noirish Los Angeles

[tovangar2]

The Italian-Baroque Cathedral of Saint Vibiana, Ezra F Kysor & WJ Matthews (1876). Facade remodeled and clad in limestone 1922-24, by John C. Austin.
Main and 2nd Streets. Planned since 1859. Built by Thaddeus Amat, LA's first bishop, on land donated by Amiel Cavalier. Cornerstone laid in 1871. Dedicated 1876.

Cathedral of Saint Vibiana (source says ca 1880s):

http://waterandpower.org/museum/Earl...s)_Page_1.html

Shorn of grime and its former context, now "Vibiana", a venue.
Saved from the wrecking ball at the last second+:

gsv

Event in progress:

http://www.vibiana.com/

Prepped for another:

vibiana

At rest:

http://www.you-are-here.com/downtown/vibiana.html

The foyer and the north door:

vibiana.com

The north garden:

vibiana.com

Back in the day:

atlasobscura

The wax, silk-dressed effigy (which encloses Vibiana's bones) in its reliquary above the altar. Vibiana's relics were in residence at the former cathedral for 100 years. The relics progress from Rome to Los Angeles made stops at New York City, Lima, San Francisco, Monterey and Santa Barbara:

findagrave

Said to be based on the design of the 1755 Església de Sant Miquel del Port in Barcelona:

google maps


That church was, in turn, based on the 13th century Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence:

wiki

The 1924 facade remodel looks more like the 12th century Bascilica of San Miniato al Monte, also in Florence:

wiki


water and power

Terrible digression there, but I'm always fascinated with where LA gets this stuff.


P.S. Ground has been broken for a new building to Vibiana's south (compare with photo above).

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I never expected to find a post-modern video featuring Calle de los Negros.

(warning: -the segment with the pistol at 4:45 could possibly cause epileptic seizures)


drink a box of wine and enjoy. (for full effect watch LARGE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBgJj6UweP8
__

As an historical document pretty close to worthless but seeing Frank Shaw in a war bonnet is worth the price of admission. I won't feel diminished if I never again see the tape of the assault on Reginald Denny.

[tovangar2]

.

[westcork]

Now you see it...

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

May 1, 1926

Now you don't


LAPL

[WS1911]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

The Italian-Baroque Cathedral of Saint Vibiana, Ezra F Kysor & WJ Matthews (1876). Facade clad in limestone 1922-24.
Main and 2nd Streets. Planned since 1859. Built on land donated by Amiel Cavalier.

Cathedral of Saint Vibiana (source says ca 1880s):

http://waterandpower.org/museum/Earl...s)_Page_1.html

I've seen many shots of the Cathedral taken from Main looking north, but never one at the corner of 2nd and Main. I'll bet people thought the paint store was an eyesore even back then. I can picture a large lawn and planting between the Cathedral and the rectory. I'm glad it was saved as a secular building, although I wish the Archdiocese of L. A. had restored it and kept it for religious purposes.

[WS1911]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

"Christmas" -quite odd for a postcard

old cd of mine/most likely found on ebay


old cd/ebay
__

Maybe it was taken to show that Los Angeles has great weather at Christmas time. Here is a lightened version of the first image.


ebay

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by westcork

LAPL

Wow westcork, that's amazing :-) I had never guessed at this incarnation. Much as I like the present space between the Pacific Mutual complex and the Biltmore, this previous set-up was really pretty. The curved railings are great. The big arched windows on the Annex and the urns are a loss. Pershing Square looks so leafy...and no International Jewelry Center to spoil the view.

There's still something I don't quite understand about this space (?):

previously posted by Chuckaluck

Actually ws1911, that photo is my favorite of St Vibiana's. All the commecial signage together with the world's prettiest cathedral (if one asks me) delights me for some reason. I do wish they'd left the facade alone. The original was so curvy and lovely.

Here's a photo of the paint store before it was the paint store:

Originally Posted by Los Angeles Past

eBay

[Matthew]

Source: The North American Architect (1917)


Source: vlasta2

The 125 foot tower:


Source: waltarrrrr

I had to include this too!


