noirish Los Angeles - Page 1259

ethereal_reality · #**25161** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 7:38 PM**

Bank clerks on horseback in Azusa, Los Angeles County 1880s or 90s.

ebay

__

HossC · #**25162** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 8:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

It says "Conveniently located on the Casino Floor."
I don't recall ever hearing about a casino in the Ambassador Hotel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood Graham

Casino does not only apply to a gambling establishment but can be a building (as at Avalon, Catalina Island) or an area for social amusement. The term maybe fell out of use for the Ambassador for one reason or another at some time.

LAPL has around 300 pictures of the interior, exterior and surrounding buildings of the Ambassador Hotel taken by Tom Zimmerman in 2005. Sixteen of these picture claim to be taken on the "Casino Level", but not one shows a casino, so I guess Hollywood Graham's explanation applies. Here's a selection including their descriptions.

View of the shopping promenade on Casino Level of the Ambassador Hotel. Several shops signs are visible high along the long corridor. The hotel's demise is visible along the ceiling and walls with cracks and peeling paint; carpeting also shows signs of wear and tear.

LAPL

View of the shopping promenade on Casino Level of the Ambassador Hotel, looking toward ballroom. Several empty shops are visible along the long, wide corridor, as well as a stairwell on the left. The hotel's demise is visible along the ceiling and walls with cracks and peeling paint; carpeting also shows signs of wear and tear.

LAPL

View of the shopping promenade on Casino Level of the Ambassador Hotel. Several shops are visible along the long, wide corridor, "Global Travel and Books" and "Samsonite" is written along the windows on the left. The hotel's demise is visible along the ceiling and walls with cracks and peeling paint; carpeting also shows signs of wear and tear.

LAPL

The sign on the door says "Private Investigator".
View of a shop interior in the shopping promenade of the Ambassador Hotel. Photograph shows an empty shop with numerous doors and windows and checkerboard flooring throughout the room. This shop was located on the Casino Level of the hotel.

LAPL

View of a staircase from the Casino Level to main lobby of the Ambassador Hotel. A directory is visible all around the column on the left, and a neon sign can be seen hanging from the ceiling on the right which reads: "Lobby - Cocoanut Grove - Embassy Room [arrow pointing left]"; a smaller "Exit" sign hangs to the right of it.

LAPL

I wonder if this could be the top of the staircase above.
Interior view of the Ambassador Hotel, where a beautifully decorated lobby greeted guests and visitors upon their arrival. The carpeted lobby shows separate groupings of couches, chairs and table lamps, as well as lavish chandeliers the length of the corridor. The Controller's Office is the 1st doorway on the left, a stairwell leading to a lower floor is also on the left next to a column, and the "Health Club and Street Parking" doorway is at the end of the hallway. The hotel's demise is visible along the ceiling, with chunks of paint seen peeling off.

LAPL

LAPL also has a black and white picture of the Ambassador Hotel's Post Office, but I thought that color would be better.

www.christies.com

HossC · #**25163** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 8:25 PM**

Here are some 1950s/60s slides that I found on eBay. They're all from the same seller, and the seller says that all their slides were taken by the same person. I've included the seller's description with each one.

Can we ever have enough pictures of the NBC building at Sunset and Vine?
"Original LOS ANGELES Vintage SLIDE Hollywood [sic] & Vine NBC STUDIOS Street Scene"

eBay

'Goldfinger' had its Hollywood release on Christmas Day 1964. Michael Caine's 'The Ipcress File' was released in the UK in March 1965, but wasn't seen in the US until August of that year.
"Vintage 1965 Original SLIDE Los Angeles GRAUMAN'S CHINESE Street Scene HOLLYWOOD"

eBay

Preston Sturges and The Players Restaurant have both appeared before on NLA, but I don't remember seeing this shot.
"Original RED SLIDE Preston Sturges THE PLAYERS RESTAURANT Vintage LOS ANGELES"

eBay

"LOS ANGELES 1965 Original SLIDE S Broadway STREET SCENE Palace Theater PHOTO"

eBay

I think the banner next to the Barker Bros sign is advertising the premiere of 'Mary Poppins'. 'The Night of the Iguana' and 'Mary Poppins' both came out in August, 1964.
There are more pictures of this building as both the Paramount and the El Capitan in post #7156. Barker Bros is now the Disney Studio Store.
"Original 1964 LOS ANGELES Vintage SLIDE Paramount Theater HOLLYWOOD BLVD"

eBay

"Original LOS ANGELES Vintage Slide UNION Train STATION Red Border Amateur PHOTO"

eBay

"Original LOS ANGELES Vintage Slide HOLLYWOOD PLAZA HOTEL Vine Street RED BORDER"

eBay

Godzilla · #**25164** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 8:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

"First air-raid shelter built in Los Angeles, 1941."

