trolley court bungalow's

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics17/00028207.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics17/00028207.jpg

Bungalow court made up of old street cars; each three-room unit rents for $30 a month. Photo dated Feb.3, 1941

Puzzler
 

http://peryhs.org/wp-content/themes/...w=1200&h=&zc=1Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TO...41342%20PM.jpgGoogle Street View

In the top shot is a Pacific Electric local-service car heading east toward downtown on Venice Boulevard in 1949. The scene is just west of Catalina Street, across from Rosedale Cemetery. The only thing that's left is Loyola High School. Question: While the streetcar's trolley pole indicates that it is traveling east toward downtown, why is it on the north side of the street? Even stranger is that appears not even be running on tracks!

I can't explain why it looks like it's not even running on tracks, but if it was headed east towards downtown on the north side of Venice, my guess is maybe because of track maintenance on a stretch of what would normally be the eastbound tracks? Even today, on the Metro Gold Line, sometimes they do track maintenance where both northbound and southbound trains use one track; it's a hassle when that happens, it usually adds a delay, it also confuses some first-time users, because they'll board the wrong side of the platform, or they'll be directed to the other side of the platform and be confused about which way the trains are running. But of course the Gold Line is in its own right of way, for the most part.

However, on a PE car line where they rails share street traffic, I don't know that a train would be allowed to go against traffic....

Thank God sopas_ej tried to figure this transit enigma out, because I didn't have a clue. :)


Can anyone make out the name on the white streamline building?
The lettering looks interesting; but I can't make it out.

I don't know if anyone read or posted the follow-up to the dead-mummified-babies-wrapped-in-1930s-LA-Times-newspapers-found-in-the-basement-of-an-old-apartment-building-near-MacArthur-Park story.

From the Associated Press via MSNBC:

Mummified infants in L.A. were nurse's, DNA shows
Found last August, brother and sister were wrapped in newspapers
updated 11/16/2010 3:01:02 PM ET

http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/MSNBC/C...e.grid-7x2.jpg
Undated photo of Janet M. Barrie

LOS ANGELES — DNA tests show two mummified infants found in a steamer trunk wrapped in 1930s newspapers were the children of a nurse who died 16 years ago — but the way they died may never be known, investigators said.

The remains were discovered in August by women cleaning an apartment building basement near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.

The bodies were inside two leather doctor bags in a trunk that also contained ticket stubs from the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

"Coroner's investigators believe the two babies were brother and sister. One was a fetus, while the other appeared to be a full-term baby," a police statement said Monday. Exact ages were not determined.

The female baby had thick brown hair and her legs were folded up to her chest.

Investigators could not determine when or how the children died. It was not known whether the mother miscarried or may have had abortions.

There were no signs of injury, and drug reports were inconclusive so the cause of death probably will never be known, the police statement said.

Read the rest by clicking on this.

Old Hollywood
 

Came across an odd website for those interested in the lore and trivia of old Hollywood. It's called "The Unsung Joe," and is about the (often sad) stories of mostly-forgotten Hollywood bit-players, walk-ons, extras.
http://morethanyouneededtoknow.typep...e_stanley.html

Many here are probably already familiar with the website "The Black Dahlia in Hollywood" which is an exhaustive overview (loaded with photos) of 1946/47 Hollywood/Los Angeles and the world of Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TO...c/timthumb.jpgPacific Electric Railway Historical Society
1815 Venice Boulevard


The lettering spells GILFILLAN. Gilfillan Brothers was--or rather is--a radio manufacturer that produced units under its own name and for other nameplates such as Packard-Bell. Gilfillan was the licensee to build sets for RCA that were sold in 11 western states until 1940. According to the Radiomuseum website, Gilfillan was selected in 1942 to produce the first Ground Control Approach (GCA) radar. Its systems were used during WWII and were instrumental in the success of the Berlin Airlift. Gilfillan became a division of ITT in 1964 and, according to a recent company profile, is "the number-one supplier of military air traffic control systems worldwide."

http://home.comcast.net/~btse1/vintr.../gilfillan.jpghttp://home.comcast.net/~btse1/vintrad/tube/tube.htm
A noir-era Gilfillan radio.

This really didn't get the love it deserves. It's coming out in Feb and looks fanfuckingtanstic. They went all out to ensure accuracy (as you quoted). Should be a treat.

reminds me alot of this house i photographed in west adams back in september:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/...ff68ce9f_b.jpg

here's a photograph that i have never seen before (i have seen it as a postcard view but never a photograph), of singleton court on palm drive just north of west adams between flower and olive, (currently the site of the orthopaedic medical center).

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068308.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068308.jpg

The view is looking south towards west adams

Scott details the history of this street and it's palm tree's so well on his Los angeles Past Blog site

Singleton Court, located on 3 1/2 acres at 2400 South Flower Street in the West Adams district of Los Angeles, was a Colonial Revival style home, and the residence of John Singleton. Singleton made his fortune as the president of the Yellow Aster Mining Co. in Randsburg, California. Sometime before 1918, the house was destroyed by fire, leaving only the brick stable building. A later owner, John Brockman, deeded the property to the Los Angeles Orthopaedic Foundation, and the stables were converted into a clinic. The clock tower was removed to Brockman's estate in Glendale.

