noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

And here's one for our rail fans.

"National Metal Critter, Los Angeles CA, June 16, 1984."


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orig-Slide-N...AAAOSw3mpXOOK2

Actually, this shockingly blue slide was probably taken on Terminal Island in San Pedro CA.

"National Metal and Steel Corporation was engaged in ship dismantling operations at Terminal Island in Los Angeles, California. Operations ceased on 1 January 1986 when the company lost its harbor facility to a harbor expansion project."

"National Metal and Steel was the final destination for many decommissioned United States Navy ships, and for many red streetcars of the famed Pacific Electric Railway and yellow cars of the Los Angeles Railway which became Los Angeles Transit Lines. Also, a number of the very heavy coal-fired AC-9 class Southern Pacific articulated locomotives, which, for operational reasons, were usable mainly in New Mexico and Texas, and were very rarely operated elsewhere on the SP system due to clearance considerations."

info from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Metal_and_Steel

So that sadly iconic photograph of discarded red cars stacked on top of each other was probably taken at National Metal.

__

[John Maddox Roberts]

[COLOR="Indigo"][SIZE="3"][FONT="Tahoma"]
1925
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/co...ll170/id/68032






What are those loopy things along the parapet in the middle picture? They seem to have cables or something depending from them down the facade of the building. Some sort of grounding apparatus in case of lightning?

[ethereal_reality]

re: 'mystery' mansion.


Here are the screen-grabs from "The Trip" (1967), that I mentioned last night.

The camera starts at street level and pans up toward the house. (screengrabs are all by me)















-looks like they're getting ready to hang someone up on the tower.





Here's a closer look at some of the architectural details.




It turns out, the mansion was located at at 1039 S. Ardmore Avenue.

Here's a description...

"I've spent years trying to gather information about the house used in the 1967 Roger Corman film, The Trip.

"The house (where Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern meet Dennis Hopper) was located at 1039 S. Ardmore Ave. in Los Angeles. The circular main room with the checkerboard floor was also used as "the gallery" in the 1968 film, Psych-Out. Rudolph Valentino lived for a short time in the Ardmore Mansion followed by a spiritualist group who renamed it the San Souci Culture Temple. At some point it was converted into an apartment building, the Ardmore Arms, before falling into disrepair in the early '60s. A motorcycle gang, The Barons, moved into 1039 S. Ardmore in 1965 and it became the "Psychedelic Temple." The "temple" was party-central for a few years attracting musicians, artists, bikers and other hippie-types (Jimi Hendrix shot some footage there in 1968) before being torn down in 1970."

Steve Hoffman at http://www.stevehoffman.tv/



and here's yet another description...

"The 'Temple' was built in 1881, at the end of the California Gold Rush. It was known early on as the Ardmore Mansion, then sometime in its history was home to a spiritualist
for 33 years, and known as the San Souci Culture Temple then. In the early to late '60's it was still listed in the L.A. phonebook as the Ardmore Arms, so it must have been converted over to apartments at some time. It's during the early '60's when it was finally abandoned."
-Irish Rich

Home to a spiritualist for 33 years! Now that's very interesting.



There was even a crazy farewell party shortly before the mansion was demolished.


https://00individual.files.wordpress...6/sansouci.jpg



The interior had a glass atrium / dome!

"I was at the San Souci final day celebration! I remember we were swinging on the chandelier under the Dome!. I was on the roof outside, too, looking down through the dome glass. I walked around , smoked pot, drank, and discovered rooms here and there, cubby-holes…..my memory is very foggy…..I stayed all night, slept -over until morning sun came , in one of the rooms with a girl…..there were hippies, bikers, stoners, freaks and it was fun and wild and wacky…….in the morning when I left there were loads of bikes around the place, and saw no cops! one of the strangest free and freaky events I was at! it was all casual and natural , sexy, nutz, cosmic, and just right!"
-Bob Friedman




.....but the basement had a dirt floor. (?)

"I lived there for some months in early 1968. You know the phrase "if you were really in the 60's, you don't remember it" or something like that? Yeah, I don't remember everything, but it was a great time to be there. I was 17, quit high school to live with my boyfriend there. We lived in a downstairs room, right off the "ballroom". Great house, the glass skylight over the whole open center was there when I moved in, but it had been broken and I think became dangerous and boarded up at least in part. Bikers used to bring their choppers into the ballroom, painted like a dartboard, and do doughnuts. Boy was that loud. Lotsa fun drugs and trips all the time, people living everywhere, even in the dirt basement (guy named Dormouse). We started out in a big closet upstairs, then moved into an actual whole room downstairs. If anybody was there then, it would be fun to hear from you. My nickname was "Littlebit", and my boyfriend was Jay. I guess he was either in the Barons or a hanger on."
-Betsy W


What's really strange...I haven't been able to find a photograph of the mansion back before it became party central. Any help would be appreciated.