What's with that white V near the man's eye?

__

"V" appears to be a bandage. (Easily explained if swimming laps in a 12' pool or as part of rumpus room testing. )

10' x 12' temporary shelter for 10 people. Swimming pool potential?

Soundproof rumpus room?

Let the rumpus begin?

1936 - Merle Norman's, "Rumpus Room"

http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/single...id/30396/rec/1

1978 - 600 Block of Alvarado, "Rumpus Room" Bar. Bring your ID.

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00090/00090031.jpg

Noircitydame · #**25165** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 8:59 PM**

Taking a break from Christmas shopping for tea and sticky orange rolls at the Tick Tock

(old file)

Is that Santa trying to escape through an air vent?

ethereal_reality · #**25166** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 9:10 PM**

lol -maybe he's trying to tear down that awful ceiling.

ethereal_reality · #**25167** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HossC

"Original LOS ANGELES Vintage Slide HOLLYWOOD PLAZA HOTEL Vine Street RED BORDER"

eBay

As most of you know, this was the site of silent film star Clara Bow's IT Cafe.

Here's a 1930's photo that we've seen before on NLA, but I thought it would be fun to compare it with HossC's color slide.

__

ethereal_reality · #**25168** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 10:13 PM**

A Christmas present for Beaudry. -another group of six photos.

(I just found them last night on ebay....http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orig-1960s-3...item58baf393c1

#1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orig-1960s-3...item58baf393c1

#2

ebay

A rare view. Looking west along Fourth Street.

#3

ebay

below: I posted this one a bit larger. be sure to pan right------>

#4

ebay

#5

ebay

below: View from 3rd Place (I didn't know there was a 3rd Place) and Bunker Hill Ave.

#6

ebay

__________________

I've marked in red the 'modern' residence that is visible in photo #3 and photo #4. (we've discussed the residence before on NLA, but I don't recall the details)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...416008&page=22

...and here.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...416008&page=22

HossC · #**25169** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 10:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

We've discussed the 'modern' residences on the right, but at the moment I can't remember the details. (looking west along Fourth Street.....right?)

ebay

That's the Stuart K Oliver house. More info and pictures by gsjansen in post #1314.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Where was this rather large parking lot?

I think the entrance on the left of the picture above leads to the parking lot in the other one. Here's the parking lot partly hidden by the Edison Building in a picture posted by Flyingwedge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

Huntington Digital Library -- http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/compou.../74799/rec/393

ethereal_reality · #**25170** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 11:43 PM**

Thanks HossC.

This is a bit of a mystery.

"1920s, Trolley on Wheels, Movie Ads, Hollywood, Los Angeles."
-'trolley' is advertising MGM's 'The Big Parade' at Grauman's Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/N1-C-1920S-N...item566e78cb89

Anyone have an idea where this might have been taken? I believe that's a Union Pacific depot at far left.

__

ethereal_reality · #**25171** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 11:58 PM**

...and a more recent mystery.

"Los Angeles Street Scene Chevy Vintage Cars c.1962 Orig. 35mm Slide"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Los-Angeles-...item2c936bd2c8

...but the location is unknown. Do you think we can figure out where it was taken?

__

HossC · #**25172** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 12:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

http://www.ebay.com/itm/N1-C-1920S-N...item566e78cb89

Anyone have an idea where this might have been taken? I believe that's a Union Pacific depot at far left.

Orange Belt Emporium was on the northeast corner of E 2nd Street and S Garey Avenue in Pomona, CA. The image below is dated at 1908/09.

Pomona Public Library

Godzilla · #**25173** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 12:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Thanks HossC.

This is a bit of a mystery.

"1920s, Trolley on Wheels, Movie Ads, Hollywood, Los Angeles."
-'trolley' is advertising MGM's 'The Big Parade' at Grauman's Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.

PIC

Anyone have an idea where this might have been taken? I believe that's a Union Pacific depot at far left.

__

Choo Choo! More Big Parade Train> http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=10861

unihikid · #**25174** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 1:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

...and a more recent mystery.

