4032 Wilshire
 

You may be on to something with Wilshire. Here is a piece of a 1954 Satellite shot:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/8...f9df3aca_o.png

Dead center seems to be our building. It's the right location and shape.

It's sad that most of these once glamorous areas of Los Angeles are now reduced to slums. I have lived in Long Beach, CA my entire life and have always been fascinated with old Los Angeles. Unfortunately, due to the degredation of the area I have only been down on Broadway twice in my entire life. I love seeing these buildings in person, but it is sad to see them neglected and falling apart in an area of town that is now not a great plac eto hang out and spend the day.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...2520PM.bmp.jpgHistoric Aerials

I'm now thinking 4032 Wilshire is a red herring... a blowup of what once occupied the lot reveals an asymmetric facade... back to square one.

Well, pwrof3, the same is probably true of downtown Long Beach as well as many other American cities.... Also, downtown L.A. is in the best shape it's been in in decades. Take the Blue Line up to check it out for yourself.

This is over two years old, but here is Cohen's Brentwood home today. Even the garage door is the same.
https://dz1lpg.blu.livefilestore.com...hen.jpg?psid=1 Bing Maps, Microsoft.

Maybe.
 

I don't put a lot of stock in these 'dates' but this shot may be a bit early. But regardless, there is a smallish, rounded building in our spot here...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8...d122478a_b.jpg
Wilshire corridor, ca.1930

Aerial view of Wilshire corridor looking east to downtown Los Angeles. Buildings along Wilshire are lightly interspersed among residential housing. In the center left is the dome of the Wilshire Blvd. Temple. The Pellissier Building, housing the Warner Bros. Western Theatre (later renamed the Wiltern) is opposite and down from the Temple. In the top center is the City Hall tower and to the right of the tower is the business district of Los Angeles.

LAPL

Oh, I know! Downtown Long Beach is pretty bad these days. Probably worse than Los Angeles.
I went to downtown LA last year and spent time at the Pueblo de Los Angeles, Pershing Square, Angels' Flight and the historic section of Broadway in what is now the diamond district (old Warner's theater).
It was in much better shape than when I went in the ealry 1990s, but it is still far from where it could be if people showed pride in their neighborhood. Lots of trash, broken curbs, sidewalks that haven't properly cleaned in decades. Of course, most of that is the city's fault for not taking care of the older parts of town (unless your by city hall).
I hope to head back to that area sometime soon just for the pure joy of seeing so many historical buildings. Although, when I was there last year, I felt like I was the only one who even knew the history of these buildings. Most folks didn't seem to care.
I hope to stay in the Biltmore one of these weekends just for fun.

:previous:

It does look more symmetrical there-- other than finding photographer's notes, perhaps someone tuning in has an LAPL library card and can access Sanborn maps online, which are usually very accurate in depicting the shapes of buildings... I access them thru NYU down the block from my apt, but I'm not in the city right now....

Does anybody have the link to the original LAPL page?

Sure!

Unfortunately, the link originally provided self-expires. If you are serious, search LAPL for "Schultheis 4032" and you will likely find it. Otherwise, below are the bulk of the notes culled from that page.

Good hunting!

I suppose this house

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l...dorlaplred.jpg


could be this one:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y...uildinXred.jpg

Both pics LAPL

...good eye GW. I overlooked the reflection.

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The only thing missing from MCarlson's excellent post is a beginning - and maybe another Collie. Here is what once started out as the Fox Wilshire Theater. (1928-30)
http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt4d5nc5w9/hi-res

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt029016qp/hi-res

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt296nc3dt/hi-res

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt4n39q2bk/hi-res

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt400018fn/hi-res

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt8h4nc8wn/hi-res
All from UCLA Digital

Note to "300": most skyscrapers were uncommon in LA until the '60s. This thread may cover all building, it's focus is on an aspect different than purely tall buildings. Hence, not much may be "readily" available, unless you are looking for "skyscrapers" of less than 32 Floors (the height of LA's current City Hall.):shrug:

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:)
http://cinemat.org/images/tally_selectricanim.gifhttp://www.google.com

:previous: Very cooool....fantastic job Tourmaline!
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I am looking for a little help here.

