noirish Los Angeles

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by HossC

We're looking south at the intersection of W San Fernando Road and Brazil Street.

Just a few months earlier, in February 2014, the spur tracks were still visible where they crossed W San Fernando Road.


GSV

Yep, you nailed it Hoss. I visited that intersection (in the google-mobile) but didn't see the diagonal cross tracks so I moved on.
I didn't think to check the past views.
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[HossC]

Today, Julius Shulman gives us before and after views of a remodel at Republic Savings. It stood at 729 S Flower Street. It's "Job 4100: Republic Savings Building, remodel (Los Angeles, Calif.), 1966". I'm assuming that this is the 'before' picture as the lettering seems to have been removed from the front.



The second and third images are nearly identical, so I've omitted the third one. After the remodel, the second floor has been opened up as a balcony, and small balconies have been added to the third floor.



Both from Getty Research Institute

I think that 729 Flower Street was built in 1926, and that the demo permit was issued in 1991 (there are no digital images of either document online). The whole block now just seems to be used for parking. The parking garage at the right has even had an extra level added.


GSV

I'll finish with a view of the same section of S Flower Street in better times (architecturally speaking at least). This image is from 1937, and shows the Machin Shirt Co at 729, just to the right of the large "Music" blade sign. I can't see the lower floors too clearly, but it looks like the building originally had balconies on the third floor, as it did after the remodel. To the left is the Los Angeles Music Co at 733 S Flower Street.


USC Digital Library

[AlvaroLegido]

Originally Posted by Diamond-X

I'm not sure if this resource, a perspective map of Los Angeles from 1894, had been referenced yet. This is from the Library of Congress:

http://www.loc.gov/resource/g4364l.pm000280/

I looked at it close and discovered a major and beautiful train station at (today) the Los Angeles State Historic Park between North Broadway and North Spring Street. I don't remember seeing photos or reading posts on it.

[HossC]

Here's the section you're talking about, AlvaroLegido. I've inset the relevant section of the key.


Detail from image in Library of Congress

Here are a selection of posts covering some of the locations. It's worth clicking the links as each post contains more pictures and information.

From post #4115, the Capitol Milling Co and Cable Railway Viaduct.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Here is the elevated line next to the Capitol Mill Co.


usc archive

The Baker Iron Work were included in post #27415.

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge

Here's a closer look at the Baker Iron Works; behind it, through the smoke, you can barely make out the Capitol Milling building on Alameda. The three-story building to the right of Baker Iron Works, with the writing on the left side and across the top, is occupied by the Heywood Bros. It is on the SW corner of Upper Main and College St. That building burned down on November 9, 1887, but in this photo it has obviously been rebuilt.

The three-story building next to Heywood Bros, which is actually on the NE corner of Buena Vista and College, is the Mullally Block. The July 1, 1887 Los Angeles Times describes the plans for the Mullally Block as being "in the hands of the architect," so its construction must not have been far off. At the far right edge of the photo past the Mullally Block is the Woodhead residence on the SE corner of Buena Vista and College.

Post #7811 also has a picture of the brick River Station building.

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

"Exterior view of the River Station in Los Angeles." -LAPL


http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/F...olNumber=51220

These were just the first search results I got for each place - there's much more information to be found on NLA. For example, we've seen the wooden bridge over the Cornfield site several times.

[haiku99]

I'm currently reading "The Life of Raymond Chandler", good stuff and others here might enjoy it too...much of it is about pulp fiction, L.A., film noir, Hollywood etc...



amazon.com

[Tourmaline]

Originally Posted by tovangar2

Thanks Hoss


google maps

The history of Levitz Furniture Corporation dates back to 1910 when Richard Levitz opened the first Levitz Furniture store in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. In the 1960s, the "warehouse/showroom" concept brought Levitz to the forefront of the furniture industry. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS1...007+BW20071206

A quick perusal of the directories suggests Levitz's LA presence was a post-war or later ('60s) phenomenon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAnLA1R3DhA

[Noircitydame]

Originally Posted by HossC

I think that 729 Flower Street was built in 1926, and that the demo permit was issued in 1991 (there are no digital images of either document online). The whole block now just seems to be used for parking. The parking garage at the right has even had an extra level added.

To the left is the Los Angeles Music Co at 733 S Flower Street.

That's the only close up picture I've seen of 729.
Myron T. Hunt was the architect. It was under construction in late 1926, built for Ransohoff's (ladies clothing shop) and had its grand opening Jan 10, 1927.



The interior was art moderne. It closed in May 1933 when the owner retired. Oct. 9. 1936 Machin's (custom shirts and apparel) moved in; they were there 'til Nov. 1945, when they moved across the street to 716.

