noirish Los Angeles

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

.

Lastly, here's a closer look at the house minus the women. I believe this style would be classified as 'Hollywood Regency'.


LINK

So where is this house . . .Beverly Hills? . . .Bel Air? . . .Trousdale Estate?

The archive at the University of Wyoming doesn't say.



.

The Frank Gehry of the Hollywood crowd. This architecture elevates the vacuous to new heights. Woolf swiped various elements of classical design and pasted them onto a plain box. In the process, he managed to insult everyone....especially his clients.

[Mstimc]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

The Frank Gehry of the Hollywood crowd. This architecture elevates the vacuous to new heights. Woolf swiped various elements of classical design and pasted them onto a plain box. In the process, he managed to insult everyone....especially his clients.

I have to admit mid-century modern never appealed to me either. This could be any building from that era: a motel facade, an office building, or a house. And that structure on the right looks like a tacked-on shed. It just lacks individual character.

I know some people appreciate the clean lines, but to me the proportions of the Craftsman era, though simple, are much more pleasing to the eye.

[GaylordWilshire]

"'Course [they're] respectable. {They're] old. Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they last long enough."





On the other hand, re

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

The Frank Gehry of the Hollywood crowd. This architecture elevates the vacuous to new heights. Woolf swiped various elements of classical design and pasted them onto a plain box. In the process, he managed to insult everyone....especially his clients.

....it seems that Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland, Barbara Stanwyck, Ira and Leonore Gershwin, Fanny Brice, Bob Hope, Agnes Moorehead, Ronald Colman, Charles Feldman and Jean Howard, Lillian Gish, Mervyn LeRoy, Paul Lynde, Ray Milland, Ricardo Montalban, Loretta Young, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy had the sophistication and imagination to commission Woolf and of course could afford something more than a shitbox in in Alhambra or El Monte and don't seem to have been offended...and obviously these architectural insults are appreciated in the multimillions today.

[Martin Pal]

Sometime in February I watched a PBS documentary titled Hollywood's Architect.

"Nicknamed “Architect to the Stars,” African American architect Paul R. Williams was one of the most successful architects of his time. But at the height of his career he wasn’t always welcome in the buildings he designed because of his race. Hollywood’s Architect tells the story of how he used talent, determination and even charm to defy the odds and create a celebrated body of work."

https://www.pbssocal.org/programs/hollywoods-architect/

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

Sometime in February I watched a PBS documentary titled Hollywood's Architect.

"Nicknamed “Architect to the Stars,” African American architect Paul R. Williams was one of the most successful architects of his time. But at the height of his career he wasn’t always welcome in the buildings he designed because of his race. Hollywood’s Architect tells the story of how he used talent, determination and even charm to defy the odds and create a celebrated body of work."

https://www.pbssocal.org/programs/hollywoods-architect/

The designs of Paul Williams had a sophistication and dignity that have withstood the test of time. Although Paul's designs are largely derivative, I greatly admire his work.


USC - Founder's church.org

[GaylordWilshire]

CBD, have you been hiding a previous career as a well-known architectural critic from us? I've heard of Ada Louise Huxtable, Vincent Scully, Paul Goldberger, Martin Filler, Michael Kimmelman...perhaps you used a pseudonym?

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

Sometime in February I watched a PBS documentary titled Hollywood's Architect.

"Nicknamed “Architect to the Stars,” African American architect Paul R. Williams was one of the most successful architects of his time. But at the height of his career he wasn’t always welcome in the buildings he designed because of his race. Hollywood’s Architect tells the story of how he used talent, determination and even charm to defy the odds and create a celebrated body of work."

https://www.pbssocal.org/programs/hollywoods-architect/

The Paul Williams doc is excellent. Here are a few screenshots...


It was interesting to discover that Mrs. Paul Williams was the "del" of the Wilfandel Club, the story of which is here.





Have we seen anything here before about the PRW memorial at the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building?