I found this photo on a very old cd of mine.
The only information I have is..."Model in downtown Los Angeles lobby before destruction"

http://imageshack.us/a/img831/1664/a...yatrium195.jpg
unknown

Anyone have an idea what lobby this might be?
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A rather humorous postcard of two tourists riding atop a Boeing-Stratocruiser. For some reason they are commenting on Los Angeles freeways.

http://imageshack.us/a/img29/3091/aakitschpc.jpg
ebay





A Pan American Airlines Stratocruiser maneuvering over the newly constructed Sepulveda Tunnel at LAX in 1953.
(I believe this is Pan American's clipper ship 'Southern Cross')

http://imageshack.us/a/img171/6079/l...unnelhuge1.jpg
http://www.flightpath.us/

above: Also of note is the Lockheed Constellation (preferred by TWA) to the left of the Stratocruiser.

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I have re-opened my L.A. history blog.

http://losangelespast.blogspot.com

Most of the images have been updated and increased in size, to better accommodate today's higher monitor resolutions and download speeds. Several posts have entirely new images, too - ones that I think tell the story better than those that were there previously.

There are already 6 new articles. My most recent post shows Hollywood as you have probably never seen it before!

-Scott

A piece of forgotten L.A.
 

Lost L.A.--we talk about it a lot here. Historic houses and buildings, in fact whole neighborhoods, have fallen to wrecking balls and bulldozers, and sometimes whole streets are made to vanish to such an extent that we can't even remember where certain landmarks used to be.

Then there's Forgotten L.A., which we also discuss frequently. This comprises historic areas and buildings which, fortunately, were forgotten when the city fathers, in the post-World-War-II era, were deciding on which areas to impose their bland suburbanophile aesthetic. A day or two ago I was taking a virtual walk, courtesy of Google Earth, in the 1600 and 1700 blocks of North Spring--just west of the river. I don't normally like to use screen captures in my posts, and I fully intend to go there in person and get better pictures. But I think this is just too good to hold back. This picture is looking "north", as the street numbers go, but really more towards the east, facing the river.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/8...3ee23479_b.jpg

The buildings seen here are interesting in their own right. The one on the left occupies the gore-shaped lot where Baker and North Spring meet, and goes back to 1890 according to public records; the one on the right, now occupied by an art studio, goes back to 1925 according to the same records. I'm surprised it isn't a lot older.

But check out those vintage street lamps! I don't mean the taller ones that have an armature extending over the street with a clearly visible globe, because I think those are new. I've seen them on Santa Monica Boulevard near the 405, and those were put there in the last decade or so. Rather, I'm referring to the smaller ones of which you can see two on the left. I didn't think there were any such lampposts left, and these must be among the oldest in the city.

Oddly enough, it seems that on all of the few occasions I've ever been in this neighborhood, it was gloomy and overcast every time.

Dammit, Scott! How do you expect a man to get any work done?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=7546

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=7575

You certainly got better screen captures than I did!

BTW how do you get all that information about past tenants and owners?

Those Who Squirm, I like your enthusiasm!

I felt the same way when I first came across this interesting area on North Spring Street.
The thread is so large, repetition is unavoidable.

Keep exploring

Cahuenga time travel
 

The same spot, on the same road, in three centuries.

LOL! I totally sympathize. Actually, though, after I get done with my posting backlog, I expect I'll revert back to my old pattern of only updating my blog occasionally. It won't be worth checking every day by any means; maybe once a month, tops.

[Re the 1600 block of N. Spring]


The usual places-- L.A. city directories from the LAPL and other sources, insurance maps, & just googling.


Here's another post about 1646 N Spring

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=7577

You'll see in this one the plaque on the facade, the date of which agrees with the records you found. I'm not sure if we ever figured out what exactly "House of 1646 N. Spring" means. Maybe there is no particular meaning--

My guess is the Biltmore Theatre - not the vanished Metropolitan-Graumans-Paramount as that was a baroque interior--- Leonard of Caravan Books spoke recently of observing some of that demolition process... at 6th n Hill

That is actually the lobby of the Mason Theater that once proudly stood at 127 S. Broadway.

Opened in 1903 as the Mason Opera House, it was demolioshed in 1956 to make room for the State of California office building, which has since been demolished as well. It is currently a dirt lot surrounded by a chain link fence.

1950 Exterior Shot
http://imageshack.us/a/img43/4320/masontheater3.jpg
www.library.ca.gov

The lobby looking in from the entrance. (The staircase that the model is standing on in E_R's image is top right.)
http://imageshack.us/a/img338/7845/masontheater1.jpg
LAPL

The model's view toward the front entrance.
http://imageshack.us/a/img832/5739/masontheater2.jpg
LAPL

Many thanks to our friends over at Historic Los Angeles Theaters (https://sites.google.com/site/downto...ngelestheatres)
ALWAYS an awesome reference site!