Today, 1039 S. Ardmore Avenue is a parking lot.

_____________

info: from
https://00individual.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/413/
and
http://irishrichcustomcycles.blogspo...dmore-ave.html

[HossC]

Very interesting, e_r. I see the Steve Hoffman link also identifies the house from 'The Trip' with the indoor/outdoor pool (which was apparently removed by Michael Caine for security reasons).

I had planned to look for pictures of the Ardmore Mansion, but when I checked out the location, I got distracted by the courtyard houses opposite. This is 1038 and 1042 S Ardmore Avenue...



... with 1052 S Ardmore Avenue just down the street.



Both GSV

Although the designs vary slightly, they're all very similar. Here's an overhead view showing all three, complete with their two-story buildings at the rear. The entrance to the parking lot where the Ardmore Mansion once stood is in the lower left corner.


Google Maps

All three were built in 1923, so it struck me as slightly odd that the red-roofed building split up the group. A further look at the online building records showed a fourth 1923 courtyard at 1046-1948 S Ardmore Avenue. All four were built by J M Close, who also owned three of them. You can see the all of them together on the 1972 aerial on the left below. I did try to spot the Ardmore Mansion on the aerials, but none were very clear. For some reason, 1046-1948 S Ardmore Avenue was demolished in 1974. The view on the right below shows that it was still an empty lot in 1980.


Historic Aerials

[Tourmaline]

Originally Posted by John Maddox Roberts

1925




What are those loopy things along the parapet in the middle picture? They seem to have cables or something depending from them down the facade of the building. Some sort of grounding apparatus in case of lightning?

I assume they were part of several hoist assemblies. Look to far left in the above picture and notice floating scaffold seems supported by cables/ropes that appear connected to two of those loops.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by jbange

Dug a little further on the LAUSD Facilities Services Division web site and didn't find anything else on Annandale.... but I did find an interesting "then and now" aerial picture set of several old schools presented in the World's Most Annoying Interactive Format

Originally Posted by HossC

Thanks for this link, jbange. My main gripe is that whoever did the Google Earth images for the "now" shots has used distorted overhead views. They would have been so much better if they were angled views with 3D buildings so that a proper comparison could be made. Nevertheless, I'll be taking a longer look at them over the weekend, and maybe trying a few "now" pictures for myself. It's sad to see how many of the 1920s and 30s building have been replaced - some were pretty impressive.

Here are a few of the "then and now" comparisons from jbange's link where at least some of the original buildings survive. I've replaced the "now" side of each with my own grabs from Google Maps (I had to distort them a little). If anyone wants to check out the originals, the page numbers are in the corners.

Mann Junior High School/Horace Mann Middle School - 7001 S St Andrews Place.



John Marshall High School - 3939 Tracy Street.



Muir Junior High School/John Muir Middle School - 5929 S Vermont Avenue.



South Gate High School - 3351 Firestone Boulevard.

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by HossC

Here's a color shot to finish. It includes the Texaco Building from post #34832.



All from Getty Research Institute

I don't know about the fountain, but I was wondering...a lot of Shulman's color photographs seem heavily tinted on the pink or reddish side. Do you think this is their original look or is it a function of faded negatives or something? Like I said, just wondering.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

I don't know about the fountain, but I was wondering...a lot of Shulman's color photographs seem heavily tinted on the pink or reddish side. Do you think this is their original look or is it a function of faded negatives or something? Like I said, just wondering.

Faded negatives. Modern digital programs can correct the problem to some degree.

[HossC]

I routinely tweak the contrast of Mr Shulman's black & white photos, but I usually leave the color ones alone. Here's the same photo with a quick color balance adjustment.



I'd guess that the photos aren't meant to have a tint, but I don't know enough about photography to offer an explanation. There's no tint in today's Julius Shulman photos which I'll be posting soon.

[HossC]

Here are four Julius Shulman photos from 1979 which show the CBS Studios in vibrant color (no reddish tints here!). This is is "Job 5755: William L. Pereira and Associates, Columbia Broadcasting System, inc. Studios (Los Angeles, Calif.),1979". I've omitted the black & white images.









All from Getty Research Institute

[Martin Pal]

From Television City in Hollywood: Thanks, HossC, lol!
I've seen many a taping there! What do you say nowadays? They
don't usually "film" or "tape". I want to be up on things! Heh!

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Exciting day for L.A!

I read where the ride takes about 50 minutes from downtown to Santa Monica. Is that about right M P?
__

This is accurate. It is said that is the same time the Pacific Electric route used to take. Like with the Blue Line, there are a few places the trains have to stop for a city traffic light if warranted.
Otherwise, it might've been somewhat faster. The Red Line (from downtown to North Hollywood) is almost the same length as the Expo line, but it's a subway all underground and that
takes 30 minutes.
___

P.S.: I love that that 'shockingly blue' slide you posted.