Source: Anika Malone

[lemster2024]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

As of 2012, this magnificent manhole cover from 1938 still resides at the foot of the stairs to the Federal Courthouse.



http://www.amazon.com/Manhole-Covers.../dp/0870931687





http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item...ype=2&tid=5993

If I were in L.A. I would have to make a pilgrimage down to the Federal Courthouse and find of this utilitarian masterpiece.
(with a camera...hint. hint. )

__

Hmmm...I'm in L.A., I've got some time to kill, so off I go to downtown on a pilgrimage to find The Manhole Cover!

I scoured the west side of the building first and found nothing...so I circled around to the Main Street side, approaching from Temple...and this is what I see...


(Suddenly I feel patriotic and civic-minded....!)
my photo

As I approach the foot of the stairs, I see something off to the right....can it be?


my photo

Yes!!!! Thanks for the suggestion for the pilgrimage, e_r! As of 2013, it is still in place! I've lived in this city since I was born, and it's great to "discover" all of these things everyone has mentioned in this thread! If I had joined earlier, I might have been able to help with that whole business about Teed Street awhile back (growing up, I remember seeing rubble, cobblestone steps in that vicinity, all over grown with foliage. When asked, my dad told me he thought it was a "children's home long time ago..." (Cabrini Orphanage?)). I might not be able to contribute alot of vintage photos for everyone to enjoy, but alot of the things discussed from the 1930's and onward are things I can relate to, given the stories told to me by my dad and uncle. They lived in Old Chinatown in the '30's.


my photo
________________

...and while we're moseying around downtown anyways, here's an update on our good friend, Clifton's Cafeteria:


my photo

I'll post a few more pics of things I encountered today later when I get a chance; there are a couple of places I wish I knew more about down near 8th and 9th near Spring and Main.

[ProphetM]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

The Italian-Baroque Cathedral of Saint Vibiana, Ezra F Kysor & WJ Matthews (1876). Facade clad in limestone 1922-24.
Main and 2nd Streets. Planned since 1859. Built on land donated by Amiel Cavalier.

Cathedral of Saint Vibiana (source says ca 1880s):

http://waterandpower.org/museum/Earl...s)_Page_1.html

Shorn of grime and its former crowded urban context, now Vibiana, a venue.
Saved from the wreaking ball at the last second+:

gsv

Event in progress:

http://www.vibiana.com/

As seen from the observation deck of City Hall:


me, 2012

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by lemster2024

I might not be able to contribute a lot of vintage photos for everyone to enjoy, but a lot of the things discussed from the 1930's and onward are things I can relate to, given the stories told to me by my dad and uncle. They lived in Old Chinatown in the '30's.

But you put together the astounding 1858-60 panorama using e_r's photo, which I will be forever grateful for. Is the site of your family's former home included in the panorama?

Originally Posted by lemster2024

my copy

P.S. to ws1911

Another fave pic of St Vibiana:

http://framework.latimes.com/2011/10...of-st-vibiana/


The building's looking a bit disjointed now with the 1922-24 limestone facade and paint everywhere else:

Originally Posted by ProphetM

As seen from the observation deck of City Hall:


me, 2012

I liked the brickwork showing:

http://www.preservela.com/archives/000714.html

[belmont bob]

Originally Posted by Matthew

I thought you were talking about editing the name in this thread in post. I apologize for that. For me, I wanted to be called Matt as a kid (people usually called me Matthew then); I preferred to be called Matthew in college (people would call me Matt), and today I don't care. Either one is good. Some people say Math. At one time I didn't want to be called Matty, but Lauren calls me that frequently, so I don't mind it as much these days. It's misspelled (guessing) about 65-70% of the time and I think it's because my somewhat common name isn't really that common. I rarely meet anyone named Matt. I'm usually the only one everywhere I go. I know no one in this thread would try to insult anyone here.

