LAIU ceased to exist with the Great Merger of 1911, so we can rule out the 1920 date as a description of the scene. Without digging through some reference material, the 1906 date is plausible.

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Thanks for the info., Henry-H. :)

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NLA presents Mystery Street


The following two slides show a flooded street somewhere in the vicinity of USC in the 1950s.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/DDBZWz.jpg
eBay




https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/F6I1rL.jpg
eBay

I've been driving the google-mobile in the area for the last 20 minutes and haven't come across the street.

I could use some help.

:whip:
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Today we have a mystery house in Long Beach.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/GycH8Q.jpg
eBay

As you can see the residents sold palms. (potted, I imagine)


The reverse
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/QOe5la.jpg
Sept. 1914

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And here's another mystery house, this one owned by a T. J. Eames. (but no address - that's what makes it a mystery :))


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/SCUnb3.jpg

If you look closely it says 'T.J. Eames' at the bottom of the steps near the curb. :previous:


eBay
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I found an additional photgraph of the gem mine in one of my old files so I thought I'd share it.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/8TBimD.jpg


My imagined :) 'Godzilla' tree trunk is visible at far right - - - >

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Cool house! And it's still standing . . .

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...o_Jan_2023.jpg

. . . at 2406 J Street in Sacramento. The palm tree on the left in the ebay photo is also a survivor.

Thomas J. Eames is at 2406 J Street in the 1895 Sacramento City Directory.

Dial MAD.1100
 

This photo was taken only 15 weeks before the Cinerama Dome opened 60 years ago!
I believe that's what that "15" on the sign is indicating.
(What's taking them so long to re-open it? Latest word: Sometime after next year.)

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi26_PCRC...s-Lataille.jpg

This photo is on Roland Lataille's site about the dome. It's called In Cinerama.

:previous:

I was there November 30 or December 1, 1963, to attend a 2 PM showing at the world premiere engagement of It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, and remember it very well. Everyone was ready to get back to better times after the shock of the JFK assassination and the events which followed, a good time was had by all, and the showing was following by a hearty round of applause. The theater was dark for a few nights after the shooting and as the seating was reserved we were in some dubiety for a few days as to whether it would reopen by the time our tickets were set for. But it reopened about the 27th, if memory serves.

Dec 1963
 

Speaking of 12/63 Here is my Dad getting back from NYC. I'm sure they were still working "Zip" and "Why Do Lovers". "Bells" and "Here Come Santa" wasn't released till the 22nd so i'm sure people really weren't listening (the Christmas album tanked being released on 11/22/63).

https://i.postimg.cc/VLSvmKZX/Picture-188.jpg

(not sure who the lady is but this is somewhere in South/Mid LA)


I mention NY because he remembers being out there when JFK got assassinated. 1962-3 was a busy year for Dad and his group, i think they got a return engagement at the world famous Apollo Theatre (he had a few great stories from that trip).

https://i.postimg.cc/m2Mc7d3B/Picture-189.jpg
Apollo 1962 ( i know i have the 63 Photo but i just can't find it)

Also he was photographed by "Popsie" who did all the stars back then ( i had to send "Popsie Jr." scans of these because they didn't have them on file at all http://www.popsiephotos.com/index.html ). If you check out what he's wearing in the Popsie photo, it's the same suit as the Dec 63 pic.

https://i.postimg.cc/KYYvpQTK/Picture-186.jpg
(photos by "Popsie" owned by the Sheen Family)

https://i.postimg.cc/W4fpBrm5/Picture-184.jpg
(photos by "Popsie" owned by the Sheen Family)

Phil Spector later had the Popsie pics included on a Cashbox Magazine cover featuring his artist at that time.

https://i.postimg.cc/TYys0bhR/bob-b-soxx.png
Nino Tempo, Dad (Bobby Sheen), and Phil Spector photo Getty



(Thanks to https://www.uncamarvy.com/ApolloThea...ws/apollo.html for helping me pinpoint where my dad was 60 years ago lol)

Thanks for those photos, too!

The album tanked at the time, but I believe it's been in print in one way or another ever since. It's really one of the greats!

According to Wikipedia it was recorded here just a few weeks before the release. Gold Star Recording Studios, 6252 Santa Monica Blvd., right near Vine Street.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/df36bd8a...2n6o1_1280.pngMistons on Tumblr

Hi Martin,

No problem ! That's very true, he was proud to be a part of it. They started recording in June and July (Darlene Love and the Blue Jeans at least recorded then, i think the Ronettes recorded in Aug). If you listen to Darlene Love's breakdown in White Christmas she is describing a summers days.

I took a shot and figured the church tower would be the easiest thing to locate. I looked at every church in the vicinity of USC and beyond on Google Maps and couldn't find a match. I think maybe there's a schoolyard or playground behind the chain link fence where all the water is gushing out but there are so many to check...
I figure that's an MGA in the second photo but that's no help whatsoever.

:previous:

Well that's solved a mystery for me. I thought those looked like British curves, but the photo is too early for a Shelby Cobra. Thanks.

:previous:

Interesting that it's the same color as the Chevy in the first photo.

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Here's an amazing photograph recently listed on eBay of the Venice Auditorium still under construction.

Seller's description:..1890s Venice Auditorium Los Angeles Original Photograph 7” X 5”..Everything's correct except for the date. Unless I'm mistaken it's more like 1904.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/dFmtzY.jpg
eBay

To get a sense of scale:...Abbott Kinney Co's Pier - 1918 Sanborn map.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/2qoS4Q.jpg
Library of Congress...The Skating Rink used to be ROUND. Here it's cut in half!


