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Chuckaluck Jul 29, 2013 7:22 PM

Thanks. :previous:

Hiding in plain sight. I knew I had seen it. Searched for it, but may not have used the best terms. So often the case. :irked:

1905-12 Cahuenga Pass, Improvements for the San Fernando Electric lines. (Practice for Bunker Hill?)
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...1J6UMQG3A2.jpg http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...1J6UMQG3A2.jpg

Psst. Heard about it at the Women's Club!

Quote:

Here is a picture of construction work in the Mulholland section which should cause the prospective investor in real estate to pause and think.
1905-12 "The pay roll town of the San Fernando Valley" (?)
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...IQMDDRF2NU.jpg



Source labels this as 1905-12 Pacific Highway. (Is this what later became the 101? Substantial construction for 1912!)
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...ASU279IFBV.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...ASU279IFBV.jpg


Home fronting "Pacific Highway" near Mullholland development. (1905-12) (Telephone and Electrics?)
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...2NAT91F5J6.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...2NAT91F5J6.jpg



Opening day - Mulholland 1912 (Keep that St. Francis Dam thing hush hush.)
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...XENEGIYU4Q.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...XENEGIYU4Q.jpg


Opening day. ^^
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...VECJEADVNG.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...VECJEADVNG.jpg

Opening day. ^^ (Sooner - boomer?)
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...AABVVES65Q.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...AABVVES65Q.jpg
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...IVGFJKRHHY.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...IVGFJKRHHY.jpg

ethereal_reality Jul 29, 2013 8:09 PM

:previous: Interesting photographs ChuckaLuck! -thanks 4 posting them.
__



Earlier today I came across noirish neon sign for the Zimba Room,

http://imageshack.us/a/img197/7011/lzyl.jpg
http://stripeycity.wordpress.com/




which led me to it's location at the old Hotel Lafayette at 2731 Beverly Boulevard.
http://imageshack.us/a/img341/9560/vafc.jpg
GSV



Alas, the 'Zimba' sign is now painted over (in blue).

http://imageshack.us/a/img42/7312/jqav.jpg
GSV/detail




ornate entrance/hotel lafayette inlaid in the sidewalk at doorway.
http://imageshack.us/a/img11/407/itto.jpg



Hotel Lafayette est. 1927
http://imageshack.us/a/img23/2893/jf44.jpg
http://www.you-are-here.com/





http://imageshack.us/a/img407/415/boau.jpg
http://www.franklinhills.org/
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Hollywood Graham Jul 29, 2013 8:16 PM

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...A52AGER5AP.jpg[/QUOTE]

Lower right corner is one of LAPD's "B"Wagon's or in laymen's terms "Paddy Wagon" ready to clean up Main St.

ethereal_reality Jul 29, 2013 8:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckaluck (Post 6214228)
Home fronting "Pacific Highway" near Mullholland development. (1905-12) (Telephone and Electrics?)
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...2NAT91F5J6.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...2NAT91F5J6.jpg

I especially like this photograph. I'd love to figure where this is located exactly.
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ethereal_reality Jul 29, 2013 8:38 PM

Does anyone remember the 'Dog House' across from MacArthur Park? It disappeared in the 1980s.

http://imageshack.us/a/img96/5164/yu0c.jpg
http://stripeycity.wordpress.com/
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AlvaroLegido Jul 29, 2013 8:55 PM

At last !
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 6213444)
for sale on ebay as we speak. -negatives & proof sheet.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/-1968-LOS-AN...-/290952991917

Bunker Hill & Angels Flight December 1968.
http://imageshack.us/a/img10/8113/5tp6.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/-1968-LOS-AN...-/290952991917

The photo below right is a treasure. Could you enlarge it, E_R ? Tovangar once noticed that there are no decent full front views of the Angels Flight Station on Olive. And I don't remember seing one on the thread (or anywhere).