On the subject of post production, it was hard because it was often frame-by-frame editing and there are so many frames in just one second. I did have the pleasure of making the titles & credits three times. At the end, all you really have is the post staff and a fast approaching deadline. I did have to record extra sound when I worked on the audio. Sound is mostly timelines and the hardest part is recording additional sound. A person I worked with on sound once told me he heard the audio of the movie in his dreams at night, from replaying it over and over. So some may say that is the worst part. We wanted perfection and no matter how bad the problem, we could always find a way to fix it. Since we are in a world of larger and larger screens, HD, etc., it really has to be perfect. Only when someone was rushing things for an early copy and ignoring our warnings was there a problem. It's worth noting, we had to create their vision, often with them only walking in two or three times a day to look over it and say it's not what their vision was. I can remember having to change the lighting in post (something about forgetting a mole in the corner). We were the only option to make it right. When I returned home, I had digital copies of the work I did for a 'reel' and my equipment bag was covered in gaffer tape. Though the pay was low and I was told to work weekends, I do remember having free food (breakfast, lunch and dinner). On my free weekends, I could field study residential architecture with my books. I still think those two or three years were the best. So many great people, beautiful architecture on the weekends, and I was paid to make something entertaining. Hard work, but fun. And once you work in an industry, it really changes how you view everything. If you're reading this at home and have an opportunity to do something like this, don't pass-it-up. It helped me gain my current job.

Matt, I could wish you my name…”Bob”...it’s one of those that never gets misspelled or confused…upside down, backwards or seen in a mirror it’s always the same. I have always found Robert to be too formal for my liking, but my boss of 22 years stills calls me that most of the time and so I have given up. He’s way too old now to change. But my dad would persist in calling me Robert. If he didn’t like the nickname Bob, he should have named me George after his grandfather.
I hope not too many spell your name Mat…or maybe Mate…for those of us who can’t spel you never know what you will get.
I do wonder about the significance of the Asheville diagram on your posts…my father was born in Asheville in 1911 is a clapboard house on North Street that is still standing.

[shadyguy]

Much earlier on this forum there was mention of a house on the corner of
4th & Hope (?) and was of an unusual design for the area with a flat roof.
It sat where the cockeyed Bank Of America building is erected and was just
about the last house to be razed in the Bunker Hill Area.

Is there anything special about this residence or any close up pictures before
destruction of the neighborhood ?

[tovangar2]

.

[Matthew]

I would like to see a good view of the back of St. Vibian. I love the cupola.

Originally Posted by belmont bob

I do wonder about the significance of the Asheville diagram on your posts…my father was born in Asheville in 1911 is a clapboard house on North Street that is still standing.

I like my name. I have noticed over the years, it's really not that common though. With few people writing it, it's easier to misspell it. The reason I have Asheville's City Hall as an avatar (A digital 3D model I made) and have the diagrams in my signature (I'm the same Matt who drew Asheville's diagrams), is due to being from Arden (suburb of Asheville). I consider Asheville, Greenville and Winston-Salem as my home cities. I fell in love with Los Angeles on work related trips. I found this thread a few years ago, searching for filming locations used in Harold Lloyd films. I was surprised to see a search result with Skyscraperpage in it. A forum member who hasn't posted in a long time (Silent Locations) answered my questions. I wish he would return. I read his blog too. This is a great thread. So many interesting topics I like and so many great experts providing details and images.

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by Matthew

I would like to see a good view of the back of St. Vibian. I love the cupola.

Maybe not a "good" view, but an interesting one:

More: http://bigorangelandmarks.blogspot.c...cathedral.html

Another:

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7026381

And another:

vibiana's


vibiana's


A recap of the cliff-hanger that was the fight to save Vibiana:
https://www.laconservancy.org/issues/vibiana

The cupola's lantern spent 11 years (mid-1996 to mid-2007) lying in the parking lot.