And it's always good to see more of PRW's own house:

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire

Mr and Mrs Williams had a fantastic home. Although I believe his work is mostly poly derivative, he was able to combine various styles with sensitivity and integrity of the whole.
He knew how to make buildings look elegant without being whorish.

[ethereal_reality]

Here is a group of travelers having a grand ol' time.


eBay







The writing on the reverse is a bit intriguing.


eBay


Soooo. . .they're in Los Angeles but they didn't know it. ...I can't even begin to figure out where the travelers were when the snapshot was taken.

If the building was smaller I'd say the Ridge Route is a possibility. (but the Ridge Route is outside the Los Angeles city limits)


.

[Martin Pal]

I was reading that "snapped before we knew it" part as the person took the shot before they were ready or knew that he took it.

[ethereal_reality]

.....I think you're correct, Martin Pal.

[Mstimc]

Originally Posted by Martin Pal

Sometime in February I watched a PBS documentary titled Hollywood's Architect.

"Nicknamed “Architect to the Stars,” African American architect Paul R. Williams was one of the most successful architects of his time. But at the height of his career he wasn’t always welcome in the buildings he designed because of his race. Hollywood’s Architect tells the story of how he used talent, determination and even charm to defy the odds and create a celebrated body of work."

https://www.pbssocal.org/programs/hollywoods-architect/

I read an article on him in the Times several years ago. Among other indignities, he had to become an expert at reading plans and text upside down because his elite white clients wouldn't sit on the same side of the table with him.

[unihikid]

Originally Posted by Mstimc

I read an article on him in the Times several years ago. Among other indignities, he had to become an expert at reading plans and text upside down because his elite white clients wouldn't sit on the same side of the table with him.

He not just read plans upside down, he sketched out his designs upside down.

[Godzilla]

Originally Posted by BifRayRock

Since the above discussion mentions Westwood, here's a companion shot, probably from '36 or later. When Westwood was a relatively uncrowded village.
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/f6608d2b6d688bcb_large

Speaking of "designers," Bob A had a 1145 Glendon listing. Could this image depict the structure bearing his name on nearby 1131 (or 1139) Glendon Ave.?


https://live.staticflickr.com/4035/4...7964074d_b.jpg

[Andys]

Originally Posted by unihikid

He not just read plans upside down, he sketched out his designs upside down.

What I remember reading, was that PRW sketched up side down so as to present and unfold his designs in real time to his potential clients. He used this technique as a deliberate attempt to sell his services, and was quite good at it (the sales part). His business acumen was on par with his design skills; a clever and insightful man, he was.

Andys

[jg6544]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

Speaking of "designers," Bob A had a 1145 Glendon listing. Could this image depict the structure bearing his name on nearby 1131 (or 1139) Glendon Ave.?


https://live.staticflickr.com/4035/4...7964074d_b.jpg

Isn't this the building that used to be the Gardens on Glendon and is now another restaurant?

[CityBoyDoug]

prw project

Naval Station Long Beach .....Paul Williams, architect.

[BDiH]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

Speaking of "designers," Bob A had a 1145 Glendon listing. Could this image depict the structure bearing his name on nearby 1131 (or 1139) Glendon Ave.?


https://live.staticflickr.com/4035/4...7964074d_b.jpg

The black and white photo of Westwood in the 1930s show the Janss Dome, headquarters for the Janss Investment Company. It is still a landmark building in Westwood. I met Harold Janss, a couple of years before his death, in Westwood and had the pleasure of speaking to the man who helped create the UCLA campus and Westwood Village. All of us who attended UCLA know the famous Janss Steps, named after Harold and his brother, Edwin Janss Sr.

Here is a brief biography of Harold Janss and his family.