Johnny Socko Jul 29, 2013 9:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 6214322)
:previous: Interesting photographs ChuckaLuck! -thanks 4 posting them.
__



Earlier today I came across noirish neon sign for the Zimba Room,

http://imageshack.us/a/img197/7011/lzyl.jpg
http://stripeycity.wordpress.com/




which led me to it's location at the old Hotel Lafayette at 2731 Beverly Boulevard.
http://imageshack.us/a/img341/9560/vafc.jpg
GSV



Alas, the 'Zimba' sign is now painted over (in blue).

http://imageshack.us/a/img42/7312/jqav.jpg
GSV/detail




ornate entrance/hotel lafayette inlaid in the sidewalk at doorway.
http://imageshack.us/a/img11/407/itto.jpg



Hotel Lafayette est. 1927
http://imageshack.us/a/img23/2893/jf44.jpg
http://www.you-are-here.com/





http://imageshack.us/a/img407/415/boau.jpg
http://www.franklinhills.org/
__

Great find! THANK YOU for posting this. In case anyone is not familiar with the area, the Lafayette is located on the north side of Beverly, roughly between Lafayette Park Place (which terminates at Beverly), and Occidental Boulevard -- which happens to be the street on which I reside.

The south end of Lafayette Park Place terminates at Lafayette Park. Lafayette Park was originally called Sunset Park, and thus the street was originally called Sunset Place. The neighborhood was developed roughly around the turn of the 20th Century, concurrent with the development of Wilshire Blvd west of Westlake Park. I have not determined exactly when Sunset Park and its street were re-named, but obviously it provided an opportunity for that "other" street to be named Sunset.

I have been wanting to do a grand post on my neighborhood for ages, but it would involve some actual legwork for which I never seem to have the time. Perhaps someday...

J.T. Jul 29, 2013 9:40 PM

Since I haven't seen any comments on ethereal reality's photo of Vermont Ave. at Christmas time, I thought I would lend my two cents worth. It appears to be taken in the first few blocks north of Manchester Ave. looking north. My parents shopped in that area in the late 40s and early 50s. They bought my first puppy at a hardware on the north side Manchester Ave. several shops west of Vermont. I have lived in LA area all my life and enjoy noirish LA as offen as I can.............J.T.

GaylordWilshire Jul 29, 2013 9:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Socko (Post 6214386)
Great find! THANK YOU for posting this. In case anyone is not familiar with the area, the Lafayette is located on the north side of Beverly, roughly between Lafayette Park Place (which terminates at Beverly), and Occidental Boulevard -- which happens to be the street on which I reside.

The south end of Lafayette Park Place terminates at Lafayette Park. Lafayette Park was originally called Sunset Park, and thus the street was originally called Sunset Place. The neighborhood was developed roughly around the turn of the 20th Century, concurrent with the development of Wilshire Blvd west of Westlake Park. I have not determined exactly when Sunset Park and its street were re-named, but obviously it provided an opportunity for that "other" street to be named Sunset.

I have been wanting to do a grand post on my neighborhood for ages, but it would involve some actual legwork for which I never seem to have the time. Perhaps someday...


Johnny--

From the Times of January 3, 1919:


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J...2520PM.bmp.jpgLAT


Actually, Lafayette Park Place starting north of the park was originally Andrews Boulevard. (I don't know if it might have been Sunset Place before that, but I haven't seen evidence of it yet.) Today's Lafayette Park Place on the east side of the park from 6th to 7th was originally Benton Way, part of Gaylord Wilshire's original Wilshire Boulevard Tract. There is a Sunset Place today, however--it's a block long between Hoover and Wilshire Place. It was/is the spine of the 54-lot Sunset Park Tract, a rectangle (with a cut-out at the southeast corner) between Hoover St and the Wilshire Place Tract. Facing Wilshire there are 14 lots in the tract that once contained 9 houses, 1 of which actually still stands and 8 of which are described here: http://wilshireboulevardhouses.blogspot.com/

(2902 at the Hoover corner, 2914, 2910, 2932, 2942, 2966, 2976 and 3006 at Wilshire Place)

Johnny Socko Jul 29, 2013 9:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyingwedge (Post 6207655)

This is Los Feliz Manor (1929, Jack Grundfor), in my opinion one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture extant in Los Angeles. I have always admired this building, so you can imagine my excitement when I got to accompany my mother when she went there to view an apartment circa 1993.

