About Pasadena's YMCA Building(s)
 

Hey all, I've gone back to lurking for a while (not on purpose, but the knowledge everyone else has to share here is always so impressive that I often don't know what more I can possibly add), but I think I can shed a little more light on this one. The YMCA at the NE corner of Marengo & Holly was built in 1910 (architect Arthur Benton). It was then remodeled in the mid 1920's (architects Marston & van Pelt) into the building that currently stands today (apparently it was a heavy remodel that all but obliterated the original design). Originally the Marengo (west) side of the building was the front facade, but it was changed to the Holly (south) side during the remodel. Apparently Holly did not extend through at the time, but this was changed due to the construction of the city hall at the east end of Holly. The remodel was to make the architecture of the building more in line with the Spanish/Mediterranean architecture of the other civic center buildings which were going up at the time.

As for the YMCA building in the postcard, I'd have to guess that it was an entirely different structure, since Raymond & Ramona would have been about a block to the west as HossC said. It looks to be in the Shingle style which was more popular in the mid to late 1890's and early 1900's. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if it was designed by Fredrick Roerhig, probably the most prolific architect in Pasadena, whose style was often characterized by dramatic curves, towers, and angles like the steep pointed roof the building had.

I searched through the various maps on NLA and I don't believe we've seen this one. (if we have so be it...it's cool enough to see again)


1932 Children's Map of Los Angeles "The Wonder City"

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/661/4WkR4z.jpg
http://www.lataco.com/taco/1932-chil...he-wonder-city

This map is so fun! -even the Paris Inn appears.





http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/540/OD12Pu.jpg
http://www.lataco.com/taco/1932-chil...he-wonder-city

"Blimp" Landing Field north(?) of Baldwin Hills. I spy the Rollerdome. -and King's Tropical Inn which we discussed yesterday.




http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/674/TWBFQG.jpg
http://www.lataco.com/taco/1932-chil...he-wonder-city

-note the Breakers Hotel I spoke about in a recent post. (as well as the Villa Rivera)

Here's the whole map with the Index.
http://www.bigmapblog.com/2011/los-a...-america-1934/

Tourist takes a snapshot of Charles Boyer on Vine Street, ca. 1942.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/VeMXdU.jpg
ebay

I cannot imagine what made that blogger think this was a map made for children. He must not have looked at it very closely. Ahem -- "NUDE SUN BATHS" in Santa Monica? WHAT? I'm sure "TOPSY'S NIGHT CLUB" in Huntington Park would be a real wholesome place to take the kiddies, too. And "Hey look, Mommy! Could we please go to 'EDWARDS BROS. COLONIAL MORTUARY' today? That sounds like it would be so much fun!" :uhh:

Here's an interesting view of the Mulholland Dam before it was covered in 330,000 cu yd of earth. (I imagine this guy lost his little rock garden)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/743/ZhUPP9.jpg
ebay

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/540/mn6NgN.jpg

I've been trying to figure out where the photograph was located when he took this slide.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/901/mHIVdn.jpg
ebay
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Here are more slides that I believe are by the same amateur photograph. (I've collected them over the 5 or 6 months on ebay)


Any help would be appreciated.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/674/eoVJ3I.jpgebay

above: I believe that's the prominent art deco apartment building on Los Feliz (that we've discussed several times on NLA).




http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/661/pepg4c.jpgebay




http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/674/12zBbE.jpgebay




http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/908/OxUEJu.jpgebay




below: We've pretty much seen this same view before....but the gas-o-meter looks especially good in this one.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/674/vlzBpA.jpgebay




below: No idea on this one.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/lfGoxU.jpgebay

This guy really got around.

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And probably the most enigmatic of the lot is this one.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/903/Lt3b9t.jpg
ebay

Any ideas? -the French Village?
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I'm out of town until Monday. Have fun everyone!

This view is looking down Fountain Avenue, possibly from Lucile Avenue, which is where the GSV image below was taken.

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...tainAvView.jpg
GSV

Several blocks back is the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. Due to additional structures, this side of the building is now hidden, but here it is in a bit of stock footage which appeared briefly in 'The Dukes of Hazzard'. The 'City General Hospital' sign is a prop.

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...ianMedical.jpg
Warner Bros.

It doesn't seem like a "children's" map in particular, with country clubs and cafes prominently featured.

Oh I get it, probably it was drawn by children.

ER....this car had me very puzzled. I did a lot of research and finally ID'd it.

This is a 1941 Cadillac Series 62 convertible. It has a very distinctive hood badge. As far as I know, this is the only Series Cadillac and the only year this badge was ever applied.

This was one of the last Cadillacs built before war production began. During the war, Cadillac made tank engines.

Recently this rare type of car sold for $46,000.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps20d2f92e.jpg
carpictures dot com

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps010cd5a2.jpg
galleryhip dot com

This one is mirrored/reversed.


https://otters.net/img/lanoir/pepg4c_mir.jpg

I suspect this one may be, too.

https://otters.net/img/lanoir/OxUEJu_mir.jpg

I kind of think we're looking down on City Terrace Dr. here from a hilltop to its east. Compare this view:

http://goo.gl/maps/50jmb

Even better:

http://goo.gl/maps/pZTuR

:previous:

I think you're right (or at least pretty close) with your location, JScott. This 1964 aerial shows the road layout and buildings as they appear in e_r's picture. Both the large brick building in the foreground, and the elevated roadway behind it, have gone by 1972.

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...rraceDrive.jpg
Historic Aerials

You guys are correct. That's Harrison Elementary School on City Terrance Dr, by the 10 Freeway. I was way off on calling it near Chavez Ravine...which is north of this location. Sorry, just another of my goofs.
above right: google earth view 2011

Apartment building, 1946
 

This photo was dated 1946. I'd love to know if anyone here knows the building in the background. It doesn't look familiar to me but thought it's striking enough to perhaps ring some bells around these here parts.

(The woman in front is Marguerite Chapman, FYI)

http://www.martinturnbull.com/wp-con...c02b6d2400.jpg

A view overlooking Hollywood. The building to the left of center is the iconic bank building on the corner of Hollywood and Highland. What does one generally call that building for identification purposes? It had a Security Pacific Bank Branch in it for a few decades, now it seems to be pretty vacant with rumors of another purchase by Scientology.

At one time the Screen Actors Guild was located there. I remember talking to a woman once who told me she used to be an elevator operator in that building and would occasionally see actors who were visiting the offices. She recalled, "The elevator doors opened one time and in walked Clark Gable. I took him all the way up to the top!" Then, after a moment lost in thought with a smile on her face, she exclaimed, "I got to take him all the way back down, too!"

My guess is that this photo was most likely taken from the Chateau Marmont. For purposes of identification, the red-roofed buildings along the bottom are portions of the Garden of Allah, the large white building at bottom left is the Granville Apartments on Crescent Heights. The gasometer is behind the Goldwyn Studos on Santa Monica Blvd. To the left near the top is the Bekins storage building on HIghland Ave. and, of course, City Hall downtown in the distance.

When was the gasometer in this photo torn down? Were all the gasometers in the city required to be dismantled at some point? I don't recall reading about the reasons for their disappearance.