733 opened a few days earlier, Jan 2, 1927. Felchin, Shaw & Franklin, architect. Built for Myer Siegel ladies' clothing store. M-S were there until they moved into the former B.H. Dyas store at 7th & Olive in September 1934. Los Angeles Music Co. moved in to 733 after that, by 1937 for sure.

*I forgot to add, on the other side where the garage is in the Shulman photo, would have been the Abigail Stark house at 723.

[ethereal_reality]

Since we've been sleuthing around the San Fernando Road area I thought I'd finally post these screen-grabs taken from a train in 1946.


https://archive.org/details/PET0981_R-5#


Video here: https://archive.org/details/PET0981_R-5


I thought it might be fun to try and locate the buildings today. I've placed them in order.




#1



SOIL OFF (with giant blinking can)


#2





below: neighboring building on street corner. (SOIL OFF sign at far right)

#3




below: passing through an intersection / gas station visible. (in the video you'll notice a blinking two-tiered sign behind the gas station)

#4



below: same gas station, behind a bunch of signs I wish I could read.

#5




below: A second gas station. (the other station is on the right)

#6




below: Standard of California.

#7



below: silvery tanks (part of Standard of California?)

#8





below: factory building (same complex?)

#9




below: another substantial industrial building with writing on the left side.

#10



below: various buildings, one with a shiny rooftop billboard.

#11



below: a cafe? (and a cool car...maybe a taxi)

#12




below: a tiny business that looks like a drive-through espresso place

#13



below: passing through an intersection.

#14




below: a bus waiting at that intersection. (with it's door open)

#15




below: Storybook Dress Company

#16




below: a bar/cafe (lighted Pabst Blue Ribbon sign?), and auto wreckers yrd.

#17





below: a large, rather nice looking building with various signs.

#18




below: An ice company (and a liquor store next door) -very convenient

#19




below: "Turn Here-California Hotel" LARGE sign. (on the right is the liquor store & ice co. from the previous screen-grab)

#20




below: a couple of impressive buildings. (the one on the left might be a garage) I really like the building on the right.

#21




below: gas station? with a large truck parked under the canopy.

#22




below: General Aircraft Company

#23




below: interesting sign with arrow (but I can't make out what it says )

#24





below: nice building with pointy arched window (Fence Co?)

#25





below: Texaco Station

#26







below: Nursery building with nice lighting on the facade (it's blocked by a semi hauling a giant pod ) -spooky


#27




below: nice deco building on corner

#28




below: a bridge (for reference)

#29





below: car lot with intriguing 'towers' outlined in lights in the background.

#30





p.s. I think I've gotten out of order somewhere in this area. -sorry




below: A semi, a bus & a cafe.

#31




below: a better view at the Greyhound bus.

#31




below: an attractive bar/cafe open for business.

#33




below: yet another interesting sign, this time the arrow's pointing the opposite way.

#34





below: looks like a converted streetcar (diner?), and a garage

#35




below: at first I thought the sign said BOOKS, but I'm not sure.

#36




below: Valley Wrecking and Lumber Company

#37




below: Bar-Eva Nurseries

#38

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OK, I just realized I've gotten out of order, and that I've missed some choice buildings. So I am going to end it here, and let you go watch the video.

Watch the video here:
https://archive.org/details/PET0981_R-5#


OK, I just realized there are two videos. In this one the train is really hauling ass.
https://archive.org/details/PET0981_R-3_LA

The film-makers were probably sent back out and told to get on a slower train. lol.


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[tovangar2]

Originally Posted by Noircitydame

*I forgot to add, on the other side where the garage is in the Shulman photo, would have been the Abigail Stark house at 723.

It's there in the USC DL photo. Lovely story that. I'm glad you remembered it too:


uscdl (detail)

[Lwize]

Originally Posted by HossC

Across the tracks, Brazil Street becomes W Broadway. I think that the building on the far left of e_r's picture is still there. It's currently Frank's Burgers at 740 W Broadway.


GSV

I used to eat at Franks when I shopped in that area 30 years ago. Good burger place (or at least, it was 30 years ago).

[ethereal_reality]

Originally Posted by Noircitydame

LAT 1-1945

Thanks for the follow up on Bob Dalton's Elbow Room Noircitydame.

_

[CityBoyDoug]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Since we've been sleuthing around the San Fernando Road area I thought I'd finally post these screen-grabs taken from a train in 1946.



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Wow, ER, that night train b/w film is noirish to the max.
I can remember those old cars with their tiny red glass rear panel lights...smoking in the cars and no seat belts. Sigh...now everything is plastic.
Plus there's another thing about those old cars....they reeked of oil and gasoline, plus the smell of dilapidated cloth upholstery.

[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Since we've been sleuthing around the San Fernando Road area I thought I'd finally post these screen-grabs taken from a train in 1946.