Harold Janns was born in 1889 and died in 1972. Harold was the son-in-law of Arthur Letts who owned several acres of land in what is now Westwood, California. Letts had Harold develop the area for housing and with his brother Edwin, the two men ran the Janss Investment Company. Harold and his brother were responsible for moving UCLA from Hollywood to its present location in Westwood. Although Letts wanted the land to be sold to the wealthy for large estates and homes, Harold sold the land to the middle-class of Los Angeles and in 1926, Kelton Avenue was the first street to be developed. Since then, the area has quickly become populated and somewhat congested with apartments, condos, office buildings and several stores and movie theaters.

[ethereal_reality]

Still searching for the John Woolf designed 'spiral-staircase in the entryway' mystery house.

Originally Posted by Mstimc

This could be any building from that era: a motel facade, an office building, or a house. And that structure on the right looks like a tacked-on shed.

I'm glad you pointed this out, Mstimc.


Jean Howard Papers

It appears to be housing utilities. It's beyond me why it's on the front of house!

ON A SIDE NOTE:.... The only way I see that gutter working is if the actual roof, in that particular area, is several feet below the top of the facade.





The following two images were interspersed with the spiral staircase house photographs. I am guessing they're from the same house.


jean howard papers



A backyard sunroom?


jean howard papers



This is how they appeared in the archives.


jean howard papers

I just noticed that last image. I'll add it at the end of the post.*










I still believe the house has a connection with Gary Cooper since his wife 'Rocky' and two other women were photographed in front of it.


Here's a closer look at the three women. Rocky is on the right.


jean howard papers





*Here are the three ladies leaving the property with a good look at the gutter I mentioned earlier.






I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here, folks. . .



.

[Hookster]

Hey All,

New Member here!… Searching for pics of a place from my childhood in LA ...(Ridgewood Military Academy in Woodland Hills) a few weeks ago brought me here and... I have been hooked ever since! ... I have made my way through a few hundred pages of this awesome thread and have become hopelessly addicted to the historical detective work and general appreciation of what was... time marches on but, the past is never as far as we imagine! My father’s mother rode on a horse drawn wagon all day as a young girl to go see what an electric lightbulb looked like...

Many thanks to all of you and Ethereal Reality for stewarding all the good efforts here!

Quick background on myself... I was born in Burbank in 1961...I lived my first 10 years on the hill across the Hollywood Freeway from Universal City and watched the Sheraton Universal being built from our living room and... I find it a bit sad that is now dwarfed by the surrounding buildings!… I lived in North Hollywood (near Victory and Vineland) for 4 years after that until we moved away... i still get down that way once or twice a year to visit my aunt... My years down there are always with me and I still visit those long gone places in my dreams...

I was happy to run across the RCA building in Hollywood where my father worked and Sy Devore, where I had my first haircut amongst the pages here... I attended Campbell Hall on Laurel Canyon, played ice hockey in the GLAMHA league for the North Hollywood Bruins, judo at the Hollywood and North Hollywood YMCAs, riding dirt bikes at Indian Dunes and under the power lines of the Whitnall Highway, Cottonwood day camp in the summer in Brentwood Canyon and summer science classes at The Armory Building next to The Old California Museum of Science and Industry in Exposition Park... If any of those are touchstones for others here, I would love to here from you!

I will do some digging on some LA Noir pics to post in days to come... For my first one, I will just go with one that is handy... A picture of the Roy Rogers tour about to embark from Republic Picture Studio in Studio City (You can see a bit of the name on the soundstage in the upper right) My parents are in the group here and this is where they met so... in a very real way, I owe the success of Roy Rogers’ career for my very existence.. All things are connected and I am glad I connected with this wonderful thread!

Thanks again and onward we go!

hookster

Untitled by l, on Flickr

PS... GO DODGERS!!!!

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by Hookster

Hey All,

New Member here!… Searching for pics of a place from my childhood in LA ...(Ridgewood Military Academy in Woodland Hills)

Welcome Hookster.

From your first post here I can see that you have many things to write about and to show us some of your photos.

What was that Roy Rogers Tour all about? I know that he worked at Republic Studio but was this some other excursion?

Rest assured we're always interested in new material.

CBD