:previous:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5...2520PM.bmp.jpgGoogle Street View

I've looked at so many maps over the years, I thought I was familiar with just about every street name in L.A., but Schrader Blvd is a new one on me. Had to go looking for it....

Ken's wonderful photo of his father and grandmother walking down the street in 1930's Hollywood (and wow, what a find!) reminded me of a funny story along the same lines.

First of all, let me explain what this photo is. This was wallpaper made from a photo of Little Tokyo, taken sometime prior to 1971. The wallpaper took up an entire wall of a small
office at Modernage Photo on East Third Street, where I worked.

Our building was the black and white one directly above the electrical outlet. (It was really wallpaper!)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/1096/25532c.jpg
Earl Witscher, Modernage Photo Service

Back to the story: Sometime, I would say about 1995 or 1996, I was meeting with a lady who was selling insurance of some sort, I believe. During our conversation, she mentioned
that she used to work across the street in the late 1960's. I took her into the office with the wallpaper, and she immediately pointed to a small parking lot across the street and
said, "That's my car". "I drove a Volkswagon Beetle."

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/5812/parkinglotk.jpg

Well, she didn't find herself in the photo twenty five years later, but she found her Bug. Next best thing, I guess.

Thanks srk1941,

I forgot to add in my previous post that the cars might hold a clue to narrowing down the date of the picture. Thanks for your input. Good observation! Not sure why, but I have a feeling this picture dates from 1937-38.

Wow Ere,

That's great! They just happened to be walking along that particular street, on that particular day, at that particular time, that this picture was being taken. Can you imagine the chances of being there at that moment and being caught in a historic photo? So yes if your dad was born in late 1931, then he must have been perhaps 7-8 years old at the time of this picture? Something tells me the picture is from around 37-38. I wonder where it was taken from?

:previous: What a wonderful find Ere!
It is fascinating that you recognized the two people walking down Vine Street as your Father (in chaps!) and your Grandmother.

It makes me smile. :)

My Grandmother divorced her husband in Chicago shortly after my Dad was born ~ then got the idea to go out to Hollywood and take advantage of his natural talent for showmanship and make him a star ~ he has loads of photos of these years, it's a real time warp!

At the time Dad and Grandma Ina lived there, it was part of N. Hudson. They lived in apartment 307. The name for this block must have been changed - if I recall, a friend of mine who had a recording studio on Hollywood Blvd remembered the name was changed in the 1990s?

I consulted an application my Dad submitted for a DOE security clearance in 1962, where he had to list all his places of residence, work, references etc. On it he says they moved into the Manson Apartments in January 1937 so I agree: '37 or '38 for the Vine Street view. They lived there for over ten years. He graduated from Hollywood High in 1949.

Actually, it was my Dad who found the photo in a book on Hollywood around 1971 or so. It must have knocked him over because he instantly recognized himself and his Mom ~ they walked that block almost every day for over a year and he even says that, besides their outfits and proximity to this location, the body language was the same. He told me this story years ago and I finally wised up and got him to tell me about it again, on video, and scanned the original print from KNX.

Here he is in his favorite outfit - possibly taken on Mulholland Drive?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/...78073847c9.jpg

This may have been the acting school where he took the lessons: here is the class about to leave for a performance at the San Francisco Fair in 1939.
Look at those cute kids! so many stories.... big version here.
Dad is sitting on the hood, with his Charlie McCarthy :D

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5072/...5f67a137_b.jpg

:previous: These photos are priceless Ere....thank you for sharing.



Do any of you radio aficionados recognize this fantastic little bar? I believe it was located somewhere on Vine Street.


http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/9...loungeonvi.jpg
http://www.radiohollywood.net/



http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/849...radiocityh.jpg
http://www.radiohollywood.net/

Here is another location on Vine with a 'radio' theme.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1...vinefromra.jpg
http://www.radiohollywood.net/

I am surprised that I can't place this market.....perhaps it was located on Sunset?

