to the bridge.

[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by odinthor

I visited Busch Gardens at least twice with my parental family, and anticipated that I could regale you with pix; but they're eluding my most strenuous efforts.

It was one of those "pleasant but not exciting" places. I think my dad liked the opportunity to sample some beer . . .

Actually the original Busch Gardens were on his estate in Pasadena.

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Its amazing that the tree is still there.

The site of the tree has only been public land since 2010, so maybe we just haven't had time to wear it out yet:


"Hugh Hefner Sends Over Check, Hollywood Land Saved

By Dakota Smith Apr 26, 2010, 10:31am PDT

KNX radio is reporting that Playboy founder Hugh Hefner has agreed to send over a check for $900,000, the final amount of money needed to purchase the 138 acres on Cahuenga Peak from those Chicago-based investors. A news conference with Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger is currently underway. Here's the press release from the Trust for Public Land:

"Hefner's gift capped a year-long effort, which began with $1 million gifts each from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and Aileen Getty. At the original April 14 deadline, TPL still had $1.5 million to raise. TPL received a fundraising extension to April 30, and The Tiffany Foundation and Ms. Getty stepped forward again with a $500,000 matching grant, which TPL would receive if the remaining $1 million was raised. Hefner's gift closed that final gap and enabled TPL to realize the Tiffany and Getty challenge funds." And so the land is saved. And so concludes one of the stranger stories of 2010, a listing that saw offers from controversial sign company SkyTag, resulted in a lot of needless commentary from real estate agent Ernie Carswell, saw allegations of political posturing and city blundering, and most importantly, launched numerous design suggestions from overseas architects. Hooray for Hollywood."

- LA Curbed


ETA:


Seeing the Sign (for some suggested viewing points)

[Martin Pal]

.

Thanks to those who responded about the Wisdom Tree with photos and information!

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

I've never had the slightest urge to get up close and personal to the Hollywood sign.
_________________________________________________________________

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

ethereal_reality_1987

I had a slight urge.
_________________________________________________________________

Originally Posted by BillinGlendaleCA

I think you'd find that extremely difficult now (fence, cameras...).
_________________________________________________________________

...and being 30 years older!

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The graffiti I noticed in your photo reminded me of the recent Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary special. They showed a clip of Carol singing with, I believe, Eydie Gorme, and they were in studio and then it cut to a close-up of them at the Hollywood sign, singing the final notes as the camera pulls back into an aerial of them at the sign. When they filmed that in 1977, the sign was becoming more and more in need of repair and restoration, which it got around 1978, when a campaign to restore it by Hugh Hefner and others was underway.

There's a youtube posting of this Hollywood song segment from the show. The Hollywood sign portion is at the very end at around 9:15.

• Video Link


For several years after that, in many stores on Hollywood Blvd. you could buy official souvenirs with a square metal piece of the old sign affixed to a parchment like proclamation that it was officially a piece of the old Hollywood sign before it was restored. I was always planning to get one of those, but I did not.

There is one of the on eBay for sale at $250.00! From the number on the bottom of it, there are at least 3,651 of these.

[Lwize]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Did anyone read today's VARIETY < click there

I'm curious what you NLA'ers think of the idea.
__

My representatives also decline to comment.

[rbpjr]

Originally Posted by BillinGlendaleCA

I think you'd find that extremely difficult now(fence, cameras...).

I remember this...just hang'n out. Howzabout a repeat of the photo of you standing in front of the casino at Avalon...very GQ...

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

BGC, I don't recall any posts on the 'Bridge to Nowhere'. Isn't there supposed to be a couple tunnels near the bridge as well.

The rumor is that the government was making an escape route for Los Angelenos in case of NUCLEAR WAR.




And for some unknown reason the construction was abruptly stopped. ( leaving a bridge, to nowhere, and two automobile tunnels)

Have you heard that rumor?

Keeping the theme in parallel.....


http://www.conelrad.com/images/theda...vr.jpg:(:yuck:

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by rbpjr

I remember this...just hang'n out. Howzabout a repeat of the photo of you standing in front of the casino at Avalon...very GQ...

go here and see that famous BB photo and some others....
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=16277

[ethereal_reality]

mystery location

"1930s original photograph of tennis champion Ellsworth Vines training in Los Angeles."


heritage auction

It would be interesting to know why Mr. Vines isn't playing at one of the posh country clubs in the area.

and.....

I've been trying to figure out what that 'tri-pod' is that's situated on the hillside above the court. -makeshift lighting for the court?

[ethereal_reality]

A Certificate of Incorporation for the Sunset Motion Picture Company, 1912.





heritage capital corporation


I only found the company in one city directory (1913) shown below.


lapl

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[BillinGlendaleCA]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

mystery location

"1930s original photograph of tennis champion Ellsworth Vines training in Los Angeles."


heritage auction

It would be interesting to know why Mr. Vines isn't playing at one of the posh country clubs in the area.

and.....

I've been trying to figure out what that 'tri-pod' is that's situated on the hillside above the court. -makeshift lighting for the court?

I'm thinking this is probably in Bronson Canyon near "The Batcave". The "tripod" looks like a power pole with supports.

ETA: Here's a picture I took near the "caves", I'm thinking the location of the tennis court might have been more down in the canyon, but the angle and distance to the sign seems about right.
_1120026 by BillinGlendaleCA, on Flickr

[ethereal_reality]

I think you're pretty close BGC.


An ad from Screamer Magazine, 1916

I don't recall seeing the King George Roof Garden on nla.


internet archive

___

update:

I just found some additional information.

Los Angeles Herald, Number 17, 21 November 1916


cdnc.ucr.edu

_

[for search purposes]
King George Roof Garden Cafe, Venice / Ocean Park - Jim Morley, Barney Oldfield, Jim Jeffries, Frank Chance, Bill Pickens, Al Brown.

[Krell58]

Here are two nuclear escape tunnels.
• Video Link

And the bridge to nowhere, I believe you follow Azusa road to the San Gabriel mountains to find the trailhead.
• Video Link

[odinthor]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

[...]

update:

I found some additional information.

Los Angeles Herald, Number 17, 21 November 1916


cdnc.ucr.edu

_

[for search purposes] King George Roof Garden Cafe, Venice / Ocean Park - Jim Morley, Barney Oldfield, Jim Jeffries, Frank Chance, Bill Pickens, Al Brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHhhYNja78Y

Barney doesn't show up until a good ways along . . .

[ethereal_reality]

Mabel in Barney Oldfield's Race for Life



It would be interesting to know what railroad depot was used in the filming.



opposite side of tracks


Does it look familiar to any of you railroad fans?
__________________




Oh..I almost forgot...here's Barney Oldfield & Mabel Normand looking for the party at King George Roof Garden.



M: "I think we're lost Barney."

B: "mrrrffle mhmfjmhr"






Thanks for the link to Barney Oldfield's Race for Life odinthor.

[ethereal_reality]

and we can't forget one of the other guests.... famous Boxer Jim Jeffries.





He owned his own night spot in Los Angeles...Jim Jeffries' Gentlemen's Club at 326 Spring Street.


ebay / seen in the early days of NLA


You can find more photographs and info HERE

(including pics of his old training barn that still survives!)