noirish Los Angeles

[CityBoyDoug]

Daddy's Grant's Pit Barbecue...1930s, Washington Blvd.






LAPL collection

[GaylordWilshire]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Here is another impressive building in the vicinity, this one is at S. Santa Fe Avenue and 49th Street.

I can't remember if we've discussed this building in the past. It's worth a second look.


GSV
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LAT Feb 6, 1916

[HossC]

After another look around for Santa Fe Avenue businesses, I came across this 1925 picture on the LAPL site. The description says:

"Aerial view of the main Los Angeles plant of the Paraffine Companies, Inc., located at Vernon and Sante Fe Avenue; machinery and other industrial equipment cover the yard around the manufacturing buildings. The Mechanical Pattern Foundry Co. building appears next to the curved road on the middle left of the photo."

The curved street on the left is Pacific Blvd. A railroad runs behind the factory, but the surrounding area is mainly empty lots.


lapl.org

Here's the main advert for The Paraffine Companies, Inc. from the 1926 CD.


rescarta.lapl.org

Remarkably, pretty much all of the factory is still standing, along with a few additions.


Bing Maps

While I was looking through the 1926 CD, this advert for the Los Angeles Basket Co. caught my eye. The address is also on Santa Fe Avenue, but I haven't found any photos yet.


rescarta.lapl.org

[Godzilla]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Here's another interesting sign, circa 1927 (notice the arrow on top) -I've been trying to locate the building on the right.


http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/P...ialbrowse=null

1934 - One of the locals may know. (With all of those parked cars you'd think the place would be standing room only?)

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...5TJJS5L49T.jpg

[oldstuff]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

USCDL

Found this interesting KCET story on the Whitnall Highway touched on here before:

http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures...aid-plans.html

"White Spot" refers to the developer Earl L. White. He first developed the area centered around Magnolia Blvd. Earl White graded the road between Burbank to the Cahuenga pass through what was then called "Dark Canyon" . It is now Barham Blvd. He started Burbank's first Radio Station and started Magnolia Park's own newspaper, the Tribune. By 1929 there were more than 3500 homes built in Magnolia Park

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

LAT Feb 6, 1916

I finally found a vintage photograph of the American Can plant. (Vernon)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntylaurie/3539846148/ lapl_
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[ethereal_reality]

...also in Vernon.

Kevin Balluff at http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyetwis...l-1106695@N20/

I guess the sign was cheaper than taking up the tracks.
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[ethereal_reality]

A couple of ambulance photographs. (they're almost the size of tug-boats)


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/




Manhattan Beach

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/
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[ethereal_reality]

Here's an amazing scan of Broadway in the 1890s

ebay

What in the world is in front of that store window on the left? It looks like a mutant hand-rolled cigar!
Notice the women's umbrella..it's on a pivot so you can angle it to shield the sun.
Pretty ingenious, they should still make those today.
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[BifRayRock]

Mystery restaurant?


Source lists this as a restaurant in "Hollywood ?" "?" in original.

The hills could be anywhere from Cahuenga to Topanga. Maybe someone recognizes the structure/s behind the open restaurant, or the twins pictured in the parking lot?

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...EF85FNRL2T.jpg

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by HossC

I was looking for old pictures of Santa Fe Avenue when I found this. It's the Pennzoil Company warehouse at 2626 Santa Fe Avenue, taken in 1930. Look at that wonderful brickwork!




USC Digital Library

I suppose it is mere coincidence that this building is marked PENN OIL & SuPPLY COMPANY. (Believe the image has been posted before, but am unable to locate it.)

Source say 1930.
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...YBCAR5HSLJ.jpg




Penn Rad Oil?
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00099/00099147.jpg




Muller Bros, of 6380 Sunset fame (mentioned on this thread many times) were big Firestone distributors. Just a guess on my part.
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00101/00101609.jpg


Not sure whether it's been mentioned before, but its no coincidence that a Firestone factory in South Gate, was located at 2525 Firestone Boulevard at Santa Fe Avenue from 1928-1980.

