Greystone Park
 

I will post some pictures eventually; on reviewing what I already had I found that they really need to be re-shot with the better equipment that I now have.

article originally posted by Gaylord_Wilshire
http://imageshack.us/a/img36/922/aaunivacii.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img546/2639/aaunivac2.jpg
http://www.salesianos-ubeda.com/main...gen1/index.htm

A very 'noirish' apartment building just east of the Unitarian Church on 8th Street.

http://imageshack.us/a/img18/461/aac...cfidelityl.jpg
google street view

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...and in color.

http://imageshack.us/a/img832/461/aa...cfidelityl.jpg
google street view




http://imageshack.us/a/img594/461/aa...cfidelityl.jpg
google street view





http://imageshack.us/a/img137/6091/a...unitarianc.jpg
google street view

In the same general vicinity is the old Wilshire Place Hotel & Apts.at the corner of 7th & Magnolia.

http://imageshack.us/a/img6/9862/aac...thmagnolia.jpg
google street view

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http://imageshack.us/a/img576/5894/a...cfidelitya.jpg
google street view






http://imageshack.us/a/img341/5894/a...cfidelitya.jpg
google street view




I really like the unusual arched 'canopy' over the front entrance.

http://imageshack.us/a/img715/5894/a...cfidelitya.jpg
google street view

Interesting. I mentioned Shell Oil, because that is what I heard from a docent. This piqued my curiosity further.

In 1956, the 675 address has listings for what appears to be two residents and possibly a business. Pacific Fidelity is listed in 1960 book at 675, "DU5-8131" (in case anyone has Univac questions), along with a couple of other businesses. By 1964, the only 675 listing is for "Pacific Finance." By 1968 "675" is listed as "building" with no number.

Could the Univac have possibly become obsolete sooner than expected? Or maybe it was the precursor or inspiration for the 1968 appearance of HAL9000?

___________________

The Lankershim Hotel has been mentioned here. My effort at searching for it turned up a reference at P 150 of this thread. Fascinating set of photos taken from the Hotel circa 1907 featuring Broadway, Seventh and Spring Streets. Should anyone ask whether the Alexandria is fireproof, the correct answer is ABSOLUTELY!

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-5781?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-5782?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-5783?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-5780?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-5779?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-5778?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-5777?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets.../CHS-5776?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...=1337893974126

:previous: Excellent photos Chuckaluck!

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below: Where in the heck is Bliss?

http://imageshack.us/a/img6/3165/aab...asthistake.jpg
unknown

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Yesterday evening. (05.24.12)
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...38919244_n.jpg
Photo by yours truly

Union Station with a sign advertising Cafe' Caliente on Olvera St ('curios novelties').

http://imageshack.us/a/img28/6734/sn...calientacu.jpg
ebay

bif that is a power substation,the great thing about the "vine-yard" was that it was a juntion point ,you could travel northwest to beverly hills along san vincente,or west along venice.but in order to power the wonderful pe cars they had to use alot of juice.there are a few sub stations left,one on washington towards downtown,and one in culver city called the "ivy" station,they were never used for storage or passengers.

:previous:


This might have been easier:

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search...mplesearch.htm

If you look closely, you can just make out the tunnel at 2nd and Figueroa (Center Left)

April 1, 1939 - Union Station Opening Day

All aboard, plenty of room in the back?

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...474C2C3F6?v=hr
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assets...view/CHS-14578

How did people driving such huge cars back in the day park so closely together? Were they all expert parkers? Did every car have dings and dents? Did their body styles and positions of the wheels make it easy to see how close you were getting to other vehicles? Seems like in some instances they are so close together they wouldn't be able to get in or out of their cars.

Cars in those days sat higher off the ground than they do today, but were narrower than contemporary full-sized cars.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B...0/aronson2.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7...2520PM.bmp.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...2520PM.bmp.jpg Los Angeles Times, June 22, 1924


We've seen some of the Kress Company's amazing feats of building moving here before, but I was not aware of this one until now. This "pretentious" (a word without the negative connotations associated with it today) house was built at 3325 Wilshire Blvd. and was the home of Amy and Sollie Aronson. Amy was a daughter of Herman and Ida Hellman and sister of Marco, who lived across from the Aronsons at 3350 Wilshire. Amy died in 1920. The two main roads of Fremont Place, Fremont Place and Fremont Place West, were early in the subdivision's history referred to as Easterly Drive and Westerly Drive. The reassembled house remained at 31 Fremont Place--the northeast corner of 8th Street--at least into the '50s.

Apparently the Hellmans retained ownership of the house for some years; in the '20s and early '30s, one of the family's business associates, Ashley S. Thompson, was living at #31. Here's an interesting little story from Thompson's time in the house:


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b.../monkey450.jpg Los Angeles Times, November 4, 1929

I think cars had more dents and dings than they do now.

I'm reminded of a Denver businessman in the late 50s. Parks his brand new Caddy is a typically tight Downtown parking space, comes back from his meeting and sees giant dings.