It was a large single (as in, about as large as my current 2-bedroom apartment, which I'd peg at about 1100 sf), beautifully appointed. I wanted her to take that unit so bad, but she and my stepdad eventually took a 2+2 in a modern building nearby on Finley Ave, between Vermont & Hillhurst. (Nice enough place, but the neighbors were horrible.)

Interestingly, this is the only building I have found that is credited to Jack Grundfor as architect. I would think it's rare to have such a standout building as the only example of an architect's work (the Bradbury being the exception that proves the rule?). Perhaps our intrepid sleuths in the forum can dig up more information on Mr. Grundfor.

Johnny Socko Jul 29, 2013 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire (Post 6214427)
Johnny--

From the Times of January 3, 1919:


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J...2520PM.bmp.jpgLAT


There is still a Sunset Place--it's a block long between Hoover and Wilshire Place. It was/is the spine of the 54-lot Sunset Park Tract, a rectangle (with a cut-out at the southeast corner) between Hoover St and the Wilshire Place Tract. Facing Wilshire there are 14 lots in the tract that once contained 9 houses, 1 of which actually still stands and 8 of which are described here: http://wilshireboulevardhouses.blogspot.com/

(2902 at the Hoover corner, 2914, 2910, 2932, 2942, 2966, 2976 and 3006 at Wilshire Place)

Thanks as always, GaylordWilshire. From now on, I'll just go straight to you with these questions. :P

I found this quote from the cited article somewhat ironic:

Quote:

Recently it was suggested that Westlake Park be named Lafayette Park in honor of the French hero, but many persons living in the vicinity of the park objected.
Obviously the city learned its lesson, and years later applied some sleight-of-hand to rush through the renaming of Westlake Park to MacArthur, thus doing an end-run around the inevitable protests. *sigh* This is one tiny piece of LA history that I wish had never happened. And no, I don't care about the bloody "MacArthur Park" song that resulted. :P

ethereal_reality Jul 29, 2013 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlvaroLegido (Post 6214381)
The photo below right is a treasure. Could you enlarge it, E_R ? Tovangar once noticed that there are no decent full front views of the Angels Flight Station on Olive. And I don't remember seing one on the thread (or anywhere).

AlvaroLegido, I didn't purchase the negatives so I can't enlarge it. -sorry:( I wish I could. (They're still for sale though)

I think Tovanger2 meant a photograph of the upper Angels Flight station before the columns and canopy to the left of the small office were destroyed. The black and white negatives are dated 1968 so that part of the station would be long gone.


below: The engaged columns you see on the office used to extend north (to the left in this photo) as real columns holding up a somewhat elaborate canopy that matched the station.

1968 or 69
http://imageshack.us/a/img818/5931/3m9a.jpg
ebay
__

ethereal_reality Jul 29, 2013 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.T. (Post 6214423)
Since I haven't seen any comments on ethereal reality's photo of Vermont Ave. at Christmas time, I thought I would lend my two cents worth. It appears to be taken in the first few blocks north of Manchester Ave. looking north. My parents shopped in that area in the late 40s and early 50s. They bought my first puppy at a hardware on the north side Manchester Ave. several shops west of Vermont. I have lived in LA area all my life and enjoy noirish LA as offen as I can.............J.T.

