noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

Thanks TWS.
GW also answered my question here.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=20603

He included links to some excellent past posts on the Janes House if you want to check them out.
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I came across this interesting apartment building on the 500 block of N. Larchmont Blvd.

GSV


Do you think the portion on the right was built later? (or vice versa)....or was the whole facade originally designed asymmetrically?
It's like the two sides want to match but they can't bring themselves to do it.





There's an old 'ghost' sign on the side.

GSV

A big thanks to anyone who can make out that sign.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

There's an old 'ghost' sign on the side.

GSV

A big thanks to anyone who can make out that sign.

The building (564 N Larchmont) appears in the 1942 and 1956 City Directories as "Villa Riviera" - could that be what the ghost sign says?

[ethereal_reality]

That's a good lead HossC. Thanks!
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ebay

Brick retail building with residences on the second floor, located at 2225 W. Washington Blvd. and Manhattan Place.





today

GSV

I believe this is the same building with the second story shaved off.
Notice the small square windows on the Manhattan Place side in both photographs.
You can also see where the large plate glass window to the left of the entrance is covered over.


aerial

google_earth

What do you guys think...is this the same building?

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[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Otis Criblecoblis

I'm a big shellac collector, and I take a special interest in the Brunswick label.

This is for you Otis, a publicity shot for The Broadway Melody of 1929.

http://www.thevintagecameo.com/2013/...elody-of-1929/

That's Bessie Love and Anita Page book-ending the giant record.
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[GaylordWilshire]

imjur

A little bit bigger and clearer shot--no doubt that it has been truncated--given the arched door on Washington, the corner door, the covered window you pointed out. County records indicate a build date of 1921, with a 1932 as its "effective build date," which I thought usually indicates a major alteration.... but it doesn't seem like the second floor would have off that soon...not with that radar installation on the roof. (Haha.) The building's official address is 1850 S Manhattan Place.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

ebay

Brick retail building with residences on the second floor, located at 2225 W. Washington Blvd. and Manhattan Place.

today

GSV

I believe this is the same building with the second story shaved off.
Notice the small square windows on the Manhattan Place side in both photographs.
You can also see where the large plate glass window to the left of the entrance is covered over.

aerial

google_earth

What do you guys think...is this the same building?

[ethereal_reality]

That larger photo is 10 times better GW. I'm curious about the blade sign with B A B Y on it.
After a closer look i see high-chairs and such in the storefront windows and a BABY clearance sign on the side of the building.
Back then I thought you'd have to go to a department store to find these specialty items.
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[ethereal_reality]

I really like this illustration. (the artist even included cloud shadows on the side of the building....nice touch.)

Los Angeles Herald, April 1907

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

[ethereal_reality]

bringing water to the masses..

1914

ebay

I don't know the exact location of this particular intake valve(s).

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[ethereal_reality]

There are two bands of extravagant architectural ornamentation on this storage building.

Northeast corner of Washington Blvd. and 7th Avenue.

GSV


I wonder if it was originally designed to be a storage bldg? If not, there might be windows under the white 'slats'.

GSV

Hopefully someone can dig up a vintage view.
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[GaylordWilshire]

uncanny.net/


It was a Ralphs--this shot doesn't show its rooftop sign, but it appears to be on the same supports as the current one for Public Storage...

There are also probably clearer shots, but this is the first one that came up.

[srk1941]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

That's a good lead HossC. Thanks!
__





ebay

Brick retail building with residences on the second floor, located at 2225 W. Washington Blvd. and Manhattan Place.






today

GSV

I believe this is the same building with the second story shaved off.
Notice the small square windows on the Manhattan Place side in both photographs.
You can also see where the large plate glass window to the left of the entrance is covered over.


aerial

google_earth

What do you guys think...is this the same building?

__

It is the same building. There is a reference to it on page 19 of the attached document.

http://www.preservation.lacity.org/f...ights%20PP.pdf

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

This is for you Otis, a publicity shot for The Broadway Melody of 1929.

http://www.thevintagecameo.com/2013/...elody-of-1929/

That's Bessie Love and Anita Page book-ending the giant record.
__

I met Anita Page in the late 1980's in the art deco building on Sunset now known as the Sunset Tower. (I happened to be flipping by the retro channel ME-TV recently when an episode of "Cannon" was on and apparently his apartment in the series was located in this building.)

Anita Page also appeared at the 2001 screening of The Broadway Melody at the AMPAS Goldwyn Theatre. Meeting her was like visiting someone from the past. It was fascinating and also somewhat creepy. She was with her daughter who seemed as old as she was!

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00077/00077689.jpg

I believe at some point there was a discussion of another sign (like Hollywoodland) that was erected and used to sell real estate properties and it was located in the Hollywood Hills in the area above Hollywood Blvd. somewhere. At night it was also lighted. I cannot recall what the name of this sign was, but I believe if you look along the top of the hills in the above photo you can see this sign along the horizon. Does anyone remember what the name of it was?

[CityBoyDoug]

I could never understand her appeal. Lipstick smeared over her natural lip-line, scary severe eyebrows and a cig hanging out the side of her mouth.