~Jon Paul

:previous: Wow! I had no idea. Thanks Jon Paul. :)

I like the 'vignettes' of the movie stars*.....but I wouldn't want to be standing under that giant urn during an earthquake.



http://imageshack.us/a/img15/5715/aamodelmason.jpg

Another thing that confused me about the original photograph was the model. I would never have guessed she was from 1956 (the year the theater was destroyed). I would have guessed a date closer to that late 1970s or early 80s. She sees quite contemporary actually.
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e_r, I think you are spot on with your observation on the vignettes as the one directly below the "killer" urn appears to be the mexican actor Cantinflas. I don't recognize the others though.

Cantinflas
http://imageshack.us/a/img401/9895/cantinflas5.jpg

I also totally agree with the model appearing quite contemporary. I had thought perhaps late 60's because of her hair style and makeup.

~Jon Paul

The Mason Theater can be seen at far right in this wonderful color photograph.

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/8154/aamodelmasoncolor.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3930393...n/photostream/




below: The same view today.

http://imageshack.us/a/img443/5204/a...odaylatime.jpg
google street view

That monstrosity is the Los Angeles Times annex and garage.
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So it's not a dirt lot but, still, yuck!!!

~Jon Paul

The Hat, northwest corner of Garfield Avenue and Valley Boulevard, Alhambra, 1950s. This is the very first location of The Hat, which opened in 1951. It is somewhat of a San Gabriel Valley institution with a big local following. They have since expanded to other SoCal locations.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...11702108_n.jpg
thehat.com

The Hat, northwest corner of Garfield Avenue and Valley Boulevard, Alhambra, September 23, 2012. The original still exists! I wish their 1950s prices still existed. I just came home from this location after having called in 2 orders of chili cheese fries for take-out. One order can feed a family of four, it's so huge. Their food is pretty good. Prior to today, I've only ever been to the one in Pasadena, which is in an enclosed building.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...83479905_n.jpg
photo by yours truly

:previous: I've never heard of The Hat.....amazing that it's still there! Good to hear from you sopas, it has been a while.


I went back to double check Jon Paul. I believe you were correct in saying it is an empty lot.
I had the wrong side of Broadway.
_

Thanks. Yeah, the last few months have been quite busy for me--family/illness/death. But now that that chapter is finished, I'm ready to catch up on all the posts in this thread that I haven't seen yet! :D

Residence of A.D. Cajal, Alhambra, Los Angeles County circa 1910

http://imageshack.us/a/img826/2268/a...ncealhambr.jpg
ebay
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I certainly didn't notice that the '20cent Times Theater' in your 1941 photo was the old Playhouse.
Thanks for pointing that out bifrayrock.

I wonder what the 'The Playhouse' is used for today. It looks like it's in pretty good shape.
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http://imageshack.us/a/img826/2910/a...gemetrolib.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/metroli...9123/lightbox/

I've been trying to read the hotel sign at the corner of the building but I can't quite make it out.*
The entrance on the right look like the old Nadeau Hotel entrance but I know that can't be right.
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* I just found out this is the corner of First and Main.

I'd be willing to bet that the "kissing ducks" are the logo of whatever that business was.

Zillow says incorrectly that it is a private house, though who knows--maybe at one time it was.

I can't quite agree with you on the mural; anything that allows the occupants or owners to feel comfortable with the existing structure is preferable to its being abandoned or replaced.

I'm not entirely sure about this, but I seem to recall a few other old narrow buildings around town that were also glass works. It makes sense that a long narrow space with plenty of ventilation would have been perfect for dealing with the high temperatures involved in glass-making.

I've watched this film in the Prelinger Archives collection; maybe they have the other TravelTalk items. Speaking of which, I'm wondering how James Fitzpatrick ever got that rural Midwestern accent seeing as how he was born in New England.

For our purposes here it's considerably more interesting that his narration obviously refers to "Sonoratown" and, IIRC, specifically mentions adobes that were still in existence at the time. Also, the way he mentions iced tea at La Golondrina suggests that Prohibition hasn't been repealed yet, placing it somewhere between 1930 and 1933.

This is the Natick House/Natick Hotel.

Thanks Scott....much appreciated. :) I should have known.

A beautiful postcard found on ebay. Has anyone heard of this cafeteria?

http://imageshack.us/a/img818/4144/a...ecafeteria.jpg

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