Video here: https://archive.org/details/PET0981_R-5

The strange thing about these train videos is that Googling the business names generally only yields results that are references to these videos. Sometimes I found a mention of a business somewhere in Los Angeles, but without an address, while other names gave no results at all. Here are a couple of then-and-now comparisons that I did manage to find. I can't read the motel name in the video (it appears at about 5:44) ...


archive.org

... but it's now the Mt View Motel at 8065 San Fernando Road.


GSV

A block north, and about 20 seconds later, the train passes Roscoe Hardware and this corner drug store.


archive.org

Roscoe Hardware is still listed at 8165 San Fernando Road in a 1980 issue of Field & Stream. This must be the same building as the screengrab above, although I was disappointed to see that the tower is missing.


GSV

I also found a page about these videos by Wes Clark called 1946 Railroad Film Footage. It says there are a total of four train films and one shot from a car. They were filmed to be used as back projection for the 1947 Rita Hayworth movie 'Down to Earth' (see the board in e_r's screengrab above). It's a color movie, so the train films had to be tinted. Wes also included a link to a clip from the finished movie:

• Video Link

[ethereal_reality]

Good job Hoss.

I don't know how I missed the Roscoe Hardware building in the video. (are those diagonal braces holding up that small 'tower'?


detail

[ethereal_reality]

'mystery' location

I just came across this photograph on eBay.

"1946 Los Angeles Transit Railway CA #2501 Special Car."


http://www.ebay.com/itm/5C212-RP-194...cAAOSwZd1VXSaN

Did that kid in the white shirt just fall down in the gutter?

-also note the guy in the dark hat and coat exiting the street car from the back.
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I thought the buildings in the distance along the curve were associated with the railroad, or perhaps industrial buildings.
So I was surprised to see that one is a Grace Nazarene Church.


detail

Does anyone recognize this area?
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[HossC]

Just a quick Julius Shulman post today. This is The Powers Regulator Company at 3200 Temple Street. It's "Job 1681: Powers Regulator Company Office Building (Los Angeles, Calif.), 1954".


Getty Research Institute

The building survives pretty much intact as the Temple Gateway Youth & Community Center. The palm tree by the entrance has grown well. Although not visible in the view below, the house on the left of the image above is still standing. The same can't be said for the white building behind the car on the right.


GSV

Directly behind the community center on Robinson Street are these two buildings. On the left, 246 Robinson Street dates from 1924, while 240 Robinson Street was built two years later in 1926. It makes such a pleasant change to see buildings of this type which haven't been molested, and aren't surrounded by high fences with metal bars on the windows (OK, the side windows on the first floor of 240 have grilles). I quickly checked the older GSV images, and found that 246 had two large trees hiding the entrance until at least February 2014. It looks much better now.


GSV

[ethereal_reality]

Good find Hoss, -and a good point about the lack of metal bars and security fences. If the gsv view was in black & white it would be hard to tell the date.

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Here's another 'mystery' location.

This shows a very tight squeeze on a slight curve.


eBay

"RR Traction Print Pacific Electric PE LA Combine Car #498"
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[HossC]

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Good find Hoss, -and a good point about the lack of metal bars and security fences. If the gsv view was in black & white it would be hard to tell the date.

I just found this undated postcard .

[Retired_in_Texas]

Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug

Wow, ER, that night train b/w film is noirish to the max.
I can remember those old cars with their tiny red glass rear panel lights...smoking in the cars and no seat belts. Sigh...now everything is plastic.
Plus there's another thing about those old cars....they reeked of oil and gasoline, plus the smell of dilapidated cloth upholstery.

Most interesting observations, which prompts me to muse over the continued use of so many basically used up automobiles seen in photos of different periods of time seen in this forum making it more than obvious Southern California was not necessarily the Land Milk and Honey for all. As a collector of vintage autos I certainly enjoy seeing them in photos, but have to admit it is somewhat shocking to see so many ten to twenty year old automobiles on the then streets of L.A. with newer automobiles. Little wonder there was a smog problem that was more than just the temperature inversions caused by the mountains.

Anyone who found themselves trapped in the middle of a freeway traffic jamb certainly remembers the God awful smell of crankcase fumesl and half burned gasoline coming from exhaust pipes made even worse by many mostly used up engines needing a rebuild or replacement burning oil. Yukers! Guaranteed to give anyone a spitting headache in a matter of minutes.

Ah, the good old days when some moron with one of those oil burning piles of junk pulled into the spot next to you at a drive-in and kept their engine running because their battery wouldn't hold a charge and killing the engine required a jump start.

[ethereal_reality]

I'd say this would be around 1947.



lol. You even took out the three television antennas and the radar dish.
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