Thanks for the information J.T.
http://imageshack.us/a/img854/3868/lat0.jpg
ebay

What did you name your puppy? :)
__

ethereal_reality Jul 29, 2013 11:06 PM

originally posted by FlyingWedge
http://imageshack.us/a/img43/7405/xhj5.jpg


This is one of my favorites buildings. Believe it or not, there are new structures on the roof that hide cell-phone antennas.
http://imageshack.us/a/img825/3930/pf36.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/



This is an example of how you do something right.
http://imageshack.us/a/img694/7550/ci7o.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/




plugged into the vintage structure
http://imageshack.us/a/img821/1056/sa3z.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/






from la curbed.
http://imageshack.us/a/img442/4367/wabw.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/
__





-a glimpse inside.

the lobby
http://imageshack.us/a/img802/7776/3w39.jpg
http://www.trulia.com/CA/Los_Angeles/






with it's beautiful ceiling.
http://imageshack.us/a/img32/8075/u22n.jpg
http://www.trulia.com/CA/Los_Angeles/
__

ethereal_reality Jul 30, 2013 2:24 AM

"Seventy miles of service tunnels beneath the streets of L.A." -read on.


http://imageshack.us/a/img41/5964/qcig.jpg
brochure/ebay



Is this proof that a subterranean network of tunnels still exists beneath downtown Los Angeles? (click on the youtube link below)
http://imageshack.us/a/img841/1869/648w.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpe0A1NyxXs

(Yes, I know....in the first few seconds they make the mistake of placing The Trocadero downtown)



interesting comment
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/4618/huxm.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpe0A1NyxXs



for reference: King Edward Hotel map
http://imageshack.us/a/img23/4149/a1lp.jpg
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=11513

__

Chuckaluck Jul 30, 2013 2:38 AM

Mulholland Townsite (?) http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=15803

"There's the townsite, buy it?"

Some cursory research suggests that Mulholland townsite was short lived and is now known as Pacoima. (Would expect contemporary newspaper reports might answer many of the questions raised by this post.)
Quote:

For many years, Pacoima’s fertile soil produced abundant crops of olives, peaches, apricots, oranges and lemons. In fact, the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce was originally called the Pacoima Chamber of Farmers. That was in 1916, a couple of years after the city had briefly changed its name to Mulholland. http://www.pacoimachamber.com/pacoimas-history/
The date and reason for the Pacoima name change are fuzzy. Mulholland officially turned on "the Owens Valley faucet" on November 5, 1913. One can guess that prior to that date, i.e., the purported dates of the Mulholland Townsite photos 1905-12, the Mulholland name was a political lightning rod. This (or Mayor Shaw's mustache) may have had something to do with the water engineer's name being dropped in favor of Pacoima. :coolugh:

This is the first photo I have seen actually evidencing the name.
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...XENEGIYU4Q.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...XENEGIYU4Q.jpg

People exploring the Mulholland townsite on its "opening day."
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...D8LHIFV84N.jpg http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...D8LHIFV84N.jpg


Six images depicting "orchards, town of Van Nuys in background, Los County Rock Crusher (source of rock used for roads in Los Angeles County), townsite of Mulholland, mountains in background."


(Dates offered are ~1905-1912)
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...3VQ3DIT33H.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...3VQ3DIT33H.jpg

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...UPGDY464V7.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...UPGDY464V7.jpg


Guessing this photo captures the rock crushing apparatus. :order:
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...ND1KRMAETL.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...ND1KRMAETL.jpg

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...H87VSCYACS.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...H87VSCYACS.jpg

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...38SRRI6GM7.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...38SRRI6GM7.jpg

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...C1UA5R61GJ.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...C1UA5R61GJ.jpg




Van Nuys in 1911 "The payroll town."

http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...HCXECR2QI1.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...HCXECR2QI1.jpg


http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...93NMC4J3C1.jpghttp://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...93NMC4J3C1.jpg


This housing development is not specifically identified except as "Richardson Tract on road to Mulholland." Unclear if it is Van Nuys or another development, or whether it is also along what has amorphously described by the source notes as "'Pacific Highway' boulevard." Interestingly, the utility poles are described as telegraph poles.
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...MD7U8LSAAU.jpg http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...MD7U8LSAAU.jpg


1920 - From Topanga Summit - you might see what was briefly called Mulholland.
http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...XTHCD419TQ.jpg http://catalog.library.ca.gov/exlibr...XTHCD419TQ.jpg

More photos of the developing San Fernando Valley here -> http://waterandpower.org/museum/Earl...do_Valley.html (But you already knew that!)