[Earl Boebert]

Great footage of motorcycle racing on the Beverly Hills board track in 1921:

• Video Link


Thanks to Hoss for the tutorial on embedding videos :-)


Cheers,

Earl

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by HossC

I'd guess that the photos aren't meant to have a tint, but I don't know enough about photography to offer an explanation. There's no tint in today's Julius Shulman photos which I'll be posting soon.

I also tried to correct the color. You did as good as I could.

[ProphetM]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

I don't know about the fountain, but I was wondering...a lot of Shulman's color photographs seem heavily tinted on the pink or reddish side. Do you think this is their original look or is it a function of faded negatives or something? Like I said, just wondering.

Color shift is pretty common with older photos. A good percentage of the old family photos I've scanned have experienced it. Thankfully my scanner software has a 'color correction' checkbox that is utterly amazing. It instantly fixes all but the worst of the worst color-shifted prints.

[LA Kitty Kat]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

Nathan Masters/KCET


Just ran across this story, out today--from "one of our own" (and not just any "one of our own"- a true L.A. history pro):

https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/h...-los-angeles-0

Thank you for this link, GW. Absolutely beautiful!

[Martin Pal]

I know we've seen this map before of the P.E. route with the diagonal right of way
from Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea ending up at Fairfax and Santa Monica Blvd.



And there's a great post by Kevin W. HERE with a visual representation of it
using period photographs.

I keep having trouble visualizing exactly where the P.E. cars connect to Santa Monica Blvd. It's probably because the area there now is so different that it's hard
for me to look at the photos and comprehend the diagonal approach. Also, the streets, especially Fairfax, look rather narrow in the photos.

Here's a few photos from the Pacific Electric Railway Association, probably posted before, taken in the early 1950's of this intersection.


The first close shot is a Hollywood car turning onto Santa Monica Blvd. (in front of a Santa Monica line car), from the right of way at Fairfax. We're looking east.




Next is a shot further back, with a Santa Monica Line car in the same position. The right of way is at the left.




The third photo is angled toward the diagonal right of way at Fairfax, with a car waiting to turn onto Santa Monica Blvd. The Crescent Drugstore on the left is fronting Fairfax Ave.
Far right is a Fairfax Street sign. (I'm guessing it's called the Crescent Drugstore because at one time Fairfax Ave. was called Crescent Ave.)




This last photo of a car arriving at the drugstore shows the tracks going off into the distance.



It's probably because the right of way intersection is at an angle and the photos aren't long shots, that I'm having trouble with the perspective of this particular location.
Also, as I said, because the area in question is now a parking lot for a Whole Foods store and the buildings in the photos are no longer there. (I'd wager the buildings on the
other side of the street could very well be the same.)

I wonder, HossC, if there is an aerial of this area that would show the intersection? No worries if you haven't the time or inclination to look.

Here's a photo of the location from 1939:

[unihikid]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

I know we've seen this map before of the P.E. route with the diagonal right of way
from Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea ending up at Fairfax and Santa Monica Blvd.



Here's a few photos from the Pacific Electric Railway Association, probably posted before, taken in the early 1950's of this intersection.


The first close shot is a Hollywood car turning onto Santa Monica Blvd. (in front of a Santa Monica line car), from the right of way at Fairfax. We're looking east.

I may be wrong but im pretty sure the pe car is going towards the ROW.. so its leaving santa monica bl, and going into the whole foods parking lot.

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

I know we've seen this map before of the P.E. route with the diagonal right of way
from Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea ending up at Fairfax and Santa Monica Blvd.

Great photos today Martin.!!!.....unihikid, hoss and others as well.

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Great photos today.

Originally Posted by unihikid

I may be wrong but im pretty sure the pe car is going towards the ROW.. so its leaving santa monica bl, and going into the whole foods parking lot.

That brings up a question I've had before, but not asked. When you see a photo with the P.E. cars in it, how do you know which way/direction they're going?

[Martin Pal]

Santa Monica Pier's Looff Hippodrome Turns 100 This Year
A big celebration is planned for the venerable carousel house.
It opened on June 12, 1916.




From the linked article: Celebrations will include 5 cent rides on the historic carousel, tours of the second-floor apartments
that once offered residents some of the most unique views in all of Los Angeles and "potato chip sundaes," a tribute to what
would have been one of the most popular snacks served at the pier at the time of its opening.

The celebration will begin at 11 a.m., when (as the press release promises) "the doors will be swung open with the same
vigor as when Charles Looff first did the honors back in 1916." Take that, ferris wheel.

Note: The Ferris Wheel comment refers to the fact it will be down for a month for a lighting upgrade.

Two articles:

http://la.curbed.com/santa-monica-pier

https://www.kcet.org/carousel-and-the-era-of-seaside-amusement


1930's view: LAPL