"Los Angeles Street Scene Chevy Vintage Cars c.1962 Orig. 35mm Slide"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Los-Angeles-...item2c936bd2c8

...but the location is unknown. Do you think we can figure out where it was taken?

__

looks like santa monica to me,maybe wilshire bl.

ethereal_reality · #**25175** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 1:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godzilla

Choo Choo! More Big Parade Train> http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=10861

...for those who skipped the link.

Here's Godzilla's photograph / posted in 2012.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=10861

-embossed stamp 'Sierra Madre'
__

ethereal_reality · #**25176** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 2:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HossC

Orange Belt Emporium was on the northeast corner of E 2nd Street and S Garey Avenue in Pomona, CA. The image below is dated at 1908/09.

Pomona Public Library

HossC, as far as I can tell the Orange Belt Emporium building is gone.

...but while 'cruising' around downtown Pomona I did find some interesting old signs.

Kitron Radio at 2nd Street and Park Avenue.

GSV

detail

GSV

Across the street, on the same block there is this M&M Electric sign.

GSV

detail

...and there's this 'fish' sign at 3rd Street and Park Avenue.

GSV

detail / I think it's a Catfish.

There are others, but I'll stop at these three.

__

Albany NY · #**25177** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 3:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HossC

Like C. King and CityBoyDoug said, these machines came with a stylus that fitted into the dials. The user then dialled in the numbers much like an old telephone, and the result would appear in the small circular holes near the top. The one below is a more advanced model with a lever at the side to zero/reset the display. From www.bantiques.com:

The highest number is entered first. The addition is done as each number is entered. Google "10's complement arithmetic" to get an idea as to performing subtraction.

http://www.bantiques.com

This adding machine can be removed from its stand to show the original coupon with the company's address.

http://www.bantiques.com

The following adverts are from the June 1951 and January 1952 editions of 'Popular Mechanics'.

books.google.com/books.google.com

The current building at 1260 West 2nd Street was apparently built in 1943, and is very plain and uninteresting. It replaced the building below which housed Falck Radio and the Advance Electric Company back in 1931.

USC Digital Library

Another ad, from circa 1942 shows an address of 543 South Spring Street, which puts it in the Spring Arcade Building.

www.sliderulemuseum.com

ethereal_reality · #**25178** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 4:09 AM**

Dr. Franklyn Thorpe M.D.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1947-Frankly...item2eda515eaf

date stamp on the reverse.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1947-Frankly...item2eda515eaf

I wonder if he was ever questioned about the Black Dahlia's murder?
__

CityBoyDoug · #**25179** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 4:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albany NY

Another ad, from circa 1942 shows an address of 543 South Spring Street, which puts it in the Spring Arcade Building.

www.sliderulemuseum.com

If that calculator was $12.95 in 1942, that would make it $146.00 today in 2014...rather pricey

The minimum hourly wage in 1942 was 30 cents an hour.

A full steak dinner with soup, salad, potatoes, dessert and coffee in a restaurant in 1942 was $1.75.

A hamburger at a Sunset Blvd. drive-in was about 15 cents...add 5 cents for a Coke. Now you're a big-spender.!!!

Handsome Stranger · #**25180** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 4:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HossC

Can we ever have enough pictures of the NBC building at Sunset and Vine?
"Original LOS ANGELES Vintage SLIDE Hollywood [sic] & Vine NBC STUDIOS Street Scene"

eBay

Nope! I never get tired of seeing photos of it, and every time I pass that block I am saddened about the loss of such an elegant building.

Coincidentally, earlier this evening I was searching the web for a copy of The Kraft Music Hall radio program from Christmas Day, 1941, and I stumbled across this slightly painful anecdote about something that happened at NBC's Hollywood location.

Quote:

According to Carroll Carroll, principal writer on Kraft Music Hall:

Back when the past was the present, and I was writing Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall Thursday nights on NBC, one of those rare few was our engineer Murdo MacKenzie. Each week he would save the big electrical transcriptions of the show, for what use no one really knew. When he was called to war, about 1943, I guess, he put his complete set of recordings in a closet at the old NBC studios at Sunset and Vine in Hollywood. He put an extra padlock on the door and a sign, PERSONAL PROPERTY OF MURDO MACKENZIE. DO NOT DISTURB. After he and a few million others had secured the peace he came back to find his closet had a new door and was full of brooms and mops. NBC execs could only say, 'We needed the space.'

[source]