Chuckaluck Jul 30, 2013 3:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 6214731)

"Seventy miles of service tunnels beneath the streets of L.A." -read on.

Is this proof that a subterranean network of tunnels still exists beneath downtown Los Angeles? (click on the youtube link below)
http://imageshack.us/a/img841/1869/648w.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpe0A1NyxXs

(Yes, I know....in the first few seconds they make the mistake of placing The Trocadero downtown) *


:previous: At approx. 1:34 "70 miles."

Wonder about the basis for this pronouncement. Cubic feet, linear miles or both? Even 7 or 17 linear miles would be impressive.


*With 70 miles of tunnels - maybe the Troc had a service tunnel too. Connecting it with Monkey Island. :rolleyes::shrug::rolleyes:

ethereal_reality Jul 30, 2013 1:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckaluck (Post 6214789)
with 70 miles of tunnels - maybe the troc had a service tunnel too. Connecting it with monkey island. :rolleyes::shrug::rolleyes:

LoL :laugh:

srk1941 Jul 30, 2013 4:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Socko (Post 6214443)
This is Los Feliz Manor (1929, Jack Grundfor), in my opinion one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture extant in Los Angeles. I have always admired this building, so you can imagine my excitement when I got to accompany my mother when she went there to view an apartment circa 1993.

It was a large single (as in, about as large as my current 2-bedroom apartment, which I'd peg at about 1100 sf), beautifully appointed. I wanted her to take that unit so bad, but she and my stepdad eventually took a 2+2 in a modern building nearby on Finley Ave, between Vermont & Hillhurst. (Nice enough place, but the neighbors were horrible.)

Interestingly, this is the only building I have found that is credited to Jack Grundfor as architect. I would think it's rare to have such a standout building as the only example of an architect's work (the Bradbury being the exception that proves the rule?). Perhaps our intrepid sleuths in the forum can dig up more information on Mr. Grundfor.

Jack Grundfor did a few other Southern California buildings I was able to dig up in a quick search. One was the auditorium for a Glendale municipal recreation center, in 1935. Another was the Church of Latter Day Saints at Ripple and Newell. A church still stands at that site, though now it's Catholic. Must be the same. He is listed as J. A. Grundfor for both projects. A quick search of J. A. Grundfor turns up some work in Salt Lake City in the 1910s.

His full name was John A. Grundfor, born October 15, 1888, and died in July 1979. It looks like he worked in Salt Lake City from 1915 through around 1924, and designed the Salt Lake City Cemetery gates.

We know he was in L.A. by 1929, the earliest reference I could find to him in the LA Times was a mention in 1933 that he had been named a Building Inspector for the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles. His 1940 census entry still lists him as building inspector. He lived in Glendale with his wife Nola.

srk1941 Jul 30, 2013 4:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srk1941 (Post 6215210)
Jack Grundfor did a few other Southern California buildings I was able to dig up in a quick search. One was the auditorium for a Glendale municipal recreation center, in 1935. Another was the Church of Latter Day Saints at Ripple and Newell. A church still stands at that site, though now it's Catholic. Must be the same. He is listed as J. A. Grundfor for both projects. A quick search of J. A. Grundfor turns up some work in Salt Lake City in the 1910s.

His full name was John A. Grundfor, born October 15, 1888, and died in July 1979. It looks like he worked in Salt Lake City from 1915 through around 1924, and designed the Salt Lake City Cemetery gates.

We know he was in L.A. by 1929, the earliest reference I could find to him in the LA Times was a mention in 1933 that he had been named a Building Inspector for the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles. His 1940 census entry still lists him as building inspector. He lived in Glendale with his wife Nola.

One more clue... in 1927 he was listed as chief draftsman for the Fidelity Construction Company. Might they have built the apartment building? Richard Neutra worked briefly for Fidelity Construction at about the same time, according to Thomas Hines.


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