Says: F--- this!

Buys a large parcel on the SE edge of the city about 8 miles from Downtown and starts a business park - "with lots of parking".

We now know that parcel as Denver Tech Center.

http://www.usvmyg.org/images/Burkes.jpg

OK, it's midcentury modern instead of noir, but still might be fun to find.

From "Burke's Law," 1964. The Rolls pulled up here after making a left turn in front of a dine and dance place called "Vagabond's House."

Speaking of 60's/70's eating places, anybody remember Stark's in Covina? Had some great meals there circa 1970. Old timers from Hollywood used to go up to the piano bar and sing. You could have filmed the opening scene from "The Long Goodbye" there.

Cheers,

Earl

Libraries
 

Ive passed this former branch for years and would love to buy it just to rsecue it.Ive never been inside but if any of you could help me with finding some interior pics of it that would make my day.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...os_Angeles.JPG

photo by wiki

:previous:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00086/00086121.jpg
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00086/00086123.jpg


Hey uni--here's one interior-- I thought there were more at the LAPL, but I guess not. Buy it!

A few more exteriors here.

The locomotive in the photo of Opening Day at Los Angeles Union Station is Southern Pacific Railroad No. 1, the Collis P. Huntington. It rests today in the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.

Wig-Wag

Oh GW i wish i could im sure they want an arm and a leg,but thanks for making my day!:banana:

Page 400!

My deepest thanks to all the usual suspects...and the unusual ones too...for 400 pages of Noirish Los Angeles. May the next 400 be every bit as rich, varied, and fascinating.

Extra special thanks to ethereal reality for launching this forum almost three years ago, and for being a terrific host and contributor.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8020/7...1fb488a6_b.jpg
[frame from Possessed, 1947. Source: Warner Home Video.]

:previous:


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...2520AM.bmp.jpgLAT

I Second That Emotion

Real Sunshine For The Shadows
 

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9...easer883aa.jpg

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/8...bigcropped.jpg

Teaser and main ad from the 1926 L.A. City Directory


LAPL

.

the area isnt that bad.Its surrounded by pockets of historic overlay zones.Now 15yrs ago i wouldnt think about it,but this is oneof the areasthat people are now rediscovering.The only big problem i would have is thetraffic on arlington,and no garage,but im still going to call the LAHC and or LAPL to figure out how one would go about buying the joint...:hmmm:

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9...aigpiccrop.jpgUSCDL

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/907...350article.jpgLos Angeles Times, October 13, 1955

Upper-crust Bickersons: discord via intercom ends in tragedy. A little Fremont Place noir....


:previous:

Actually, it was excellent from the beginning. And didn't we just see at least two or three of those pictures?

It's been a chore just reading through 400 pages. Thank you to all the posters, especially ethereal reality, Sopas ej, and Gaylord Wilshire

Page 400!

My Congratulations to all those who have contributed page by page, reply by reply and picture by picture to made this thread big, fascinating and so educational; not only for angelenos or americans, but for people from around the world who are in love with the history of Los Angeles and its culture.

Special mention to Ethereal_reality for collecting the very first pics and put them all together to create this thread...Thank you for sharing those pictures with us!

And many many thanks to all 'forumers' for teaching me with a big respect everything I know of the City of Angels. There weren't books enough at any library except for your contributrions. A big thank you!

Finally I'm waiting forward to see the next 400 pages!
Muchas gracias a todos!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...2520PM.bmp.jpgHLA


This house was built in 1911 by James C. Drake and his wife Fanny Wilcox Drake to replace their previous dwelling on the same lot at 2715
S. Hoover. Mr. Drake died in 1920; Fanny had the Kress Company move it to 70 Fremont Place in early 1931. She wasn't able to enjoy her new
neighborhood for long; she died of a stroke that September. The Frank H. Powells were in residence from about 1938 into the mid '50s; during
the '60s, the Zebulon Owingses lived there. Following her husband's death, Mrs. Owings auctioned off everything in the house and left for
the East. The old Drake house was demolished some time between 1969 and 1972; by 1980 a much less interesting house rose on the
site, and is still there.

FULL STORY HERE: http://losangeleshistory.blogspot.co...struction.html


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...2520PM.bmp.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...2520PM.bmp.jpgLos Angeles Times, May 11, 1931


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKLzPFoI3z...border638B.jpg
Los Angeles Times, May 11, 1931



And here's at little twist to the story. It seems that Mr. Kress, the famed house mover, had a few odd habits:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uT2p2pq1bN...alnewcompl.jpg
Los Angeles Times, December 9, 1928

:previous:

Oh my goodness. :koko:

Judge McComb later went on to serve on California's Supreme Court.

Here he is in 1939, third from the left. Next to him, in the middle, is 17 year old Barnet Cooperman, who later became a Judge on the Superior Court.
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00095/00095313.jpg LAPL

Page 400- trying to keep up!
 

Greetings all,

I was introduced to this thread some months ago. I started with page one, and am working through it all.