Interesting picture! I haven't seen that one before, either. I wonder if that clock tower still stands in Glendale today...

As an aside, I recently heard from the director of the old Orthopaedic Hospital campus, and they were apparently very pleased and appreciative to learn about the history of the Longstreet palms. :) I'm just glad to have been able to bring some of that history to light. More remains to be discovered, however! Thanks to all those who have helped in the process!

-Scott

There appear to be at least 3 sets of tracks on that street. Was that common at all? It does seem strange that the streetcar seems to be moving against the flow of traffic.

Interesting streetcar photo. I'd like to know how it got around the parked car?

maybe the train reversed direction due to the parked car to avoid reaching an early end of the line terminus like what is shown in this 1953 photo

http://peryhs.org/wp-content/themes/...w=1200&h=&zc=1
Source: Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society http://peryhs.org/wp-content/themes/...w=1200&h=&zc=1

Metropolitan Coach Lines / Pacific Electric streetcar no. 5117 on a railfan trip reaches the abrupt terminus of the Ocean Park line (thanks to a parked car) on July 17, 1953

Great shot, gs--I've never seen that one either. And Scott--it seems that the clock itself, not the entire tower, was moved to Glendale. The Brockman estate has recently been on the market and, according to CurbedLA, sold in July for $1.7 million:

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery...2951c7a9_o.pngCurbedLA http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery...2951c7a9_o.png


Apparently, the clock was moved to Glendale in 1920. Here's a shot of the Brockman estate before it became hidden in a suburban neighborhood:

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics22/00060827.jpgLAPL


Excellent pictures of the Brockman estate are here:
http://www.susannehayekphotography.c...or1605mls.html

Ps
 

I wonder whatever happened to the statue of Mercury in the Singleton Court picture....

some more palm drive / singleton court photographs
 

it seems that the Los Angeles Public Library keeps adding new photographic finds to the library. I can swear that these photos were not there yesterday when i came upon the Singleton Court photo that i had posted.......of course i could be wrong........................

Exterior side view of the General Charles Longstreet Victorian style home and driveway at 2424 South Flower Street, Los Angeles. At the death of General Longstreet, it passed into the hands of John Singleton, a famous mining man, owner of the Yellow Aster Mine. It later became the location of Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital.

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061623.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061623.jpg

John Singleton's residence, a Colonial revival style home named "Singleton Court," located at 2400 South Flower Street in Los Angeles. There are people and a dog on the porch. Singleton was president of the Yellow Aster Mining Co., Randsburg, and a well-known horseman.

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061758.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061758.jpg

John Singleton's residence looks majestic with its Colossal, Doric columns. A Colonial revival style home named "Singleton Court", it is located at 2400 S. Flower in Los Angeles.

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061730.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061730.jpg

A view of the gated entrance to John Singleton's residence. A Colonial revival style home named "Singleton Court". It is located at 2400 S. Flower in Los Angeles.

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061731.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061731.jpg

Exterior view of the stable at John Singleton's residence, named "Singleton Court," located at 2400 South Flower Street in Los Angeles. The metal gate is seen, as well as a double line of palm trees planted by previous propoerty owner General longstreet.

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061747.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061747.jpg

Exterior view of the stable at John Singleton's residence, named "Singleton Court," located at 2400 South Flower Street in Los Angeles. Apparently Singleton maintained a fine stable of trotters. The home burned prior to 1918 and was totally destroyed, leaving only the fine old brick stable, which was converted into a clinic for the hospital maintained by the Los Angeles Orthopaedic Foundation. A later owner, John Brockman, had deeded the 3-1/2 acre site to them around 1918. The stable's clock was moved to Brockman's estate in Glendale.

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061749.jpg
Source: LAPL http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics24/00061749.jpg

These are great videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EEd7...layer_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tvjf...watch_response

Rails on Exposition Boulevard, Then and Now
 

http://peryhs.org/wp-content/themes/...&h=&w=600&zc=1Image copyright Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society (www.peryhs.org)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TO...11920%20PM.jpgGoogle Street View

http://peryhs.org/wp-content/themes/...&h=&w=600&zc=1 Image copyright Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society (www.peryhs.org)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zXN_GwdMYMo/TO...12607%20PM.jpgGoogle Street View

I've been out of town for the last couple days. It was great to see all these recent posts.
Most of the photos were new to me as well. Lets hopes LAPL keeps adding photographs to their online collection.
I have my fingers crossed that USC will do the same.

Oh, and thanks for the info. on the Gilfillan Radio Manufacturers Gaylordwilshire. -much appreciated-




Below are images of KFI Radio Station at 141 N. Vermont.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2...ersinforma.jpg
USC digital archive




Below: Very noir...very cool.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5...kfiatnight.jpg
KFI



http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4...kfiwaskehe.jpg
USC digital archive