In Joan Crawford's will, which was signed October 28, 1976, Crawford bequeathed to her two youngest children, Cindy and Cathy, $77,500 each from her $2,000,000 estate. She explicitly disinherited the two eldest, Christina and Christopher, writing "It is my intention to make no provision herein for my son Christopher or my daughter Christina for reasons which are well known to them." The disposition of the remainder of the estate was not disclosed.

Her four children were adopted as was the Hollywood fashion in those days.

Does anyone know the reason she disinherited Christina and Chris?

The dark glasses add to her dark personality.

Image: Studio publicity

[HossC]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

I believe at some point there was a discussion of another sign (like Hollywoodland) that was erected and used to sell real estate properties and it was located in the Hollywood Hills in the area above Hollywood Blvd. somewhere. At night it was also lighted. I cannot recall what the name of this sign was, but I believe if you look along the top of the hills in the above photo you can see this sign along the horizon. Does anyone remember what the name of it was?

It was called Outpost:


http://www.digitalartform.com/archives/images/outpostSign1924.jpg
Originally posted by 3940dxer.

You can see one of the original posts here.

[Martin Pal]

Thanks, HossC!

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Faux Derby


ebay



This was planned for the former site of the Laemmle Building, home to
CoCo Tree / Melody Lane / Hody's / Howard Johnsons...did I miss any?

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Although not built like that, the Brown Derby actually did move up to this corner of Hollywood and Vine in 1987, although I cannot find a photo of it there.

Some people were discussing the Brown Derby on a blog site and mantioned this location was seen in the Dragnet film with Aykroyd and Hanks. A poster named Gary wrote:

It was in the Dragnet movie with Tom Hanks and Dan Akroyd. The location was the north west corner of Hollywood and Vine. The Brown Derby relocated there for a short time after the location on Vine Street closed. The owner was Walter Scharfe. I have exterior photos of the building.

Another person asked him to post these photos, but he did not.

http://www.inthe00s.com/archive/offb...89647818.shtml

This 1987 Los Angeles Times article talks about the re-opening of the Brown Derby at this site and mentions what the postcard above portrays:

No one was more pleased than owner Walter Scharfe, now that his dream of reopening the Hollywood Derby had come true. Or half true. He said he plans to install a second floor in the shape of a derby with seating capacity for an additional 150 people.

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-10-..._1_brown-derby

I did not know, or don't remember, that there was a lot of publicity when this incarnation opened, as the article implies. Since I had eaten in the original Vine Street location a friend and I did eat in this one as well, but it was not a very pleasant experience. It was nothing like the other one and felt more like a gimmick than an actual restaurant. If I recall, it didn't last very long.

The last establishment at this corner was The Basque Nightclub and Restaurant. From the two May 1, 2008, photos below, you can see what happened to it.


Nick Ut/AP Photo

[GaylordWilshire]

CBD:




Did those kids have a chance?

But Christina was probably as much of a pain in ass as her mother. She might very well know the reason even if she claims she doesn't.


GSV

Another of Joan's house of horrors: 172 S. McCadden

[Martin Pal]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Her four children were adopted as was the Hollywood fashion in those days.

Does anyone know the reason she disinherited Christina and Chris?

She actually adopted five children.

I don't specifically know the reason, but this article gives a good indication.
(Someone just happened to show it to me last week!)

http://www.legendaryjoancrawford.com...dchildren.html

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

CBD:



Did those kids have a chance?

But Christina was probably as much of a pain in ass as her mother. She might very well know the reason even if she claims she doesn't.


GSV

Another of Joan's house of horrors: 172 S. McCadden

GW and Martin: Thanks for the articles.

I seriously doubt that Joan's reputation will ever be restored. Child abuse is purposely hidden from friends of the family. No wonder that several Hollywood luminaries said they never saw any child abuse. But there are a few exceptions:

Some who did see the abuse, were Betty Hutton, Helen Hayes, James MacArthur (Hayes' son), June Allyson, Liz Smith, Rex Reed, and Vincent Sherman, stated that they had witnessed abuse.

Joan Crawford's secretary, Jeri Binder Smith, confirmed Christina's account. The photos of her smiling children mean absolutely nothing. The photos are not proof that there was no abuse, as the author states in the webpage article.

A difficult, misbehaving child is not a reason to abuse that child.

Isn't the McCadden Pl house the location for the Baby Jane movie? It doesn't seem quite grand enough for a big-time movie star.

Joan lived in Brentwood....at this house below.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

Although not built like that, the Brown Derby actually did move up to this corner of Hollywood and Vine in 1987, although I cannot find a photo of it there.

Some people were discussing the Brown Derby on a blog site and mantioned this location was seen in the Dragnet film with Aykroyd and Hanks. A poster named Gary wrote:

It was in the Dragnet movie with Tom Hanks and Dan Akroyd. The location was the north west corner of Hollywood and Vine. The Brown Derby relocated there for a short time after the location on Vine Street closed. The owner was Walter Scharfe. I have exterior photos of the building.

Another person asked him to post these photos, but he did not.

http://www.inthe00s.com/archive/offb...89647818.shtml

This is the Brown Derby from 'Dragnet'.


Universal Studios

Here's a couple of shots of the street as Pep Streebek (Tom Hanks) leaves with Granny Mundy.



Universal Studios

The interior has plenty of caricatures on the walls.


Universal Studios