_____

Glad to add a personal touch to this awesome thread. :cheers:


That's where the Nat "King" Cole was playing in 1943 when Johnny Mercer of the newly-formed Capitol Records discovered and signed him.

:previous:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V...2520AM.bmp.jpgThe Kid Ory Archive


It was here, as chronicled in a previous post:
More: http://web.me.com/fellan/Kid/1940s_Radio_Room.html

No.Hudson was renamed Schrader after gay city judge Rand Schrader about a dozen years ago - he was on the board of our LGBT Center which is located above to old Manson apts- Rand was an AIDS casualty/hero to many causes

More vintage Vine Street, from 1953.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/...2b06117b_o.jpg
[source: Flickr]


Looking south at the Vine Manor Hotel, at the corner of Vine and Yucca.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/...cb70c249_o.jpg
[source: Flickr]


Courtyard of the Vine Manor Hotel.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/...d1ef818d_o.jpg
[source: Flickr]

:previous:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G...2520AM.bmp.jpgjericl cat

Apparently within about ten years the Radio Room had moved a few doors north, with Glorifried Ham n Eggs moving into its original space. As to the semaphore, I notice what a appears to be its bell. Not that they would have been physically removed from the signals, but does anyone remember reading that the bells were silenced at some point?

[QUOTE=sopas ej;4665453]And some Then and Nows:

1930s: 6000 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. I'm surprised to learn this used to be a market.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/638...tblvd1930s.jpg
USC archive

2010: 6000 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. This is now part of the Sunset Gower Studios, I think.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5649/p1090617.jpg
Photo by Me

Nope, 6000 Sunset was not part of Sunset Gower Studios - but this building has a very unique and interesting history!

Between the 1960's and the 1980's, this was the "Western" part of United/Western Studios (United was down the street, at 6050.) The studios were built by Bill Putnam and were the home to many, many famous recordings. I know all about this building, because I worked there from 1977 to 1981.

What was recorded at Western? Many (if not most) of the hits by the Beach Boys, The Mamas And Papas, Jan & Dean, Johnny Rivers, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Dean Martin, Rick Nelson, Ray Charles, and many many more. Along with Capital, A&M, and Radio Recorders, this was one of the most famous of the "old Hollywood" sound studios. Hundreds and hundreds of hits were recorded there.

I personally was in the control room of Studio 1 (behind the center produce section!) when Mr. Sinatra recorded "New York, New York". In that building I also worked on sessions with Santana, Jonathan Winters, Abba, Ringo Starr, Dolly Parton, Joe Cocker, The Beach Boys, Herbie Hancock, Barbra Streisand, and dozens more. Needless to say it was a very exciting time in my life!

We had always heard that the building had once been a grocery store and at least two of the echo chambers resembled meat lockers or refrigerated rooms. Now I know that it was true!

I have much info about United/Western on my own web site, at http://studioelectronics.biz/URCNewsletter-13.html

In the 1980's United/Western was sold and became Ocean Way Recording. The 6050 Building is Still Ocean Way but 6000 changed hands again, and then fell into disrepair about 10 years ago. The facility came close to being demolished but was sold at auction to EastWest Studios, and has undergone an incredible multi million dollar renovation - design by Philippe Starck. Despite the plain facade, this new facility is one of the finest and most visually stunning studios in the world.

I did quite a double take, seeing the old photo from the 1930's! sopas_ej, thank you so much for posting it.

Now, it was also said that 6000 Sunset was a movie or stage theater in the 40's or 50's. Does anyone have a photo, or info about that incarnation of this famous building?

That truly is a priceless old photo and I've spent a lot of time staring at it, trying to translate the streets and landmarks to the way downtown looks today. I've also been discussing this image with my mom, who grew up in L.A. in the 30's and 40's. She has had trouble loading the data-heavy pages on this site, but raised some points that I'd like to pass along.

She notes that when the photo was taken, California had been a U.S. territory for only about 15 years and prior to that, it was part of Mexico.

So, she asks, where are the adobe buildings, enclosed patios, chicken yards, etc? (Perhaps they were in some other part of town, and this was all newly built?)