Groundbreaking '27
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics23/00046498.jpg


Company's 50th anniversary celebration. (Not factory, but company.)
1950
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics24/00046501.jpg


http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics30/00064808.jpg


Another FIrestone Location (Vail Field Area)
Washington and Telegraph Road, City of Commerce

1957
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00093/00093594.jpg


April '67, Workers strike at South Gate plant.
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics44/00041783.jpg

[BifRayRock]

I would like to know more about this quaint station located somewhere in the LA area, circa '30.

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...E233TRGM9K.jpg

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

I know that we have seen several atomic 'blast' photos on NLA but I don't remember this particular one.



http://www.lapl.org/
___

How about these two images featuring "Firestone?"


Feb 2, 1951 - From the roof of Herald Examiner Bldg. Reporter Jack Smith, is the silhouetted.
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics34/00036829.jpg


http://wlt.typography.netdna-cdn.com...my6bo1-400.jpg


http://3btheaterposterarchive.files....bby-card_5.jpg




May 7, 1952
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics34/00036826.jpg

[Tetsu]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

I suppose it is mere coincidence that this building is marked PENN OIL & SuPPLY COMPANY. (Believe the image has been posted before, but am unable to locate it.)

Source say 1930.
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...YBCAR5HSLJ.jpg

Just occurred to me I know this building - Penn Oil & Supply Co. at the southwest corner of Union & Delacey in Pasadena, designed by Bennett & Haskell (1930). Here's another pic that looks like it was taken about the same time as yours:



Missing the Penn Oil signage, but hard to say if the pic dates from later, after the it was taken off the facade, or if it's earlier, before the signage was ever put up. Surprisingly, this one's doing pretty well these days:



It's been altered, sure, but at least the alterations were sensitive to the original architecture of the building.

[Sonny☼LA]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

Had you been looking for it, or was this happenstance? In either case, thanks!

The structure looks quite contemporary. From my limited vision of the building, the Egyptian motif may have been secondary to any utilitarian aspects.

Definitely looking for it. I'm not quite to page 600 yet...a lot has been added in 2013! This thread is excellent fodder for day-tripping ideas and it takes longer to get through the pages when I'm out driving around goose-necking over hedges and behind abandoned buildings. It's all worth it when I get my girlfriend to admit that the plague rat lab is a nice little building.

Hope I never catch up!

[Albany NY]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

1934 - One of the locals may know. (With all of those parked cars you'd think the place would be standing room only?)

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...5TJJS5L49T.jpg

This little place is a survivor (but just barely) As Wilsons, the place had charm, but as La Paloma it just looks sad. I'd love to see the inside, but it's probably 1990's shabby fast-food generic drop-ceiling chic. Funny how they tried to make a small frame building look like adobe.

GSV

[JScott]

Originally Posted by Albany NY

This little place is a survivor (but just barely) As Wilsons, the place had charm, but as La Paloma it just looks sad. I'd love to see the inside, but it's probably 1990's shabby fast-food generic drop-ceiling chic. Funny how they tried to make a small frame building look like adobe.

GSV

Interesting! I never would have guessed the La Paloma building had that history. La Paloma is actually quite excellent. It's been there for almost 50 years. That alone should be sufficient testament to the quality of its food.

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by HossC

I spy another Richfield racing car sculpture. The car looks darker than the plinth with this one.

1925 - Third Avenue and Venice Blvd.
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...G7P5GFC63V.jpg

[BifRayRock]

Photos in search of text.


Man and custom auto. Source locates area as "Los Angeles in the '20s." Several established neighborhoods, of which GW is familiar, come to mind.

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...LNECE1L4QB.jpg


Equally mysterious Chauffeur with auto. Whitewalls ~~~~ different neighborhood.
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...NYUV1MMRIY.jpg


Movable neighborhood? Modular homebuilding Complete with two appropriate sized occupants

1918 - Float for unknown parade.
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...HJ53RJHJ87.jpg

[BifRayRock]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

USC Digital Library says this house [pictured above] is located in Bellflower. It appears this is incorrect. Its actually located in Bell Gardens.

These names, being somewhat similar, can be confusing.

This photo is marked "Bellflower." (Listings for Reinke's or Seelig in LA CD? )

The sidewalk near Reinke's garage looks like it has an early gas pump. Before Ethyl!


Somerset Street - early - mid '20s
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...YKRQV8U5AD.jpg







Seelig to be confused with Safeway!

http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/show...ostcount=11600

and


http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=6144

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=6150