What a treasure this is! Thanks to all posters, from the most prolific to the periodic. You have collectively taught me more about my adopted home than I have learned in 33 years living here. As a youngster in the '50's I would visit with my parents, driving over the old Grapevine, or down the Coast from N. Calif. I always thought LA was mysterious. Thanks for bringing the Mystery and the History together.

KJ

I too am excited that we have reached the 400 page milestone. (Though, being an engineering type, I must mention that "posts per page" is a user setting, and we may not all be seeing that number right now.) But how many discussion threads, on any topic, have had this kind of longevity? It's really quite amazing.

e_r, since this is an anniversary of sorts, maybe you'd tell us a little more about how this thread began. In your first post you wrote "I lived in L.A. for 8 years and still hold it in high esteem. I recently spent several months going through some 50,000+ photos from the USC Digital Archives and the Los Angeles Public Library." I'm curious about how you discovered the USC and LAPL archives and how you got the idea to start a thread about it here.

sopas_ej started contributing right away, GaylordWilshire joined in later; you and you have been the most prolific posters here. Did any of you know or correspond beforehand, or did this all happen spontaneously, through the magic of the interwebs?

In any case this must be the best, most complete study of L.A. architecture and history to be found anywhere, and it's certainly my favorite internet site ever. I live in terror of skyscraperpage.com pulling the plug or having some catastrophic server problem and have been maintaining an archive of this whole thread, though I'm not sure how one could resurrect the thread elsewhere, if the need ever arose.

After I got hooked I kept telling people it had changed my life. They mostly responded with rolling eyes and sarcasm, but it really has been true. I see this region through very different eyes now, and have had blast exploring and photographing the city. I've joined the L.A. Conservancy and Hollywood Heritage, and led groups of friends on all sorts of odd and interesting L.A. tours. My wife and I have explored and hiked a hundred places in the L.A. mountains and hills. I gave a talk / slideshow about L.A. for a big group, that was really successful. This new "hobby" costs almost nothing, and all the walking and hiking has gotten me into better shape.

e_r, thanks a million times over for starting the thread, and thanks to all of the contributors who have helped make this so great.

http://wwww.dkse.net/david/DW-97-102-1-ISLA.jpg
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu

The middle of the picture has a series of evenly placed red objects that appear to follow a hillside path. It is unlikely that these are red fez wearing monkeys awaiting the return of monkey island. But what are they, advertising, road markers or . . . . ?

More of Cahuenga Pass, 1952

South entrance near Hollywood Bowl
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...l-12-27-52.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...l-12-27-52.jpg

http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...-July-1952.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...-July-1952.jpg

"Near Barham" 1952
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...-July-1952.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...-July-1952.jpg

Barham 1952
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...barham1952.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...barham1952.jpg

A different perspective of "the pass." Circa 1940
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics45/00072195.jpghttp://jpg3.lapl.org/pics45/00072195.jpg


I have seen this Pacific Electric 1912 Trolley map before, but can't determine via this site's search function if it has been posted in this thread.

http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...-Trips-Map.jpg http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...-Trips-Map.jpg

Having reached Milestone 400, perhaps it is appropriate to consider a special party service?http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...otter-1932.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...otter-1932.jpg

Source indicates Streetcar is crossing Fountain Ave., 1952 unknown cross street.
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...d-Jan-1952.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...d-Jan-1952.jpg

Chill in the air? Hollywood Blvd. 1952-3?
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...aumans1950.jpg http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...aumans1950.jpg


XMAS came and went?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WsE6M_RjBI...se+Theatre.jpg http://www.google.com

December 1953
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...rger-photo.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...rger-photo.jpg

http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...rger-Photo.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...rger-Photo.jpg

Highland facing North, approx date late '40's early '50s?
[IMG]http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...odblvd-hot.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...odblvd-hot.jpg

December 1952
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...d-12-27-52.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...d-12-27-52.jpg

1952
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...anNuysLn.N.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...anNuysLn.N.jpg

Those large color Cahuenga Pass photos, originally posted by BifRayRock, are quite interesting to me, especially this "red fez" shot.

http://dkse.net/david/Cahuenga/RC-PE...-1952.1200.jpg

I think this must be the area just south of the Mulholland bridge, beneath Lakeridge Drive, and that we are seeing construction vehicles using these dirt paths as access roads. Perhaps they were involved in grading work or construction of homes up on Lakeridge. The vertical perspective in this Google Earth shot doesn't quite match the original, but I believe it's the same area.

http://dkse.net/david/Cahuenga/Cahuenga.east.jpg
www.google.com

HaHa, Your mum was good with understatement. 1938 must have been a good year to stay indoors! (Even on the Cahuenga Pass) 1938 http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...2/MP-00470.jpg
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...2/MP-00470.jpg



"Pacific Electric right-of-way is in shambles after a major washout along Huntington Drive. The image is possibly from 1938."
http://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...shout-1938.jpghttp://www.pacificelectric.org/wp-co...shout-1938.jpg

:previous:

Los Nogales?