Some history.

"Did you know that the very first Abbot Kinney Venice pier was never even used? That’s right, the winter storms of early 1905 totaled it and 1000 laborers were set to work around the clock to rebuild it in time for the rescheduled July 4th opening.

Venice of America's initial plans in 1904 called for a 900-foot long, 30-foot wide pleasure pier at the foot of Windward Avenue. The original plan featured a Casino and Bandstand Tower at the inland end of the pier, a Ship's Hotel that would resemble an ocean liner permanently docked beside the pier and a 3,500 seat Auditorium to be used for the Venice Assembly.

The pier that was opened in 1905 was not 900 feet long though it was a whopping 1200 feet! They added the extra 300 feet to the plan as sort of a buffer for any future storms. A $100,000 storm breaker was also added to fend off any future massive storms.

In 1905, the pier only had two attractions: the auditorium and the pavilion. It was not until 1906 that a $40,000 dance hall was constructed. It was the biggest dance hall on the west coast, and it

By 1906, the pier held an Auditorium, a Dance Pavilion, a Funhouse, the Virginia Reel, a tea garden, a zoo, a roller rink and a bowling alley, as well as attractions and vendors' stalls. The Dance Pavilion was the largest dance hall on the west coast at the time. Building material arrived on June 17, 1906 along with 125 carpenters and electricians who attempted the task of building the dance hall in just 17 days… just in time for its July 4th dedication. While they didn't actually finish the building 190 x 210 foot building until the end of July, they managed to put up its walls, roof and complete its hardwood dance floor (14,560 square feet) in time for the celebration.

In 1909, it was decided that the pier would also serve as a place of amusement, not just as a social gathering space. It began with the aquarium, where 48 glass tanks surrounded a sunken seal tank and Sea Lion shows were performed near the entrance.

In January 1910 it was announced that they would construct a one and a half mile scenic railroad behind the dance hall and pavilion on the north side of the pier. Several small concessions were also added to the pier's south side. These included a Dentzel Carousel, a Hades attraction, a Japanese Tea House and the Ocean Inn restaurant.

By 1913, amusement attractions such as the Ferris Wheel, Automobile Races, The Rapids, Dippy Dips and the Virginia Reel were open and attracted thrill seekers and families alike.

Improvements continued to be added to the pier up until 1918 with the start of WWI. What turned out to be the last improvements on the Venice Pier were made in 1920, when a new thrilling roller coaster called Big Dipper was constructed.

On the night of December 20th, 1920, the majestic Abbott Kinney Pier met its end when a gas heater ignited a raging fire. Within just a few hours the entire pier, with the exclusion of the new coaster and the bandstand tower, were destroyed completely."


Author:..Mariah Terry

Thanks, Mariah. :)
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I took the same drive around USC without luck. Also Googled images of Los Angeles churches with additional definition of steeples. How do you know the photos are from the USC area?

Reviewing the photos note the street light above the center of the street hung by cables. Where was this in Los Angeles? It's not somehting I normally look for in photos but struck me as odd.

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Let's start the week with a mystery location.


"Vintage Photo Lot Pet Shop Store Front Los Angeles CA Man Hold Teacup Chihuahua"

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/bSPiIa.jpg
eBay

As you can see it's the Madam Steffe PET SHOP specialing in chihuahuas.



And this must be the owner.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/Ja6p8x.jpg

It looks like he's holding an owl but I'd bet money it's a chihuahua. ;)


note the chihuahua in a tea cup on the sign? Cute.

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This great illustration showing the original Kelbo's restaurant at 101 N. Fairfax is on a menu currently listed on eBay.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2d997a37_z.jpg
eBay
Here are a couple of great pics posted on Tiki Central.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1ba18a48_z.jpg
(Mechanix Illustrated. February 1957 via Tiki Central)
https://tikicentral.com/viewtopic.ph...77800&start=48
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...47b38d08_z.jpg
Kelbo's Fairfax in a scene from "The Gay Deceivers" (1969)
Also via Tiki Central with a link to the film on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TrNwO5FZ8g

There are not a lot of photos floating around of the Kelbo's locations outside of Pico and there were at least six Kelbo's restaurants.

Kelbo's Fairfax 101 N. Fairfax Ave.
Kelbo's Pico 11434 W. Pico Blvd.
Kelbo's Manchester 2214 W. Manchester Blvd.
Kelbo's Brentwood 26th & San Vicente in Brentwood Country Mart)
Kelbo's Ventura at 13562 Ventura Blvd.
Kelbo's, Jr. 4631 Lincoln Blvd. Marina del Rey

Here are five on a piece of paper ephemera from the Jim Heimann collection.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...68e02898fd.jpg

The description of each slide on eBay reads simply: Subject: Flooded street scene near USC and gives a date of 1955 - 1958 which is probably just an estimate.
Sometimes these descriptions are off but this seller sells tons of photos on eBay and from my experience is pretty accurate with descriptions.
Interestingly, the photo with the Chevy sold for $75 and the other one for just $5.
I haven't given up on this one yet. One other observation is for the date of the photos, those palm trees are pretty tall. I would have to think they are some of the oldest in the area. Assuming that, I also looked further south around 56th street, west of the 110 which is known for those but came up empty there too.