Further, where are the barns for horses, and where are the vehicles? People had to have some type of conveyance to get around.

In later photos of early L.A. I see lots of horses but not in this shot, or in other very early images of L.A. I have found on this thread. Can anyone shed light on this?

Thanks in advance. I have to say it again - I LOVE this thread.

Mid Way Style Fun-House in downtown?
 

Friends, I seem to recall seeing a midway-style Fun House in an image from around the 1930's somewhere in downtown Los Angeles. I've been searching for days but can't seem to find it. Any ideas?

Initially posted by HANDSOME STRANGER. Vine Street circa 1953.

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5...54electros.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/electrospark/

:previous: This is one of my favorite photographs of Hollywood.




below: Here is another photo with the same banners. This is looking west on Hollywood Boulevard.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/736...oirishlaby.jpg
I've posted this once before....I can't recall the source.







below: Banners at Hollywood & Vine 7 years earlier (1946). I believe these banners are slightly different.

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7...ood1946ala.jpg
http://www.theblackdahliainhollywood.com/







below: Now jump in the Way Back Machine.

Banners along Spring Street in 1929. At right is the brand new Los Angeles City Hall.

http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/5...ringstreet.jpg
usc digital archive







below: Banners over the 4th Street viaduct in 1931.

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/8...streetviad.jpg
usc digital archive






below: Banners in front of Grand Central Market downtown (no date given).

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/169...aybetween3.jpg
LAPL






below: Banners as far south as Crenshaw and 48th Street.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/767...ncrenshawa.jpg
usc digital archive






below: Back in Hollywood 1947.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6...47hollywoo.jpg
ucla digital archive





below: There is no description with this photograph. The banner seems to have the American Legion logo.
Does anyone know where this is?


http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/4...2nodetails.jpg
unkown






below: A tourist snapshot showing banners over Vine Street near the NBC Radio Studios.

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/8...negsebay06.jpg
ebay






below: Another ebay find. The banner says Teen Age something.....perhaps Fair?

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/1...s1ebay1110.jpg
ebay





below: Extensive use of banners over Hollywood Blvd. as late as 1961.


http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1...oodblvd196.jpg
unknown


So who owned these banners....the city? Did they rent them out like you would rent a billboard?


________


Also...thanks for the recording history of 6000 Sunset Boulevard 3940dxer. That building has a wonderful legacy.

__

welcome to the forum 3940dxer! great info on 6000 sunset, teh old western studios!

Sonora town which was the mexican settlement ran on the north side of the plaza. here is an 1873 view looking north from fort moore hill at the adobes of sonora town

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics03/00011129.jpg
Source: LAPL

here is a Rendall panoramic drawing of Los Angeles, ca.1869. The buildings and streets of the panorama are individually numbered and listed above the panorama.......

this was posted sometime ago

once again, welcome!

ethereal_reality, I really enjoyed your series of banner photos.

Question: Do you know the significance of these banners?

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1672/banner1hf.jpg

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/6697/bannerwfa.jpg

They have the same basic shape and a lot of similar colors, and they appear in several of the pictures, but what the heck to they stand for? Are they just colorful banners?


By the way, I have a little before and after of your Fourth Street viaduct photo:

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8...streetviad.jpg
usc photo archives

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/8...hstbridge3.jpg
Google Street View

Actually, things look pretty much the same, taking into account the passage of so many years. Gone are the trolley tracks and wires...and the banners. New additions include a massive tower full of power lines and the reversible lane system, put in maybe ten years ago. The reversible lane was a good idea. The center lane is one-way into town in the morning and one-way out in the evening. The rest of the day, the center lane is a "dead" lane, used for left turns only. Unfortunately, this system was never fully explained to the public. At least once a week, you would go sailing across the bridge only to encounter someone sitting in oncoming traffic, waiting to make a left turn (a real no-no when the reversible lanes were on). I wonder if anyone has been seriously injured? It was real close for me a time or two.