LAT details the happy ending

[WS1911]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

Actually ws1911, that photo is my favorite of St Vibiana's. All the commecial signage together with the world's prettiest cathedral (if one asks me) delights me for some reason. I do wish they'd left the facade alone. The original was so curvy and lovely.

Here's a photo of the paint store before it was the paint store:


ebay

This is purely a guess, but I'm thinking that the paint store used to be the rectory, and that a new rectory was built on 2nd Street. The old rectory was then leased or rented to the paint store which added the storefront between the rectory and the sidewalk. And at some point later, it was torn down.


preservela


USC Digital Archive


USC Digital Archive


waterandpower

Was there a later structure on the paint store site, or did it become a fenced-in garden as it was just before it became a secular venue?

____

[westcork]

Lugo House at night


LAPL

[MichaelRyerson]

Originally Posted by shadyguy

Much earlier on this forum there was mention of a house on the corner of
4th & Hope (?) and was of an unusual design for the area with a flat roof.
It sat where the cockeyed Bank Of America building is erected and was just
about the last house to be razed in the Bunker Hill Area.

Is there anything special about this residence or any close up pictures before
destruction of the neighborhood ?

You are remembering the Stuart K. Oliver house. It has been mentioned several times in the thread. Here are two pics from my photo-stream...


House on hill in front of office buildings, William Reagh

William Reagh, 1968
This is the Stuart K. Oliver house at Fourth and Hope Streets, the last house to be turned asunder on Bunker Hill. Mr. Oliver, an attorney, had purchased the lot and built his modernist anachronism on the lot immediately to the north of the Hildreth house on the Fourth Street side and not where the old Hildreth carriage house once stood on Fourth Street below the main house. I suppose he recognised the desirability of living so near his offices in downtown and, perhaps, of positioning himself to negotiate with the CRA from a position of relative strength, his house being neither blighted nor an eyesore.

California History Room, California State Library



Aerial view of Bunker Hill area, 1965

Aerial view of the SW Bunker Hill area, looking north from 5th Street along Figueroa, Flower and Hope Streets. Central Library is in the lower right hand corner. The Stuart K. Oliver house is at upper right and just below it, it would appear we're seeing some last remnants of the Hildreth house, perhaps a stone wall or two or some foundation work. And maybe a little ruin of the carriage house which would be Margrethe Mather's studio. If so, this is most certainly the last visual remnant of her studio. Photograph taken from the Goodyear blimp by Hal Jensen.

LAPL

[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by WS1911

This is purely a guess, but I'm thinking that the paint store used to be the rectory, and that a new rectory was built on 2nd Street. The old rectory was then leased or rented to the paint store which added the storefront between the rectory and the sidewalk. And at some point later, it was torn down.


preservela


USC Digital Archive


USC Digital Archive


waterandpower

Was there a later structure on the paint store site, or did it become a fenced-in garden as it was just before it became a secular venue?

____

I'm guessing that the nice building facing on Main was originally the rectory and school. Presumably the school became too small and the new school on 2nd was built. The school part of the Main St building was rented to the paint store, but the rectory (north) end retained for its original purpose. Wikipedia notes that the 2nd St school building was replaced by a new combined rectory/school in the 1940s. I suppose this is when the original Main St building was demolished, which is too bad as the complex of the three Victorian (?) buildings made a nice group. Dunno what that single-story building was (see photos above). I don't know how long the 2nd and Main corner has remained open.

The context now is not sightly to my eyes. The massive parking structure is so bulky and the Little Tokyo Branch Library, while seemingly trying to defer to Vibiana, is confusing and enhances nothing. The spaces between the buildings are awkward, lacking in grace. However, it can all be fixed at some point. It's in a bit of a holding pattern these days; temporary "storage" of a lovely building from our shared past.

If the branch library had been kept to the 2nd and Los Angeles St corner, leaving the site directly east of Vibiana's tower open for a park, I think it would have been much better. As for the parking structure, charge an entry fee to bring one's car into downtown (London does) and make public transportation free.

There's some interesting info on Saint Vibiana here:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...r&GRid=6740574